Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, the pur (that is, the lot) was cast in the presence of Haman to select a day and month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar. New Living Translation So in the month of April, during the twelfth year of King Xerxes’ reign, lots were cast in Haman’s presence (the lots were called purim ) to determine the best day and month to take action. And the day selected was March 7, nearly a year later. English Standard Version In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur (that is, they cast lots) before Haman day after day; and they cast it month after month till the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. Berean Standard Bible In 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. King James Bible 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. New King James Version In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur (that is, the lot), before Haman to determine the day and the month, until it fell on the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. New American Standard Bible In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, Pur, that is the lot, was cast before Haman from day to day and from month to month, until the twelfth month, that is the month Adar. NASB 1995 In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, Pur, that is the lot, was cast before Haman from day to day and from month to month, until the twelfth month, that is the month Adar. NASB 1977 In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, Pur, that is the lot, was cast before Haman from day to day and from month to month, until the twelfth month, that is the month Adar. Legacy Standard Bible In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, Pur, that is the lot, was cast before Haman from day to day and from month to month, until the twelfth month, that is the month Adar. Amplified Bible In the first month, the month of Nisan (Mar-Apr), in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, Haman cast Pur, that is, the lot, cast before him day after day [to find a lucky day to approach the king], month after month, until the twelfth month, the month of Adar (Feb-Mar). Christian Standard Bible In the first month, the month of Nisan, in King Ahasuerus’s twelfth year, the pur —that is, the lot—was cast before Haman for each day in each month, and it fell on the twelfth month, the month Adar. Holman Christian Standard Bible In the first month, the month of Nisan, in King Ahasuerus’s twelfth year, Pur (that is, the lot) was cast before Haman for each day in each month, and it fell on the twelfth month, the month Adar. American Standard Version 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. Contemporary English Version It was now the twelfth year of the rule of King Xerxes. During Nisan, the first month of the year, Haman said, "Find out the best time for me to do this." The time chosen was Adar, the twelfth month. English Revised Version 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. GOD'S WORD® Translation In Xerxes' twelfth year as king, [Pur] (which means [the lot]) was thrown in front of Haman for every day of every month, from Nisan, the first month, until Adar, the twelfth month. Good News Translation In the twelfth year of King Xerxes' rule, in the first month, the month of Nisan, Haman ordered the lots to be cast ("purim," they were called) to find out the right day and month to carry out his plot. The thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, was decided on. International Standard Version In the twelfth year of the reign of King Ahasuerus, in the first month (the month Nisan), the pur (that is, the lot) was cast in Haman's presence to determine the best day and month to carry out his plot. The lot indicated the twelfth month, the month Adar. Majority Standard Bible In 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. NET Bible In the first month (that is, the month of Nisan), in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus' reign, pur (that is, the lot) was cast before Haman in order to determine a day and a month. It turned out to be the twelfth month (that is, the month of Adar). New Heart English Bible In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Achshayarsh, they cast Pur (that is, the lot) before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, and chose the twelfth month, which is the month Adar. Webster's Bible Translation 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. World English Bible 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, and chose the twelfth month, which is the month Adar. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionIn the first month—it [is] the month of Nisan—in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, has 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. Young's Literal Translation 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. Smith's Literal Translation In the first month (this the month Nisan,) in the twelfth year to the king Ahasuerus, he cast Pur (this is the lot) before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, this the twelfth the month Adar. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleIn the first month (which is called Nisan) in the twelfth year of the reign of Assuerus, the lot was cast into an urn, which in Hebrew is called Phur, before Aman, on what day and what month the nation of the Jews should be destroyed: and there came out the twelfth month, which is called Adar. Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible In the first month, Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, the pur, or lot, was cast in Haman’s presence to determine the day and the month for the destruction of Mordecai’s people on a single day, and the lot fell on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, Adar. New Revised Standard Version In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur—which means “the lot”—before Haman for the day and for the month, and the lot fell on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleIn the first month, that is, the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Akhshirash, they cast lots be fore Haman from day to day and from month to month. Then in the twelfth month, that is, the month of Adar, Peshitta Holy Bible Translated In the first month, which is Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Akhashiresh, he cast lots, and the lot was before Haman from day to day and from month to month, in the twelfth month, which is Adar. