Bible Strands
Esther 9:20
Mordecai recorded these events and sent letters to all the Jews in all the provinces of King Xerxes, both near and far,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Mordecai addresses all Jews across the 127 provinces of King Xerxes immediately after the Purim deliverance, following the rural observance of the fourteenth of Adar.
The words — The text emphasizes וַ/יִּכְתֹּ֣ב (va/i.yikh.To, "and he wrote") and סְפָרִ֜ים (se.fa.Rim, "letters") to document the events and distribute official correspondence.
The thread — This written record and broad distribution parallels the command to inscribe divine acts in Exodus 17:14 and Deuteronomy 31:19, while mirroring the provincial scope outlined in Esther 1:1.
Why it lands — The verse states that written documentation and widespread mailing are required to formalize a recurring holiday, requiring readers to acknowledge that institutional memory depends on deliberate record-keeping.
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
And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far,
Cross-references
- Exodus 17:14 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as a reminder and recite it to Joshua, because I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.”
- Deuteronomy 31:19 Now therefore, write down for yourselves this song and teach it to the Israelites; have them recite it, so that it may be a witness for Me against them.
- Esther 1:1 This is what happened in the days of Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces from India to Cush.
- Esther 1:22 He sent letters to all the provinces of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language, proclaiming that every man should be master of his own household.
- 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 8:9 At 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.
- Psalms 124:1 A song of ascents. Of David. If the LORD had not been on our side—let Israel now declare—
- Psalms 145:4 One generation will commend Your works to the next, and will proclaim Your mighty acts—
- 2 Corinthians 1:10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. In Him we have placed our hope that He will yet again deliver us,
- 1 Chronicles 16:12 Remember the wonders He has done, His marvels, and the judgments He has pronounced,