Esther 9:29 - Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority to confirm this second letter of Purim.

Generated Verse: Esther 9:29

What does "Esther 9:29" mean?


Esther 9:29 is referring to the formal establishment of the annual celebration of Purim. Let's break down the verse to understand its meaning:

"Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail...": This identifies Esther, the Jewish woman who became queen of Persia, and specifies her lineage (daughter of Abihail). This emphasizes her importance and authority within the Persian empire.

"...and Mordecai the Jew...": This identifies Mordecai, Esther's cousin and guardian. He was a prominent figure in the Jewish community and served in the king's court. Emphasizing his Jewish identity highlights the Jewish perspective in establishing the holiday.

"...wrote with all authority...": This is a key phrase. It means that Esther and Mordecai, acting together, issued a decree. Their position as queen and royal official respectively gave them the power to make this declaration official and binding. This was not just a suggestion; it was an order to the Jewish people.

"...to confirm this second letter of Purim.": This refers to the second letter/edict regarding Purim. The first letter, mentioned earlier in Esther 9, likely encouraged the celebration and described the events that led to the Jewish people's victory over their enemies. This second letter served to solidify and confirm the annual observance of Purim as a permanent fixture in Jewish tradition. It probably included more detailed instructions on how to celebrate Purim.

In essence, this verse means that Queen Esther and Mordecai, acting with their full royal authority, officially declared and formalized the annual celebration of Purim for the Jewish people. Their written decree served to ensure that the holiday would be observed perpetually as a reminder of God's deliverance of the Jews from Haman's plot. It established the holiday as a lasting part of Jewish religious and cultural life.

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