Esther 8:10
New International Version
Mordecai wrote in the name of King Xerxes, sealed the dispatches with the king’s signet ring, and sent them by mounted couriers, who rode fast horses especially bred for the king.

New Living Translation
The decree was written in the name of King Xerxes and sealed with the king’s signet ring. Mordecai sent the dispatches by swift messengers, who rode fast horses especially bred for the king’s service.

English Standard Version
And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed it with the king’s signet ring. Then he sent the letters by mounted couriers riding on swift horses that were used in the king’s service, bred from the royal stud,

Berean Standard Bible
Mordecai wrote in the name of King Xerxes and sealed it with the royal signet ring. He sent the documents by mounted couriers riding on swift horses bred from the royal mares.

King James Bible
And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus' name, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries:

New King James Version
And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, sealed it with the king’s signet ring, and sent letters by couriers on horseback, riding on royal horses bred from swift steeds.

New American Standard Bible
He wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king’s signet ring, and sent letters by couriers on horses, riding on royal relay horses, offspring of racing mares.

NASB 1995
He wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king’s signet ring, and sent letters by couriers on horses, riding on steeds sired by the royal stud.

NASB 1977
And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king’s signet ring, and sent letters by couriers on horses, riding on steeds sired by the royal stud.

Legacy Standard Bible
And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed it with the king’s signet ring and sent letters by the hand of couriers on horses, riding on steeds sired by the royal stud.

Amplified Bible
He wrote [a decree] in the name of King Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king’s ring, and sent letters by couriers on horseback, riding on the royal [mail] relay horses, the offspring of the racing mares.

Christian Standard Bible
Mordecai wrote in King Ahasuerus’s name and sealed the edicts with the royal signet ring. He sent the documents by mounted couriers, who rode fast horses bred in the royal stables.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Mordecai wrote in King Ahasuerus’s name and sealed the edicts with the royal signet ring. He sent the documents by mounted couriers, who rode fast horses bred from the royal racing mares.

American Standard Version
And he wrote in the name of king Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by post on horseback, riding on swift steeds that were used in the king's service, bred of the stud:

Contemporary English Version
They were written in the name of King Xerxes and sealed with his ring. Then they were taken by messengers who rode the king's finest and fastest horses.

English Revised Version
And he wrote in the name of king Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, riding on swift steeds that were used in the king's service, bred of the stud:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Mordecai wrote in King Xerxes' name and sealed the official documents with the king's signet ring. Then he sent them by messengers who rode special horses bred for speed. [He wrote]

Good News Translation
Mordecai had the letters written in the name of King Xerxes, and he stamped them with the royal seal. They were delivered by riders mounted on fast horses from the royal stables.

International Standard Version
He wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed it with the king's signet ring. He sent the letters by couriers on horseback, riding steeds especially bred for the king.

Majority Standard Bible
Mordecai wrote in the name of King Xerxes and sealed it with the royal signet ring. He sent the documents by mounted couriers riding on swift horses bred from the royal mares.

NET Bible
Mordecai wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed it with the king's signet ring. He then sent letters by couriers on horses, who rode royal horses that were very swift.

New Heart English Bible
He wrote in the name of King Achshayarsh, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by courier on horseback, riding on royal horses that were bread from swift steeds.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus's name, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries:

World English Bible
He wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king’s ring, and sent letters by courier on horseback, riding on royal horses that were bred from swift steeds.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And he writes in the name of King Ahasuerus, and seals with the signet of the king, and sends letters by the hand of the runners with horses, riders of the dromedary, the mules, the young mares,

Young's Literal Translation
And he writeth in the name of the king Ahasuerus, and sealeth with the signet of the king, and sendeth letters by the hand of the runners with horses, riders of the dromedary, the mules, the young mares,

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will write in the name of the king Ahasuerus, and seal with the king's signet ring; and he will send letters by the hand of runners on horses riding the courser, the mules, sons of mares:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And these letters which were sent in the king's name, were sealed with his ring, and sent by posts: who were to run through all the provinces, to prevent the former letters with new messages.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And these letters, which were sent in the king’s name, had been signed with his ring, and were sent by swift couriers who were to rush in every direction, through all the provinces, so as to prevent the former letters with new messages.

New American Bible
These letters, which he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the royal signet ring, he sent by mounted couriers riding thoroughbred royal steeds.

