Bible Strands
Esther 3:14
A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued in every province and published to all the people, so that they would be ready on that day.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Haman’s officials dispatch couriers to every royal province to distribute the king’s decree, ordering all inhabitants to prepare for the destruction of the Jews on the thirteenth day of Adar (Esther 3:13–14).
The words — The Hebrew פַּתְשֶ֣גֶן (patSheGen) refers to a written copy of an official document, and דָּת (dat) identifies it as a standing law. Together they mark the proclamation as a finalized, legally binding royal command.
The thread — The identical administrative formula reappears in Esther 8:13, where a counter-edict is issued in every province to authorize Jewish self-defense.
Why it lands — The text records the mechanical distribution of a state mandate without commentary, leaving the reader to trace how legal language enables systematic violence. It requires attention to how official publications translate into coordinated action against a targeted population.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day.
Cross-references
- Esther 8:13 A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued in every province and published to all the people, so that the Jews would be ready on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.