Esther 3:7
in Esther 3In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, the Pur (that is, the lot) was cast before Haman to determine a day and month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
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.
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.
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This verse in Esther 3
Commentary
9 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
In the first month ... - i. e. in March or April of 474 B.C. “Pur” is supposed to be an old Persian word etymologically connected with the Latin “pars”, and signifying “part” or “lot.” The practice of casting lots to obtain a lucky day still obtains in the East, and is probably extremely ancient. A lot seems to have been cast, or a throw of some kind made, for each day of the month and each month of the year. The day and month which obtained the best throws were then selected.
This site's exposition
When Haman saw that Mordecai
on Esther 3:5-7
Haman "was filled with rage," and when he learns Mordecai's people he "scorned the notion of laying hands on Mordecai alone". In Nisan, "the Pur (that is, the lot) was cast before Haman," and it fell on Adar, eleven months away. The long delay gives the rescue its time.
This site's exposition
In the twelfth year of King Xerxes
Barnes describes the method: a lot was cast for each day and each month, and the best throws fixed the date. Clarke notes the Greek text adds the day, the fourteenth of Adar, where the decree of verse 13 names the thirteenth. Both men take Pur for a Persian word.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
The fact that the twelfth month, which is called Adar, was chosen for the destruction of Israel after casting lots is not with its own spiritual meaning. It is referring, in fact, to the grace of Christ which has been prepared for the faithful in …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Wherein appears likewise both his implacable malice, and unwearied diligence in seeking vengeance of them with so much trouble to himself; and God's singular providence in disposing the lot to that time, that the Jews might have space to get the decree reversed.
He that believeth the lot, much more that believeth the promise, will not make haste. But see how God's wisdom serves its own purposes by men's folly. Haman has appealed to the lot, and to the lot he shall go, which, by adjourning the execution, gives judgment against him and breaks the neck of the plot.
In the first month, that is the month Nisan,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
One motive which he used in urging his point was addressed to the king's cupidity. Fearing lest his master might object that the extermination of a numerous body of his subjects would seriously depress the public revenue, Haman promised to make up the loss.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
The first month - That is, of the civil year of the Jews. The month Nisan - Answering to a part of our March and April. The twelfth year of king Ahasuerus - According to the chronology in our Bibles, about five hundred and ten years before Christ. They cast Pur, that is, the lot - This appears to be the Hebrew corruption of the pure Persian word pari, which signifies any thing that happens fortuitously. There is an addition here in the Greek text that was probably in the original, and which makes this place very plain. I shall set down the whole verse, and give the Greek in a parenthesis, that it may be read consecutively with what is in the Hebrew: “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.” (ὡστε απολεσαι εν μιᾳ ἡμερᾳ το γενος Μαρδοχαιου, και επεσεν ὁ κληρος εις την τεσερακαιδεκατην του μηνος ὁς εστιν Αδαρ “that they might destroy in one day the people of Mordecai; and the lot fell on the fourteenth day of the month Adar.”) We see plainly intimated by the Hebrew text that they cast lots, or used a species of divination, to find which of the twelve months would be the most favorable for the execution of Haman’s design; and, having found the desired month, then they cast lots, or used divination, to find out which day of the said month would be the lucky day for the accomplishment of the enterprise. But the Hebrew text does not tell us the result of this divination; we are left to guess it out; but the Greek supplies this deficiency, and makes all clear. From it we find that, when they cast for the month, the month Adar was taken; and when they cast for the day, the fourteenth (Heb. […]
The words behind it
32 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| בַּחֹ֤דֶשׁ | bachodesh | in the month | H2320 → | 284 times |
