EST (Esther)
EST.1 • EST.2 • EST.3 • EST.4 • EST.5 • EST.6 • EST.7 • EST.8 • EST.9 • EST.10
EST.1
[EST.1.1] It happened in the days of Ahasuerus, who was Ahasuerus the king, and he reigned from India to Ethiopia over a hundred and twenty‑seven provinces. [§]
Vayehi bi-ymei Achashverosh, hu Achashverosh ha-molekh me-Hodu ve'ad Kush, sheva ve-eshrim u-meah medina.
'Vayehi' means 'it happened', 'bi-ymei' means 'in the days of', 'Achashverosh' is the transliteration of the Persian king's name, 'hu' means 'who', 'ha-molekh' means 'the king', 'me-Hodu' means 'from India', 've'ad' means 'and up to', 'Kush' means 'Ethiopia', 'sheva' means 'seven', 've-eshrim' means 'and twenty', 'u-meah' means 'and a hundred', 'medina' means 'province' or 'province(s)'.
[EST.1.2] In those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on his throne, the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace. [§]
Bayyamim hahem keshevet ha-melekh Ahasuerosh al kiser malkuto asher beShushan habirah.
'Bayyamim' means 'in the days', 'hahem' means 'those', 'keshevet' means 'when [he] sat', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'Ahasuerosh' is the name of the king, 'al' means 'on', 'kiser' means 'throne', 'malkuto' means 'his kingdom's', 'asher' means 'which', 'beShushan' means 'in Shushan', 'habirah' means 'the palace' or 'the stronghold'.
[EST.1.3] In the third year of his reign he held a feast for all his princes and his servants, the army of Persia and Media, the Persians and the princes of the nations before him. [§]
bishnat shalosh lemalcho asah mishteh lekhol sarav veavadav cheil paras u-maday ha-partehim ve-sarei ha-medinot lefanav.
'bishnat' means 'in the year of', 'shalosh' means 'three' (third), 'lemalcho' means 'of his reign', 'asah' means 'he made' or 'he held', 'mishteh' means 'a feast', 'lekhol' means 'for all', 'sarav' means 'his princes', 'veavadav' means 'and his servants', 'cheil' means 'the army' or 'host', 'paras' means 'Persia', 'u-maday' means 'and Media', 'ha-partehim' means 'the Persians', 've-sarei' means 'and the princes of', 'ha-medinot' means 'the nations', 'lefanav' means 'before him' or 'in his presence'.
[EST.1.4] When he sees the wealth, the glory of his kingdom, and the precious, the splendor of his greatness, many days, eighty and a hundred days. [§]
beharoto et-osek kevod malkhuto ve-et-yeqar tiferet gedulato yamim rabbim shmoneem u-meat yom.
'beharoto' means 'when he sees' or 'in his seeing', 'et' is the direct object marker, 'osek' means 'wealth' or 'riches', 'kevod' means 'glory', 'malkhuto' means 'his kingdom', 've' means 'and', 'et-yeqar' means 'the precious' or 'the honor', 'tiferet' means 'splendor', 'gedulato' means 'his greatness', 'yamim' means 'days', 'rabbim' means 'many', 'shmoneem' means 'eighty', 'u' means 'and', 'meat' means 'a hundred', 'yom' means 'day'.
[EST.1.5] In the fullness of these days the king prepared for all the people who were found in Shushan, both great and small, a seven-day feast in the courtyard of the king's garden. [§]
uvimloot hayamim haeleh asah hamelech lekhol haam hanimtzeim beshushan habirah lemigdal veadkatan misheh shivaat yamim bachatzar ginnat bitan hamelech.
'uvimloot' means 'in the fullness' (the state of being complete), 'hayamim' means 'the days', 'haeleh' means 'these', 'asah' means 'made' or 'did', 'hamelech' means 'the king', 'lekhol' means 'for all', 'haam' means 'the people', 'hanimtzeim' means 'who were found' or 'who were present', 'beshushan' means 'in Shushan' (the city), 'habirah' means 'the great' (or 'the magnificent'), 'lemigdal' means 'to the great' (i.e., the great ones), 'veadkatan' means 'and to the small' (the little ones), 'misheh' means 'a feast' or 'a banquet', 'shivaat' means 'seven', 'yamim' means 'days', 'bachatzar' means 'in the courtyard', 'ginnat' means 'garden' (the cultivated area), 'bitan' means 'the palace', and 'hamelech' again means 'the king'.
[EST.1.6] A horse, a carpet and fine linen, a harness in braided cords and purple on silver cords and six columns, beds of gold and silver upon polished stone, and jasper, and precious stone, and a decorative ornament. [§]
Chur karpas utekhelet achuz bechablei-butz ve'argaman al gleilei kesef veamudei shesh mittot zahav vakesef al ritzpat bahet ve'shesh ve dar ve socharet.
'Chur' means 'horse', 'karpas' means 'carpet', 'utekhelet' means 'and fine linen', 'achuz' means 'a harness', 'bechablei-butz' means 'in braided cords', 've'argaman' means 'and purple', 'al' means 'on', 'gleilei kesef' means 'silver cords', 'veamudei shesh' means 'and six columns', 'mittot' means 'beds' or 'couches', 'zahav' means 'gold', 'vakesef' means 'and silver', 'al' again means 'upon', 'ritzpat' means 'polished', 'bahet' means 'stone', 've'shesh' means 'and jasper', 've dar' means 'and precious stone', 've socharet' means 'and a decorative ornament'.
[EST.1.7] And the libations in golden vessels and vessels different from the usual, and wine of great kingdom as the hand of the king. [§]
vehashkot biklei zahav vekelim mikelim shonim veyin malchut rav keyad hamelek.
'vehashkot' means 'and the libations', 'biklei' means 'in vessels', 'zahav' means 'gold', 'vekelim' means 'and vessels', 'mikelim' means 'different from vessels', 'shonim' means 'different', 'veyin' means 'and wine', 'malchut' means 'kingdom', 'rav' means 'great', 'keyad' means 'like the hand of', 'hamelek' means 'the king'.
[EST.1.8] And the drinking as a rule has no restraint, for thus the king established over all the many of his house to do each man's will. [§]
vehash tiyah kadat ein ones ki ken yasad ha-melekh al kol rav beito laasot kirtzon ish vaish.
've' means 'and', 'hash tiyah' means 'the drinking', 'kadat' means 'as a rule' or 'law', 'ein' means 'there is no', 'ones' means 'restraint' or 'burden', 'ki ken' means 'for thus' or 'because so', 'yasad' means 'established' or 'founded', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'al' means 'over' or 'upon', 'kol rav' means 'all the many', 'beito' means 'his house', 'laasot' means 'to do' or 'to make', 'kirtzon' means 'according to desire' or 'as one wishes', 'ish' means 'man' or 'person', 'vaish' means 'and man' (emphatic repetition).
[EST.1.9] Also, Vashti the queen prepared a banquet for the women in the royal palace that belonged to King Ahasuerus. [§]
Gam Vashti ha-malka asatah mishte nashim beit ha-malkhut asher la-melekh Ahasuerus.
'Gam' means 'also' or 'even', 'Vashti' is the proper name of the queen, 'ha-malka' means 'the queen', 'asatah' means 'she made' or 'she prepared', 'mishte' means 'a feast' or 'banquet', 'nashim' means 'women', 'beit' means 'house' or 'palace', 'ha-malkhut' means 'the royal' or 'the kingdom's', 'asher' means 'which' or 'that', 'la-melekh' means 'for the king', 'Ahasuerus' is the name of the king.
[EST.1.10] On the seventh day it was good to the king's heart in wine; he said to Limhumam, 'In place of the sword and the shield and the crown and the band, the seven eunuchs who served before the face of King Ahasuerus.' [§]
bayom hashvii ketoov lev-hamelek ba-yayin amar limhumam bizta charbona bigta vaavgta zetar ve-kharkas shivat hasarisim hamshartim et-penei hamelek achashverosh.
'bayom' means 'on the day', 'hashvii' means 'the seventh', 'ketoov' means 'it was good' or 'it pleased', 'lev-hamelek' means 'the king's heart', 'ba-yayin' means 'in wine', 'amar' means 'said', 'limhumam' is a proper name (likely a court official), 'bizta' means 'in the place of' (or a proper noun), 'charbona' means 'the sword', 'bigta' means 'the shield', 'vaavgta' means 'and the ...' (uncertain term), 'zetar' means 'crown', 've-kharkas' means 'and a band' (or 'and a necklace'), 'shivat' means 'seven', 'hasarisim' means 'the eunuchs', 'hamshartim' means 'the servants/attendants', 'et-penei' means 'before the face of', 'hamelek' means 'the king', and 'achashverosh' means 'Ahasuerus' (the Persian king).
[EST.1.11] To bring the queen's cup before the king in the crown of the kingdom, to show the peoples and the princes her beauty, because her appearance is good. [§]
Lehavi et-vashti ha-malka le-fnei ha-melekh be-keter malchut le-har'ot ha-amim ve-hasarim et-yafyah ki-tovet mareh hi.
'Lehavi' means 'to bring', 'et-vashti' means 'the queen's cup', 'ha-malka' means 'the queen', 'le-fnei' means 'before', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'be-keter' means 'in the crown', 'malchut' means 'of kingdom', 'le-har'ot' means 'to show', 'ha-amim' means 'the peoples', 've-hasarim' means 'and the princes', 'et-yafyah' means 'her beauty', 'ki' means 'because', 'tovet' means 'good', 'mareh' means 'appearance', 'hi' means 'she'.
[EST.1.12] And the queen refused and drank before coming by the king's command that was in the hands of the eunuchs, and the king was very angry, and his anger burned him. [§]
vatemaen ha-malka va-shti lavo bidvar ha-melekh asher be-yad ha-sarisim va-yiktzof ha-melekh meod va-chamato ba-arah bo.
'va' means 'and', 'temaen' means 'refused', 'ha-malka' means 'the queen', 'va-shti' means 'and drank', 'lavo' means 'to come', 'bi-dvar' means 'by the word', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'asher' means 'that/which', 'be-yad' means 'in the hand', 'ha-sarisim' means 'the eunuchs', 'va-yiktzof' means 'and became angry', 'meod' means 'very', 'va-chamato' means 'and his anger', 'ba-arah' means 'burned', 'bo' means 'him'.
[EST.1.13] And the king said to the wise, those who know the times, that indeed the king's word is before all who know religion and judgment. [§]
Vayomer ha-melekh la-chachamim yodei ha-itim ki-ken devar ha-melekh lifnei kol-yodei dat va-din.
'Vayomer' means 'said', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'la-chachamim' means 'to the wise', 'yodei' means 'those who know', 'ha-itim' means 'the times', 'ki-ken' means 'for indeed', 'devar' means 'the word' or 'the matter', 'ha-melekh' (again) means 'the king', 'lifnei' means 'before', 'kol-yodei' means 'all who know', 'dat' means 'religion', 'va-din' means 'and judgment'.
[EST.1.14] And the one who is near to him, Karshena, Sethar, the earth, Tarshish, Mercury, Mars, prepared, the seven princes, Paras and Madai, those who see the face of the king, the seated ones first in the kingdom. [§]
vehaqarov elav karshena sethar adamata tarshish meres marsena memukan shivat sirei paras umaday roei pnei hamelek hayoshvim rishona bamalkhut.
'vehaqarov' means 'and the one near', 'elav' means 'to him', 'karshena' is a proper name likely a celestial body, 'sethar' is a proper name, 'adamata' means 'the earth', 'tarshish' is a place name, 'meres' likely refers to the planet Mercury, 'marsena' likely refers to the planet Mars, 'memukan' means 'prepared' or 'ready', 'shivat' means 'seven', 'sirei' means 'princes' or 'lords', 'paras' is a proper name, 'umaday' likely means 'and Madai', 'roei' means 'those who see', 'pnei' means 'face of', 'hamelek' means 'the king', 'hayoshvim' means 'the seated ones', 'rishona' means 'first', 'bamalkhut' means 'in the kingdom'.
[EST.1.15] As for what to do in the palace and she drank concerning that which she had not done the king Achashverosh's command by the eunuchs. [§]
Kedat ma la'asot ba-malkah va'shti al asher lo-asatah et ma'amar ha-melekh Achashverosh be-yad ha-sarisim.
'Kedat' means 'as for' or 'regarding', 'ma' means 'what', 'la'asot' means 'to do', 'ba-malkah' means 'in the palace' or 'in the kingdom', 'va'shti' means 'and she drank', 'al' means 'concerning' or 'about', 'asher' means 'that which', 'lo-asatah' means 'she did not do', 'et' is the direct object marker, 'ma'amar' means 'the saying' or 'the command', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'Achashverosh' is the name of the king, 'be-yad' means 'by the hand of', 'ha-sarisim' means 'the eunuchs'.
[EST.1.16] And Memukan said before the king and the princes, not only the king alone, transgression, and Vashti the queen, because over all the princes and over all the peoples that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus. [§]
vayomer memukan lifnei ha-melech ve-hasarim lo al ha-melech levado avta vashti ha-malkah ki al kol ha-sarim ve-al kol ha-amim asher be-kol medinot ha-melech achashverosh
'vayomer' means 'and he said', 'memukan' is a proper name meaning 'Memukan', 'lifnei' means 'before', 'ha-melech' means 'the king', 've-hasarim' means 'and the princes', 'lo' means 'not', 'al' means 'upon' or 'against', 'ha-melech' again 'the king', 'levado' means 'alone', 'avta' means 'transgression' or 'sin', 'vashti' is a proper name meaning 'Vashti', 'ha-malkah' means 'the queen', 'ki' means 'because', 'al' again 'upon', 'kol' means 'all', 'ha-sarim' means 'the princes', 've-al' means 'and upon', 'kol' again 'all', 'ha-amim' means 'the peoples', 'asher' means 'that', 'be-kol' means 'in all', 'medinot' means 'provinces', 'ha-melech' again 'the king', 'achashverosh' is a proper name meaning 'Ahasuerus'.
[EST.1.17] Because went out the word of the queen against all the women to despise their husbands in their eyes, saying the king Ahasuerus said to bring Vashti the queen before him, and she did not come. [§]
ki yetze dvar hamilka al kol hanashim lehavzot ba'aleihen beineihen be'amaram hamelek Ahasuerus amar lehavi et Vashti hamilka lefanav velo ba'ah.
'ki' means 'because', 'yetze' means 'goes out', 'dvar' means 'word', 'hamilka' means 'the queen', 'al' means 'against', 'kol' means 'all', 'hanashim' means 'the women', 'lehavzot' means 'to despise', 'ba'aleihen' means 'their husbands', 'beineihen' means 'in their eyes', 'be'amaram' means 'saying', 'hamelek' means 'the king', 'Ahasuerus' is the name of the king, 'amar' means 'said', 'lehavi' means 'to bring', 'et' is the direct object marker, 'Vashti' is the queen's name, 'hamilka' again means 'the queen', 'lefanav' means 'before him', 'velo' means 'and not', 'ba'ah' means 'came'.
[EST.1.18] And this day they will say, the princes of Persia and Media who have heard the queen's word to all the king's princes, and enough in anger and wrath. [§]
ve-hayam hazeh tomarnah sarot paras-u-madai asher shamu et dvar ha-malkah lekol sarei ha-melekh u-keday bizayon vakatzef.
've' means 'and', 'hayam' means 'the day', 'hazeh' means 'this', 'tomarnah' means 'they will say', 'sarot' means 'princes', 'paras-u-madai' means 'of Persia and Media', 'asher' means 'who', 'shamu' means 'heard', 'et' is a direct object marker, 'dvar' means 'word', 'ha-malkah' means 'the queen', 'lekol' means 'to all', 'sarei' means 'princes', 'ha-melekh' means 'of the king', 'u-keday' means 'and enough' or 'as needed', 'bizayon' means 'in anger', 'vakatzef' means 'and wrath'.
[EST.1.19] If concerning the king good goes out, the word of the kingdom before him, and it will be written in the laws of Persia and Media, and it will not pass that which will not come, and Vashti before the king Ahasuerus, and his kingdom will give the king for its good pasturing from it. [§]
Im al ha-melekh tov yeetze dvar-malkut milfanav veyichatev be-datai pars-u-madai ve-lo ya'avor asher lo-tavo vashti lifnei ha-melekh Achashverosh u-malkhutah yiten ha-melekh li-re'utah ha-tovah mimena.
'Im' means 'if', 'al' means 'upon' or 'concerning', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'tov' means 'good', 'yeetze' means 'will go out' or 'will appear', 'dvar-malkut' means 'the word of the kingdom', 'milfanav' means 'before him', 'veyichatev' means 'and it will be written', 'be-datai' means 'in the laws/religions', 'pars-u-madai' means 'of Persia and Media', 've-lo' means 'and not', 'ya'avor' means 'will pass', 'asher' means 'that which', 'lo-tavo' means 'will not come', 'vashti' is the proper name Vashti, 'lifnei' means 'before', 'Achashverosh' is the proper name Ahasuerus, 'u-malkhutah' means 'and her kingdom', 'yiten' means 'will give', 'li-re'utah' means 'for its pasturing/shepherding', 'ha-tovah' means 'the good', 'mimena' means 'from it'. Some phrases such as 'li-re'utah ha-tovah mimena' are idiomatic and are rendered literally as 'for its good pasturing from it' because the exact ancient idiom is unclear.
[EST.1.20] And we shall hear the king's decree, which he will carry out throughout his kingdom, because it is great; and all the women will give precious things to their husbands, both the great and the small. [§]
VeNishma Pitgam HaMelekh AsherYaaseh BecholMalkhuto Ki Raba Hi VecholHaNashim Yittenu Yekar LeBa'aleihen LeMigadol VeadKaton.
'VeNishma' means 'and we shall hear', 'Pitgam' means 'decree' or 'edict', 'HaMelekh' means 'the king', 'AsherYaaseh' means 'who will do' (literally 'who will make'), 'BecholMalkhuto' means 'throughout his kingdom', 'Ki' means 'because', 'Raba' means 'great' (feminine), 'Hi' means 'it is', 'VecholHaNashim' means 'and all the women', 'Yittenu' means 'they will give', 'Yekar' means 'precious' or 'valuable', 'LeBa'aleihen' means 'to their husbands', 'LeMigadol' means 'to the great', and 'VeadKaton' means 'and to the small'.
[EST.1.21] And the matter was good in the eyes of the king and the princes, and the king acted according to the approved word. [§]
Vayyitav hadavar be'enei ha-melekh ve-hasarim vayya'as ha-melekh kidvar memukan.
'Vayyitav' means 'and it was good' or 'and it turned out well', 'hadavar' means 'the matter' or 'the thing', 'be'enei' means 'in the eyes of', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 've-hasarim' means 'and the princes' (or officials), 'vayya'as' means 'and he did' or 'and he acted', 'kidvar' means 'according to the word' or 'as the word', and 'memukan' means 'approved', 'established', or 'acceptable'. The clause therefore says that the matter was favorably regarded by the king and his princes, and the king acted in line with the approved decree.
[EST.1.22] And he sent letters to all the nations of the king, to each nation according to its writing, and to each people according to its language, that every man might be a ruler in his house and speak the language of his people. [§]
Va-yishlach sefarim el kol medinot ha-melekh el medina u-medina ki-khtevah ve-el am va-am ki-lshono li-hyot kol ish sorer be-veito u-m'dabber ki-lshon ammo.
'Va-yishlach' means 'and he sent', 'sefarim' means 'letters', 'el' means 'to', 'kol' means 'all', 'medinot' means 'nations', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king's', 'el medina u-medina' means 'to each nation', 'ki-khtevah' means 'according to its writing', 've-el am va-am' means 'and to each people', 'ki-lshono' means 'according to its language', 'li-hyot' means 'that (they) might be', 'kol ish' means 'every man', 'sorer' means 'ruler' or 'may rule', 'be-veito' means 'in his house', 'u-m'dabber' means 'and speak', 'ki-lshon ammo' means 'the language of his people'.
