Esther 8:8
New International Version
Now write another decree in the king’s name in behalf of the Jews as seems best to you, and seal it with the king’s signet ring—for no document written in the king’s name and sealed with his ring can be revoked.”

New Living Translation
Now go ahead and send a message to the Jews in the king’s name, telling them whatever you want, and seal it with the king’s signet ring. But remember that whatever has already been written in the king’s name and sealed with his signet ring can never be revoked.”

English Standard Version
But you may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of the king, and seal it with the king’s ring, for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king’s ring cannot be revoked.”

Berean Standard Bible
Now you may write in the king’s name as you please regarding the Jews, and seal it with the royal signet ring. For a decree that is written in the name of the king and sealed with the royal signet ring cannot be revoked.”

King James Bible
Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.

New King James Version
You yourselves write a decree concerning the Jews, as you please, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s signet ring; for whatever is written in the king’s name and sealed with the king’s signet ring no one can revoke.”

New American Standard Bible
Now you write to the Jews as you see fit, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s signet ring; for a decree which is written in the name of the king and sealed with the king’s signet ring may not be revoked.”

NASB 1995
“Now you write to the Jews as you see fit, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s signet ring; for a decree which is written in the name of the king and sealed with the king’s signet ring may not be revoked.”

NASB 1977
“Now you write to the Jews as you see fit, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s signet ring; for a decree which is written in the name of the king and sealed with the king’s signet ring may not be revoked.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Now you write to the Jews, according to what is good in your eyes, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s signet ring; for a written decree which is written in the name of the king and sealed with the king’s signet ring may not be turned back.”

Amplified Bible
Also, concerning the Jews, write as you see fit, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s signet ring—for a decree which is written in the king’s name and sealed with the king’s signet ring may not be revoked.”

Christian Standard Bible
Write in the king’s name whatever pleases you concerning the Jews, and seal it with the royal signet ring. A document written in the king’s name and sealed with the royal signet ring cannot be revoked.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
You may write in the king’s name whatever pleases you concerning the Jews, and seal it with the royal signet ring. A document written in the king’s name and sealed with the royal signet ring cannot be revoked.”

American Standard Version
Write ye also to the Jews, as it pleaseth you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring; for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.

Contemporary English Version
I now give you permission to make a law that will save the lives of your people. You may use my ring to seal the law, so that it can never be changed."

English Revised Version
Write ye also to the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
You write what you think is best for the Jews in the king's name. Seal it also with the king's signet ring, because whatever is written in the king's name and sealed with the king's signet ring cannot be canceled."

Good News Translation
But a proclamation issued in the king's name and stamped with the royal seal cannot be revoked. You may, however, write to the Jews whatever you like; and you may write it in my name and stamp it with the royal seal."

International Standard Version
Now, in the name of the king, you write what seems good to you concerning the Jewish people, and seal it with the king's signet ring, for a document written in the king's name and sealed with the king's signet ring cannot be revoked."

Majority Standard Bible
Now you may write in the king?s name as you please regarding the Jews, and seal it with the royal signet ring. For a decree that is written in the name of the king and sealed with the royal signet ring cannot be revoked.?

NET Bible
Now you write in the king's name whatever in your opinion is appropriate concerning the Jews and seal it with the king's signet ring. Any decree that is written in the king's name and sealed with the king's signet ring cannot be rescinded.

New Heart English Bible
Write also to the Jews, as it pleases you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring; for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may not be reversed by any man."

Webster's Bible Translation
Write ye also for the Jews, as it pleaseth you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, no man may reverse.

World English Bible
Write also to the Jews as it pleases you, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s ring; for the writing which is written in the king’s name, and sealed with the king’s ring, may not be reversed by any man.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and you, write for the Jews, as [it is] good in your eyes, in the name of the king, and seal with the signet of the king—for the writing that is written in the name of the king, and sealed with the signet of the king, there is none to turn back.”

