Esther 3
Study sheet, King James Version, with the original-language words this chapter turns on.
The text
1After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.
2And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.
3Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?
4Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.
5And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.
6And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
7In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.
8And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them.
9If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries.
10And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.
11And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.
12Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring.
13And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.
14The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day.
15The posts went out, being hastened by the king's commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.
Words in this chapter
Definitions are Strong's own wording from his Exhaustive Concordance (1890). Counts are how often each word appears in this chapter, from the tagged text.
- מֶלֶךְmelekH442822× in this chapter
a king
- הָמָןHâmânH200112× in this chapter
Haman, a Persian vizier
- כֹּלkôlH360511× in this chapter
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
- עַםʻamH597111× in this chapter
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
- חֹדֶשׁchôdeshH23209× in this chapter
the new moon; by implication, a month
- יוֹםyôwmH31178× in this chapter
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
- מְדִינָהmᵉdîynâhH40828× in this chapter
properly, a judgeship, i.e. jurisdiction; by implication, a district (as ruled by a judge); generally, a region
- אֵתʼêthH8538× in this chapter
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
- אֵלʼêlH4137× in this chapter
near, with or among; often in general, to
- מׇרְדְּכַיMordᵉkayH47827× in this chapter
Mordecai, an Israelite
- אֲשֶׁרʼăsherH8347× in this chapter
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
- עַלʻalH59216× in this chapter
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
- עָשָׂרʻâsârH62406× in this chapter
ten (only in combination), i.e. -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth
- הוּאhûwʼH19315× in this chapter
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are
- אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁʼĂchashvêrôwshH3255× in this chapter
Achashverosh (i.e. Ahasuerus or Artaxerxes, but in this case Xerxes), the title (rather than name) of a Persian king
- דָּתdâthH18814× in this chapter
a royal edict or statute
- יָדyâdH30274× in this chapter
a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),
- יְהוּדִיYᵉhûwdîyH30644× in this chapter
a Jehudite (i.e. Judaite or Jew), or descendant of Jehudah (i.e. Judah)
- כִּיkîyH35884× in this chapter
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
- נָתַןnâthanH54144× in this chapter
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
- אָמַרʼâmarH5594× in this chapter
to say (used with great latitude)
- דָּבָרdâbârH16973× in this chapter
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
- אַיִןʼayinH3693× in this chapter
a non-entity; generally used as a negative particle
- כָּרַעkâraʻH37663× in this chapter
to bend the knee; by implication, to sink, to prostrate
- כָּתַבkâthabH37893× in this chapter
to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe)
- לֹאlôʼH38083× in this chapter
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
- נָגַדnâgadH50463× in this chapter
properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to one present); specifically, to expose, predict, explain, praise
- עָשָׂהʻâsâhH62133× in this chapter
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
- שָׁחָהshâchâhH78123× in this chapter
to depress, i.e. prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or God)
- שָׁלוֹשׁshâlôwshH79693× in this chapter
three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice
- שְׁנַיִםshᵉnayimH81473× in this chapter
two; also (as ordinal) twofold
- בֵּןbênH11212× in this chapter
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
- אֲדָרʼĂdârH1432× in this chapter
Adar, the 12th Hebrew month
- גּוֹרָלgôwrâlH14862× in this chapter
properly, a pebble, i.e. a lot (small stones being used for that purpose); figuratively, a portion or destiny (as if determined by lot)
- הָיָהhâyâhH19612× in this chapter
to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
- אֶחָדʼechâdH2592× in this chapter
properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first
- טַבַּעַתṭabbaʻathH28852× in this chapter
properly, a seal (as sunk into the wax), i.e. signet (for sealing); hence (generally) a ring of any kind
- טוֹבṭôwbH28962× in this chapter
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well)
- כֶּסֶףkeçephH37012× in this chapter
silver (from its pale color); by implication, money
- כָּתָבkâthâbH37912× in this chapter
something written, i.e. a writing, record or book