EST.2
[EST.2.1] After these matters, as the wrath of the king Ahasuerus, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what was taken from her. [§]
Achar hadvarim haeleh keshokh chamat ha-melekh Ahasuerus zachar et-Vashti ve'et asher-asa ve'et asher-nigzar aleha.
'Achar' means 'after', 'hadvarim' means 'the words' or 'the matters', 'haeleh' means 'these', 'keshokh' means 'as the wrath' or 'when the wrath', 'chamat' means 'the wrath', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'Ahasuerus' is the name of the Persian king, 'zachar' means 'he remembered', 'et-Vashti' means 'Vashti' with the direct object marker, 've'et' means 'and (the) ...', 'asher-asa' means 'that she did' or 'what she had done', 've'et' again means 'and (the) ...', 'asher-nigzar' means 'that was taken' or 'what was removed', 'aleha' means 'from her'.
[EST.2.2] And the king's youths, his servants, said, 'Let them search for the king's maidens, virgins who are beautiful in appearance.' [§]
Vayomeru na'arei ha-melekh meshartav yevakshu la-melekh ne'arot be-tulot tovot mareh.
'Vayomeru' means 'and they said', 'na'arei' means 'the youths', 'ha-melekh' means 'of the king', 'meshartav' means 'his servants/attendants', 'yevakhshu' means 'they will seek', 'la-melekh' means 'for the king', 'ne'arot' means 'young women/maidens', 'be-tulot' means 'virgins', 'tovot' means 'good or beautiful', 'mareh' means 'appearance' or 'looking'.
[EST.2.3] And the king will appoint officials throughout all the provinces of his kingdom, and they will gather every maiden virgin of good appearance to Shushan the great, to the house of the women, to the hand of Hege'a, the officer of the king, keeper of the women, and will give them their treasured things. [§]
ve-yapked ha-melekh pekidim be-khol m'dinot malkhuto ve-yikbetsu et-khol na'ara-betula tovath mareh el-Shushan ha-birah el-beit ha-nashim el-yad hege'a s'ris ha-melekh shomer ha-nashim ve-naton tamruqeyhem.
've-yapked' means 'and will appoint', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'pekidim' means 'officials', 'be-khol' means 'in all', 'm'dinot' means 'provinces', 'malkhuto' means 'his kingdom', 've-yikbetsu' means 'and they will gather', 'et-khol' means 'all', 'na'ara-betula' means 'maiden virgin', 'tovath' means 'good/beautiful', 'mareh' means 'appearance', 'el' means 'to', 'Shushan' is a place name, 'ha-birah' means 'the great', 'el-beit' means 'to the house', 'ha-nashim' means 'of the women', 'el-yad' means 'to the hand of', 'hege'a' is a name or title, 's'ris' means 'officer', 'ha-melekh' again 'of the king', 'shomer' means 'keeper', 'ha-nashim' again 'of the women', 've-naton' means 'and will give', 'tamruqeyhem' means 'their treasured things' (the exact sense is uncertain, possibly 'their ornaments' or 'their pleasures').
[EST.2.4] And the maiden who was favored in the eyes of the king will reign under her, and the matter pleased in the eyes of the king, and so it was done. [§]
veha-na'arah asher titav be'eynei ha-melekh timlokh tachat vash'ti vayitav ha-davar be'eynei ha-melekh vayya'as ken.
'veha-na'arah' means 'and the maiden', 'asher' means 'who/which', 'titav' means 'will be favored' or 'will please', 'be'eynei' means 'in the eyes of', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'timlokh' means 'will reign' or 'will be made ruler', 'tachat' means 'under', 'vash'ti' is a connective possibly meaning 'and she' or a filler conjunction, 'vayitav' means 'and it pleased' or 'and it was favorable', 'ha-davar' means 'the matter' or 'the thing', 'vayya'as' means 'and he/she did' or 'and he/she made', 'ken' means 'so' or 'thus'.
[EST.2.5] A Jewish man was in Shushan the capital, and his name was Mordecai, son of Yair, son of Shimi, son of Kish, a man of the province. [§]
Ish Yehudi haya b'Shushan habirah u'shmo Mordechai ben Yair ben Shimi ben Kish ish yemini.
'Ish' means 'man', 'Yehudi' means 'Jewish', 'haya' means 'was', 'b'Shushan' means 'in Shushan', 'habirah' means 'the capital', 'u'shmo' means 'and his name', 'Mordechai' is a personal name, 'ben' means 'son of', 'Yair' is a personal name, 'ben Shimi' means 'son of Shimi', 'ben Kish' means 'son of Kish', 'ish' again means 'man', 'yemini' literally means 'right-hand' but idiomatically denotes a man of the province or district.
[EST.2.6] That which was exiled from Jerusalem with the exile that was taken away with Jeconiah king of Judah, that which was taken away by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. [§]
Asher hagalah miYerushlayim im-hagolah asher hagtata im Yekhaniah melek-Yehudah asher heglah Nebuchadnezzar melek-Babel.
'Asher' means 'that which', 'hagalah' means 'was exiled' or 'was carried away', 'miYerushlayim' means 'from Jerusalem', 'im-hagolah' means 'with the exile', 'asher' again means 'that which', 'hagtata' means 'was taken away', 'im' means 'with', 'Yekhaniah' is the personal name Jeconiah, 'melek-Yehudah' means 'king of Judah', 'asher' again means 'that which', 'heglah' means 'was taken away', 'Nebuchadnezzar' is the personal name of the Babylonian king, 'melek-Babel' means 'king of Babylon'.
[EST.2.7] And it was that she was called Hadassah; she was Esther, the daughter of Dodo, because she had no father nor mother, and the maiden was beautiful in form and good in appearance; and after the death of her father and mother, Mordechai took her as a daughter. [§]
Vayhi omen et Hadassa hi Esther bat Dodo ki ein lah av va'em ve-hana'arah yefat to'ar ve-tovat mar'eh uve-mot aviyah ve-imah le-kachah Mordechai lo levat.
'Vayhi' means 'and it was'; 'omen' means 'called' (from the root meaning 'to name'); 'et' is the direct object marker; 'Hadassa' is the Hebrew name Hadassah; 'hi' means 'she'; 'Esther' is the Persian name; 'bat' means 'daughter of'; 'Dodo' is the father’s name; 'ki' means 'because'; 'ein' means 'there is not'; 'lah' means 'for her'; 'av' means 'father'; 'va'em' means 'and mother'; 've-hana'arah' means 'and the maiden'; 'yefat' means 'beauty' or 'fair'; 'to'ar' means 'form' or 'appearance'; 've-tovat' means 'and good'; 'mar'eh' means 'appearance'; 'uve-mot' means 'and (in) the death of'; 'aviyah' means 'her father'; 've-imah' means 'and her mother'; 'le-kachah' means 'took her'; 'Mordechai' is the name Mordechai; 'lo' means 'to him'; 'levat' means 'as a daughter'.
[EST.2.8] And it happened when the word of the king and his decree was heard, and many maidens were gathered to Shushan the palace at the hand of Hegai; and Esther took (went) into the house of the king at the hand of Hegai, the keeper of the women. [§]
vayehi behishama devar ha-melekh ve-dato u-behikkabetz ne'arot rabbot el-shushan ha-birah el-yad hegai va-tillaqach Esther el-bet ha-melekh el-yad hegai shomer ha-nashim.
'vayehi' means 'and it happened', 'behishama' means 'when (the) hearing', 'devar ha-melekh' means 'the word of the king', 've-dato' means 'and his decree', 'u-behikkabetz' means 'and when (they) gathered', 'ne'arot rabbot' means 'many maidens', 'el-shushan ha-birah' means 'to Shushan the palace', 'el-yad hegai' means 'to the hand of Hegai' (the eunuch in charge), 'va-tillaqach' means 'and Esther took', 'Esther' is the name of the heroine, 'el-bet ha-melekh' means 'to the house of the king', 'el-yad hegai' again means 'to the hand of Hegai', and 'shomer ha-nashim' means 'keeper of the women'.
[EST.2.9] The young woman was pleasing in his eyes and she showed kindness before him and he honored her ornaments and her gifts to give to her and (also) seven maidens who were shown to give to her from the house of the king and he changed her and her maidservants for the good of the house of women. [§]
Vatitav hanarah beeynav vatisas chesed lefanav vayvahel et-tamrukeha veet-manoteha latet lah veet sheva hanerot hareuyot latet-lah mibbeit ha-melekh vayashaneha veet-naaroteha le-tov beit hanashim.
'Vatitav' means 'was pleasing', 'hanarah' means 'the young woman', 'beeynav' means 'in his eyes', 'vatisas' means 'and she showed', 'chesed' means 'kindness', 'lefanav' means 'before him', 'vayvahel' means 'and he honored', 'et-tamrukeha' means 'her ornaments', 'veet-manoteha' means 'and her gifts', 'latet' means 'to give', 'lah' means 'to her', 'veet' means 'and', 'sheva' means 'seven', 'hanerot' means 'the maidens', 'hareuyot' means 'the shown/visible', 'latet-lah' repeats 'to give to her', 'mibbeit' means 'from the house', 'ha-melekh' means 'of the king', 'vayashaneha' means 'and he changed her', 'veet-naaroteha' means 'and her maidservants', 'le-tov' means 'for the good', 'beit' means 'house', 'hanashim' means 'of women'. The translation renders each phrase directly without idiomatic smoothing, preserving the literal sense of the original Hebrew.
[EST.2.10] Not she announced Esther her people and her birth because Mordecai he ordered upon her that not to tell. [§]
Lo higgida Esther et ammah ve et moladta ki Mordekhai tzivah aleha asher lo taggid.
'Lo' means 'not'; 'higgida' means 'she announced'; 'Esther' is the name Esther; 'et' is the direct object marker (no translation); 'ammmah' means 'her people'; 've' means 'and'; 'et' again is the direct object marker; 'moladta' means 'her birth'; 'ki' means 'because'; 'Mordekhai' is the name Mordecai; 'tzivah' means 'he ordered'; 'aleha' means 'upon her' or 'against her'; 'asher' means 'that' or 'which'; 'lo' means 'not'; 'taggid' means 'to tell' (feminine singular, imperative form).
[EST.2.11] And every day and night Mordecai walked before the courtyard of the women's house to know the peace of Esther and what would be done concerning her. [§]
u'vekhol yom vayom Mordechai mithalech lifnei chatzar beit hanashim lada'at et Shalom Esther u-ma ye'aseh bah.
'u'vekhol' means 'and every', 'yom' means 'day', 'vayom' means 'and day' (together expressing 'day and night'), 'Mordechai' is a proper name, 'mithalech' means 'walks' or 'goes about', 'lifnei' means 'before' or 'in front of', 'chatzar' means 'courtyard', 'beit hanashim' means 'the house of women', 'lada'at' means 'to know', 'et' is a grammatical marker with no direct English equivalent, 'Shalom' means 'peace' or 'welfare', 'Esther' is a proper name, 'u-ma' means 'and what', 'ye'aseh' means 'will be done', 'bah' means 'in her' or 'concerning her'.
[EST.2.12] And when a maiden and a maiden come to the king Ahasuerus from the end of her being according to the custom of the women twelve months, for thus will be filled the days of their libations six months in oil of myrrh and six months in spices and in the libations of the women. [§]
Uvehaggia torah naarah ve naarah labo el-hamelach Ahasuerosh miketz heyot lah kedat hanashim shnei asar chodesh ki ken yimleu yemei merukeihen shisha chodashim beshemen hamor ve shisha chodashim babashamim uve tamrukei hanashim.
'Uvehaggia' means 'and when (the) arrival', 'torah' means 'young woman', 'naarah' means 'a maiden', 've' means 'and', 'naarah' another 'maiden', 'labo' means 'comes to', 'el-hamelach' means 'to the king', 'Ahasuerosh' is the transliteration of 'Ahasuerus', 'miketz' means 'from the end', 'heyot' means 'being' or 'state', 'lah' means 'for her', 'kedat' means 'according to the custom of', 'hanashim' means 'the women', 'shnei asar' means 'twelve', 'chodesh' means 'months', 'ki' means 'because', 'ken' means 'thus', 'yimleu' means 'will be filled', 'yemei' means 'the days of', 'merukeihen' means 'their libations', 'shisha chodashim' means 'six months', 'beshemen' means 'in oil', 'hamor' means 'of myrrh', 've' means 'and', 'shisha chodashim' again 'six months', 'babashamim' means 'in spices', 'uve' means 'and in', 'tamrukei' means 'the libations', 'hanashim' means 'of the women'.
[EST.2.13] And regarding this the young woman came to the king, all that you will say he will give her, to go with her, from the house of women to the house of the king. [§]
Uva'zeh ha-na'ara ba'ah el ha-melekh et kol asher tomar yinaten lah lavo imah mibeit ha-nashim ad-beit ha-melekh.
'Uva'zeh' means 'and regarding this', 'ha-na'ara' means 'the young woman', 'ba'ah' means 'came', 'el' means 'to', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'et' is a grammatical marker with no English equivalent, 'kol' means 'all', 'asher' means 'that which', 'tomar' means 'you will say', 'yinaten' means 'he will give', 'lah' means 'to her', 'lavo' means 'to come', 'imah' means 'with her', 'mi-beit' means 'from the house', 'ha-nashim' means 'of the women', 'ad-beit' means 'to the house', 'ha-melekh' means 'of the king'.
[EST.2.14] In the evening she came, and in the morning she returned to the house of the women, the second, to the hand of Sha'ashgaz Seris the king, guardian of the regiments; she shall not come again to the king unless the king desires her, and she shall be called by name. [§]
Ba'erev hi ba'ah u-vaboker hi shava el-beit ha-nashim sheni el-yad sha'ashgaz seris ha-melech shomer ha-pilagshim lo tavo od el-ha-melech ki im chafetz bah ha-melech ve-nikreh be-shem.
'Ba'erev' means 'in the evening', 'hi' means 'she', 'ba'ah' means 'came', 'u-vaboker' means 'and in the morning', 'shava' means 'returned', 'el' means 'to', 'beit' means 'house', 'ha-nashim' means 'of the women', 'sheni' means 'the second', 'el-yad' means 'to the hand', 'sha'ashgaz' is a proper name (a title or personal name), 'seris' is a proper name or title, 'ha-melech' means 'the king', 'shomer' means 'guardian', 'ha-pilagshim' means 'the regiments', 'lo tavo' means 'shall not come', 'od' means 'again', 'el-ha-melech' means 'to the king', 'ki im' means 'but if', 'chafetz' means 'desires', 'bah' means 'her', 'ha-melech' again 'the king', 've-nikreh' means 'and he shall be called', 'be-shem' means 'by name'.
[EST.2.15] When Esther, daughter of Avichail, whose grandfather was Mordecai, whom he had taken for his daughter to go before the king, did not ask for a word, because Hegai the king's eunuch, keeper of the women, said that Esther would bear favor in the eyes of all who saw her. [§]
Uvehaggi'a tor-Esther bat-Avichail dod Mordechai asher lakach-lo levat labo el-hamelukh lo biksha davar ki im et-asher yomar Hegai sseris-hamelukh shomer hanashim vatehi Esther nose'et chen be'eney kol-roeha.
'Uvehaggi'a' means 'and when (it) came', 'tor-Esther' refers to 'the arrival of Esther', 'bat-Avichail' means 'daughter of Avichail', 'dod' is 'grandfather' or 'elder', 'Mordechai' is a proper name, 'asher' means 'who', 'lakach-lo' means 'had taken for him', 'levat' (lit. 'to a daughter') and 'labo' 'to go', 'el-hamelukh' means 'to the king', 'lo' means 'not', 'biksha' means 'inquired/asked', 'davar' means 'a matter/word', 'ki' means 'because', 'im' means 'if', 'et-asher' means 'the thing that', 'yomar' means 'he would say', 'Hegai' is a personal name, 'sseris-hamelukh' means 'the king's eunuch', 'shomer' means 'keeper/guardian', 'hanashim' means 'the women', 'vatehi' means 'and she became', 'Esther' is the name, 'nose'et' means 'carrying/bearing', 'chen' means 'favor/grace', 'be'eney' means 'in the eyes of', 'kol-roeha' means 'all who see her'. No divine names appear in this verse, so no special translations of God names are required.
[EST.2.16] Esther took the king Ahasuerus to his royal house in the Asiri month; it is the month of Tevet, in the seventh year of his reign. [§]
vatilach Esther el-hammelek Ahasuerosh el-beit malkhuto ba-chodesh ha-asiri hu-chodesh Tevet bishnat-sheva le-malkhuto.
'vatilach' means 'she took', 'Esther' is a proper name, 'el-hammelek' means 'to the king', 'Ahasuerosh' is the Persian name of the king, 'el-beit' means 'to the house', 'malkhuto' means 'of his kingdom', 'ba-chodesh' means 'in the month', 'ha-asiri' is a specific month name (the Asiri month), 'hu-chodesh' means 'it is a month', 'Tevet' is the name of a month, 'bishnat-sheva' means 'in the seventh year', 'le-malkhuto' means 'of his reign'.
[EST.2.17] And the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she found grace and kindness before him more than all the virgins; and he placed a crown of royalty on her head, and he made her queen under his authority. [§]
Va-yehehav ha-melekh et Esther mikol ha-nashim va-tisa chen va-chesed lefanav mikol ha-betulot va-yasem ketar malchut be-rosha va-yamlichah tachat va-shti.
'Va' means 'and', 'yehehav' means 'loved', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'et' is a direct object marker, 'Esther' is the name Esther, 'mikol' means 'more than', 'ha-nashim' means 'the women', 'va-tisa' means 'and she found', 'chen' means 'favor' or 'grace', 'va-chesed' means 'and kindness', 'lefanav' means 'before him', 'mikol' again means 'more than', 'ha-betulot' means 'the virgins', 'va-yasem' means 'and he placed', 'ketar' means 'crown', 'malchut' means 'royalty' or 'kingdom', 'be-rosha' means 'on her head', 'va-yamlichah' means 'and he made her queen', 'tachat' means 'under', 'va-shti' means 'and also (he gave)'.
[EST.2.18] And the king made a great feast for all his princes and his servants, a feast of Esther, and he gave a rest to the nations; and he gave a burden by the hand of the king. [§]
Vayasa ha-melekh mishteh gadol lekol sarav veavadav et mishteh Ester vahanacha lamedinot asah vayiten maset kyd ha-melekh.
'Vayasa' means 'and he made', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'mishteh' means 'a feast', 'gadol' means 'great', 'lekol' means 'for all', 'sarav' means 'his princes', 'veavadav' means 'and his servants', 'et' is a direct object marker (no translation), 'mishteh' means 'feast', 'Ester' means 'Esther', 'vahanacha' means 'and he gave a rest/ceased', 'lamedinot' means 'to the nations', 'asah' means 'made', 'vayiten' means 'and he gave', 'maset' means 'a burden', 'kyd' means 'by the hand of', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king'.
[EST.2.19] And when the second group of virgins is gathered, and Mordecai sits at the king's gate. [§]
Uvehekabetz betulot shenit uMordechai yoshev besha'ar haMelekh.
'Uvehekabetz' means 'and when [they] are gathered', 'betulot' means 'virgins' or 'young women', 'shenit' means 'second' (as in second group), 'uMordechai' means 'and Mordecai', 'yoshev' means 'sits' or 'is sitting', 'beshar' means 'at the gate', 'haMelekh' means 'the king'.
[EST.2.20] There is no Esther, the greatness of her birth and her people, as Mordecai commanded concerning her, and the saying of Mordecai that Esther does as it was in confidence with him. [§]
Ein Esther maggedet moladta ve'et-ammah ka'asher tzivah aleha Mordekhai ve'et-ma'amar Mordekhai Esther osah ka'asher hayta b'amanah ito.
