The Meaning of Esther 3:7 Explained

Esther 3:7

KJV: In 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.

YLT: In the first month -- it is the month of Nisan -- in the twelfth year of the king Ahasuerus, hath one caused to fall Pur (that is the lot) before Haman, from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth, it is the month of Adar.

Darby: In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman for each day and for each month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.

ASV: In the first month, which 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 , which is the month Adar.

Discover Esther 3:7

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Esther 3:7?

MEANING: What does Esther 3:7 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Esther 3:7 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Esther 3:7?

What is the context of Esther 3:7?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

In 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.

What does Esther 3:7 Mean?

Study Notes

first month i.e. April; Esther 3:12
twelfth month i.e. March; Esther 3:13

Verse Meaning

Haman cast the lot-pur is the Persian word for "lot"-to determine the day most favorable to wipe out the Jews. In the pagan ancient Near East, it was unthinkable to make plans of this magnitude without astrological guidance. The lot supposedly revealed the day most propitious for this act. ^[1] The official casting of lots happened during the first month of each year to determine the most opportune days for important events. ^[2] This may explain why Haman cast lots in the first month and chose a date so much later to annihilate the Jews. However, God controlled the lot-casting ( Proverbs 16:33) and gave the Jews almost a year to prepare for conflict with their enemies. Archaeologists have found quadrangular prism type dice at Susa, and perhaps it was this kind of device that Haman used to make his decision on this occasion. ^[3]

"Though determined by lot, the day chosen seems maliciously ironical. The number13was considered unlucky by the Persians and the Babylonians, while the thirteenth day of the first month, the day on which the edict decreeing the Jews" destruction was dispatched ( Esther 3:12), is the day preceding Passover, the commemoration of the deliverance from slavery in Egypt." ^[4]

Context Summary

Esther 3:1-15 - Race Prejudice Breeds Hatred

Josephus says that Agagite means a descendant of Agag, the common name for the kings of the Amalekites, Numbers 24:7. It is probably that something of the nature of religious homage to Haman was demanded, and this Mordecai could not tolerate for a moment. It would have been as bad as the falling down to worship the golden image of Dura. He, therefore, sturdily refused. What diabolical cruelty was here, to meditate the destruction of a nation to satisfy a personal grudge! The resolve was taken in the first month, when Esther had been queen for five years; but the lot indicated the twelfth month for its execution, so that Esther had twelve months in which to oppose the plan. The disposing of the lot was evidently God's, Proverbs 16:33. The bribe of four millions sterling, which Haman hoped to get from the spoils of the slaughtered Jews, without doubt helped to pave his way, and make the king favorable to his request. The matter was soon settled, and the posts were carrying the edict of slaughter to the furthest limits of the realm. It reminds us of the decree for the massacre of the Huguenots. But God was over all. The strongest assaults are vain against Him, Psalms 2:4. He will not let high-handed wrong proceed beyond a certain point, 2 Kings 19:28. Let us shelter behind Him and be at peace, Isaiah 54:14. [source]

Chapter Summary: Esther 3

¹ Haman, advanced by the king, and despised by Mordecai, seeks revenge upon the Jews
⁷ He casts lots
⁸ He obtains by false accusations a decree of the king to put the Jews to death

What do the individual words in Esther 3:7 mean?

In month the first that [is] the month of Nisan in year two and ten of King Ahasuerus they cast Pur it [is] the lot before Haman days to determine the day and the month until [it fell on] the two [and] ten [month] of Adar -

בַּחֹ֤דֶשׁ הָרִאשׁוֹן֙ הוּא־ חֹ֣דֶשׁ נִיסָ֔ן בִּשְׁנַת֙ שְׁתֵּ֣ים עֶשְׂרֵ֔ה לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֑וֹשׁ הִפִּ֣יל פּוּר֩ ה֨וּא הַגּוֹרָ֜ל לִפְנֵ֣י הָמָ֗ן מִיּ֧וֹם ׀ לְי֛וֹם וּמֵחֹ֛דֶשׁ לְחֹ֥דֶשׁ שְׁנֵים־ עָשָׂ֖ר אֲדָֽר ס

בַּחֹ֤דֶשׁ	In month
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular Root: חֹדֶשׁ Sense: the new moon, month, monthly.
הָרִאשׁוֹן֙	the first
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular Root: רִאשֹׁון Sense: first, primary, former.
הוּא־	that [is]
Parse: Pronoun, third person masculine singular Root: הוּא Sense: he, she, it.
חֹ֣דֶשׁ	the month
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct Root: חֹדֶשׁ Sense: the new moon, month, monthly.
נִיסָ֔ן	of Nisan
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular Root: נִיסָן Sense: the st month of the Jewish calendar corresponding to Mar or Apr.
בִּשְׁנַת֙	in year
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct Root: שָׁנָה Sense: year.
שְׁתֵּ֣ים	two
Parse: Number, fd Root: שְׁנַיִם Sense: two.
עֶשְׂרֵ֔ה	and ten
Parse: Number, feminine singular Root: עָשָׂר Sense: ten, -teen (in combination with other numbers).
לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ	of King
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular Root: מֶלֶךְ Sense: king.
אֲחַשְׁוֵר֑וֹשׁ	Ahasuerus
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular Root: אֲחַשְׁוֵרֹושׁ Sense: title of the king of Persia, probably Xerxes.
הִפִּ֣יל	they cast
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular Root: נָפַל Sense: to fall, lie, be cast down, fail.
פּוּר֩	Pur
Parse: Noun, masculine singular Root: פּוּר Sense: lot.
ה֨וּא	it [is]
Parse: Pronoun, third person masculine singular Root: הוּא Sense: he, she, it.
הַגּוֹרָ֜ל	the lot
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular Root: גֹּורָל Sense: lot.
לִפְנֵ֣י	before
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct Root: לִפְנֵי Sense: face.
הָמָ֗ן	Haman
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular Root: הָמָן Sense: chief minister of Ahasuerus, enemy of Mordecai and the Jews, who plotted to kill the Jews but, being foiled by Esther, was hanged, with his family, on the gallows he had made for Mordecai.
מִיּ֧וֹם ׀	days
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular Root: יׄום Sense: day, time, year.
לְי֛וֹם	to determine the day
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular Root: יׄום Sense: day, time, year.
וּמֵחֹ֛דֶשׁ	and the month
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular Root: חֹדֶשׁ Sense: the new moon, month, monthly.
לְחֹ֥דֶשׁ	until [it fell on]
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular Root: חֹדֶשׁ Sense: the new moon, month, monthly.
שְׁנֵים־	the two
Parse: Number, md Root: שְׁנַיִם Sense: two.
עָשָׂ֖ר	[and] ten [month]
Parse: Number, masculine singular Root: עָשָׂר Sense: ten, -teen (in combination with other numbers).
אֲדָֽר	of Adar
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular Root: אֲדָר Sense: twelfth month, corresponding to modern March–April.
ס	-
Parse: Punctuation

What are the major concepts related to Esther 3:7?

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