King James Version

What Does Esther 9:13 Mean?

Esther 9:13 in the King James Version says “Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews which are in Shushan to do to morrow also accordi...” — study this verse from Esther chapter 9 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews which are in Shushan to do to morrow also according unto this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged upon the gallows. let Haman's: Heb. let men hang, etc”

Esther 9:13 · KJV

Context

11

On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan the palace was brought before the king. was: Heb. came

12

And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what have they done in the rest of the king's provinces? now what is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: or what is thy request further? and it shall be done.

13

Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews which are in Shushan to do to morrow also according unto this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged upon the gallows. let Haman's: Heb. let men hang, etc

14

And the king commanded it so to be done: and the decree was given at Shushan; and they hanged Haman's ten sons.

15

For the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men at Shushan; but on the prey they laid not their hand.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews which are in Shushan to do to morrow also according unto this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged upon the gallows. Esther's request involves two elements: extending defensive authorization for an additional day in Shushan and publicly displaying Haman's executed sons. The phrase "if it please the king" (im-al hamelekh tov, אִם־עַל־הַמֶּלֶךְ טוֹב) demonstrates continued respectful deference despite Esther's established influence. She doesn't presume but requests, maintaining proper protocol even when the king has promised to grant her petition.

The request "to do tomorrow also according unto this day's decree" (la'asot gam-machar k'dat hayom, לַעֲשׂוֹת גַּם־מָחָר כְּדַת הַיּוֹם) asks for another day of authorized self-defense specifically in Shushan. The word dat (דָּת, "decree" or "law") emphasizes legal authorization—not vigilante violence but legitimate defense under royal decree. Why the additional day? Verse 12 reveals that 500 enemies had been killed in the citadel alone; substantial opposition remained in the broader city, requiring continued defensive action.

The request regarding Haman's ten sons—"let Haman's ten sons be hanged upon the gallows" (ve'et-aseret b'nei-Haman yitlu al-ha'etz, וְאֶת־עֲשֶׂרֶת בְּנֵי־הָמָן יִתְלוּ עַל־הָעֵץ)—involves public display of already-executed bodies. This wasn't execution but rather shameful exposure, a common ancient practice to warn against similar crimes. The use of the gallows Haman had prepared for Mordecai (5:14, 7:9-10) completes the reversal: the device intended for Jewish destruction becomes the instrument of displaying the enemies' defeat. The bodies hanging on "the tree" (etz, עֵץ) served as visible testimony to what befell those who sought Jewish destruction.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Public display of executed criminals' bodies was standard practice in the ancient Near East, serving both as punishment beyond death (dishonoring the deceased) and as deterrent to others. Persian practice, documented in classical sources, included impaling or hanging traitors and rebels, sometimes leaving bodies displayed for extended periods. This harsh treatment reflected the severity of crimes against the king or state.

Esther's request for an additional day of defense in Shushan suggests organized opposition remained after the first day's conflict. The capital city, with its diverse population and concentration of Haman's associates and supporters, apparently harbored more extensive anti-Jewish sentiment than other regions. The 800 total killed in Shushan (500 + 300) versus 75,000 in all other provinces (v. 16) shows intense but localized conflict in the capital.

The hanging of Haman's sons on the same gallows their father had prepared connects to the theme of reversal that permeates Esther. Haman built the 75-foot gallows for Mordecai (5:14); instead, it held Haman himself (7:10) and now his sons (9:13-14). The physical structure becomes a monument to divine justice and poetic reversal.

Reflection Questions

  1. How should Christians understand requests for justice and judgment that seem harsh by modern standards?
  2. What does the reversal of Haman's gallows teach about the principle that evil eventually turns back on those who devise it (Psalm 7:15-16)?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 22 words
וַתֹּ֤אמֶר1 of 22

“Then said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֶסְתֵּר֙2 of 22

“Esther”

H635

ester, the jewish heroine

אִם3 of 22
H518

used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not

עַל4 of 22
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ5 of 22

“the king”

H4428

a king

ט֔וֹב6 of 22

“If it please”

H2896

good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good

יִנָּתֵ֣ן7 of 22

“let it be granted”

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

גַּם8 of 22
H1571

properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and

מָחָ֗ר9 of 22

“to morrow”

H4279

properly, deferred, i.e., the morrow; usually (adverbially) tomorrow; indefinitely, hereafter

לַיְּהוּדִים֙10 of 22

“to the Jews”

H3064

a jehudite (i.e., judaite or jew), or descendant of jehudah (i.e., judah)

אֲשֶׁ֣ר11 of 22
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

בְּשׁוּשָׁ֔ן12 of 22

“which are in Shushan”

H7800

shushan, a place in persia

לַֽעֲשׂ֖וֹת13 of 22

“to do”

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

כְּדָ֣ת14 of 22

“decree”

H1881

a royal edict or statute

הַיּ֑וֹם15 of 22

“also according unto this day's”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

וְאֵ֛ת16 of 22
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

עֲשֶׂ֥רֶת17 of 22

“ten”

H6235

ten (as an accumulation to the extent of the digits)

בְּנֵֽי18 of 22

“sons”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

הָמָ֖ן19 of 22

“and let Haman's”

H2001

haman, a persian vizier

יִתְל֥וּ20 of 22

“be hanged”

H8518

to suspend (especially to gibbet)

עַל21 of 22
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

הָעֵֽץ׃22 of 22

“upon the gallows”

H6086

a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Esther. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Esther 9:13 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Esther 9:13 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Esther 8:11Deuteronomy 21:232 Samuel 21:9Esther 9:152 Samuel 21:6Galatians 3:13

Places in This Verse

SusaSettlement · Modern: Shush · 32.19°N, 48.26°E20 verses across 4 books
View all places in Esther 9 →

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