'Ein' means 'there is not' or 'there is no', 'Esther' is the proper name, 'maggedet' means 'greatness' or 'magnitude', 'moladta' means 'her birth', 've'et-ammah' means 'and her people', 'ka'asher' means 'as' or 'as which', 'tzivah' means 'commanded', 'aleha' means 'upon her', 'Mordekhai' is the proper name Mordecai, 've'et-ma'amar' means 'and the saying', 'Esther' again the name, 'osah' means 'does' or 'does [the action]', 'ka'asher' again 'as', 'hayta' means 'it was', 'b'amanah' means 'in trust' or 'in confidence', 'ito' means 'with him'.
[EST.2.21] In those days, and Mordecai was sitting at the gate of the king, was angry against Gatan and Teresh, two eunuchs of the king, from the guards of the threshold, and they sought to send a hand to the king Ahasuerus. [§]
bayyamim hahem uMordekhai yoshev bsha'ar ha-melekh katsaf bigatan vaTeresh shnei-sarisei ha-melekh mishomrei ha-saf vayevakshu lishloach yad ba-melekh achashverosh.
'bayyamim' means 'in the days', 'hahem' means 'those', 'uMordekhai' means 'and Mordecai', 'yoshev' means 'was sitting', 'bsha'ar' means 'at the gate', 'ha-melekh' means 'of the king', 'katsaf' means 'was angry', 'bigatan' means 'against Gatan', 'vaTeresh' means 'and Teresh', 'shnei-sarisei' means 'two eunuchs of', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'mishomrei' means 'from the guards of', 'ha-saf' means 'the threshold', 'vayevakshu' means 'and they sought', 'lishloach' means 'to send', 'yad' means 'a hand', 'ba-melekh' means 'to the king', 'achashverosh' means 'Ahasuerus'.
[EST.2.22] And the matter was known to Mordochai, and he reported it to Esther the queen, and Esther said to the king in the name of Mordochai. [§]
Vayyivda ha-davar le-Mordochai vayagged le-Esther ha-malkah vatomer Esther la-melekh be-shem Mordochai.
'Vayyivda' means 'and it became known', 'ha-davar' means 'the matter' or 'the thing', 'le-Mordochai' means 'to Mordochai', 'vayagged' means 'and he reported' or 'told', 'le-Esther' means 'to Esther', 'ha-malkah' means 'the queen', 'vatomer' means 'and she said', 'Esther' is the name, 'la-melekh' means 'to the king', 'be-shem' means 'in the name (of)', 'Mordochai' is the name.
[EST.2.23] And the matter was searched and it was found, and both of them were hung on a tree, and it was written in the book of the days before the king. [§]
Va-yebukkash ha-davar va-yimmatse va-yitallu sheneihem al-ets va-yikatav be-sefer divrei ha-yamim lifnei ha-melekh.
'Va-yebukkash' means 'and the matter was searched', 'ha-davar' means 'the thing', 'va-yimmatse' means 'and it was found', 'va-yitallu' means 'and they were hung', 'sheneihem' means 'both of them', 'al-ets' means 'on a tree', 'va-yikatav' means 'and it was written', 'be-sefer' means 'in a book', 'divrei' means 'words/records', 'ha-yamim' means 'of the days', 'lifnei' means 'before', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king'.
EST.3
[EST.3.1] After these things, the king Ahasuerus exalted Haman, the son of Hamdatta the Agagite, and he promoted him and placed his throne above all the officials who were with him. [§]
Achare ha-dvarim ha-eleh gidda'l ha-melekh Ahasuerus et Haman ben Hamdatta ha-agagi vayenassehu vayashem et kiso me'al kol ha-sarim asher ito.
'Achare' means 'after', 'ha-dvarim' means 'the things', 'ha-eleh' means 'these', 'gidda'l' means 'exalted' or 'magnified', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'Ahasuerus' is a proper name of the king, 'et' is a direct object marker (not translated), 'Haman' is a proper name, 'ben' means 'son of', 'Hamdatta' is a proper name, 'ha-agagi' means 'the Agagite', 'vayenassehu' means 'and he promoted him', 'vayashem' means 'and he placed his throne', 'et' again is a direct object marker, 'kiso' means 'his throne', 'me'al' means 'above', 'kol' means 'all', 'ha-sarim' means 'the officials', 'asher' means 'who', 'ito' means 'were with him'.
[EST.3.2] And all the king's servants who at the king's gate were bowing and prostrating themselves before Haman, for so the king had ordered him, and Mordecai did not bow and did not prostrate. [§]
vechol avdei ha-melekh asher be-sha'ar ha-melekh kor'im u-mishtachavim le-Haman ki-ken tzivah lo ha-melekh u-Mordechai lo yichra ve-lo yishtachaveh.
"vechol" means "and all", "avdei" means "servants of", "ha-melekh" means "the king", "asher" means "who", "be-sha'ar" means "at the gate", "kor'im" means "were bowing", "u-mishtachavim" means "and were prostrating", "le-Haman" means "before Haman", "ki-ken" means "for so", "tzivah" means "ordered", "lo" means "him", "u-Mordechai" means "and Mordecai", "lo" means "not", "yichra" means "bow", "ve-lo" means "and not", "yishtachaveh" means "prostrate".
[EST.3.3] And the servants of the king who are at the gate of the king said to Mordecai, Why are you passing the command of the king? [§]
Vayomeru avdei ha-melekh asher be-sha'ar ha-melekh le-Mordekhai madua attah over et mitzvat ha-melekh.
'Vayomeru' means 'and they said', 'avdei' means 'servants of', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'asher' means 'who' or 'that', 'be-sha'ar' means 'at the gate', 'le-Mordekhai' means 'to Mordecai', 'madua' means 'why', 'attah' means 'you', 'over' means 'are passing', 'et' is a direct‑object marker with no translation, 'mitzvat' means 'command', 'ha-melekh' again means 'the king'.
[EST.3.4] And it happened that they spoke to him day after day, and he did not hear them, and they reported to Haman to see whether the words of Mordecai would stand, because he reported to them that he was a Jew. [§]
Vayhi be'amaram elav yom vayom velo shama aleihem vayagidu leHaman lir'ot hayamdu divrei Mordekhai ki higid lahem asher hu yehudi.
'Vayhi' means 'and it happened', 'be'amaram' means 'when they said to him', 'elav' means 'to him', 'yom vayom' means 'day after day', 'velo' means 'and not', 'shama' means 'heard', 'aleihem' means 'to them', 'vayagidu' means 'they reported', 'leHaman' means 'to Haman', 'lir'ot' means 'to see', 'hayamdu' means 'whether they would stand', 'divrei' means 'the words of', 'Mordekhai' means 'Mordecai', 'ki' means 'because', 'higid' means 'he reported', 'lahem' means 'to them', 'asher' means 'that', 'hu' means 'he', 'yehudi' means 'a Jew'.
[EST.3.5] And Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow or worship him, and Haman was filled with wrath. [§]
Va-yare Haman ki ein Mordekhai korea u-mishtachave lo, va-yimaleh Haman chemah.
'Va-yare' means 'and saw', 'Haman' is the name Haman, 'ki' means 'that' or 'because', 'ein' means 'there is not' or 'no', 'Mordekhai' is the name Mordecai, 'korea' means 'bowing' or 'prostrating', 'u-mishtachave' means 'and worships' (reflexive verb), 'lo' means 'him', 'va-yimaleh' means 'and was filled', 'Haman' repeats the name, 'chemah' means 'wrath' or 'fury'.
[EST.3.6] He despised in his eyes the sending of his hand against Mordekhai alone, because they reported to him the people of Mordekhai, and Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the kingdom of Ahasuerus, the people of Mordekhai. [§]
Vayyibez beeinav lishloach yad beMordekhai levado ki higidu lo et am Mordekhai vayivakesh Haman lehashmid et kol hayehudim asher bechol malkhut Ahasuerus am Mordekhai.
'Vayyibez' means 'he despised', 'beeinav' means 'in his eyes', 'lishloach' means 'to send', 'yad' means 'hand', 'beMordekhai' means 'against Mordekhai', 'levado' means 'alone', 'ki' means 'because', 'higidu' means 'they reported/told', 'lo' means 'to him', 'et' is a direct‑object marker, 'am' means 'people', 'Mordekhai' is a proper name, 'vayivakesh' means 'and he sought/requested', 'Haman' is a proper name, 'lehashmid' means 'to destroy', 'et' again a direct‑object marker, 'kol' means 'all', 'hayehudim' means 'the Jews', 'asher' means 'who/that', 'bechol' means 'throughout/all', 'malkhut' means 'kingdom', 'Ahasuerus' is a proper name, and the final 'am Mordekhai' repeats 'people of Mordekhai'.
[EST.3.7] In the first month, it is the month of Nisan, in the year of two ten of King Ahasuerus, he cast Pur, it is the lot before Haman from day to day and from month to month twelve is the month of Adar. [§]
ba-chodesh ha-rishon hu-chodesh nisān bi-shnat shteim esreh la-melekh achashverosh ḥip̣il pur hu ha-goral li-pnei ha-man mi-yom le-yom u-me-chodesh le-chodesh shneim-asar hu-chodesh adar.
'ba-chodesh' means 'in the month', 'ha-rishon' means 'the first', 'hu-chodesh' means 'it is the month', 'nisān' is the name of the month Nisan, 'bi-shnat' means 'in the year of', 'shteim' means 'two', 'esreh' means 'ten' (together indicating the number twenty), 'la-melekh' means 'to the king', 'achashverosh' is the name Ahasuerus, 'ḥip̣il' means 'he cast', 'pur' is a proper name (Pur), 'hu' means 'it/he', 'ha-goral' means 'the lot', 'li-pnei' means 'before', 'ha-man' is the name Haman, 'mi-yom' means 'from day', 'le-yom' means 'to day', 'u-me-chodesh' means 'and from month', 'le-chodesh' means 'to month', 'shneim-asar' means 'twelve', 'hu-chodesh' means 'it is the month', 'adar' is the name of the month Adar.
[EST.3.8] And Haman said to the king Ahasuerus, there is one people scattered and divided among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom, and their religions have been long for all peoples, and the religion of the king they do not practice, and there is nothing for the king to let them remain. [§]
va-yomer Haman la-me-lekh Acha-shverosh yesh-no am-echad me-fuzzar u-me-fo-rad be-in ha-amim be-khol me-di-not mal-ku-te-cha ve-dat-eh-em shnot mi-kol am ve-et da-te ha-me-lekh ei-nam o-sim ve-la-me-lekh ei-n sho-voh le-ha-ni-cham.
'va-yomer' means 'and said', 'Haman' is a proper name, 'la-me-lekh' means 'to the king', 'Acha-shverosh' is the Persian name of Xerxes, 'yesh-no' means 'there is', 'am-echad' means 'one people', 'me-fuzzar' means 'scattered', 'u-me-fo-rad' means 'and divided', 'be-in' means 'among', 'ha-amim' means 'the peoples', 'be-khol' means 'in all', 'me-di-not' means 'the provinces', 'mal-ku-te-cha' means 'of your kingdom', 've-dat-eh-em' means 'and their religions', 'shnot' means 'years', 'mi-kol' means 'of all', 'am' means 'people', 've-et' means 'and the', 'da-te' means 'religion', 'ha-me-lekh' means 'the king', 'ei-nam' means 'they do not', 'o-sim' means 'practice', 've-la-me-lekh' means 'and to the king', 'ei-n' means 'there is', 'sho-voh' means 'nothing', 'le-ha-ni-cham' means 'to let them remain'.
[EST.3.9] If good for the king is written for their destruction and ten thousand weight of silver I will weigh by the hand of the workers of the work to bring to the treasuries of the king. [§]
Im al ha-melekh tov yikkatev le-abdam ve-aseret alafim kichar-kezef eshkol al-yedei osei ha-melacha le-havi el-ginzei ha-melekh.
'Im' means 'if', 'al' means 'on' or 'upon', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'tov' means 'good', 'yikkatev' means 'will be written', 'le-abdam' means 'for their destruction', 've-aseret' means 'and ten', 'alafim' means 'thousands', 'kichar-kezef' means 'weight of silver', 'eshkol' means 'I will weigh', 'al-yedei' means 'by the hand of', 'osei' means 'those who do' or 'workers', 'ha-melacha' means 'the work', 'le-havi' means 'to bring', 'el' means 'to', 'ginzei' means 'the treasuries', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king'.
[EST.3.10] And the king removed his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Medata the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. [§]
Vayassar ha-melek et-tabba'to me'al yado vayittenah le-Haman ben-medata ha-agagi tzo'rer ha-yehudim.
'Vayassar' means 'and he removed', 'ha-melek' means 'the king', 'et' is a direct‑object marker, 'tabba'to' means 'his signet ring', 'me'al' means 'from', 'yado' means 'his hand', 'vayittenah' means 'and he gave it', 'le-Haman' means 'to Haman', 'ben' means 'son of', 'medata' is a proper name, 'ha-agagi' means 'the Agagite', 'tzo'rer' means 'the enemy', 'ha-yehudim' means 'the Jews'.
[EST.3.11] And the king said to Haman, the silver will be given to you, and the people will do with it what is good in your eyes. [§]
Vayomer ha-melekh le-Haman hakasef natun lakh ve-ha-am la'asot bo katov be'einecha.
'Vayomer' means 'and he said', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'le-Haman' means 'to Haman', 'hakasef' means 'the silver', 'natun' means 'will be given', 'lakh' means 'to you', 've-ha-am' means 'and the people', 'la'asot' means 'to do', 'bo' means 'with it', 'katov' means 'as good', 'be'einecha' means 'in your eyes'.
[EST.3.12] They called the king's scribes in the first month on the thirteenth day, and it was written according to all that Haman commanded to Ahasuerus the king and to the officials who are over each province and each province and to the princes of the peoples and peoples of each province and each province as it was written, and peoples and peoples according to their language in the name of the king Ahasuerus, it was written and sealed with the king's signet. [§]
Vayikaru sofrei ha-melekh ba-chodesh ha-rishon bi-shlosha asar yom bo vayikatev kechol asher-tziva Haman el Achashdarp'nei ha-melekh ve-el ha-pachot asher al medinah u-medinah ve-el sharei am va-am medinah u-medinah ki-ktavah ve-am va-am kilshono be-shem ha-melekh Achashverosh nikhtav ve-nechtam be-tabaa'at ha-melekh.
'Vayikaru' means 'they called', 'sofrei' means 'the scribes', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'ba-chodesh' means 'in the month', 'ha-rishon' means 'the first', 'bi-shlosha' means 'on the thirteenth', 'asar yom' means 'day', 'bo' means 'of it', 'vayikatev' means 'and it was written', 'kechol' means 'according to all', 'asher-tziva' means 'that was commanded', 'Haman' is the name of the official, 'el' means 'to', 'Achashdarp'nei' means 'Ahasuerus', 'ha-melekh' again 'the king', 've-el' means 'and to', 'ha-pachot' means 'the officials', 'asher' means 'who', 'al' means 'over', 'medinah' means 'province', 'u-medinah' repeats 'and province', 've-el' again 'and to', 'sharei' means 'princes', 'am' means 'people', 'va-am' means 'and people', 'medinah u-medinah' repeats 'province and province', 'ki-ktavah' means 'as it was written', 've-am va-am' repeats 'people and people', 'kilshono' means 'according to their language', 'be-shem' means 'in the name of', 'ha-melekh' again 'the king', 'Achashverosh' is the king's name, 'nikhtav' means 'it was written', 've-nechtam' means 'and sealed', 'be-tabaa'at' means 'with the signet', 'ha-melekh' again 'the king'.
[EST.3.13] And we will send letters in the hand of the executioners to all the king's nations to destroy, to slaughter and to wipe out all the Jews from youth and up to the elderly, infants and women, in one day, within three tens of the month, twenty; it is the month of Adar, and their spoil will be lost. [§]
ve-nishloch sefarim be-yad ha-ratzim el kol medinot ha-melech le-hashmid la-harog u-le-aved et kol ha-yehudim min-ne'ar ve-ad zaken taf ve-nashim be-yom echad bi-shloshah asar le-chodesh shneim-asar hu chodesh adar u-shelalam lavoz
've-nishloch' means 'and we will send', 'sefarim' means 'letters', 'be-yad' means 'in the hand of', 'ha-ratzim' means 'the executioners', 'el' means 'to', 'kol' means 'all', 'medinot' means 'nations', 'ha-melech' means 'the king', 'le-hashmid' means 'to destroy', 'la-harog' means 'to slaughter', 'u-le-aved' means 'and to wipe out', 'et' is a direct‑object marker, 'kol' means 'all', 'ha-yehudim' means 'the Jews', 'min-ne'ar' means 'from youth', 've-ad' means 'and up to', 'zaken' means 'the elderly', 'taf' means 'infants', 've-nashim' means 'and women', 'be-yom' means 'in the day of', 'echad' means 'one', 'bi-shloshah' means 'in three', 'asar' means 'tens', 'le-chodesh' means 'of the month', 'shneim-asar' means 'twenty', 'hu' means 'it is', 'chodesh adar' means 'the month of Adar', 'u-shelalam' means 'and their spoil', 'lavoz' means 'to be lost'.
[EST.3.14] The opening of the document is to give a law to every nation, a law revealed to all peoples, to be lasting for this day. [§]
Pat'shegen haktev lehinnaten dat bechol-medinah u-medinah galui lekhol ha'amim lihyot atidim layom hazeh.
'Pat'shegen' means 'opening' or 'preface', 'haktev' means 'the writing' or 'the document', 'lehinnaten' means 'to give' (infinitive construct), 'dat' means 'law' or 'decree', 'bechol-medinah' means 'in every kingdom' ('bechol' = 'in all', 'medinah' = 'kingdom' or 'state'), 'u-medinah' adds emphasis meaning 'and every kingdom' or 'each nation', 'galui' means 'revealed' or 'made known', 'lekhol' means 'to all', 'ha'amim' means 'the peoples', 'lihyot' means 'to be' (infinitive), 'atidim' means 'lasting' or 'eternal' (from root meaning 'forever'), 'layom hazeh' means 'for this day' or 'on this day'.
[EST.3.15] The conspirators went out expelled by the word of the King and the decree was given in Shushan the citadel; and the King and Haman sat to drink, and the city Shushan was destroyed. [§]
ha ratzim yatz'u dechufim bidvar ha melekh ve hadat nittna beShushan habira ve ha melekh ve Haman yashvu lishtot ve ha ir Shushan navokha.
'ha' means 'the', 'ratzim' means 'conspirators', 'yatz'u' means 'they went out', 'dechufim' means 'expelled' or 'cast out', 'bidvar' means 'by the word', 'ha' again is 'the', 'melek' means 'King', 've' means 'and', 'hadat' means 'the decree', 'nittna' means 'was given', 'be' means 'in', 'Shushan' is the name of the city, 'habira' means 'the citadel' (bira = fortress), 've' again 'and', 'melek' again 'King', 've' again 'and', 'Haman' is a proper name, 'yashvu' means 'sat', 'lishtot' means 'to drink', 've' again 'and', 'ha' again 'the', 'ir' means 'city', 'Shushan' repeats the city name, 'navokha' means 'was destroyed' or 'was ruined'.
EST.4
[EST.4.1] And Mordecai knew all that had been done, and Mordecai tore his garments, and he put on sackcloth and ash, and he went out into the midst of the city, and he shouted a great, bitter cry. [§]
U-Mordekhai yada et kol asher na'asa vayikra Mordekhai et begadav vayilbash sak vaefer vayetze betoch ha'ir vayiz'aq ze'akah gedolah uMarah.
