The Meaning of Esther 8:16 Explained

Esther 8:16

KJV: The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.

YLT: to the Jews hath been light, and gladness, and joy, and honour,

Darby: The Jews had light, and joy, and gladness, and honour.

ASV: The Jews had light and gladness, and joy and honor.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The Jews  had light,  and gladness,  and joy,  and honour. 

What does Esther 8:16 Mean?

Context Summary

Esther 8:1-17 - Courage Rewarded
The ring symbolized royal power and authority; by this sign Mordecai was suddenly raised to the position formerly held by Haman. He also managed for Esther the large estate which had come into her possession. Because of the fixity of the customs and laws of the Medes, it was impossible to reverse the royal proclamation, which had decreed that the Hebrew people should be exterminated. So the king granted Mordecai permission to send letters to his people, allowing them to arm and defend themselves. The speed with which the circulation of the royal decree was carried out is a rebuke to the Church of God which has been entrusted with the gospel of salvation. More than eighteen hundred years have passed, and still immense multitudes have never heard the name of Christ or the love of God. Let us at least strain every nerve to pass on the joyful news, overtaking the tidings of death. [source]

Chapter Summary: Esther 8

1  Mordecai is advanced
3  Esther makes suit to reverse Haman's letters
7  Xerxes grants to the Jews to defend themselves
15  Mordecai's honor, and the Jews' joy

What do the individual words in Esther 8:16 mean?

The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor
לַיְּהוּדִ֕ים הָֽיְתָ֥ה אוֹרָ֖ה וְשִׂמְחָ֑ה וְשָׂשֹׂ֖ן וִיקָֽר

לַיְּהוּדִ֕ים  The  Jews 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: יְהוּדִי  
Sense: Jew.
אוֹרָ֖ה  light 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֹורָה 
Sense: light.
וְשִׂמְחָ֑ה  and  gladness 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: שִׂמְחָה  
Sense: joy, mirth, gladness.
וְשָׂשֹׂ֖ן  and  joy 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׂשֹׂון  
Sense: gladness, joy, exultation, rejoicing.
וִיקָֽר  and  honor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְקָר  
Sense: price, value, preciousness, honour, splendour, pomp.