New Revised Standard Version
He wrote letters in the name of King Ahasuerus, sealed them with the king’s ring, and sent them by mounted couriers riding on fast steeds bred from the royal herd.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the letters were written in the name of King Akhshirash and sealed with the king's ring, and they were sent by runners and by riders of horses and by dromedaries.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they were written in the name of King Akhashiresh, and they were sealed with the signet ring of the King, and he sent the letters by Runners and by Post Messengers, Horse Riders on young male mules.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And they wrote in the name of king Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, riding on swift steeds that were used in the king's service, bred of the stud;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they were written by order of the king, and sealed with his ring, and they sent the letters by the posts:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Decree of Xerxes
9At once the royal scribes were summoned, and on the twenty-third day of the third month (the month of Sivan), they recorded all of Mordecai’s orders to the Jews and to the satraps, governors, and princes of the 127 provinces from India to Cush—writing to each province in its own script, to every people in their own language, and to the Jews in their own script and language. 10Mordecai wrote in the name of King Xerxes and sealed it with the royal signet ring. He sent the documents by mounted couriers riding on swift horses bred from the royal mares. 11By these letters the king permitted the Jews in each and every city the right to assemble and defend themselves, to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the forces of any people or province hostile to them, including women and children, and to plunder their possessions.…

Cross References
Daniel 6:8-9
Therefore, O king, establish the decree and sign the document so that it cannot be changed—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” / Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.

Nehemiah 2:7-9
I also said to him, “If it pleases the king, may letters be given to me for the governors west of the Euphrates, so that they will grant me safe passage until I reach Judah. / And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, so that he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel to the temple, for the city wall, and for the house I will occupy.” And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests. / Then I went to the governors west of the Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me.

1 Kings 21:8
Then Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city.

Ezra 7:12-26
Artaxerxes, king of kings. To Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven: Greetings. / I hereby decree that any volunteers among the Israelites in my kingdom, including the priests and Levites, may go up with you to Jerusalem. / You are sent by the king and his seven counselors to evaluate Judah and Jerusalem according to the Law of your God, which is in your hand. ...

2 Chronicles 30:1-6
Then Hezekiah sent word throughout all Israel and Judah, and he also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh inviting them to come to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem to keep the Passover of the LORD, the God of Israel. / For the king and his officials and the whole assembly in Jerusalem had decided to keep the Passover in the second month, / since they had been unable to keep it at the regular time, because not enough priests had consecrated themselves and the people had not been gathered in Jerusalem. ...

Jeremiah 29:1-3
This is the text of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets, and all the others Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. / (This was after King Jeconiah, the queen mother, the court officials, the officials of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and the metalsmiths had been exiled from Jerusalem.) / The letter was entrusted to Elasah son of Shaphan and Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. It stated:

2 Kings 10:1-7
Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria to the officials of Jezreel, to the elders, and to the guardians of the sons of Ahab, saying: / “When this letter arrives, since your master’s sons are with you and you have chariots and horses, a fortified city and weaponry, / select the best and most worthy son of your master, set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.” ...

2 Samuel 11:14-15
The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. / In the letter he wrote: “Put Uriah at the front of the fiercest battle; then withdraw from him, so that he may be struck down and killed.”

Acts 23:25-30
And he wrote the following letter: / Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings. / This man was seized by the Jews, and they were about to kill him when I came with my troops to rescue him. For I had learned that he is a Roman citizen, ...

Luke 2:1-3
Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire. / This was the first census to take place while Quirinius was governor of Syria. / And everyone went to his own town to register.

Romans 13:1-7
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. / Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. / For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval. ...

Acts 15:23-29
and sent them with this letter: The apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings. / It has come to our attention that some went out from us without our authorization and unsettled you, troubling your minds by what they said. / So we all agreed to choose men to send to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, ...

Matthew 27:37
Above His head they posted the written charge against Him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

John 19:19-22
Pilate also had a notice posted on the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. / Many of the Jews read this sign, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. / So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but only that He said, ‘I am the King of the Jews.’” ...

Acts 25:26-27
I have nothing definite to write to our sovereign about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this inquiry I may have something to write. / For it seems unreasonable to me to send on a prisoner without specifying the charges against him.”


Treasury of Scripture

And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus' name, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries:

in the king.

1 Kings 21:8
So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth.

Ecclesiastes 8:4
Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?

Daniel 4:1
Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

by posts.

Esther 3:13
And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.

2 Chronicles 30:6
So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again unto the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.

Job 9:25
Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.

mules.

camels.

young dromedaries.

Isaiah 60:6
The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD.

Isaiah 66:20
And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD.

Jeremiah 2:23
How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;

Jump to Previous
Ahasuerus Ahasu-E'rus Bread Bred Camels Courier Couriers Dromedaries Especially Horseback Horses King's Letters Mordecai Mules Post Posts Riders Riding Ring Royal Sealed Service Stamped Steeds Swift Used Writing Wrote Xerxes Young
Jump to Next
Ahasuerus Ahasu-E'rus Bread Bred Camels Courier Couriers Dromedaries Especially Horseback Horses King's Letters Mordecai Mules Post Posts Riders Riding Ring Royal Sealed Service Stamped Steeds Swift Used Writing Wrote Xerxes Young
Esther 8
1. Mordecai is advanced.
3. Esther makes suit to reverse Haman's letters.
7. Xerxes grants to the Jews to defend themselves.
15. Mordecai's honor, and the Jews' joy.














