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OET (OET-RV) to set up the ‘Purim’ celebration on the given dates according to what Mordekai the Jew and Queen Esther had determined for them. They also confirmed that the Jews should continue the times of fasting and mourning that they had established for themselves and their future descendants.![]()
OET-LV To_confirm DOM the_days_of the_Purim the_these at_their_appointed_of_times just_as he_had_imposed on_them Mārəddəkay the_Jew and_ʼEştēr the_queen and_as_which they_had_imposed on self_of_their and_on offspring_of_their the_words/messages_of the_fasts and_their_cry_of_of_distress.
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UHB לְקַיֵּ֡ם אֵת־יְמֵי֩ הַפֻּרִ֨ים הָאֵ֜לֶּה בִּזְמַנֵּיהֶ֗ם כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ קִיַּ֨ם עֲלֵיהֶ֜ם מָרְדֳּכַ֤י הַיְּהוּדִי֙ וְאֶסְתֵּ֣ר הַמַּלְכָּ֔ה וְכַאֲשֶׁ֛ר קִיְּמ֥וּ עַל־נַפְשָׁ֖ם וְעַל־זַרְעָ֑ם דִּבְרֵ֥י הַצֹּמ֖וֹת וְזַעֲקָתָֽם׃ ‡
(ləqayyēm ʼēt-yəmēy hapurim hāʼēlleh bizəmannēyhem kaʼₐsher qiyyam ˊₐlēyhem mārəddₒkay hayyəhūdī vəʼeştēr hammalkāh vəkaʼₐsher qiyyəmū ˊal-nafshām vəˊal-zarˊām diⱱrēy haʦʦomōt vəzaˊₐqātām.)
Key: khaki:verbs.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).
BrLXX No BrLXX EST book available
BrTr No BrTr EST book available
ULT to set up these days of Purim at their appointed times according to what Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had set up for them and according to what they had set up concerning their lives and concerning their seed, the matters of the fasts and their outcry.
UST In this second letter, Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther confirmed that Purim should be celebrated on the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar. They also confirmed that the Jews should continue the times of fasting and mourning that the Jews had established for themselves and their descendants.
BSB in order to confirm these days of Purim at their [appointed] time, just as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had established them [and] had committed themselves and their descendants to the times of fasting and lamentation.
MSB (Same as BSB above)
OEB to confirm these days of Purim in their proper times, to be observed as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had directed and as the Jews had proscribed for themselves and their descendants, in the matter of the fastings and their cry of lamentation.
WEBBE to confirm these days of Purim in their appointed times, as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had decreed, and as they had imposed upon themselves and their descendants in the matter of the fastings and their mourning.
WMBB (Same as above)
NET to establish these days of Purim in their proper times, just as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had established, and just as they had established both for themselves and their descendants, matters pertaining to fasting and lamentation.
LSV to establish these days of Purim, in their seasons, as Mordecai the Jew has established on them, and Esther the queen, and as they had established on themselves, and on their seed—matters of the fastings, and of their cry.
FBV They established these days of Purim at their given time as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had ordered, committing themselves and their descendants to the times of fasting and mourning.
T4T 30-31 What they wrote in the second letter was, “We wish that all of you will be living peacefully and safely/righteously. We want you and your descendants to celebrate Purim each year on the days that we two established, and to do the things that we two told you to do.” In that letter, Queen Esther and Mordecai also gave them instructions about ◄fasting/abstaining from eating food► and being sorrowful. Then copies of that letter were sent to all the Jews who were living in the 127 provinces of the empire.
LEB to establish these days of Purim at their appointed times, just as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had imposed, and just as they had imposed on themselves and their offspring regulations of the fast and their lament.
BBE Giving the force of law to these days of Purim at their fixed times, as they had been ordered by Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen, and in keeping with the rules they had made for themselves and their seed, in connection with their time of going without food and their cry for help.
Moff for the purpose of fixing these days of Purim and their date, as Mordecai the Jew had enjoined, and as the Jews had undertaken for themselves and their descendants in the matter of fasting and wailing.
JPS to confirm these days of Purim in their appointed times, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had ordained for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry.
ASV to confirm these days of Purim in their appointed times, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had ordained for themselves and for their seed, in the matter of the fastings and their cry.
DRA And observe the days of lots, and celebrate them with joy in their proper time: as Mardochai and Esther had appointed, and they undertook them to be observed by themselves and by their seed, fasts, and cries, and the days of lots,
YLT to establish these days of Purim, in their seasons, as Mordecai the Jew hath established on them, and Esther the queen, and as they had established on themselves, and on their seed — matters of the fastings, and of their cry.