'U' means 'and', 'Mordekhai' is the name Mordecai, 'yada' means 'knew', 'et' is the direct object marker, 'kol' means 'all', 'asher' means 'that which', 'na'asa' means 'was done', 'vayikra' means 'and he tore', 'begadav' means 'his garments', 'vayilbash' means 'and he put on', 'sak' means 'sackcloth', 'vaefer' means 'and ash', 'vayetze' means 'and he went out', 'betoch' means 'into the midst of', 'ha'ir' means 'the city', 'vayiz'aq' means 'and he shouted', 'ze'akah' means 'a cry', 'gedolah' means 'great', 'uMarah' means 'and bitter'.
[EST.4.2] And he came before the gate of the king because there was no one to go to the gate of the king in sackcloth. [§]
Vayyavo ad lifnei sha'ar ha-melekh ki ein la'vo el sha'ar ha-melekh bilvush sak.
'Vayyavo' means 'and he came', 'ad' means 'to', 'lifnei' means 'before' or 'in front of', 'sha'ar' means 'gate', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'ki' means 'because', 'ein' means 'there is not' or 'there was no', 'la'vo' means 'to come/go', 'el' means 'to', 'sha'ar' again means 'gate', 'ha-melekh' again means 'the king', 'bilvush' means 'in clothing', 'sak' means 'sackcloth'.
[EST.4.3] And in every nation and province, a place where the word of the king and his law reaches, great mourning for the Jews, a fast and weeping and lamentation; sack and ash will be spread among the many. [§]
u'vechol medina u'medina makom asher devar ha-melekh ve'dato magi'a evel gadol la-yehudim ve'tsom u'vechi u'misped sak va-efar yutza la-rabbim.
'u'vechol' means 'and in all', 'medina' means 'nation' or 'province', the second 'u'medina' repeats for emphasis, 'makom' means 'place', 'asher' means 'where', 'devar' means 'word', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 've'dato' means 'and his law', 'magi'a' means 'reaches', 'evel' means 'mourning', 'gadol' means 'great', 'la-yehudim' means 'for the Jews', 've'tsom' means 'and a fast', 'u'vechi' means 'and weeping', 'u'misped' means 'and lamentation', 'sak' means 'sack', 'va-efar' means 'and ash', 'yutza' means 'will be spread', 'la-rabbim' means 'among many' or 'to the many'.
[EST.4.4] And the young women of Esther and her eunuchs reported to her, and the queen was very displeased, and she sent garments to clothe Mordecai and to remove his sack from his shoulders, and he did not accept. [§]
vata'voinah na'arot Esther ve'sariseyha vayagidu lah vatit'chalchal hamelekhah meod vatishlach begadim lehalbish et-Mordekhai ulehasir sako me'alav velo kibel.
'vata'voinah' means 'and she came', 'na'arot' means 'young women', 'Esther' is the personal name, 've'sariseyha' means 'and her eunuchs', 'vayagidu' means 'they reported', 'lah' means 'to her', 'vatit'chalchal' means 'and she was greatly displeased', 'hamelekhah' means 'the queen', 'meod' means 'very', 'vatishlach' means 'and she sent', 'begadim' means 'clothing', 'lehalbish' means 'to clothe', 'et-Mordekhai' means 'Mordecai', 'ulehasir' means 'to remove', 'sako' means 'his sack', 'me'alav' means 'from his shoulders', 'velo' means 'and not', 'kibel' means 'receive' or 'accept'.
[EST.4.5] And Esther called the king's eunuch who was standing before her and commanded him concerning Mordecai to know what this is and concerning what this is. [§]
Vatkara Esther lahetach misarisey ha-melekh asher he'emid lefaneyha vatesavehu al-Mordechai lada'at mah-zeh ve'al-mah-zeh.
'Vatkara' means 'and she called', 'Esther' is the name of the queen, 'lahetach' means 'to the window' (a term for a palace opening), 'misarisey' means 'of the shutters', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king's', 'asher' means 'who', 'he'emid' means 'had placed' or 'stood', 'lefaneyha' means 'before her', 'vatesavehu' means 'and she commanded him', 'al-Mordechai' means 'concerning Mordecai', 'lada'at' means 'to know', 'mah-zeh' means 'what this is', 've'al-mah-zeh' means 'and concerning what this is'.
[EST.4.6] And he went out to Mordecai to the street of the city that is before the king's gate. [§]
vayyetse hatach el-Mordokhai el-rechov ha'ir asher lifnei sha'ar ha-melekh.
'vayyetse' means 'and he went out', 'hatach' is a definite article plus a noun meaning 'the one' or 'the servant' (contextual), 'el' means 'to', 'Mordokhai' is a proper name (Mordecai), 'el' again means 'to', 'rechov' means 'street' or 'broad way', 'ha'ir' means 'the city', 'asher' means 'that', 'lifnei' means 'in front of' or 'before', 'sha'ar' means 'gate', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king'.
[EST.4.7] Mordecai reported to him everything that had befallen him, and also the portion of silver that Haman said would be weighed into the king's treasury among the Jews, that they might be destroyed. [§]
Vayagged-lo Mordekhai et kol-asher karahu ve'et parashat hakeseph asher amar Haman lishkol al-ginzei ha-melekh ba-yehudim leabbdam.
'Vayagged' means 'and he reported', 'lo' means 'to him', 'Mordekhai' is a proper name, 'et' is a direct‑object marker (no English equivalent), 'kol' means 'all', 'asher' means 'that/which', 'karahu' means 'had befallen him', 've'et' means 'and also', 'parashat' means 'the portion', 'hakeseph' means 'of the silver', 'asher' again means 'that', 'amar' means 'said', 'Haman' is a proper name, 'lishkol' means 'to weigh/measure', 'al' means 'upon', 'ginzei' means 'the treasuries', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'ba-yehudim' means 'among the Jews', 'leabbdam' means 'that they might be destroyed'.
[EST.4.8] And Patshagen, as written in the decree that was given in Shushan to destroy them, gave it to him to show Esther, to tell her, to order against her, to come before the king to plead with him and to request, before him, on her people. [§]
ve'et patshagen k'etav-hadat asher nitan be-Shushan lehashmidam nathan lo leharot et-Esther ulehagid lah uletzavot al-aha lavoh el-hamelach lehitchanen-lo ulevakesh mil'fanav al-amah.
've'et' means 'and (with) the', 'patshagen' is a proper name (likely a title), 'k'etav-hadat' means 'as written in the decree', 'asher' means 'that', 'nitan' means 'was given', 'be-Shushan' means 'in Shushan', 'lehashmidam' means 'to destroy them', 'nathan lo' means 'he gave (it) to him', 'leharot' means 'to show', 'et-Esther' means 'Esther', 'ulehagid' means 'to tell', 'lah' means 'her', 'uletzavot' means 'to order', 'al-aha' means 'against her', 'lavoh' means 'to come', 'el-hamelach' means 'to the king', 'lehitchanen-lo' means 'to plead with him', 'ulevakesh' means 'to request', 'mil'fanav' means 'before him', 'al-amah' means 'on her people'.
[EST.4.9] And Hatach came and reported to Esther the words of Mordechai. [§]
Vayyavo hatakh vayagged leEster et divrei Mordekhai.
'Vayyavo' means 'and he came', 'hatakh' is a proper name (the eunuch Hatach, likely meaning 'the younger'), 'vayagged' means 'and he reported', 'leEster' means 'to Esther', 'et' is a direct‑object marker that has no English equivalent, 'divrei' means 'the words of', 'Mordekhai' is a proper name meaning 'Mordechai'.
[EST.4.10] And Esther said to Haman and commanded him to Mordecai. [§]
Vato'amer Esther lahatakh vatesavehu el-Mordechai.
'Vato'amer' means 'and said', 'Esther' is the name Esther, 'lahatakh' means 'to Haman' (the object of her address), 'vatesavehu' means 'and commanded him', 'el' means 'to' (preposition), 'Mordechai' is the name Mordecai.
[EST.4.11] All the servants of the king and the people of the king’s nations know that every man and woman who will come to the king in the inner courtyard that is not called one [law] to kill alone, except that the king will place for him the golden staff and life, and I am not called to come to the king; this is thirty days. [§]
Kol avdei ha-melekh ve-am medinot ha-melekh yod'im asher kol ish ve-isha asher yavo el ha-melekh el ha-chatzer ha-pnimi asher lo yikarei achat dato lehamit levad me'asher yoshit lo ha-melekh et sharavit ha-zahav ve-chayah ve-ani lo nikreti lava el ha-melekh zeh shloshim yom.
'Kol' means 'all', 'avdei' means 'servants of', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 've' means 'and', 'am' means 'people', 'medinot' means 'of the nations', 'yod'im' means 'know', 'asher' means 'that/which', 'ish' means 'man', 'isha' means 'woman', 'yavo' means 'will come', 'el' means 'to', 'ha-chatzer' means 'the courtyard', 'ha-pnimi' means 'the inner', 'lo' means 'not', 'yikarei' means 'will be called', 'achat' means 'one', 'dato' means 'his law' (or 'his religion'), 'lehamit' means 'to kill', 'levad' means 'alone', 'me'asher' means 'from that which', 'yoshit' means 'will place/give', 'lo' (again) means 'to him', 'sharavit' means 'staff', 'ha-zahav' means 'the gold', 've-chayah' means 'and life', 've-ani' means 'and I', 'nikreti' means 'am not called', 'lava' means 'to come', 'zeh' means 'this', 'shloshim' means 'thirty', 'yom' means 'days'.
[EST.4.12] They reported to Mordecai the words of Esther. [§]
Vayagidu leMordekhai et divrei Ester.
'Vayagidu' means 'they reported' (from the verb root meaning to tell), 'leMordekhai' means 'to Mordecai', 'et' is a direct‑object marker with no English equivalent, 'divrei' means 'words of', 'Ester' is the personal name Esther, and the final letter 'p' is a pausal mark indicating a break in the text.
[EST.4.13] Mordechai said to Esther, 'Do not keep silent for your own sake; save the king's house from all the Jews.' [§]
Vayomer Mordechai lehashiv el-Esther al-tedami bnafsek lehimallet beit-hamelach mikol hayehudim.
'Vayomer' means 'and he said'; 'Mordechai' is a personal name; 'lehashiv' means 'to answer' or 'to return'; 'el-Esther' means 'to Esther'; 'al-tedami' literally means 'do not be silent' (a command not to keep quiet); 'bnafsek' means 'in your soul' or 'for your own life'; 'lehimallet' means 'to escape' or 'to save'; 'beit-hamelach' means 'the king's house'; 'mikol' means 'from all' or 'of all'; 'hayehudim' means 'the Jews'.
[EST.4.14] For if the deaf keep silent at this time, comfort and salvation will stand for the Jews from another place, and you and the house of your father will be lost, and who knows if at a time like this you have reached the kingdom. [§]
ki im hacharash tacharishi ba'et hazot revach ve-hatsala ya'amod la-yehudim mimakom acher ve-at u-beit avik tove'du u-mi yode'a im le'et kazot hig'ate la-malkhut.
'ki' means 'for', 'im' means 'if', 'hacharash' means 'the deaf', 'tacharishi' means 'you keep silent', 'ba'et' means 'at the time', 'hazot' means 'this', 'revach' means 'comfort', 've-hatsala' means 'and salvation', 'ya'amod' means 'will stand', 'la-yehudim' means 'for the Jews', 'mimakom' means 'from another place', 'acher' means 'other', 've-at' means 'and you', 'u-beit avik' means 'and the house of your father', 'tove'du' means 'you will be lost', 'u-mi' means 'and who', 'yode'a' means 'knows', 'im' means 'if', 'le'et' means 'for a time', 'kazot' means 'like this', 'hig'ate' means 'you have reached', 'la-malkhut' means 'the kingdom'.
[EST.4.15] And Esther said to reply to Mordecai. [§]
Vatoamer Esther lehashiv el-Mordekhai.
'Vatoamer' means 'and she said', 'Esther' is the name of the queen, 'lehashiv' means 'to answer' or 'to reply', 'el' means 'to', and 'Mordekhai' is the name of Mordecai.
[EST.4.16] Go gather all the Jews who are found in Shushan and fast upon me and do not eat and do not drink three days night and day also I and my maidservants will fast thus and thus I will go to the king who is not appropriate and as I have been lost I have been lost. [§]
Lech kenos et-kol-hayehudim hanimtzim beShushan ve-tzumu alai ve-al-tochlu ve-al-tishu shloshet yamim layla veyom gam-ani ve-na'arotai atzum ken uveken avo el-hamelech asher lo-kadat ve-kaasher avadti avadti.
'Lech' means 'go', 'kenos' means 'gather', 'et' is the direct object marker, 'kol' means 'all', 'hayehudim' means 'the Jews', 'hanimtzim' means 'who are found', 'beShushan' means 'in Shushan', 've' is a conjunction meaning 'and', 'tzumu' means 'fast', 'alai' means 'upon me' or 'for me', 've-al' means 'and not', 'tochlu' means 'you will eat', 'tishu' means 'you will drink', 'shloshet' means 'three', 'yamim' means 'days', 'layla' means 'night', 'veym' means 'and day', 'gam' means 'also', 'ani' means 'I', 've-na'arotai' means 'and my maidservants', 'atzum' means 'I will fast', 'ken' means 'thus', 'uveken' means 'and thus', 'avo' means 'I will come/go', 'el' means 'to', 'hamelech' means 'the king', 'asher' means 'who/that', 'lo' means 'not', 'kadat' means 'appropriate' or 'in season', 've' again means 'and', 'kaasher' means 'as', 'avadti' means 'I am lost' or 'I have been lost'.
[EST.4.17] And Mordecai went and did everything that Esther commanded him. [§]
Vayya'avor Mordekhai vay'asa kechol asher tzivta alav Esther.
'Vayya'avor' means 'and went', 'Mordekhai' is the personal name Mordecai, 'vay'asa' means 'and did', 'kechol' means 'everything' or 'all', 'asher' means 'that' or 'which', 'tzivta' means 'you commanded', 'alav' means 'to him', 'Esther' is the personal name Esther.
EST.5
[EST.5.1] And it happened on the third day that Esther was clothed with kingly authority and stood in the inner courtyard of the king's house opposite the king's house, and the king was sitting on his throne of kingdom in the palace house opposite the entrance of the house. [§]
Vayehi bayom hashlishi vatilbash Esther malchut vataamod bachatzar beit-hamelach hapanimit nokhach beit hamelach vehamelach yoshev al-kiseh malchuto bebeit ha-malkhut nokhach petach habayit.
'Vayehi' means 'and it happened', 'bayom' means 'on the day', 'hashlishi' means 'the third', 'vatilbash' means 'and she clothed', 'Esther' is the name Esther, 'malchut' means 'kingly authority', 'vataamod' means 'and she stood', 'bachatzar' means 'in the courtyard', 'beit-hamelach' means 'the house of the king', 'hapanimit' means 'the inner', 'nokhach' means 'opposite', 'vehamelach' means 'and the king', 'yoshev' means 'was sitting', 'al-kiseh' means 'on the throne', 'malchuto' means 'of his kingdom', 'bebeit' means 'in the house', 'ha-malkhut' means 'of the palace', 'petach' means 'the entrance', 'habayit' means 'of the house'.
[EST.5.2] It happened when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the courtyard; favor had been found in his eyes, and the king stretched out to Esther the golden scepter which was in his hand, and Esther drew near and touched the head of the scepter. [§]
Vayehi kir'ot hamelekh et Esther haMalkah omedet bechatzar nassa'ah chen be'eynav vayoshat hamelekh leEsther et sharbit hazahav asher beyado vatikrav Esther vati'ga rosh hasharbit.
'Vayehi' means 'it happened', 'kir'ot' means 'when seeing', 'hamelekh' means 'the king', 'et' is the direct object marker, 'Esther' is the proper name, 'haMalkah' means 'the queen', 'omedet' means 'standing', 'bechatzar' means 'in the courtyard', 'nassa'ah' means 'found', 'chen' means 'favor', 'be'eynav' means 'in his eyes', 'vayoshat' means 'and he stretched out', 'leEsther' means 'to Esther', 'sharbit' means 'scepter', 'hazahav' means 'the gold', 'asher' means 'which', 'beyado' means 'in his hand', 'vatikrav' means 'and she drew near', 'vati'ga' means 'and she touched', 'rosh' means 'head', 'hasharbit' means 'of the scepter'.
[EST.5.3] And the king said to her, 'What is your desire, Esther the queen? And what is your request up to half the kingdom? I will give it to you.' [§]
Vayomer lah ha-melekh ma-lach Esther ha-malkah u-mah ba-kashtach ad chatzi ha-malkhut ve-yinnaten lakh.
'Vayomer' means 'and he said', 'lah' means 'to her', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'ma-lach' means 'what is your desire', 'Esther' is a proper name, 'ha-malkah' means 'the queen', 'u-mah' means 'and what', 'ba-kashtach' means 'your request', 'ad' means 'up to', 'chatzi' means 'half', 'ha-malkhut' means 'the kingdom', 've-yinnaten' means 'and I will give', 'lakh' means 'to you (feminine)'.
[EST.5.4] And Esther said, If it please the king, let the king and Haman come today to the feast that I have prepared for him. [§]
vatomer Esther im al hamelach tov yavo hamelach vehaman hayom el hamishthe asher asiti lo.
'vatomer' means 'and she said', 'Esther' is the name of the queen, 'im' means 'if', 'al' means 'upon' or 'concerning', 'hamelach' means 'the king', 'tov' means 'good' used idiomatically as 'if it please', 'yavo' means 'let (he) come', the second 'hamelach' repeats 'the king', 'vehaman' means 'and Haman', 'hayom' means 'today', 'el' means 'to', 'hamishthe' means 'the feast', 'asher' means 'that/which', 'asiti' means 'I made/prepared', 'lo' means 'for him'.
[EST.5.5] And the king said, 'Hasten, Haman, to do the matter of Esther,' and the king and Haman came to the feast that Esther had made. [§]
Vayomer ha-melekh mahru et Haman la-asot et dvar Esther vayavo ha-melekh ve Haman el ha-mishte asher asata Esther.
'Vayomer' means 'and said', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'mahru' means 'hasten', 'et' is a direct‑object marker, 'Haman' is the name Haman, 'la-asot' means 'to do', another 'et' marks the next object, 'dvar' means 'matter' or 'thing', 'Esther' is the name Esther, 'vayavo' means 'and came', a second 'ha-melekh' again means 'the king', 've' means 'and', another 'Haman' repeats the name, 'el' means 'to', 'ha-mishte' means 'the feast' or 'banquet', 'asher' means 'that' or 'which', and the final 'asata' means 'she made' or 'she did', with 'Esther' again the name.
[EST.5.6] And the king said to Esther at the wine banquet, 'What is your request, and it shall be given to you? And what is your desire, up to half the kingdom, and it will be done.' [§]
Vayomer ha-melekh le-Esther be-mishte ha-yayin ma she'elatech ve-yinatet lach u-ma bakashtach ad chatzi ha-malkhut ve-te'asa.
'Vayomer' means 'And he said', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'le-Esther' means 'to Esther', 'be-mishte' means 'at the banquet', 'ha-yayin' means 'of wine', 'ma' means 'what', 'she'elatech' means 'your request', 've-yinatet' means 'and it will be given', 'lach' means 'to you', 'u-ma' means 'and what', 'bakashtach' means 'your desire', 'ad' means 'up to', 'chatzi' means 'half', 'ha-malkhut' means 'the kingdom', 've-te'asa' means 'and it will be done'.
[EST.5.7] And Esther answered and said, My petition and my request. [§]
Va-ta'an Esther va-to-mar she'elati u-bakashati.
'Va-ta'an' means 'And she answered', 'Esther' is the name, 'va-to-mar' means 'and she said', 'she'elati' means 'my petition', 'u-bakashati' means 'and my request'.