Young's Literal Translation
and ye, write ye for the Jews, as it is good in your eyes, in the name of the king, and seal with the signet of the king -- for the writing that is written in the name of the king, and sealed with the signet of the king, there is none to turn back.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And write ye for the Jews as is good in your eyes, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's signet ring: for the writing which was written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's signet ring, none to turn back.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Write ye therefore to the Jews, as it pleaseth you, in the king's name, and seal the letters with my ring. For this was the custom, that no man durst gainsay the letters which were sent in the king's name, and were sealed with his ring.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, write to the Jews, just as it pleases you, in the king’s name, sealing the letters with my ring.” For this was the custom, that letters which were sent in the king’s name and were sealed with his ring, no one would dare to contradict.

New American Bible
you in turn may write in the king’s name what you see fit concerning the Jews and seal the letter with the royal signet ring.” For a decree written in the name of the king and sealed with the royal signet ring cannot be revoked.

New Revised Standard Version
You may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of the king, and seal it with the king’s ring; for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king’s ring cannot be revoked.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And write also concerning the Jews as it please you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring; for the writing which is written in the king's name and sealed with the king's ring may not be reversed.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And according to what is excellent in your eyes in the name of the King, you seal for the Jews with the signet ring of the King in a writing that is written in the name of the King and is sealed with the ring of the King that does not change.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Write ye also concerning the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring; for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Write ye also in my name, as it seems good to you, and seal it with my ring: for whatever orders are written at the command of the king, and sealed with my ring, it is not lawful to gainsay them.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Decree of Xerxes
7So King Xerxes said to Esther the Queen and Mordecai the Jew, “Behold, I have given Haman’s estate to Esther, and he was hanged on the gallows because he attacked the Jews. 8Now you may write in the king’s name as you please regarding the Jews, and seal it with the royal signet ring. For a decree that is written in the name of the king and sealed with the royal signet ring cannot be revoked.” 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.…

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.

Daniel 6:15
Then the men approached the king together and said to him, “Remember, O king, that by the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or ordinance established by the king can be changed.”

Esther 1:19
So if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree, and let it be recorded in the laws of Persia and Media so that it cannot be repealed, that Vashti shall never again enter the presence of King Xerxes, and that her royal position shall be given to a woman better than she.

Esther 3:12
On the thirteenth day of the first month, the royal scribes were summoned and the order was written exactly as Haman commanded the royal satraps, the governors of each province, and the officials of each people, in the script of each province and the language of every people. It was written in the name of King Xerxes and sealed with the royal signet ring.

Esther 3:10-11
So the king removed the signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. / “Keep your money,” said the king to Haman. “These people are given to you to do with them as you please.”

Esther 9:14
So the king commanded that this be done. An edict was issued in Susa, and they hanged the ten sons of Haman.

Esther 9:20-22
Mordecai recorded these events and sent letters to all the Jews in all the provinces of King Xerxes, both near and far, / to establish among them an annual celebration on the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar / as the days on which the Jews gained rest from their enemies and the month in which their sorrow turned to joy and their mourning into a holiday. He wrote that these were to be days of feasting and joy, of sending gifts to one another and to the poor.

Esther 9:29-32
So Queen Esther daughter of Abihail, along with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter concerning Purim. / And Mordecai sent letters with words of peace and truth to all the Jews in the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Xerxes, / in order to confirm these days of Purim at their appointed time, just as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had established them and had committed themselves and their descendants to the times of fasting and lamentation. ...

Nehemiah 2:8
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.

Nehemiah 2:7
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.

Matthew 27:66
So they went and secured the tomb by sealing the stone and posting the guard.

Matthew 16:19
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Matthew 18:18
Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

John 20:23
If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.”

Acts 16:4
As they went from town to town, they delivered the decisions handed down by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey.


Treasury of Scripture

Write you also for the Jews, as it likes you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.

in the king's name.

Esther 3:12
Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring.

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.

may no man reverse.

Esther 8:5
And said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king's provinces:

Esther 1:19
If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.