Drby to confirm these days of Purim in their fixed times, according as Mordecai the Jew and queen Esther had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed, as to the matters of the fastings and their cry.
RV to confirm these days of Purim in their appointed times, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had ordained for themselves and for their seed, in the matter of the fastings and their cry.
SLT To set up these days of Purim in their times, as Mordecai the Jew set up to them, and Esther the queen, and as they set up for their souls and for their seed, the words of fastings and their cry:
Wbstr To confirm these days of Purim in their times appointed , according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry.
KJB-1769 To confirm these days of Purim in their times appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry.[fn]
9.31 themselves: Heb. their souls
KJB-1611 [fn]To confirme these dayes of Purim, in their times appointed, according as Mordecai the Iew, and Esther the Queene had enioyned them, and as they had decreed for themselues and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry.
(To confirm these days of Purim, in their times appointed, according as Mordecai the Yew, and Esther the Queen had enioyned them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry.)
9:31 Hebr for their soules.
Bshps To confirme these dayes of Phurim in their time appoynted, according as Mardocheus the Iewe and Esther the queene had appoynted them: and they bound their soule and their seede to fasting and prayer.
(To confirm these days of Phurim in their time appointed, according as Mordecai the Yewe and Esther the queen had appointed them: and they bound their soul and their seed to fasting and prayer.)
Gnva To confirme these dayes of Purim, according to their seasons, as Mordecai the Iewe and Ester the Queene had appointed them, and as they had promised for them selues and for their seede with fasting and prayer.
(To confirm these days of Purim, according to their seasons, as Mordecai the Yewe and Ester the Queen had appointed them, and as they had promised for themselves and for their seed with fasting and prayer. )
Cvdl to confirme these dayes of Purim, in their tyme appoynted, acordynges as Mardocheus the Iewe and Hester the quene had ordeined cocernynge them: lyke as they vpon their soule and vpon their sede had cofirmed the actes of the fastinges and of hir coplainte.
(to confirm these days of Purim, in their time appointed, accordings as Mordecai the Yewe and Esther the queen had ordained concerning them: like as they upon their soul and upon their seed had cofirmed the acts of the fastings and of her coplainte.)
Wycl and kepe the daies of lottis, and halewe with ioie in her tyme, as Mardochee and Hester hadden ordeyned; and thei resseiueden the fastyngis, and the cries, and the daies of lottis, to be kept of hem silf and of her seed,
(and keep the days of lots, and hallow/consecrate with joy in her time, as Mordecai and Esther had ordained; and they receiveden the fastingis, and the cries, and the days of lots, to be kept of himself and of her seed,)
Luth daß sie bestätigten diese Tage Purim auf ihre bestimmte Zeit, wie Mardachai, der Jude, über sie bestätiget hatte, und die Königin Esther; wie sie auf ihre SeeLE und auf ihren Samen bestätiget hatten die Geschichte der Fasten und ihres Schreiens.
(that they/she/them bestätigten this/these days Purim on/in/to their/her particular time/period, as/like Mardachai, the/of_the Yude, above they/she/them confirmed had, and the queen Esther; as/like they/she/them on/in/to their/her soul and on/in/to your(pl) seed(s) confirmed had the story the/of_the fasting(n) and theirs/hers shouting/cryings.)
ClVg observantes dies sortium, et suo tempore cum gaudio celebrarent: sicut constituerant Mardochæus et Esther, et illi observanda susceperunt a se, et a semine suo, jejunia, et clamores, et sortium dies,
(observing days sortium, and his_own at_the_time when/with with_joy to_celebratent: like constituerant Mardochæus and Esther, and them observanda they_undertook from himself, and from with_seed his_own, yeyunia, and shouts, and sortium days, )
9:29-32 The letter that Queen Esther . . . wrote provided further official endorsement to Mordecai’s proposal (9:20-23).
Purim
The Festival of Purim is the only Old Testament festival not established during the time of Moses. Its name is derived from a word that means lots or dice (Hebrew purim, derived from Akkadian puru). It was a common practice in the ancient world to cast purim to determine whether God favored a particular course of action: A good number would indicate God’s approval, a bad number his disapproval. Near the king’s throne room at Susa in Persia, archaeologists found a small four-sided object with a number engraved on each side. A similar die inscribed with the word pur dates to the 800s BC. In the book of Esther, the Persian astrologers used purim to establish the best time to slaughter the Jews (Esth 3:7).
On the fateful day—March 7, 473 BC—God miraculously rescued his people from certain death, just as he had rescued the nation from Egypt at the Passover. Mordecai and Esther therefore formalized an annual celebration of God’s rescue so that all future generations would remember what God had accomplished (9:28). The festival was widely celebrated thereafter among Jews (see 2 Maccabees 15:36; Josephus, Antiquities 11.6.13; perhaps John 5:1).