[EST.5.8] If I find favor in the eyes of the king, and if it is good for the king to give my request and to do my petition, the king and Haman will come to the feast that I will make for them, and tomorrow I will do according to the king's word. [§]
Im matzati chen be'einei ha-melekh ve'im al-ha-melekh tov latet et-she'elati ve-la'asot et-bakashati yavo ha-melekh ve-Haman el ha-mishteh asher e'eseh lahem u-machar e'eseh kidvar ha-melekh.
'Im' means 'if', 'matzati' means 'I found', 'chen' means 'favor', 'be'einei' means 'in the eyes of', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 've'im' means 'and if', 'al-ha-melekh' means 'upon the king' (idiomatically 'if it pleases the king'), 'tov' means 'good', 'latet' means 'to give', 'et-she'elati' means 'my request', 've-la'asot' means 'and to do', 'et-bakashati' means 'my petition', 'yavo' means 'will come', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 've-Haman' means 'and Haman', 'el' means 'to', 'ha-mishteh' means 'the feast', 'asher' means 'that', 'e'eseh' means 'I will make', 'lahem' means 'for them', 'u-machar' means 'and tomorrow', 'e'eseh' means 'I will do', 'kidvar' means 'according to the word', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king'.
[EST.5.9] And Haman went out that day glad and with a good heart, and he went looking for Mordecai at the king's gate, but he did not arise and did not find him, and Haman's anger burned against Mordecai. [§]
Vayetse Haman ba-yom ha-hu sameach ve-tov lev ve-kirot Haman et-Mordechai be-sha'ar ha-melech ve-lo kam ve-lo za mimenu vayimale Haman al-Mordechai chema.
'Vayetse' means 'and he went out', 'Haman' is the name of the official, 'ba-yom' means 'on the day', 'ha-hu' means 'that', 'sameach' means 'glad', 've-tov' means 'and good', 'lev' means 'heart', 've-kirot' means 'and looking for', 'et-Mordechai' means 'Mordecai (direct object marker)', 'be-sha'ar' means 'at the gate of', 'ha-melech' means 'the king', 've-lo kam' means 'and he did not arise', 've-lo za' means 'and he did not find', 'mimenu' means 'from him', 'vayimale' means 'and it filled', 'al-Mordechai' means 'against Mordecai', 'chema' means 'anger'.
[EST.5.10] And Haman was humbled, and he went to his house, and he sent and brought his beloved, and the seed of his wife. [§]
Vayyitapek Haman vayavo el-beitoh vayishlach vayave et-ohavav ve'et-zeresh ishto.
'Vayyitapek' means 'and he was humbled', 'Haman' is a proper name, 'vayavo' means 'and he went', 'el-beitoh' means 'to his house', 'vayishlach' means 'and he sent', 'vayave' means 'and he brought', 'et-ohavav' means 'his beloved (people)', 've'et-zeresh' means 'and the seed (offspring)', 'ishto' means 'of his wife'.
[EST.5.11] And Haman told them the splendor of his wealth and many of his sons, and all that the king had elevated, and what he raised upon the princes and the king's servants. [§]
Vayesaper lahem Haman et-kvod ashro ve-rov banav ve-et kol asher giddlo ha-melekh ve-et asher nisho al ha-sarim ve-avde ha-melekh.
'Vayesaper' means 'and he told', 'lahem' means 'to them', 'Haman' is the proper name, 'et' is a direct‑object marker, 'kvod' means 'glory' or 'splendor', 'ashro' means 'his wealth', 've-rov' means 'and many', 'banav' means 'his sons', 've-et' means 'and', 'kol' means 'all', 'asher' means 'that which', 'giddlo' means 'the king elevated', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', another 've-et' means 'and', a second 'asher' means 'that which', 'nisho' means 'he lifted up', 'al' means 'upon' or 'over', 'ha-sarim' means 'the princes', 've-avde' means 'and the servants', 'ha-melekh' means 'of the king'.
[EST.5.12] And Haman said, Indeed I did not bring Esther the queen with the king to the banquet that she had prepared, because it is me, and also tomorrow I will call her with the king. [§]
vayomer Haman af lo-hevi'ah Esther ha-malka im ha-melekh el ha-mishteh asher-asatah ki im oti vegam lemachar ani karu'la im ha-melekh
'vayomer' means 'and said', 'Haman' is a proper name, 'af' means 'indeed' or 'however', 'lo-hevi'ah' means 'did not bring', 'Esther' is the queen's name, 'ha-malka' means 'the queen', 'im' means 'with', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'el' means 'to', 'ha-mishteh' means 'the banquet', 'asher-asatah' means 'that she had prepared', 'ki' means 'because', 'im' means 'it is', 'oti' means 'me', 'vegam' means 'also', 'lemachar' means 'tomorrow', 'ani' means 'I', 'karu'la' means 'called her', 'im' means 'with', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king'.
[EST.5.13] And all this is nothing to me at every time that I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate. [§]
ve-khol zeh einenu shoveh li be-khol et asher ani ro'eh et Mordechai ha-yehudi yoshev be-sha'ar ha-melekh.
've-khol' means 'and all', 'zeh' means 'this', 'einenu' means 'it is not', 'shoveh' means 'nothing', 'li' means 'to me', 'be-khol' means 'in every', 'et' is a direct object marker (not translated), 'Mordechai' is a proper name, 'ha-yehudi' means 'the Jew', 'yoshev' means 'sitting', 'be-sha'ar' means 'at the gate', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king'.
[EST.5.14] And she said to him, Zeres his wife, and all his friends shall make a tall gallows fifty cubits high; in the morning tell the king and they shall hang Mordecai on it, go with the king to the happy feast, and the matter turned out well before Haman, and he made the gallows. [§]
Vatoamer lo Zeres ishto ve-khol ohevav ya'asu etz gavoah chamishim amah uva'boker emor lamlekh ve-yitlu et Mardekai alav uvo im hamelkh el hamishete sameach vayitav hadavar lifnei Haman vayaas ha'etz.
'Vatoamer' means 'and she said', 'lo' means 'to him', 'Zeres' is the name of Haman's wife, 'ishto' means 'his wife', 've-khol' means 'and all', 'ohevav' means 'his friends', 'ya'asu' means 'they will make', 'etz' means 'a gallows', 'gavoah' means 'tall', 'chamishim' means 'fifty', 'amah' means 'cubits', 'uva'boker' means 'in the morning', 'emor' means 'say', 'lamlekh' means 'to the king', 've-yitlu' means 'and they will hang', 'et' is the direct object marker, 'Mardekai' is the name Mordecai, 'alav' means 'against him', 'uvo' means 'go with', 'im' means 'with', 'hamelkh' means 'the king', 'el' means 'to', 'hamishete' means 'the feast', 'sameach' means 'joyful' or 'glad', 'vayitav' means 'it turned out well', 'hadavar' means 'the matter', 'lifnei' means 'before', 'Haman' is the name Haman, 'vayaas' means 'and he did', 'ha'etz' means 'the gallows'.
EST.6
[EST.6.1] That night the year of the king passed and he said, bring the book of chronicles, the matters of the days, and they were called before the king. [§]
balayla hahhu nadda shenat hamelech vayomer lehavi et-sefer hazikhronot divrei hayamim vayihyu nikra'im lifnei hamelech.
'balayla' means 'that night', 'hahhu' means 'the (that)', 'nadda' means 'passed' or 'departed', 'shenat' means 'year of', 'hamelech' means 'the king', 'vayomer' means 'and he said', 'lehavi' means 'to bring', 'et-sefer' means 'the book', 'hazikhronot' means 'of chronicles', 'divrei' means 'the matters of', 'hayamim' means 'the days', 'vayihyu' means 'and they were', 'nikra'im' means 'called', 'lifnei' means 'before', 'hamelech' means 'the king'.
[EST.6.2] And he found written what Mordecai told about the garden and Teresh, two officials of the king, the gate guards, who sought to send a hand to the king Ahasuerus. [§]
vayyimatz katav asher higid mardochai al-bigtana vateresh shnei sarise ha-melekh mishomrei ha-saf asher biksha lishloach yad ba-melekh ahasuerosh.
'vayyimatz' means 'and he found', 'katav' means 'written', 'asher' means 'that/which', 'higid' means 'told', 'mardochai' is the name 'Mordecai', 'al' means 'about', 'bigtana' means 'the garden', 'vateresh' means 'and Teresh', 'shnei' means 'two', 'sarise' means 'officials', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'mishomrei' means 'the guards/watchmen', 'ha-saf' means 'of the gate', 'asher' again 'who', 'biksha' means 'they sought', 'lishloach' means 'to send', 'yad' means 'hand', 'ba-melekh' means 'to the king', 'ahasuerosh' is the name 'Ahasuerus'.
[EST.6.3] And the king said, 'What shall we do, dear and great, for Mordecai concerning this?' And the king's young men who served him said, 'We shall not do any thing with him.' [§]
Vayomer ha melekh mah na'asa yekar u gedulla le Mordechai al zeh vayomru na'arei ha melekh meshartav lo na'asa immo davar.
'Vayomer' means 'and he said', 'ha' means 'the', 'melekh' means 'king', 'mah' means 'what', 'na'asa' means 'shall we do', 'yekar' means 'dear' (or 'precious'), 'u' means 'and', 'gedulla' means 'great', 'le' means 'for', 'Mordechai' is a proper name, 'al' means 'concerning' or 'about', 'zeh' means 'this', 'vayomru' means 'and they said', 'na'arei' means 'the young men' or 'the servants', 'meshartav' means 'who served him', 'lo' means 'not', 'na'asa' means 'shall we do', 'immo' means 'with him', 'davar' means 'thing' or 'matter'.
[EST.6.4] And the king said, 'Who is in the courtyard?' And Haman came to the king's outer courtyard to tell the king to hang Mordecai on the tree that he had prepared for him. [§]
vayomer ha-melekh mi bechatser ve-Haman ba la-chatzar beit ha-melekh ha-chitzonah le'emor la-melekh litlot et Mordechai al ha-etz asher hekin lo.
'vayomer' means 'and he said', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'mi' means 'who', 'bechatser' means 'in the courtyard', 've-Haman' means 'and Haman', 'ba' means 'came', 'la-chatzar' means 'to the courtyard', 'beit ha-melekh' means 'the king's house', 'ha-chitzonah' means 'the outer (court)', 'le'emor' means 'to say', 'la-melekh' means 'to the king', 'litlot' means 'to hang', 'et Mordechai' means 'Mordecai' (object marker), 'al ha-etz' means 'on the tree', 'asher' means 'which', 'hekin' means 'he prepared', 'lo' means 'for him'.
[EST.6.5] And the king's young men said to him, Behold Haman stands in the courtyard, and the king said, Let him come. [§]
Vayomru na'arei ha-melekh elav; hineh Haman omed bechatzar; vayomer ha-melekh yavo.
'Vayomru' means 'and they said', 'na'arei' means 'the young men', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'elav' means 'to him', 'hineh' means 'behold', 'Haman' is the name Haman, 'omed' means 'stands', 'bechatzar' means 'in the courtyard', 'vayomer' means 'and the king said', 'yavo' means 'let him come'.
[EST.6.6] And Haman came and said to the king, 'What is to be done for the man whom the king wishes to honor?' Then Haman thought in his heart, 'Who does the king want to honor more than me?' [§]
Vayyavo hanam vayomer lo hamelek mah la'asot ba'ish asher hamelek chafetz bikaro vayomer hanam belibo lemi yachpets hamelek la'asot yekar yoter mimeni.
'Vayyavo' means 'and he came', 'hanam' means 'Haman', 'vayomer' means 'and he said', 'lo' means 'to him', 'hamelek' means 'the king', 'mah' means 'what', 'la'asot' means 'to do', 'ba'ish' means 'to the man', 'asher' means 'who', 'hamelek' again 'the king', 'chafetz' means 'desires', 'bikaro' means 'his precious [thing]', 'vayomer' again 'and said', 'hanam' again 'Haman', 'belibo' means 'in his heart', 'lemi' means 'for whom', 'yachpets' means 'the king wishes', 'hamelek' again 'the king', 'la'asot' means 'to do', 'yekar' means 'to honor', 'yoter' means 'more', 'mimeni' means 'than me'.
[EST.6.7] And Haman said to the king, a man whom the king delights in. [§]
Vayomer Haman el ha-melekh ish asher ha-melek chafetz bi-karo.
'Vayomer' means 'and said', 'Haman' is the personal name Haman, 'el' means 'to', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'ish' means 'a man' or 'the man', 'asher' means 'who' or 'that', the second 'ha-melek' again means 'the king', 'chafetz' means 'delights in' or 'desires', 'bi' means 'in', and 'karo' comes from 'kar' meaning 'precious' or 'dear', so together 'bi-karo' conveys 'in his preciousness' i.e., 'in his favor'.
[EST.6.8] They will bring a royal garment which the king wore, and a horse which the king rode, and a crown of kingship placed on his head. [§]
Yaviyu levush malkut asher lavashe-bo hamelech ve'sus asher rakav alav hamelech ve'asher nittan keter malkut berosho.
'Yaviyu' means 'they will bring', 'levush' means 'clothing', 'malkut' means 'royal/kingship', 'asher' means 'that/which', 'lavashe-bo' means 'that he wore', 'hamelech' means 'the king', 've'sus' means 'and a horse', 'asher' means 'that/which', 'rakav' means 'rode', 'alav' means 'upon it', 'hamelech' means 'the king', 've'asher' means 'and that/which', 'nittan' means 'was given', 'keter' means 'crown', 'malkut' means 'of kingdom', 'berosho' means 'on his head'.
[EST.6.9] And they shall give the clothing and the horse into the hand of a man of the king's officials, the officials, and they shall clothe the man who the king desires with precious [thing], and they shall mount him on the horse in the city street, and they shall call before him: thus shall be done for the man whom the king desires with his precious. [§]
ve-naton ha-lebush ve-hasus al-yad-ish misarei ha-melekh ha-partemim ve-hilbishu et-ha-ish asher ha-melekh chafetz b'ikar ve-hirkivuhu al-hasus birchov ha-ir ve-karu lefanav kacha ye'aseh la-ish asher ha-melekh chafetz b'ikar-o.
've-naton' means 'and will give', 'ha-lebush' means 'the clothing', 've-hasus' means 'and the horse', 'al-yad' means 'into the hand of', 'ish' means 'a man', 'misarei' means 'of the officers', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'ha-partemim' is a difficult word possibly meaning 'the officials' or a specific title, 've-hilbishu' means 'and they will clothe', 'et' is the direct object marker, 'ha-ish' means 'the man', 'asher' means 'who', 'chafetz' means 'desires', 'b'ikar' means 'with precious (thing)', 've-hirkivuhu' means 'and they will mount him', 'al-hasus' means 'on the horse', 'birchov' means 'in the street', 'ha-ir' means 'the city', 've-karu' means 'and they will call', 'lefanav' means 'before him', 'kacha' means 'thus', 'ye'aseh' means 'shall be done', 'la-ish' means 'for the man', and the final phrase repeats that this is done for the man whom the king desires with his precious'.
[EST.6.10] And the king said to Haman, Hurry, take the garment and the horse as you have spoken, and do so for Mordechai the Jew who sits at the king's gate; let no thing fall short of all that you spoke. [§]
vayomer ha-melekh le-Haman maher kach et ha-levush ve-et ha-sus ka'asher dibarta va'aseh-ken le-Mordechai ha-yehudi ha-yoshev be-sha'ar ha-melekh al-tafel davar mikol asher dibarta.
'vayomer' means 'and he said', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'le-Haman' means 'to Haman', 'maher' means 'hurry', 'kach' means 'take' (imperative), 'et' is the direct object marker, 'ha-levush' means 'the garment', 've-et' means 'and the', 'ha-sus' means 'the horse', 'ka'asher' means 'as' or 'according to what', 'dibarta' means 'you spoke', 'va'aseh-ken' means 'and do so', 'le-Mordechai' means 'for Mordechai', 'ha-yehudi' means 'the Jew', 'ha-yoshev' means 'the one who sits', 'be-sha'ar' means 'at the gate', 'ha-melekh' again 'of the king', 'al-tafel' means 'let not fall', 'davar' means 'thing' or 'matter', 'mikol' means 'from all', 'asher' means 'that', 'dibarta' again 'you said/spoke'.
[EST.6.11] And Haman took the garment and the horse, and he clothed Mordecai, and he placed him in the street of the city, and he said before him, 'Thus shall be done to the man whom the king wishes to honor.' [§]
Vayikach Haman et hallevush ve-et hasus vayalbeshet Mordekhai vayarkibeihu birchov ha'ir vayikra lefanav kacha ye'aseh la'ish asher ha-melekh chafetz biqaro.
'Vayikach' means 'and he took', 'Haman' is the name of the official, 'et' is the direct‑object marker, 'hallevush' means 'the garment', 've-et' means 'and the', 'hasus' means 'horse', 'vayalbeshet' means 'and he clothed', 'Mordekhai' is the name Mordecai, 'vayarkibeihu' means 'and he set him on a vehicle or in a place', 'birchov' means 'in the street', 'ha'ir' means 'the city', 'vayikra' means 'and he said', 'lefanav' means 'before him', 'kacha' means 'thus', 'ye'aseh' means 'shall be done', 'la'ish' means 'to the man', 'asher' means 'who', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'chafetz' means 'desires', 'biqaro' means 'to honor him'.
[EST.6.12] Mordecai returned to the gate of the king, and Haman was driven to his house in mourning, and his head was covered. [§]
vayashuv Mordekhai el sha'ar ha melekh veHaman nidchaf el beito avel vachapi rosh.
'vayashuv' means 'and returned', 'Mordekhai' is the name Mordecai, 'el' means 'to', 'sha'ar' means 'gate', 'ha' means 'the', 'melekh' means 'king', 'veHaman' means 'and Haman', 'nidchaf' means 'was driven', 'el' means 'to', 'beito' means 'his house', 'avel' means 'in mourning', 'vachapi' means 'and his head was covered', 'rosh' means 'head'.
[EST.6.13] And Haman reported to Zeresh his wife and to all his loved ones all that he called, and they said to him, his wise men, and Zeresh his wife, if from the seed of the Jews Mordechai, who has begun to fall before him, cannot be to him, for he will fall before him. [§]
Vayesapper Haman leZereshe ishto ulechol-ohevav et kol-asher karahu vayomar lo chachamav veZereshe ishto im mizerah haYehudim Mordechai asher hachilota linfol lefanav lo-tukhal lo ki-nafol tipol lefanav.
'Vayesapper' means 'and he reported', 'Haman' is the name of the antagonist, 'leZereshe' means 'to Zeresh', 'ishto' means 'his wife', 'ulechol-ohevav' means 'and to all his loved ones', 'et' is a direct‑object marker (not translated), 'kol-asher' means 'all that', 'karahu' means 'he called', 'vayomar' means 'and they said', 'lo' means 'to him', 'chachamav' means 'his wise men', 'veZereshe' means 'and Zeresh', 'ishto' again 'his wife', 'im' means 'if', 'mizerah' means 'from the seed', 'haYehudim' means 'the Jews', 'Mordechai' is a personal name, 'asher' means 'who', 'hachilota' means 'has begun', 'linfol' means 'to fall', 'lefanav' means 'before him', 'lo-tukhal' means 'cannot be', 'lo' again 'to him', 'ki-nafol' means 'for he will fall', 'tipol' means 'will fall', 'lefanav' again 'before him'.
[EST.6.14] Still they were speaking with him, and the king's officials arrived and were about to bring Haman to the banquet that Esther had prepared. [§]
odam medabrim immo ve sarisei hammelek higiu vayabhilu le-havi et-aman el-hamishete asher-asata ester.