Daniel 6:8,12-15
Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not…

Jump to Previous
Behalf Changed Decree Document Edict Fit Good Jews King's Liketh Please Pleases Pleaseth Regard Reverse Reversed Revoked Ring Seal Sealed Seems Signed Signet Stamped Stamping Whatever Write Writing Written
Jump to Next
Behalf Changed Decree Document Edict Fit Good Jews King's Liketh Please Pleases Pleaseth Regard Reverse Reversed Revoked Ring Seal Sealed Seems Signed Signet Stamped Stamping Whatever Write Writing Written
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.














Now you may write in the king’s name
This phrase signifies the authority and power vested in the king's name. In ancient Persian culture, a decree written in the king's name was irrevocable and carried the full weight of royal authority. The Hebrew root for "write" (כָּתַב, kathab) implies a formal and binding documentation. This reflects the divine authority and sovereignty of God, who, in His providence, allows Esther and Mordecai to act with the king's authority, symbolizing how believers are empowered to act in God's name.

whatever pleases you
This phrase indicates the freedom and responsibility given to Esther and Mordecai. The Hebrew word for "pleases" (טוֹב, tov) often denotes what is good, beneficial, or right. This suggests that their actions should align with righteousness and justice, reflecting God's character. It is a reminder that with great power comes the responsibility to act in accordance with God's will and purposes.

and seal it with the king’s signet ring
The signet ring was a symbol of the king's personal authority and approval. In ancient times, sealing a document with a signet ring was akin to the king himself endorsing it. The Hebrew word for "seal" (חָתַם, chatham) conveys the idea of finality and authenticity. This act of sealing represents the unchangeable nature of God's promises and decrees, emphasizing the security and certainty found in His word.

For a decree written in the king’s name and sealed with the king’s signet ring cannot be revoked
This final phrase underscores the permanence and unchangeability of the king's decree. The irrevocability of such decrees in the Persian Empire is well-documented historically, reflecting the absolute nature of royal authority. Spiritually, this mirrors the eternal and unchanging nature of God's word and His promises. Just as the king's decree stands firm, so too does God's word endure forever, offering believers assurance and hope in His unchanging nature.

(8) Write ye. . . .--Esther's device is seen through, and the king shrinks from taking so decisive a step as the revocation of a decree once issued. Such a writing "may no man reverse." Still he will do what he can. It may be possible to meet the difficulty, and save the Jews, without actual reversal of the decree. The king then refers to the proofs of his goodwill, as shown by hanging Haman for his scheme against the Jews, and giving his property to Esther, and bids Esther and Mordecai "write concerning the Jews according to what seems good in your eyes." Give, that is, any orders you please about them, short of repealing the former order. The result of this permission, whether the idea was suggested by the king, or occurred to Esther or Mordecai, was that authority was given to the Jews to defend themselves.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Now you
וְ֠אַתֶּם (wə·’at·tem)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine plural
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

may write
כִּתְב֨וּ (kiṯ·ḇū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 3789: To grave, to write

in the king’s
הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

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

as
כַּטּ֤וֹב (kaṭ·ṭō·wḇ)
Preposition-k, Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

you please
בְּעֵֽינֵיכֶם֙ (bə·‘ê·nê·ḵem)
Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | second person masculine plural
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

regarding
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the Jews,
הַיְּהוּדִ֜ים (hay·yə·hū·ḏîm)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 3064: Jews -- Jewish

and seal it
וְחִתְמ֖וּ (wə·ḥiṯ·mū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
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

For a decree
כְתָ֞ב (ḵə·ṯāḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3791: Something written, a writing, record, book

that
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

is written
נִכְתָּ֣ב (niḵ·tāḇ)
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3789: To grave, to write

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

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

and sealed
וְנַחְתּ֛וֹם (wə·naḥ·tō·wm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 2856: To seal, affix a seal, seal up

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

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

cannot
אֵ֥ין (’ên)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

be revoked.?
לְהָשִֽׁיב׃ (lə·hā·šîḇ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again


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OT History: Esther 8:8 Write also to the Jews as it (Est Esth. Es)
Esther 8:7
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