Verse Lens · Concise explanation
Esther 3:14 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 14. 14The 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.
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
This verse publishes a copy in every province so all peoples will be ready for the fixed day
Read It With
- Esther 3:7–15
Read Esther 3:7–15 together. This verse publishes a copy in every province so all peoples will be ready for the fixed day Read Esther 3:7–15 as one complete Esther scene: Haman casts lots for timing, tells the king that a scattered people with different laws is dangerous, offers money, receives the ring, and writes in the king's name to destroy every Jew—young and old, children and women—and seize their goods on one day. The king and Haman drink while Shushan is perplexed.
Why This Verse Appears Here
The decree makes the central danger unmistakable and exposes how ordinary imperial procedures can carry antisemitic violence at speed. Within that movement, this verse publishes a copy in every province so all peoples will be ready for the fixed day
Read Esther 3:7–15 together
Why these verses belong together: The casting of Pur, Haman's accusation and money offer, the king's ring, the multilingual annihilation order, its fixed date, rapid dispatch, royal drinking, and Shushan's perplexity complete the decree scene; chapter 4 turns to Jewish mourning.
Verse 7. 7 In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.
Verse 8. 8 And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them.
Verse 9. 9 If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries.
Verse 10. 10 And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy.
Verse 11. 11 And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.
Verse 12. 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.
Verse 13. 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.
Verse 14. 14 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.
Verse 15. 15 The posts went out, being hastened by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.
What Remains True
Within Esther's story, this verse publishes a copy in every province so all peoples will be ready for the fixed day
How It Can Shape Life
- Recognize that advance notice can mobilize perpetrators as well as warn potential victims; safety communication must account for both.
Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read Esther 3:7–15 — A genocidal decree crosses the empireSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? strong
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Exact reader-facing KJV wording and complete verse coverage for this thought unit.
Exact location: Esther 3:7–15, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Open source ↗hebrew text and morphology
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible: Esther
Open Scriptures
Open Scriptures, release 2.2
Supports: Hebrew wording, morphology, repeated roots, Persian terms, clause relationships, names, and translation controls.
Exact location: Open Scriptures MorphHB v.2.2, commit 6a5db284c715c18b239422e57bb89684e6a19f00, wlc/Esth.xml, Masoretic words and morphology for 3:7–15
Open source ↗translation and translator notes
NET Bible: Esther with translators' notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2006
Supports: Material lexical, grammatical, textual, Persian-setting, literary, and translation notes within the unit.
Exact location: NET Bible Esther PDF, printed pp. 786–787, translation and translator notes on 3:7–15
Open source ↗