'odam' means 'still', 'medabrim' means 'are speaking', 'immo' means 'with him', 've' means 'and', 'sarisei' means 'the officials of', 'hammelek' means 'the king', 'higiu' means 'arrived', 'vayabhilu' means 'and they were about to', 'le-havi' means 'to bring', 'et-aman' means 'Haman', 'el' means 'to', 'hamishete' means 'the banquet', 'asher-asata' means 'that she prepared', 'ester' means 'Esther'.
EST.7
[EST.7.1] And the king and Haman came to drink with Esther the queen. [§]
Vayavo haMelekh veHaman lishtot im Esther haMalkah.
'Vayavo' means 'and came', 'haMelekh' means 'the king', 'veHaman' means 'and Haman', 'lishtot' means 'to drink', 'im' means 'with', 'Esther' is a proper name, 'haMalkah' means 'the queen'.
[EST.7.2] And the king said to Esther, Even on the second day at the banquet of wine, what is your request, Queen Esther, and I will give it to you; what is your petition, up to half the kingdom, and it shall be done. [§]
Vayomer ha-melekh le-Esther gam ba-yom ha-sheni be-mishte ha-yayin ma-she'elatekh Esther ha-malkah ve-tinaten lakh ma-bakashatekh ad chatzi ha-malkhut ve-teasa.
'Vayomer' means 'and he said', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'le-Esther' means 'to Esther', 'gam' means 'also' or 'even', 'ba-yom' means 'on the day', 'ha-sheni' means 'the second', 'be-mishte' means 'at the banquet', 'ha-yayin' means 'of wine', 'ma-she'elatekh' means 'what is your request', 'Esther' is the queen's name, 'ha-malkah' means 'the queen', 've-tinaten' means 'and I will give', 'lakh' means 'to you', 'ma-bakashatekh' means 'what is your petition', 'ad' means 'up to', 'chatzi' means 'half', 'ha-malkhut' means 'the kingdom', 've-teasa' means 'and it shall be done'.
[EST.7.3] Esther the queen answered and said, 'If I have found favor in your eyes, O king, and if it is good in the king’s sight, grant my life according to my request, and grant my people according to my petition.' [§]
vatta'an Esther ha-malkah vatomar im-matzati chen be'eineka ha-melekh ve'im al ha-melekh tov tinaten-li nafshi bi-she'elati ve'ami be-vakashati.
'vattan' means 'and she answered', 'Esther' is the name of the queen, 'ha-malkah' means 'the queen', 'vatomar' means 'and she said', 'im' means 'if', 'matzati' means 'I have found', 'chen' means 'favor' or 'grace', 'be'eineka' means 'in your eyes', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 've'im' means 'and if', 'al' means 'upon' or 'in the sight of', 'tov' means 'good', 'tinaten' means 'you will give', 'li' means 'to me', 'nafshi' means 'my life', 'bi-she'elati' means 'in my request', 've'ami' means 'and my people', 'be-vakashati' means 'in my petition'.
[EST.7.4] Because we were sold, I and my people, to destroy, to kill and to ruin, and even to servants and to families we were sold; I fell silent because there is no distress at all in the king's ... . [§]
Ki nimkarnu ani ve-ammi le-hashmid la-harog u-le-aved ve-illu la-avadim ve-li-shpachot nimkarnu hecherashti ki ein ha-tsar shoveh be-nezek ha-melekh.
'Ki' means 'because', 'nimkarnu' means 'we were sold', 'ani' means 'I', 've-ammi' means 'and my people', 'le-hashmid' means 'to destroy', 'la-harog' means 'to kill', 'u-le-aved' means 'and to ruin', 've-illu' means 'and even', 'la-avadim' means 'to servants', 've-li-shpachot' means 'and to families', 'hecherashti' means 'I fell silent', 'ein' means 'there is no', 'ha-tsar' means 'the distress/affliction', 'shoveh' means 'any', 'be-nezek' likely means 'in the king's ...' (a difficult phrase, possibly 'in the king's pressure' or 'in the king's restraint'), 'ha-melekh' means 'the king'. The verse strings together a series of dire conditions, expressing a sense of being sold out for violence and loss, and then a lament that no further distress exists in the king's domain, leading to silence.
[EST.7.5] And the king Ahasuerus said, and he said to Esther the queen, 'Who is this? And where is this one, the one who has filled his heart to act thus?' [§]
vayomer ha-melekh Achashverosh vayomer le-Esther ha-malka mi hu zeh ve-ee-zeh hu asher melalo libo laasot ken.
'vayomer' means 'and he said', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'Achashverosh' is the name of the king, 'vayomer' again means 'and he said', 'le-Esther' means 'to Esther', 'ha-malka' means 'the queen', 'mi' means 'who', 'hu' means 'he/it', 'zeh' means 'this', 've-ee-zeh' means 'and where is this', 'hu' again means 'he/it', 'asher' means 'who/that', 'melalo' means 'filled it', 'libo' means 'his heart', 'laasot' means 'to do', 'ken' means 'thus' or 'so'.
[EST.7.6] And Esther said, 'A man, a foreigner and adversary, Haman the evil one, this Haman, may he be removed from before the king and the queen.' [§]
Vatoamer-Esther ish tsar ve-oiev Haman ha-ra ha-zeh ve-Haman nivat milifnei ha-melekh ve-ha-malkah.
'Vatoamer' means 'and said', 'Esther' is the name of the queen, 'ish' means 'a man' or 'person', 'tsar' means 'stranger' or 'foreign', 've-oiev' means 'and adversary', 'Haman' is the name of the antagonist, 'ha-ra' means 'the evil', 'ha-zeh' means 'this', 've-Haman' repeats the name for emphasis, 'nivat' is a verb meaning 'to be driven away' or 'to be removed', 'milifnei' means 'from before' or 'in the presence of', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', and 've-ha-malkah' means 'and the queen'.
[EST.7.7] And the king rose in his anger from the wine feast to the garden of the house, and Haman stood to request his life from Esther the queen, because he saw that the evil had been completed against him by the king. [§]
vehammelekh kam bachamato mimishte hayayin el-ginnat habitan vehaman amad levakesh al-nafsho meester hamalka ki raah ki-kalta elav haraah meet hammelekh.
'vehammelekh' means 'the king', 'kam' means 'stood up', 'bachamato' means 'in his anger', 'mimishte' means 'from the feast', 'hayayin' means 'the wine', 'el-ginnat' means 'to the garden', 'habitan' means 'of the house', 'vehaman' means 'and Haman', 'amad' means 'stood', 'levakesh' means 'to request', 'al-nafsho' means 'for his life', 'meester' means 'from Esther', 'hamalka' means 'the queen', 'ki' means 'because', 'raah' means 'saw', 'ki-kalta' means 'that she had finished', 'elav' means 'against him', 'haraah' means 'the evil', 'meet' means 'from', 'hammelekh' means 'the king'.
[EST.7.8] And the king returned from the garden of the palace to the wine banquet hall; Haman fell on the couch where Esther was sitting, and the king said, 'Indeed, shall you also seek to seize the queen with me in the house?' The matter went out of the king’s mouth, and Haman’s face was turned toward the king. [§]
veha-melek shav miginat ha-bitan el-bet mishte ha-yayin ve-Haman nofel al-hamitta asher Esther al-hiya vayomer ha-melek hagam likvosh et-hamelka imi ba-bayit ha-davar yatza mi-pi ha-melek u-fnei Haman chafu.
'veha-melek' means 'and the king', 'shav' means 'returned', 'mi-ginat' means 'from the garden', 'ha-bitan' means 'of the palace', 'el-bet' means 'to the house', 'mishte' means 'feast' or 'banquet', 'ha-yayin' means 'of wine', 've-Haman' means 'and Haman', 'nofel' means 'fell', 'al-hamitta' means 'upon the couch', 'asher' means 'which', 'Esther' is a proper name, 'al-hiya' means 'upon her' (i.e., where she was sitting), 'vayomer' means 'and said', 'ha-melek' means 'the king', 'hagam' is an interrogative particle meaning 'indeed' or 'also', 'likvosh' means 'to seize' or 'to take', 'et-hamelka' means 'the queen', 'imi' means 'with me', 'ba-bayit' means 'in the house', 'ha-davar' means 'the matter/thing', 'yatza' means 'went out', 'mi-pi' means 'from the mouth of', 'ha-melek' again 'the king', 'u-fnei' means 'and the face of', 'Haman' is a proper name, 'chafu' means 'was turned/turned toward'.
[EST.7.9] And one of the eunuchs said before the king, 'Also behold the tree which Haman made for Mordecai, who spoke well about the king, standing in Haman's house, fifty cubits high,' and the king said, 'Hang him on it.' [§]
Vayomer Charbonah echad min-haserisim lifnei hamelech gam hineh haetz asher asah Haman leMordechai asher diber tov al hamelech omed beveit Haman gavoha chamsim amah vayomer hamelech teluhu alav.
'Vayomer' means 'and he said', 'Charbonah' is a proper name, 'echad' means 'one', 'min' means 'of', 'haserisim' means 'the eunuchs', 'lifnei' means 'before', 'hamelech' means 'the king', 'gam' means 'also', 'hineh' means 'behold', 'haetz' means 'the tree', 'asher' means 'which', 'asah' means 'made', 'Haman' is a proper name, 'leMordechai' means 'for Mordecai', 'asher' again 'who', 'diber' means 'spoke', 'tov' means 'good', 'al' means 'about', 'hamelech' again 'the king', 'omed' means 'standing', 'beveit' means 'in the house of', 'Haman' again, 'gavoha' means 'high', 'chamsim' means 'fifty', 'amah' means 'cubit(s)', 'vayomer' means 'and he said', 'hamelech' again 'the king', 'teluhu' means 'hang him', 'alav' means 'on it'.
[EST.7.10] And they hanged Haman upon the tree which was prepared for Mordecai, and the king's anger was smitten. [§]
Vayittelu et Haman al haetz asher hekin leMordekhai vachamat haMelekh shakah.
'Vayittelu' means 'and they hanged', 'et' is the direct‑object marker, 'Haman' is the name of the villain, 'al' means 'upon', 'haetz' means 'the tree', 'asher' means 'that' or 'which', 'hekin' means 'he prepared', 'leMordekhai' means 'for Mordecai', 'vachamat' means 'and the anger', 'haMelekh' means 'the king', 'shakah' means 'was smitten' or 'ceased'. The final character 'P' is a paragraph marker in the Masoretic text and is not part of the narrative.
EST.8
[EST.8.1] On that day the king Ahasuerus gave to Esther the queen the house of Haman the adversary of the Jews, and Mordechai came before the king because Esther told what it was to her. [§]
Bayyom hahu natan hamelech Ahasuerus le-Esther hamelekhah et-beit haMan tzorer hayehudim uMordekhai ba lifnei hamelech ki higida Esther mah hu lah.
'Bayyom' means 'on that day', 'hahu' means 'that', 'natan' means 'gave', 'hamelech' means 'the king', 'Ahasuerus' is the name of the king, 'le-Esther' means 'to Esther', 'hamelekhah' means 'the queen', 'et' is the direct object marker, 'beit' means 'house', 'haMan' means 'the Haman', 'tzorer' means 'the adversary' (one who harms), 'hayehudim' means 'the Jews', 'uMordekhai' means 'and Mordechai', 'ba' means 'came', 'lifnei' means 'before', 'hamelech' means 'the king', 'ki' means 'because', 'higida' means 'she told', 'Esther' is a proper name, 'mah' means 'what', 'hu' means 'it', 'lah' means 'to her'.
[EST.8.2] And the king removed his signet ring which he had taken from Haman and gave it to Mordecai, and Esther placed Mordecai over Haman's house. [§]
vayasir ha-melekh et-tav'ato asher he'evir me-Haman vayitnah le-Mordekhai vatesem Esther et-Mordekhai al-beit Haman.
'vayasir' means 'and he removed', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'et-tav'ato' means 'his signet ring', 'asher' means 'that/which', 'he'evir' means 'he removed/ transferred', 'me-Haman' means 'from Haman', 'vayitnah' means 'and he gave it', 'le-Mordekhai' means 'to Mordecai', 'vatesem' means 'and she placed', 'Esther' is the name Esther, 'et-Mordekhai' means 'Mordecai', 'al-beit Haman' means 'over the house of Haman'.
[EST.8.3] And Esther continued and spoke before the king, and she fell before his feet, and she wept and pleaded with him to overturn the evil of Haman the plotter and also his plan which he had devised against the Jews. [§]
Va-tosef Esther va-tedaber lifnei ha-melekh va-tipol lifnei raglav ve-tevekh ve-tichanen lo le-haavir et raat Haman ha-agagi ve-et machshavto asher chashav al ha-yehudim.
'Va-tosef' means 'and she added/continued', 'Esther' is the name Esther, 'va-tedaber' means 'and she spoke', 'lifnei' means 'before/in front of', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'va-tipol' means 'and she fell', 'raglav' means 'his feet', 've-tevekh' means 'and she wept', 've-tichanen' means 'and she pleaded/begged', 'lo' means 'to him', 'le-haavir' means 'to turn over/overthrow', 'et' is the direct object marker, 'raat' means 'evil/mischief', 'Haman' is the name Haman, 'ha-agagi' means 'the plotter/schemer', 've-et' means 'and also', 'machshavto' means 'his plan/intention', 'asher' means 'which', 'chashav' means 'he thought/devised', 'al' means 'against', 'ha-yehudim' means 'the Jews'.
[EST.8.4] And the king extended to Esther the golden scepter, and Esther rose and stood before the king. [§]
Vayoshet ha-melekh le-Esther et sharvit ha-zahav vataqam Esther vataamod lifnei ha-melekh.
'Vayoshet' means 'and he extended', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'le-Esther' means 'to Esther', 'et' is the direct object marker, 'sharvit' means 'scepter', 'ha-zahav' means 'the gold', 'vataqam' means 'and she rose', 'Esther' is the name Esther, 'vataamod' means 'and she stood', 'lifnei' means 'before', 'ha-melekh' again means 'the king'.
[EST.8.5] And she said, if it is good before the king and if I find favor before him, and the matter is before the king, and I am good in his eyes, it will be written to return the books of Haman the son of Medata the Agagite, who wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the kingdoms of the king. [§]
Vatoomer im al ha-melech tov ve'im matzati chen lefanav ve-kasher ha-davar lifnei ha-melech ve-tova ani be-einav yikkatev le-hashiv et ha-sefarim machshevet Haman ben ha-medata ha-agagi asher katav le-avad et ha-yehudim asher bechol medinot ha-melech.
'Vatoomer' means 'and she said', 'im' means 'if', 'al' means 'upon', 'ha-melech' means 'the king', 'tov' means 'good', 've'im' means 'and if', 'matzati' means 'I found', 'chen' means 'favor', 'lefanav' means 'before him', 've-kasher' means 'and the matter', 'ha-davar' means 'the thing', 'lifnei' means 'before', 've-tova' means 'and good', 'ani' means 'I', 'be-einav' means 'in his eyes', 'yikkatev' means 'will be written', 'le-hashiv' means 'to return', 'et' is a direct object marker, 'ha-sefarim' means 'the books', 'machshevet' means 'the plot', 'Haman' is a proper name, 'ben' means 'son of', 'ha-medata' means 'the Medata', 'ha-agagi' means 'the Agagite', 'asher' means 'who/that', 'katav' means 'wrote', 'le-avad' means 'to destroy', 'ha-yehudim' means 'the Jews', 'bechol' means 'in all', 'medinot' means 'kingdoms', 'ha-melech' means 'the king'.
[EST.8.6] Because where can I go and see the evil that will find my people, and where can I go and see the destruction of my birth? [§]
ki eichakah ukhal veraiti baraah asher yimtza et ammi ve eichakah ukhal veraiti beabadan moladti.
'ki' means 'because', 'eichakah' means 'where', 'ukhal' means 'I can' or 'I am able', 'veraiti' means 'and I saw', 'baraah' means 'in evil' or 'in trouble', 'asher' means 'that' or 'which', 'yimtza' means 'finds' or 'will find', 'et' is a direct object marker with no English equivalent, 'ammi' means 'my people', 've' means 'and', 'beabadan' means 'in Abaddon' (a place of destruction), 'moladti' means 'my birth' or 'my origin'. The phrase repeats the question of where one can go to witness the suffering of one's people and the ruin of one's own birth.
[EST.8.7] And the king Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given the house of Haman to Esther and it shall be hanged on the tree upon which his hand was sent among the Jews. [§]
Vayomer ha-melekh Ahasuerus le-Esther ha-malka u-le-Mordechai ha-Yehudi hineh beit-Haman natati le-Esther ve-oto talu al-ha-ets al asher shalach yado ba-yehudim.
'Vayomer' means 'and he said', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'Ahasuerus' is the name of the Persian king, 'le-Esther' means 'to Esther', 'ha-malka' means 'the queen', 'u-le-Mordechai' means 'and to Mordechai', 'ha-Yehudi' means 'the Jew', 'hineh' means 'behold', 'beit-Haman' means 'the house of Haman', 'natati' means 'I have given', 'le-Esther' again means 'to Esther', 've-oto' means 'and it', 'talu' means 'they shall be hanged', 'al-ha-ets' means 'on the tree', 'al' means 'upon', 'asher' means 'which', 'shalach' means 'sent', 'yado' means 'his hand', 'ba-yehudim' means 'among the Jews'.
[EST.8.8] And you write upon the Jews as good in your eyes in the name of the King and seal with the seal of the King because the writing that is written in the name of the King and seal it with the seal of the King there is no way to return. [§]
veatem kitvu al-hayehudim katoov beineichem beshem ha-melekh vechitmu betabbaat ha-melekh ki-ketav asher-nikhtav beshem ha-melekh venachtom betabbaat ha-melekh ein lehashiv.
've' means 'and', 'atem' means 'you (plural)', 'kitvu' means 'write', 'al' means 'upon', 'hayehudim' means 'the Jews', 'katoov' means 'good', 'beineichem' means 'in your eyes', 'beshem' means 'in the name of', 'ha-melekh' means 'the King', 'vechitmu' means 'and seal', 'betabbaat' means 'with the seal of', 'ki' means 'because', 'ketav' means 'the writing', 'asher' means 'that', 'nikhtav' means 'is written', 'venachtom' means 'and seal it', 'ein' means 'there is no', 'lehashiv' means 'to return'.
[EST.8.9] And the king's scribes were called at that time in the third month, which is the month of Siwan, on the twenty-third day, and it was written according to everything that Mordecai commanded to the Jews and to the satraps and the eunuchs and the princes of the provinces that stretch from India to Cush, seven and twenty and a hundred provinces, each province and each people in their own language, and to the Jews as it was written to them in their language. [§]
vayikaru sofrei ha-melekh ba'et ha-hi ba-chodesh ha-shlishi hu chodesh siwan bi-shlosha ve-aser bo vayikatev ke-kol asher tzivah Mordechai el ha-yehudim ve-el ha-achashdarpanim ve-hapachot ve-sharei ha-medinot asher me-hodu ve-ad kush sheva ve-aser u-me'ah medinah medinah ve-medinah ki-k'tavah ve-am va-am ki-lshono ve-el ha-yehudim ki-k'tavam ve-kilshonam.