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917In 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. Brenton Septuagint Translation And he made a decree in the twelfth year of the reign of Artaxerxes, and cast lots daily and monthly, to slay in one day the race of Mardochaeus: and the lot fell on the fourteenth day of the month which is Adar. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Haman Plots Against the Jews…6And when he learned the identity of Mordecai’s people, he scorned the notion of laying hands on Mordecai alone. Instead, he sought to destroy all of Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the kingdom of Xerxes. 7In 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. 8Then Haman informed King Xerxes, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples of every province of your kingdom. Their laws are different from everyone else’s, and they do not obey the king’s laws. So it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them.… Cross References Proverbs 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD. Daniel 2:21 He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. Nehemiah 2:1 Now in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was set before him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had never been sad in his presence, 1 Chronicles 29:12 Both riches and honor come from You, and You are the ruler over all. In Your hands are power and might to exalt and give strength to all. Isaiah 46:10 I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’ Ecclesiastes 9:11 I saw something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; neither is the bread to the wise, nor the wealth to the intelligent, nor the favor to the skillful. For time and chance happen to all. Genesis 41:32 Moreover, because the dream was given to Pharaoh in two versions, the matter has been decreed by God, and He will carry it out shortly. 2 Kings 19:25 Have you not heard? Long ago I ordained it; in days of old I planned it. Now I have brought it to pass, that you should crush fortified cities into piles of rubble. Job 14:5 Since his days are determined and the number of his months is with You, and since You have set limits that he cannot exceed, Psalm 31:15 My times are in Your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me. Acts 1:26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias. So he was added to the eleven apostles. Romans 8:28 And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. Ephesians 1:11 In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will, James 4:13-15 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make a profit.” / You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. / Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.” Matthew 10:29-30 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. / And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Treasury of Scripture 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. the first month. Nehemiah 2:1 And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence. in the twelfth. Esther 1:3 In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him: Esther 2:16 So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. they cast Pur. Esther 9:24-26 Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them; … Proverbs 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD. Ezekiel 21:21,22 For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination: he made his arrows bright, he consulted with images, he looked in the liver… Adar. Esther 9:1,5,17-19,21 Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;) … Ezra 6:15 And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king. Jump to Previous Adar Ahasuerus Ahasu-E'rus Cast Chose First Haman Lot Month Nisan Pur TwelfthJump to Next Adar Ahasuerus Ahasu-E'rus Cast Chose First Haman Lot Month Nisan Pur TwelfthEsther 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. In the first month, the month of Nisan The phrase "In the first month, the month of Nisan," situates the events within the Jewish calendar, which is significant for understanding the timing of the narrative. Nisan is the first month of the Jewish ecclesiastical year, corresponding to March-April in the Gregorian calendar. This month is historically significant as it marks the beginning of the Jewish Passover, a time of deliverance and remembrance of God's faithfulness. The mention of Nisan sets the stage for a account of providence and deliverance, echoing the themes of Passover. in the twelfth year of King Xerxes they cast the pur (that is, the lot) in the presence of Haman to select a day and a month And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar Nisan.--The later name of the month, known in the Pentateuch as Abib. In this month the Passover had been first instituted, when God smote the Egyptians with a terrible visitation, the death of the first-born, and bade the destroying angel spare the houses with the blood-besprinkled door-posts. It was in the same month that the Passover received its final fulfilment, when "Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us," when no mere earthly Egypt was discomfited, but principalities and powers of evil. Pur.--This is evidently a Persian word for "lot," for both here and in Esther 9:24 the usual Hebrew word is added. It is doubtless connected with the Latin pars, portio. and the English part. The people who cast Pur were seeking for a lucky day, as indicated by the lots, for the purpose in hand. A lot was cast for each day of the month, and for each month in the year, and in some way or other one day and one mouth were indicated as the most favourable. The notion of lucky and unlucky days seems to have been prevalent in the East in early times. and iudeed has, to a certain extent. found credence in the West. The twelfth month.--The lucky month is thus indicated, but not the day. The LXX. adds a clause saying that it was on the fourteenth day, doubtless an interpolation on the strength of Esther 3:13. Adar.