When God rescued his chosen people, the day for Jewish execution turned into a day of holy vengeance and was followed by a day of celebration. Today, Jewish people fast and pray to commemorate Esther’s fasting. This fast is then followed by Purim, which is celebrated on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar (occurring in February or March). On this joyous holiday Jews read Esther (with loud boos for Haman and hoorays for Mordecai) and have a time of feasting and rejoicing, with gifts for friends and for the poor. It is a celebration of how God providentially worked to care for his people so that they were not exterminated (9:1-17) and of how God continues to care for, provide for, and save his people (see also Gen 45:5; Ps 91; Prov 16:9, 33; Dan 2:21; Acts 1:6-7; 2:22-23; 4:28-30; 17:24-27; Rom 8:28; 1 Pet 3:12).
Passages for Further Study
Esth 9:1-32; Pss 37:23; 91:1-16; Prov 16:9, 33; Rom 8:28; 1 Pet 3:12
Mordecai sent out letters to tell the Jews to hold a celebration each year to remember the victory of the Jews over their enemies. This annual festival was called Purim because Haman had cast lots called purim to choose the best day to kill the Jews. Jews still celebrate this festival today.
in order to confirm these days of Purim at their appointed time,
that the Jews should make an agreement to celebrate the festival of Purim at the time which Mordecai had chosen,
Purim: See note on 3:7b.
just as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had established them
just as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had ordered them to.
and had committed themselves and their descendants to the times of fasting and lamentation.
They should make an agreement to celebrate Purim on those days each year just as they had made an agreement that they and their descendants should keep certain other days for fasting and crying to God.
the times of fasting and lamentation: The Hebrew is more literally “words of fasting and lamentation.” It probably is a way of referring to certain Jewish holidays. The Jews were in the habit of commemorating certain traumatic events in their history by holding annual fasts. So this verse is saying that they should establish this holiday (Purim) just as they had established these other holidays.1 Scholars differ in how they believe this phrase should be connected grammatically to the rest of the verb and whether they believe this phrase refers to Purim itself or to other holidays which the Jews celebrated. Many English versions are unclear. The majority interpretation is the one discussed in the Notes. It is followed by NJPS, NIV, RSV, GW and GNT and takes the phrase “times of fasting and lamentation” as the object of the verb which the BSB translates “established.” The JB follows a different interpretation which believes that the verse says that fasting and lamentation were to be included in the way Purim was to be celebrated. So the JB has “with additional ordinances for fasts and lamentations.”
fasting: See note on 4:3b.
lamentation: This refers to pleading with God for something with tears, not to mourning for the dead.
לְקַיֵּ֡ם אֵת־יְמֵי֩ הַפֻּרִ֨ים הָאֵ֜לֶּה בִּזְמַנֵּיהֶ֗ם כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ קִיַּ֨ם עֲלֵיהֶ֜ם מָרְדֳּכַ֤י הַיְּהוּדִי֙ וְאֶסְתֵּ֣ר הַמַּלְכָּ֔ה
to,confirm DOM days_of of,the_Purim the=these at,their_appointed_of,times just=as established on,them Mārəddəkay the,Jew and,Esther the,queen
Alternate translation: [in this second letter, Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther confirmed that Purim should be celebrated on the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar]
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / distinguish
הַיְּהוּדִי֙
the,Jew
This phrase gives clarifying information about Mordecai.
וְכַאֲשֶׁ֛ר קִיְּמ֥וּ עַל־נַפְשָׁ֖ם וְעַל־זַרְעָ֑ם דִּבְרֵ֥י הַצֹּמ֖וֹת וְזַעֲקָתָֽם
and=as=which established on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in self_of,their and,on offspring_of,their regulations_concerning_of of,the_fasts and,their_cry_of,of_distress
This is referring to background information that the original audience would have known. They would have known what the fasting was about. It could be either: (1) fasting as a part of Purim. We know that some Jews fasted on the 13th day of the month of Adar to commemorate the day that Haman intended to destroy them, or (2) other times of fasting. Ever since the destruction of Jerusalem, the Jews had been fasting and mourning in the fifth month of the year to show their sorrow over what had happened. (The story refers to the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem in [2:6](../02/06.md).) You could put this information in a footnote if it would help your readers to understand this.
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom
וְעַל־זַרְעָ֑ם
and,on offspring_of,their
Here, seed is a metaphor meaning the offspring or descendants of the Jews. Alternate translation: [and for their descendants] or [and for their offspring]