'vayikaru' means 'and they called', 'sofrei' means 'the scribes', 'ha-melekh' means 'of the king', 'ba'et' means 'at the time', 'ha-hi' means 'that', 'ba-chodesh' means 'in the month', 'ha-shlishi' means 'the third', 'hu' means 'it is', 'chodesh' means 'month', 'siwan' is the name of the month (Siwan), 'bi-shlosha' means 'on the twenty-third', 've-aser' means 'and (the) twenty', 'bo' means 'it', 'vayikatev' means 'and it was written', 'ke-kol' means 'according to all', 'asher' means 'that', 'tzivah' means '(he) commanded', 'Mordechai' is a proper name, 'el' means 'to', 'ha-yehudim' means 'the Jews', 've-el' means 'and to', 'ha-achashdarpanim' means 'the satraps', 've-hapachot' means 'and the eunuchs', 've-sharei' means 'and the princes', 'ha-medinot' means 'of the provinces', 'asher' means 'which', 'me-hodu' means 'from India', 've-ad' means 'and to', 'kush' means 'Cush', 'sheva' means 'seven', 've-aser' means 'and twenty', 'u-me'ah' means 'and a hundred', 'medinah' means 'province', repeated for emphasis, 'ki' means 'as', 'k'tavah' means 'written', 've-am' means 'and people', 'va-am' means 'people', 'ki' means 'in', 'lshono' means 'their language', 've-el' means 'and to', 'ha-yehudim' again 'the Jews', 'ki-k'tavam' means 'as written to them', 've-kilshonam' means 'and in their language'.
[EST.8.10] And he wrote in the name of the king Ahasuerus, and sealed with the king's seal, and sent letters by the hand of the couriers on horses, riders of the empire, the Ahastranim, the sons of the Ramakhim. [§]
Vayiktov beshem ha-melekh Ahasuerosh vayachtom be-tavaat ha-melekh vayishlach sfarim be-yad ha-ratzim ba-susim rokhvei ha-rekhes ha-akhastranim be-nei ha-ramakhim.
'Vayiktov' means 'and he wrote', 'beshem' means 'in the name of', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'Ahasuerosh' is the name of the Persian king (Ahasuerus), 'vayachtom' means 'and he sealed', 'be-tavaat' means 'with the seal of', 'ha-melekh' again 'the king', 'vayishlach' means 'and he sent', 'sfarim' means 'letters', 'be-yad' means 'by the hand of', 'ha-ratzim' means 'the couriers', 'ba-susim' means 'on the horses', 'rokhvei' means 'riders of', 'ha-rekhes' means 'the empire', 'ha-akhastranim' means 'the Ahastranim (a group or officials)', and 'be-nei ha-ramakhim' means 'the sons of the Ramakhim (a noble family)'.
[EST.8.11] that the king gave to the Jews who in every city and town were to assemble and stand for their lives, to destroy and to kill and to take away all the power of the people and the nation of the foreigners who seized them, women and their plunder to be taken. [§]
asher natan ha-melekh la-yehudim asher bechol ir ve-ir le-hikahal ve-la'amod al-nafsham le-hashmid ve-la-harog u-le-aved et kol-chel am u-medinah ha-tzarim otam taf ve-nashim ve-shelamam lavoz.
'asher' means 'who/that', 'natan' means 'gave', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'la-yehudim' means 'to the Jews', 'asher' again means 'who/that', 'bechol' means 'in every', 'ir' means 'city', 've-ir' means 'and town', 'le-hikahal' means 'to assemble', 've-la'amod' means 'and to stand', 'al-nafsham' means 'for their lives', 'le-hashmid' means 'to destroy', 've-la-harog' means 'and to kill', 'u-le-aved' means 'and to take away', 'et' is a direct object marker, 'kol' means 'all', 'chel' means 'might/power', 'am' means 'people', 'u-medinah' means 'and nation', 'ha-tzarim' means 'the foreigners', 'otam' means 'who seized them', 'taf' means 'women', 've-nashim' means 'and women', 've-shelamam' means 'and their plunder', 'lavoz' means 'to be taken'.
[EST.8.12] On the first day throughout all the provinces, the king Ahasuerus, in the thirteenth of the twelfth month, it is the month of Adar. [§]
beyom echad bekhol medinot ha-melekh Ahasuerus beshloshah asar lechodesh shnei asar hu chodesh Adar.
'beyom' means 'on the day', 'echad' means 'one' or 'first', 'bekhol' means 'through all', 'medinot' means 'provinces', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'Ahasuerus' is the name of the king, 'beshloshah' means 'in the thirteenth', 'asar' means 'ten' (together 'shloshah asar' = thirteen), 'lechodesh' means 'of the month', 'shnei asar' means 'twelve', 'hu' means 'it is', 'chodesh' means 'month', and 'Adar' is the name of the month.
[EST.8.13] The written decree shall be given as law in every nation, openly to all peoples, and the Jews shall sing on this day to avenge their enemies. [§]
patshagen haketav lehenaten dat bechol medina umedinah galui lechol haamim velihiyot hayehudim atidim layom hazeh lehinakam meoyvehem.
'patshagen' means 'the written decree', 'haketav' means 'the writing', 'lehenaten' means 'to give', 'dat' means 'law', 'bechol medina' means 'in every nation', 'umedinah' means 'and nation', 'galui' means 'openly', 'lechol haamim' means 'to all peoples', 'velihiyot' means 'and to be', 'hayehudim' means 'the Jews', 'atidim' means 'singing' or 'songs of praise', 'layom hazeh' means 'on this day', 'lehinakam' means 'to avenge', 'meoyvehem' means 'their enemies'.
[EST.8.14] The raging riders of the [unknown term] the astonished went out confused and driven by the word of the king, and the religion was given in the lily of the wilderness. [§]
ha ratzim rokhvei ha rechesh ha achashtaranim yatzeu mevohalim udchupim bidvar hamelech vehadat nitenah beshushan habirah
'ha ratzim' means 'the raging ones', 'rokhvei' means 'riders of', 'ha rechesh' means 'the [unknown term]', 'ha achashtaranim' means 'the astonished ones', 'yatzeu' means 'they went out', 'mevohalim' means 'confused', 'udchupim' means 'and driven', 'bidvar' means 'by the word', 'hamelech' means 'the king', 'vehadat' means 'and the religion', 'nitenah' means 'was given', 'beshushan' means 'in lily', 'habirah' means 'the wilderness'.
[EST.8.15] And Mordecai went out before the king in royal clothing of blue and purple, and a great golden crown, and a belt of fine silk and crimson, and the city of Shushan shone and was glad. [§]
u-Mordochai yatza milifnei ha-melekh bilvus milkhut techelet va-chur va-ateret zahav gedolah ve-tachrich bots ve-argaman ve-ha'ir Shushan tzehalah ve-samecha.
'u' means 'and', 'Mordochai' is the name Mordecai, 'yatza' means 'went out', 'milifnei' means 'before', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'bilvus' means 'in clothing', 'milkhut' means 'royal', 'techelet' means 'blue', 'va-chur' means 'and purple', 'va-ateret' means 'and a crown', 'zahav' means 'gold', 'gedolah' means 'great', 've-tachrich' means 'and a belt', 'bots' means 'fine silk', 've-argaman' means 'and crimson', 've-ha'ir' means 'and the city', 'Shushan' is the name Susa, 'tzehalah' means 'shone', 've-samecha' means 'and was glad'.
[EST.8.16] To the Jews there was light and joy and gladness and preciousness. [§]
layehudim hayetah ora vesimcha vesason veikar.
'layehudim' means 'to the Jews', 'hayetah' means 'was', 'ora' means 'light', 'vesimcha' means 'and joy', 'vesason' means 'and gladness', and 'veikar' means 'and precious' (from the root meaning 'dear' or 'valuable').
[EST.8.17] And in every kingdom and in every city and in every place where the word of the king and his decree reaches, there is joy and gladness for the Jews, a feast and a good day, and many of the peoples of the earth are becoming Jews, because the terror of the Jews has fallen upon them. [§]
Uvekhalkh medina u'medina u'vekhalkh ir va'ir makom asher devar ha-melekh ve'dato magi'a simcha ve'sason la-yehudim mishteh ve'yom tov ve'rabbim me'amay ha-aretz mit'yahdim ki-napal pachad ha-yehudim aleihem.
'Uvekhalkh' means 'and in every', 'medina' means 'kingdom', the repetition 'u'medina' emphasizes 'and kingdom', 'u'vekhalkh' again 'and in every', 'ir' means 'city', 'va'ir' means 'and city', 'makom' means 'place', 'asher' means 'where', 'devar' means 'word', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 've'dato' means 'and his decree', 'magi'a' means 'reaches', 'simcha' means 'joy', 've'sason' means 'and gladness', 'la-yehudim' means 'for the Jews', 'mishteh' means 'feast', 've'yom tov' means 'and a good day', 've'rabbim' means 'and many', 'me'amay' means 'of the peoples', 'ha-aretz' means 'of the earth', 'mit'yahdim' means 'are becoming Jews (converting)', 'ki' means 'because', 'napal' means 'has fallen', 'pachad' means 'terror/fear', 'ha-yehudim' means 'of the Jews', 'aleihem' means 'upon them'.
EST.9
[EST.9.1] And in the twelfth month it is the month of Adar; on the thirteenth day of it the word of the king and his decree came to be carried out on the day when the enemies of the Jews broke [the opposition] to rule over them, and it will be turned over to the Jews who will rule over them among their haters. [§]
u-vi-shnem asar chodesh hu-chodesh Adar bi-shlosha asar yom bo asher higia dvar ha-melekh ve-dato le-heasot ba-yom asher siveru oyvei ha-yehudim li-shlot ba-hem ve-nahafok hu asher yishletu ha-yehudim hemma be-son'eyhem
'u-vi-shnem' means 'and in two', here referring to the twelfth; 'asar' means 'twelve'; 'chodesh' means 'month'; 'hu-chodesh' means 'it is the month'; 'Adar' is the name of the month; 'bi-shlosha' means 'in the third' i.e., thirteenth; 'asar' again 'twelve'; 'yom' means 'day'; 'bo' means 'of it'; 'asher' means 'which'; 'higia' means 'came'; 'dvar' means 'word' (of the king); 'ha-melekh' means 'the king'; 've-dato' means 'and his decree'; 'le-heasot' means 'to be done'; 'ba-yom' means 'on the day'; 'asher' again 'which'; 'siveru' means 'broke' or 'overthrew'; 'oyvei' means 'enemies of'; 'ha-yehudim' means 'the Jews'; 'li-shlot' means 'to rule'; 'ba-hem' means 'over them'; 've-nahafok' means 'and it will be turned over'; 'hu' means 'it'; 'asher' again 'that'; 'yishletu' means 'they will rule'; 'ha-yehudim' means 'the Jews'; 'hemma' means 'they'; 'be-son'eyhem' means 'among their haters'.
[EST.9.2] The Jews gathered in their cities throughout all the provinces; the king Achashverosh sent his hand against those seeking their evil, and no man stood before them because their terror fell upon all the peoples. [§]
Nikhelu haYehudim beareihem bechol medinot ha-melekh Achashverosh lishloach yad bimmabashsei ra'atam ve'ish lo amod lifnehem ki nafal pachdam al kol ha'amim.
'Nikhelu' means 'they gathered', 'haYehudim' means 'the Jews', 'beareihem' means 'in their cities', 'bechol medinot' means 'in all provinces', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'Achashverosh' is the proper name Achashverosh, 'lishloach' means 'to send', 'yad' means 'hand', 'bimmabashsei' means 'those seeking', 'ra'atam' means 'their evil', 've'ish' means 'and no man', 'lo amod' means 'did not stand', 'lifnehem' means 'before them', 'ki' means 'because', 'nafal' means 'fell', 'pachdam' means 'their terror', 'al kol ha'amim' means 'upon all peoples'.
[EST.9.3] And all the princes of the provinces, the satraps, the eunuchs, and those who performed the work for the king, who were appointed over the Jews, because the terror of Mordecai fell upon them. [§]
vechol serei ha medinot ve ha akhashdarpanim ve ha pachot ve osei ha melacha asher la melekh menas\'im et ha yehudim ki napal pachad Mordechai aleihem.
'vechol' means 'and all', 'serei' means 'princes' or 'lords', 'ha' is the definite article 'the', 'medinot' means 'provinces', 'akhashdarpanim' refers to 'satraps' (high officials), 'pachot' means 'the eunuchs', 'osei' means 'those who do' or 'workers', 'melacha' means 'the work' or 'service', 'asher' means 'who', 'la melekh' means 'to the king' or 'of the king', 'menas\'im' means 'appointed' or 'assigned', 'et' is the direct object marker, 'ha yehudim' means 'the Jews', 'ki' means 'because' or 'for', 'napal' means 'fell' or 'came down', 'pachad' means 'terror' or 'fear', 'Mordechai' is a proper name, 'aleihem' means 'upon them'.
[EST.9.4] Because great Mordechai is in the king's house, and his hearing goes throughout all the provinces; for the man Mordechai goes and is great. [§]
Ki-gadol Mordekhai bebeit ha-melekh ve-shamo holech be-chol ha-medinot ki ha-ish Mordekhai holech ve-gadol.
'Ki' means 'because', 'gadol' means 'great', 'Mordekhai' is a proper name, 'bebeit' means 'in the house of', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 've-shamo' means 'and his hearing/ear', 'holech' means 'goes', 'be-chol' means 'through all', 'ha-medinot' means 'the provinces' or 'the nations', 'ha-ish' means 'the man', and the final 'holech ve-gadol' means 'goes and is great'. The phrase describes Mordechai's prominence and influence throughout the king's realm.
[EST.9.5] And the Jews struck all their enemies with a sword blow, killing and ruin; and they acted against their haters as they pleased. [§]
Vayakku hayehudim bechol-oyvehem makkat-cherav veherag veavdan vayasu besonehem kirtzonam.
'Vayakku' means 'they struck', 'hayehudim' means 'the Jews', 'bechol-oyvehem' means 'against all their enemies', 'makkat-cherav' means 'a blow of sword', 'veherag' means 'and killing', 'veavdan' means 'and ruin', 'vayasu' means 'and they did', 'besonehem' means 'against their haters', 'kirtzonam' means 'as they pleased'.
[EST.9.6] And in the white lily the Jews killed and lost five hundred men. [§]
Uve shushan habirah hargu hayehudim veaved chamesh meot ish.
'Uve' means 'and in', 'shushan' means 'lily', 'habirah' means 'the white', 'hargu' means 'they killed', 'hayehudim' means 'the Jews', 'veaved' means 'and lost', 'chamesh' means 'five', 'meot' means 'hundred', 'ish' means 'man' or 'men'.
[EST.9.7] and Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Asphata. [§]
ve'et Parshandatha ve'et Dalphon ve'et Asphata.
've'et' means 'and' (the conjunction 've' plus the object marker 'et'), 'Parshandatha' is a proper name of a demon, 'Dalphon' is another proper name, 'Asphata' is another proper name.
[EST.9.8] and Porata and Adalya and Aridata. [§]
ve'et Porata ve'et Adalya ve'et Aridata.
've'et' means 'and' (the conjunction 've' plus the direct object marker 'et'), 'Porata' is a proper name, 'Adalya' is a proper name, and 'Aridata' is a proper name.
[EST.9.9] And Parmeshtha, and Arisay, and Aridai, and Vayezata. [§]
ve'et Parmeshtha ve'et Arisay ve'et Aridai ve'et Vayezata.
've'et' means 'and' (the conjunction used before a direct object marker). 'Parmeshtha', 'Arisay', 'Aridai', and 'Vayezata' are proper names of deities and are left untranslated as they are not among the specified divine titles that require literal translation.
[EST.9.10] Ten sons of Haman, son of Hamdata, the oppressor, killed the Jews, and they did not send their hand into the cistern. [§]
Aseret b'nei Haman ben-hamdata tzorer hayehudim haragu uvabizah lo shalu chu et-yadam.
'Aseret' means 'ten', 'b'nei' means 'sons of' (or 'children of'), 'Haman' is a proper name, 'ben-hamdata' means 'son of Hamdata', 'tzorer' means 'oppressor', 'hayehudim' means 'the Jews', 'haragu' means 'they killed', 'uvabizah' means 'and in the cistern', 'lo' means 'not', 'shalu' means 'they sent', 'chu' is the object pronoun 'their', and 'et-yadam' means 'their hand'.
[EST.9.11] On that day the number of the slain came in Shushan the palace before the king. [§]
Bayyom hahu ba mispar haharugim beShushan habirah lifnei hamelek.
'Bayyom' means 'on the day', 'hahu' means 'that', 'ba' means 'came', 'mispar' means 'the number', 'haharugim' means 'of the slain', 'beShushan' means 'in Shushan', 'habirah' means 'the palace', 'lifnei' means 'before', 'hamelek' means 'the king'.
[EST.9.12] And the king said to Esther the queen, In Shushan the palace the Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men and also the ten sons of Haman among the many provinces of the king. What have they done? And what is your request, and it will be given to you. And what is your further petition, it shall be done. [§]
Vayomer ha-melekh le-Esther ha-malkah be-Shushan ha-birah harigu ha-yehudim ve-aved chamesh me'ot ish ve-et aseret b'nei-Haman bi-shear medinot ha-melekh meh asu u-mah she'elatkha ve-yinna-ten lakh u-mah baqqashatkha od ve-te'as
'Vayomer' means 'and he said', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'le-Esther' means 'to Esther', 'ha-malkah' means 'the queen', 'be-Shushan' means 'in Shushan', 'ha-birah' means 'the palace', 'harigu' means 'they have killed', 'ha-yehudim' means 'the Jews', 've-aved' means 'and destroyed', 'chamesh' means 'five', 'me'ot' means 'hundred', 'ish' means 'men', 've-et' is a conjunction meaning 'and also', 'aseret' means 'ten', 'b'nei-Haman' means 'sons of Haman', 'bi-shear' means 'among the many', 'medinot' means 'provinces', 'ha-melekh' means 'of the king', 'meh asu' means 'what have they done', 'u-mah' means 'and what', 'she'elatkha' means 'your request', 've-yinna-ten' means 'and will be given', 'lakh' means 'to you', 'u-mah' means 'and what', 'baqqashatkha' means 'your petition', 'od' means 'still', 've-te'as' means 'and it shall be done'.
[EST.9.13] And Esther said, If it please the king, let him also give tomorrow to the Jews who are in Shushan for the matter of the day, and let the ten sons of Haman be hanged on the tree. [§]
Vatoamer Ester im al hamelekh tov yinaten gam machar layehudim asher beShushan laasot kedat hayom ve'et aseret bnei Haman yitlu al haets.
'Vatoamer' means 'and said', 'Ester' is the name Esther, 'im' means 'if', 'al' means 'upon' or 'for', 'hamelekh' means 'the king', 'tov' means 'good' or 'it please', 'yinaten' means 'he will give', 'gam' means 'also', 'machar' means 'tomorrow', 'layehudim' means 'to the Jews', 'asher' means 'who', 'beShushan' means 'in Shushan', 'laasot' means 'to do' or 'for the matter', 'kedat' means 'according to the law', 'hayom' means 'the day', 've'et' means 'and also', 'aseret' means 'ten', 'bnei' means 'sons of', 'Haman' is the name Haman, 'yitlu' means 'they will be hanged', 'al' means 'on', 'haets' means 'the tree'.
[EST.9.14] And the king said to do so, and he gave a feast in Shushan, and the ten sons of Haman were hanged. [§]
Vayomer ha-melekh le-he'asot ken vatinaten dat beShushan ve'et aseret b'nei-Haman talu.
"Vayomer" means "and he said", "ha-melekh" means "the king", "le-he'asot" means "to do", "ken" means "so" or "thus", "vatinaten" means "and he gave", "dat" means "a feast", "beShushan" means "in Shushan", "ve'et" is a connective meaning "and", "aseret" means "the ten", "b'nei-Haman" means "sons of Haman", "talu" means "were hanged".
[EST.9.15] And the Jews who were in Shushan also on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar killed three hundred men in Shushan, but they did not send their hand in the baz. [§]
Vayikahaloo hayehudim asher-beshushan gam beyom arbaah asar lechodesh adar vayahar'gu beshushan shlosh meot ish u'vabizah lo shalchu et-yadam.