And Mordecai wrote
The act of writing here signifies authority and the power of the written word in ancient Persia. Mordecai, once a humble Jew, now holds a position of influence, demonstrating God's providence and reversal of fortunes. The Hebrew root for "wrote" (כָּתַב, kathab) emphasizes the permanence and official nature of the decree, reflecting the irrevocable nature of Persian law.

in the name of King Xerxes
Writing in the king's name indicates the decree's legitimacy and authority. King Xerxes, known historically as Ahasuerus, ruled a vast empire, and his name carried weight and power. This phrase underscores the divine orchestration in elevating Mordecai to a position where he could act on behalf of the king, aligning with the biblical theme of God using individuals to fulfill His purposes.

sealed it with the king’s signet ring
The signet ring was a symbol of royal authority and authenticity. In ancient times, sealing a document with the king's ring meant it was as if the king himself had issued it. This act signifies the transfer of authority to Mordecai, highlighting the trust and favor he had gained. Theologically, it reflects how God can seal His purposes through His chosen people.

and sent the letters by mounted couriers
The use of mounted couriers indicates the urgency and importance of the message. In the Persian Empire, an efficient postal system was crucial for maintaining control over vast territories. This phrase illustrates the swift and effective communication methods of the time, ensuring that the king's decrees were implemented promptly.

who rode fast horses
Fast horses symbolize the speed and efficiency required to deliver the king's message across the empire. Historically, the Persian postal system was renowned for its speed, akin to the modern concept of express mail. This detail emphasizes the critical nature of the decree and the need for immediate action to save the Jewish people.

bred from the royal mares
Horses bred from royal mares were considered superior, reflecting the wealth and resources of the Persian Empire. This phrase highlights the empire's grandeur and the lengths to which Mordecai went to ensure the decree's swift delivery. Spiritually, it can be seen as a metaphor for the divine provision and excellence in executing God's plans.

(10) Posts.--The posts. Literally, the runners. (See Note on Esther 1:22.)

Riders on mules.--Rather, on horses of great speed; the "swift beast "of Micah 1:13.

Camels, and young dromedaries.--The words thus translated occur only here, and there is much doubt as to the meaning. It may suffice to mention two renderings :--(1) "Mules, the offspring of royal mares "--so Gesenius; or (2) we may connect the former word with the Persian word meaning royal--so Canon Rawlinson, who translates the whole clause, riders upon coursers of the king's stud, offspring of high-bred steeds."

Verse 10. - He wrote in the king's name. As Haman had done (Esther 2:12). And riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries. There is no "and" before "riders" in the original, and the clause is clearly exegetical of the preceding, Neither "mules," nor "camels," nor "young dromedaries" are mentioned in it, and the best translation would seem to be - "the riders on coursers of the royal stud, the offspring of thoroughbreds." It is noticeable that both Herodotus (8:98) and Xenophon ('Cyrop.,' 8:6, § 17) speak of horses as alone employed in carrying the Persian despatches.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Mordecai wrote
וַיִּכְתֹּ֗ב (way·yiḵ·tōḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3789: To grave, to write

in the name
בְּשֵׁם֙ (bə·šêm)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8034: A name

of King
הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

Xerxes
אֲחַשְׁוֵרֹ֔שׁ (’ă·ḥaš·wê·rōš)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 325: Ahasuerus -- king of Persia

and sealed it
וַיַּחְתֹּ֖ם (way·yaḥ·tōm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2856: To seal, affix a seal, seal up

with the royal
הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

signet ring.
בְּטַבַּ֣עַת (bə·ṭab·ba·‘aṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 2885: A seal, signet, a ring of any kind

He sent
וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח (way·yiš·laḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

the documents
סְפָרִ֡ים (sə·p̄ā·rîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5612: A missive, document, writing, book

by
בְּיַד֩ (bə·yaḏ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3027: A hand

mounted
בַּסּוּסִ֜ים (bas·sū·sîm)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5483: A swallow, swift (type of bird)

couriers
הָרָצִ֨ים (hā·rā·ṣîm)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 7323: To run

riding on
רֹכְבֵ֤י (rō·ḵə·ḇê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 7392: To ride, to place upon, to despatch

swift horses
הָרֶ֙כֶשׁ֙ (hā·re·ḵeš)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7409: A relay of animals on a, post-route, a courser

bred
בְּנֵ֖י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

from the royal
הָֽאֲחַשְׁתְּרָנִ֔ים (hā·’ă·ḥaš·tə·rā·nîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 327: A mule

mares.
הָֽרַמָּכִֽים׃ (hā·ram·mā·ḵîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 7424: Perhaps a mare


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OT History: Esther 8:10 He wrote in the name of King (Est Esth. Es)
Esther 8:9
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