--The lunar month ending at the new moon in March. It was the twelfth month, so that nearly a year would intervene between the throwing of the lot and the carrying out of the scheme. Thus in God's providence ample time was allowed for redressing matters. Verse 7. - In the first month, the month Nisan. See the comment on Nehemiah 2:1. This name was first given to the month by the Jews after the return from the captivity. It was the Babylonian name of the first month of the year, and superseded the old Jewish name, Abib. The twelfth year of... Ahasuerus - B.C. 474, if Ahasuerus be Xerxes. They cast Pur, that is, the lot. The superstitious use of lots has always been prevalent in the East, and continues to the present day. Lots were drawn, or thrown, m various ways: sometimes by means of dice, sometimes by slips of wood, or strips of parchment or paper, and also in other manners. Even the Jews supposed a special Providence to preside over the casting of lots (Proverbs 16:33), and thought that matters decided in this way were decided by God. Haman appears to have cast lots, first, as to the day of the month which he should fix for the massacre, and secondly as to the month in which it should take place. Apparently the lot fell out for the thirteenth day (ver. 13), and for the twelfth month, the last month in the year. The word "Pur" is not Hebrew it is supposed to be Old Persian, and to be connected with Mod. Pers. pareh, Lat. pars, Greek μέρος μοῖρα. To the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar. Adar is, like Nisan, a Babylonian word, perhaps connected with edder, "splendour." The month so named corresponded nearly with March, when the sun begins to have great power in Western Asia. HAMAN PERSUADES AHASUERUS TO PUBLISH A DECREE COMMANDING THE DESTRUCTION OF ALL THE JEWS IN HIS KINGDOM ON THE ENSUING THIRTEENTH DAY OF ADAR (Esther 3:8-15). Having formed his own resolve, it remained for Haman to bring his proposal before Ahasuerus in such a shape as should secure his acquiescence in it. For this purpose he thought it best, first, to raise a prejudice against the Jews by representing them as bad subjects, causing trouble through the peculiarity of their own laws, and still more through their unwillingness to render obedience to the Persian laws (ver. 8). In support of this last statement he would no doubt, if questioned, have adduced the conduct of Mordecai, who persisted in "transgressing the king's commandment," and gave as his only reason that he was a Jew, and therefore could not obey it (ver. 4). As, however, he doubted the effect of this reasoning on his royal master, he held in reserve an argument of another kind, an appeal to the king's cupidity, which constituted his main reliance. If the king gave his consent to the destruction of the Jewish nation, Haman undertook to pay into the royal treasuries, out of his private means, a sum which cannot be estimated at much less than two millions and a quarter of pounds sterling, and which may have amounted to a much higher figure (ver. 9). The effect of this argument upon Ahasuerus was decisive; he at once took his signet-ring from his finger, and made it over to his minister (ver. 10), thus enabling him to promulgate any decree that he pleased, and he openly declared that he gave over the Jewish nation, their lives and properties, into Haman's hands (ver. 11). Haman "struck while the iron was hot." The king's scribes were put in requisition - a decree was composed, numerous copies of it made, the royal seal am,ca to each (ver. 12), and a copy despatched forthwith to each governor of a province by the royal post, ordering the complete destruction of the Jews within his province, young and old, men, women, and children, on the thirteenth day of the month Adar, and the confiscation of their property (ver. 13). The posts started off with all speed, "being hastened by the king's commandment" (ver. 15); and the two men who had plotted a nation's extermination, as if they had done a good day's work, and deserved refreshment, "sat down to drink." But the Persians generally were less satisfied with the decree than their monarch and his minister; it surprised and startled them; "the city Shushan was perplexed."Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew In the twelfthשְׁתֵּ֣ים (šə·têm) Number - fd Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number) year בִּשְׁנַת֙ (biš·naṯ) Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 8141: A year of King לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (lam·me·leḵ) Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4428: A king Xerxes, אֲחַשְׁוֵר֑וֹשׁ (’ă·ḥaš·wê·rō·wōš) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 325: Ahasuerus -- king of Persia in the first הָרִאשׁוֹן֙ (hā·ri·šō·wn) Article | Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 7223: First, in place, time, rank month, בַּחֹ֤דֶשׁ (ba·ḥō·ḏeš) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2320: The new moon, a month the month חֹ֣דֶשׁ (ḥō·ḏeš) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 2320: The new moon, a month of Nisan, נִיסָ֔ן (nî·sān) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 5212: First month of the Jewish religious year the pur פּוּר֩ (pūr) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 6332: a lot', a Jewish feast (that is, הוּא־ (hū-) Pronoun - third person masculine singular Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are the lot) הַגּוֹרָ֜ל (hag·gō·w·rāl) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1486: Lot -- a lot (for casting) was cast הִפִּ֣יל (hip·pîl) Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5307: To fall, lie before לִפְנֵ֣י (lip̄·nê) Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct Strong's 6440: The face Haman הָמָ֗ן (hā·mān) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 2001: Haman -- to rage, be turbulent to determine a day מִיּ֧וֹם ׀ (mî·yō·wm) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3117: A day and month. וּמֵחֹ֛דֶשׁ (ū·mê·ḥō·ḏeš) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2320: The new moon, a month And the lot fell on the twelfth שְׁנֵים־ (šə·nêm-) Number - md Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number) month, חֹ֥דֶשׁ (ḥō·ḏeš) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 2320: The new moon, a month the month of Adar. אֲדָֽר׃ (’ă·ḏār) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 143: The twelfth month in the Jewish calendar Links Esther 3:7 NIVEsther 3:7 NLT Esther 3:7 ESV Esther 3:7 NASB Esther 3:7 KJV Esther 3:7 BibleApps.com Esther 3:7 Biblia Paralela Esther 3:7 Chinese Bible Esther 3:7 French Bible Esther 3:7 Catholic Bible OT History: Esther 3:7 In the first month which (Est Esth. 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