'Vayikahaloo' means 'and the Jews gathered', 'hayehudim' means 'the Jews', 'asher-beshushan' means 'who were in Shushan', 'gam' means 'also', 'beyom' means 'on the day', 'arbaah asar' means 'fourteenth', 'lechodesh' means 'of the month', 'adar' means 'Adar', 'vayahar'gu' means 'and they killed', 'beshushan' again means 'in Shushan', 'shlosh meot' means 'three hundred', 'ish' means 'men', 'u'vabizah' means 'and in the baz', 'lo' means 'not', 'shalchu' means 'they sent', 'et-yadam' means 'their hand'.
[EST.9.16] And the remaining of the Jews who were in the provinces of the king gathered and stood for their lives and rested from their enemies and the killing among their haters was five and seventy thousand and in disgrace they did not send their hand. [§]
ushar hayehudim asher bimdinot hamelech nikhelu ve'amod al-nafsham venoach meoyvehem veharog besonehem chamisha veshivim alef uvibazah lo shalchu et-yadam.
'ushar' means 'and the remaining', 'hayehudim' means 'the Jews', 'asher' means 'who/that', 'bimdinot' means 'in the provinces', 'hamelech' means 'the king', 'nikhelu' means 'they gathered', 've'amod' means 'and stood', 'al-nafsham' means 'for their lives', 'venoach' means 'and rested', 'meoyvehem' means 'from their enemies', 'veharog' means 'and the killing', 'besonehem' means 'among their haters', 'chamisha' means 'five', 'veshivim' means 'seventy', 'alef' means 'thousand', 'uvibazah' means 'in disgrace', 'lo' means 'not', 'shalchu' means 'they sent', 'et-yadam' means 'their hand'.
[EST.9.17] On the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and (he) will rest on its fourteenth, and (he) shall make it a day of feast and joy. [§]
beyom shloshah aser lekhodesh adar venoach bearba'a aser bo veaso oto yom mishete vesimcha.
'beyom' means 'on the day', 'shloshah' means 'three', 'aser' means 'ten' (together 'thirteen'), 'lekhodesh' means 'of the month', 'adar' is the name of the month, 'venoach' means 'and (he) will rest', 'bearba'a' means 'on four', 'aser' again means 'ten' (together 'fourteen'), 'bo' means 'of it' or 'in it', 'veaso' means 'and (he) will make', 'oto' means 'it', 'yom' means 'day', 'mishete' means 'feast', and 'vesimcha' means 'and joy'.
[EST.9.18] And the Jews who were in Shushan assembled in the thirteenth year, and in the fourteenth year, and Noah in the fifteenth year, and made it a day of feast and joy. [§]
vehayehudim asher beshushan nikhalu bishlosha aser bo uvearbaah aser bo veNoach bahamisha aser bo veaso oto yom misteh veshimcha.
'vehayehudim' means 'the Jews', 'asher' means 'who', 'beshushan' means 'in Shushan', 'nikhalu' means 'assembled', 'bishlosha' means 'in the thirteenth', 'aser' means 'ten' (together 'thirteenth'), 'bo' means 'of it' (referring to a year), 'uvearbaah' means 'in the fourteenth', 'veNoach' means 'and Noah', 'bahamisha' means 'in the fifteenth', 'veaso' means 'and made', 'oto' means 'it', 'yom' means 'day', 'misteh' means 'feast' or 'banquet', 'veshimcha' means 'and joy'.
[EST.9.19] For this reason the Jews who live among the Persians in the Persian cities make the fourteenth day of the month of Adar a celebration and feast and a good day, and they send gifts each to his neighbor. [§]
Al-ken haYehudim haPeruzim hayoshvim beare haPeruzot osim et yom arbaah asar lechodesh Adar simcha u-mishte veyom tov u-mishloach manot ish ler'ehu.
'Al-ken' means 'because' or 'for this reason', 'haYehudim' means 'the Jews', 'haPeruzim' means 'the Persians', 'hayoshvim' means 'who dwell' or 'living', 'beare' means 'in the cities', 'haPeruzot' means 'of the Persians', 'osim' means 'make' or 'do', 'et' is a direct object marker (no English equivalent), 'yom' means 'day', 'arbaah' means 'four', 'asar' means 'ten' (together 'fourteen'), 'lechodesh' means 'of the month', 'Adar' is the name of the month, 'simcha' means 'joy' or 'celebration', 'u-mishte' means 'and feast', 'veyom' means 'and day', 'tov' means 'good', 'u-mishloach' means 'and sending', 'manot' means 'gifts', 'ish' means 'a man' or 'each person', 'ler'ehu' means 'to his neighbor' or 'to each other'.
[EST.9.20] And Mordecai wrote these things and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both near and far. [§]
Vayikhtov Mordekhai et-hadvarim haelle vayishlach sefarim el-kol-hayehudim asher be-kol-medinot ha-melekh Ahashverosh hakarovim ve-harokim.
'Vayikhtov' means 'and wrote', 'Mordekhai' is the name Mordecai, 'et' is the direct object marker, 'hadvarim' means 'the things', 'haelle' means 'these', 'vayishlach' means 'and sent', 'sefarim' means 'letters', 'el' means 'to', 'kol' means 'all', 'hayehudim' means 'the Jews', 'asher' means 'who/that', 'be-kol' means 'in all', 'medinot' means 'provinces', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'Ahashverosh' is the name Ahasuerus, 'hakarovim' means 'the near ones', 've' means 'and', 'harokim' means 'the distant ones'.
[EST.9.21] To establish for them to be doing the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and the fifteenth day in it, every year. [§]
Leqayem aleihem lihyot osim et yom arbaah asar lechodesh Adar ve'et yom chamisha asar bo bekhol shanah ve-shanah.
'Leqayem' means 'to establish', 'aleihem' means 'upon them', 'lihyot' means 'to be', 'osim' means 'doing', 'et' is the direct object marker, 'yom' means 'day', 'arbaah' means 'four', 'asar' means 'ten' (together 'fourteen'), 'lechodesh' means 'of the month', 'Adar' is the name of the month, 've'et' means 'and' (with the object marker), 'yom' means 'day', 'chamisha' means 'five', 'asar' means 'ten' (together 'fifteen'), 'bo' means 'in it', 'bekhol' means 'in all', 'shanah' means 'year', 've-shanah' means 'and year', an idiom indicating 'year after year' or 'every year'.
[EST.9.22] The days that the Jews have spent among them and the month that turned for them from mourning to joy, and from grief to a good day to make for them days of feast and joy, and sending gifts, each man to his neighbor, and gifts to the poor. [§]
Kayamim asher-nahu bahem hayehudim me-oyvehem ve-hachodesh asher nehpach lahem mi-yagon le-simcha u-me-evel le-yom tov la-asot otam yemey mishte ve-simcha u-mishloach manot ish le-re'ehu u-mattanot la-evyonim.
'Kayamim' means 'the days', 'asher' means 'that/which', 'nahu' means 'have spent' or 'have dwelt', 'bahem' means 'among them', 'hayehudim' means 'the Jews', 'me-oyvehem' means 'from their enemies', 've-hachodesh' means 'and the month', 'asher' repeats 'that/which', 'nehpach' means 'has turned', 'lahem' means 'for them', 'mi-yagon' means 'from mourning', 'le-simcha' means 'to joy', 'u-me-evel' means 'and from grief', 'le-yom tov' means 'to a good day', 'la-asot' means 'to make', 'otam' means 'them', 'yemey' means 'days of', 'mishte' means 'feast', 've-simcha' means 'and joy', 'u-mishloach' means 'and sending', 'manot' means 'gifts', 'ish' means 'a man', 'le-re'ehu' means 'to his neighbor', 'u-mattanot' means 'and gifts', 'la-evyonim' means 'to the poor'.
[EST.9.23] The Jews received what they had begun to do and what Mordechai wrote to them. [§]
veqibel hayehudim et asher-hechelu laasot ve'et asher-katav Mordechai aleihem.
'veqibel' means 'and received', 'hayehudim' means 'the Jews', 'et' is a direct object marker (no English equivalent), 'asher-hechelu' means 'that which they began', 'laasot' means 'to do', 've'et' is 'and [the] (object marker)', 'asher-katav' means 'that which wrote', 'Mordechai' is a proper name, 'aleihem' means 'to them'.
[EST.9.24] For Haman son of Medatha the Agagite, a plotter against all the Jews, devised a plan to destroy them and to cast lots that would bring their humiliation and their destruction. [§]
Ki Haman ben ha-Medatha ha-Agagi tzerer kol ha-yehudim chashav al ha-yehudim le'avadam vehipil pur hu ha-goral lehumam u'le'avadam.
'Ki' means 'for', 'Haman' is a proper name, 'ben' means 'son', 'ha-Medatha' is a patronymic meaning 'of Medatha', 'ha-Agagi' means 'the Agagite', 'tzerer' means 'plotter' or 'conspirator', 'kol' means 'all', 'ha-yehudim' means 'the Jews', 'chashav' means 'thought' or 'devised', 'al' means 'against', 'le'avadam' means 'to destroy them', 'vehipil' means 'and to overthrow', 'pur' means 'lot', 'hu' means 'it is', 'ha-goral' means 'the lot', 'lehumam' means 'to bring humiliation', 'u'le'avadam' means 'and to destroy them'.
[EST.9.25] And when he came before the king he said, with the book, his evil plan that he had thought against the Jews on his head will be hung, him and his sons on the tree. [§]
Uvevoah lifnei ha-melekh amar im-ha-sefer yashuv machashavto ha-raah asher-chashav al-hayehudim al-rosho ve-talu oto ve-et-banav al-ha-ets.
'Uvevoah' means 'and when he came', 'lifnei' means 'before' or 'in the presence of', 'ha-melekh' means 'the king', 'amar' means 'he said', 'im-ha-sefer' means 'with the book/scroll', 'yashuv' means 'will return' or 'will turn back', 'machashavto' means 'his thought/plans', 'ha-raah' means 'the evil', 'asher-chashav' means 'that he thought', 'al-hayehudim' means 'against the Jews', 'al-rosho' means 'upon his head' (i.e., for his own sake), 've-talu' means 'and they will hang', 'oto' means 'him', 've-et-banav' means 'and his sons', 'al-ha-ets' means 'on the tree'.
[EST.9.26] Because they called these days pure for the name of the pure, therefore for all the words of this covenant, what they saw concerning this, and what came to them. [§]
Al-ken karu layamim ha'eleh purim al-shem ha-pur al-ken al-kol-dibrei ha-igaret hazot u-ma-ra'u al-kakha u-ma higi'a aleihem.
'Al-ken' means 'because' or 'for this', 'karu' means 'they called', 'layamim' means 'the days', 'ha'eleh' means 'these', 'purim' is the plural form of 'pur' meaning 'pure' or 'unblemished', 'al-shem' means 'by the name of', 'ha-pur' means 'the pure', the second 'al-ken' repeats 'therefore', 'al-kol-dibrei' means 'for all the words', 'ha-igaret' means 'the covenant', 'hazot' means 'this', 'u-ma-ra'u' means 'and what they saw', 'al-kakha' means 'concerning this' or 'in this manner', 'u-ma' means 'and what', 'higi'a' means 'came' or 'reached', 'aleihem' means 'to them'.
[EST.9.27] They will stand and receive the Jews upon them and on their seed and on all the captives upon them, and not will pass to be doing the two days these as written and as appointed in every year and year. [§]
Kiemu ve'kiblu hayehudim aleihem ve'al-zarem ve'al kol-hanilvim aleihem velo ya'avor lihyot osim et shnei hayamim ha'eleh kikhtavam ve'kizmanam bechol-shanah ve-shanah.
'Kiemu' means 'they will stand', 've'kiblu' means 'and receive', 'hayehudim' means 'the Jews', 'aleihem' means 'upon them', 've'al' means 'and on', 'zarem' means 'their seed', 've'al' again means 'and on', 'kol' means 'all', 'hanilvim' means 'the captives', 'aleihem' again 'upon them', 'velo' means 'and not', 'ya'avor' means 'will pass', 'lihyot' means 'to be', 'osim' means 'doing', 'et' is a direct object marker, 'shnei' means 'two', 'hayamim' means 'the days', 'ha'eleh' means 'these', 'kikhtavam' means 'as written', 've'kizmanam' means 'and in their appointed time', 'bechol' means 'in every', 'shanah' means 'year', 've' also 'and', 'shanah' again 'year'.
[EST.9.28] And the days these will be remembered and observed in every generation and generation, family and family, nation and nation, and city and city, and the days of Purim these will not pass away from among the Jews, and their remembrance will not cease from their seed. [§]
vehayamim haeleh nizkarim vena'asim bechol-dor vador mishpacha u-mishpacha medina u-medinah ve'ir va'ir vimei ha-purim haeleh lo ya'averu mitoch ha-yehudim ve-zikram lo-yasuf mi-zaraam.
've' means 'and', 'hayamim' means 'the days', 'haeleh' means 'these', 'nizkarim' means 'will be remembered', 've' again means 'and', 'na'asim' means 'will be observed', 'bechol' means 'in all', 'dor' means 'generation', 'vador' means 'and generation after generation', 'mishpacha' means 'family', 'u-mishpacha' means 'and family', 'medina' means 'nation', 'u-medinah' means 'and nation', 've'ir' means 'and city', 'va'ir' means 'and city', 'vimei' means 'and the days of', 'ha-purim' means 'Purim', 'haeleh' again 'these', 'lo' means 'not', 'ya'averu' means 'will pass away', 'mitoch' means 'from among', 'ha-yehudim' means 'the Jews', 've' means 'and', 'zikram' means 'their remembrance', 'lo-yasuf' means 'will not cease', 'mi-zaraam' means 'from their seed'.
[EST.9.29] And Esther the queen, daughter of Avichail, and Mordecai the Jew wrote all the decree to establish this second scroll of Purim. [§]
va-tikhtov Ester haMalkah bat-Avichail uMordekhai haYehudi et kol-tokef lekayem et Igeret haPuriym hazot hasheni.
'va' means 'and', 'tikhtov' means 'writes' (feminine singular), 'Ester' is the personal name Esther, 'haMalkah' means 'the queen', 'bat-Avichail' means 'daughter of Avichail', 'uMordekhai' means 'and Mordecai', 'haYehudi' means 'the Jew', 'et' is the direct‑object marker, 'kol' means 'all', 'tokef' means 'opposition' or 'reversal', 'lekayem' means 'to establish' or 'to fulfill', 'Igeret' means 'the scroll', 'haPuriym' means 'of the lots' (referring to Purim), 'hazot' means 'this', 'hasheni' means 'the second'.
[EST.9.30] And he sent letters to all the Jews, to seven and twenty and a hundred provinces, the kingdom of Ahasuerus, words of peace and truth. [§]
Vayishlach sefarim el-kol hayehudim el-shiva ve'eshrim u-me'ah medinah malkhut Ahasuerus divrei shalom veemet.
'Vayishlach' means 'and he sent', 'sefarim' means 'letters', 'el-kol' means 'to all', 'hayehudim' means 'the Jews', 'el-shiva ve'eshrim u-me'ah' means 'to seven and twenty and a hundred', 'medinah' means 'provinces', 'malkhut' means 'the kingdom', 'Ahasuerus' is the proper name of the Persian king, 'divrei' means 'words of', 'shalom' means 'peace', 'veemet' means 'and truth'.
[EST.9.31] To establish the days of these Purims in their proper time as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen brought them about, and as they established for themselves and for their offspring the matters of the fasts and their outcry. [§]
L'kayem et yemei ha-purim ha'eleh bizmaneyhem ka'asher kiyyam aleihem Mordechai haYehudi veEsther ha-malka ve-ka'asher kiyemu al-nafsham ve-al-zaram dibrei ha-tzomot ve-za'akatam.
'L'kayem' means 'to establish', 'et' is a direct object marker, 'yemei' means 'the days of', 'ha-purim' means 'the Purims', 'ha'eleh' means 'these', 'bizmaneyhem' means 'in their times', 'ka'asher' means 'as', 'kiyyam' means 'stood up' or 'arose', 'aleihem' means 'upon them', 'Mordechai' is the proper name Mordechai, 'haYehudi' means 'the Jew', 'veEsther' means 'and Esther', 'ha-malka' means 'the queen', 've-ka'asher' means 'and as', 'kiyemu' means 'they established', 'al-nafsham' means 'upon their souls', 've-al-zaram' means 'and upon their offspring', 'dibrei' means 'the matters of' or 'the words of', 'ha-tzomot' means 'the fasts', 've-za'akatam' means 'and their outcry'.
[EST.9.32] And the statement of Esther shall establish these matters of Purim, and it shall be written in the book. [§]
Umaamar Esther kiyam divrei hapurim haele venichtav bassefer.
'Umaamar' means 'and the statement', 'Esther' is the proper name Esther, 'kiyam' means 'shall establish' or 'shall raise', 'divrei' means 'the words' or 'the matters', 'hapurim' means 'the Purim' (the festival), 'haele' means 'these', 've'nichtav' means 'and it shall be written', 'ba-sefer' means 'in the book', and the final ' פ' is a verse marker.
EST.10
[EST.10.1] The king Ahasuerus set a tax upon the land and the islands of the sea. [§]
Vayyasem haMelech Ahasherosh mas al-haaretz ve'iyyei hayam.
'Vayyasem' means 'and he placed' or 'and he set'. 'haMelech' means 'the king'. 'Ahasherosh' is the personal name of the Persian king, often rendered in English as 'Ahasuerus'. 'mas' means 'a tax' or 'a levy'. 'al' means 'upon' or 'over'. 'haaretz' means 'the land' or 'the country'. 've' is the conjunction 'and'. 'iyyei' is the plural construct form meaning 'the islands of'. 'hayam' means 'the sea'.
[EST.10.2] And all the deeds of his power and his might, and the account of the greatness of Mordecai which the king magnified, are they not written in the book of the chronicles for the kings of Media and Persia? [§]
vechol maaseh takpo ugevuroto uparashat gdulat Mordekhai asher giddelo hamelech halo hem ketuvim al sefer divrei hayamim lemalchei madi ufaras.
'vechol' means 'and all', 'maaseh' means 'deeds' or 'acts', 'takpo' is understood as 'of his strength/power', 'ugevuroto' means 'and his might', 'uparashat' means 'and the exposition/description', 'gdulat' means 'greatness', 'Mordekhai' is the proper name 'Mordecai', 'asher' means 'which', 'giddelo' means 'the king magnified/enlarged', 'hamelech' means 'the king', 'halo' means 'are not', 'hem' means 'they', 'ketuvim' means 'are written', 'al' means 'on' or 'in', 'sefer' means 'book', 'divrei' means 'words of', 'hayamim' means 'the days' (i.e., chronicles), 'lemalchei' means 'for the kings of', 'madi' means 'Media', and 'ufaras' means 'and Persia'.
[EST.10.3] For Mordecai the Jew was next to the king Ahasuerus and great among the Jews and sought after by many of his brothers, seeking good for his people and speaking peace to all his seed. [§]
Ki Mordekhai hayehudi mishneh lamlekh Ahasverosh vegadol layehudim veratsui lerov echaiv doreish tov leamo vdover shalom lekhol-zaro.
'Ki' means 'for', 'Mordekhai' is the personal name 'Mordecai', 'hayehudi' means 'the Jew', 'mishneh' means 'next to' or 'in the presence of', 'lamlekh' means 'to the king', 'Ahasverosh' is the name 'Ahasuerus', 'vegadol' means 'and great', 'layehudim' means 'to the Jews' or 'among the Jews', 'veratsui' means 'and sought after', 'lerov' means 'by many', 'echaiv' means 'his brothers' or 'his kinsmen', 'doreish' means 'seeking' or 'pursuing', 'tov' means 'good', 'leamo' means 'for his people', 'vdover' means 'and speaking', 'shalom' means 'peace', 'lekhol' means 'to all', 'zaro' means 'his seed' or 'his descendants'.