| הָרִאשׁוֹן֙ | harishon | <the> first | H7223 → | 182 times |
| הוּא־ | hu'- | that | H1931 → | 1879 times |
| חֹ֣דֶשׁ | chodesh | [is] [the] month of | H2320 → | 284 times |
| נִיסָ֔ן | nisan | Nisan | H5212 → | |
| בִּשְׁנַת֙ | bishnat | in year | H8141 → | 877 times |
| שְׁתֵּ֣ים | sheteim | two [plus] | H8147 → | 768 times |
| עֶשְׂרֵ֔ה | ʾesreh | ten | H6240 → | 338 times |
| לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ | lamelekh | of the king | H4428 → | 2525 times |
| אֲחַשְׁוֵר֑וֹשׁ | ʾachashveroosh | Ahasuerus | H325 → | 31 times |
| הִפִּ֣יל | hipil | someone cast | H5307 → | 435 times |
| פּוּר֩ | pur | Pur | H6332 → | 8 times |
| ה֨וּא | hu' | it | H1931 → | 1879 times |
| הַגּוֹרָ֜ל | hagoral | [is] the lot | H1486 → | 78 times |
| לִפְנֵ֣י | lifnei | <to> before | H6440 → | 2123 times |
| הָמָ֗ן | haman | Haman | H2001 → | 54 times |
| מִיּ֧וֹם׀ | miyom | from day | H3117 → | 2304 times |
| לְי֛וֹם | leyom | to day | H3117 → | 2304 times |
| וּמֵחֹ֛דֶשׁ | umechodesh | and from month | H2320 → | 284 times |
| לְחֹ֥דֶשׁ | lechodesh | to month | H2320 → | 284 times |
| שְׁנֵים־ | sheneim- | two [plus] | H8147 → | 768 times |
| עָשָׂ֖ר | ʾasar | ten | H6240 → | 338 times |
| הוּא־ | hu'- | that | H1931 → | 1879 times |
| חֹ֥דֶשׁ | chodesh | [is] [the] month of | H2320 → | 284 times |
| אֲדָֽר׃ ס | ʾadar | Adar | H143 → | 8 times |
| וַיִּפֹּל | vaiyipol | and it fell | H5307 → | 435 times |
| הַגּוֹרָל | hagoral | the lot | H1486 → | 78 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | on | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| שְׁלוֹשָׁה | sheloshah | three [plus] | H7969 → | 432 times |
| עָשָׂר | ʾasar | ten | H6240 → | 338 times |
| יוֹם | yom | day | H3117 → | 2304 times |
| לְחֹדֶשׁ | lechodesh | of month | H2320 → | 284 times |
בַּחֹ֤דֶשׁin the month
bachodeshH2320 →284 times
הָרִאשׁוֹן֙<the> first
harishonH7223 →182 times
הוּא־that
hu'-H1931 →1879 times
חֹ֣דֶשׁ[is] [the] month of
chodeshH2320 →284 times
נִיסָ֔ןNisan
nisanH5212 →
בִּשְׁנַת֙in year
bishnatH8141 →877 times
שְׁתֵּ֣יםtwo [plus]
sheteimH8147 →768 times
עֶשְׂרֵ֔הten
ʾesrehH6240 →338 times
לַמֶּ֖לֶךְof the king
lamelekhH4428 →2525 times
אֲחַשְׁוֵר֑וֹשׁAhasuerus
ʾachashverooshH325 →31 times
הִפִּ֣ילsomeone cast
hipilH5307 →435 times
פּוּר֩Pur
purH6332 →8 times
ה֨וּאit
hu'H1931 →1879 times
הַגּוֹרָ֜ל[is] the lot
hagoralH1486 →78 times
לִפְנֵ֣י<to> before
lifneiH6440 →2123 times
הָמָ֗ןHaman
hamanH2001 →54 times
מִיּ֧וֹם׀from day
miyomH3117 →2304 times
לְי֛וֹםto day
leyomH3117 →2304 times
וּמֵחֹ֛דֶשׁand from month
umechodeshH2320 →284 times
לְחֹ֥דֶשׁto month
lechodeshH2320 →284 times
שְׁנֵים־two [plus]
sheneim-H8147 →768 times
עָשָׂ֖רten
ʾasarH6240 →338 times
הוּא־that
hu'-H1931 →1879 times
חֹ֥דֶשׁ[is] [the] month of
chodeshH2320 →284 times
אֲדָֽר׃ סAdar
ʾadarH143 →8 times
וַיִּפֹּלand it fell
vaiyipolH5307 →435 times
הַגּוֹרָלthe lot
hagoralH1486 →78 times
עַל־on
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
שְׁלוֹשָׁהthree [plus]
sheloshahH7969 →432 times
עָשָׂרten
ʾasarH6240 →338 times
יוֹםday
yomH3117 →2304 times
לְחֹדֶשׁof month
lechodeshH2320 →284 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Proverbs 16:33The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
it leads to
- Proverbs 18:18
Casting the lot ends quarrels and separates strong opponents.
- Acts 1:26
Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
- Jonah 1:7
“Come!” said the sailors to one another. “Let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity that is upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.
- 1 Samuel 14:41–42
So Saul said to the LORD, the God of Israel, “Why have You not answered Your servant this day? If the fault is with me or my son Jonathan, respond with Urim; but if…
- Proverbs 29:26
Many seek the ruler’s favor, but a man receives justice from the LORD.
- Proverbs 18:18
Through
Esther 9:5The Jews put all their enemies to the sword, killing and destroying them, and they did as they pleased to those who hated them.
it leads to
- Psalms 18:34–40
He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
- Psalms 20:7–8
Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
- Jeremiah 18:21
Therefore, hand their children over to famine; pour out the power of the sword upon them. Let their wives become childless and widowed; let their husbands be slain by disease, their young men struck…
- Psalms 18:34–40
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Esther
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Keil, The Books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Rabanus Maurus, EXPLANATION ON THE BOOK OF ESTHER 6 and W. F. Adeney, Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther (Expositor's Bible).