King James Version

What Does Esther 9:22 Mean?

Esther 9:22 in the King James Version says “As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and...” — study this verse from Esther chapter 9 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.”

Esther 9:22 · KJV

Joy

Context

20

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,

21

To stablish this among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly ,

22

As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.

23

And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them;

24

Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them; consume: Heb. crush

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Purim's perpetual significance: 'As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.' The Hebrew emphasizes reversal: 'nehpak lahem' (it was turned/reversed for them) from 'me-yagon le-simhah' (from sorrow to gladness) and 'me-evel le-yom tov' (from mourning to good day). The celebration includes feasting, sending food portions (mishloah manot), and gifts to poor (mattenot la-evyonim). This commemorates not just military victory but spiritual truth: God reverses enemy plots against His people. The permanent observance (v. 28: 'these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews') reminds each generation of God's providential care and faithfulness to covenant promises.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Purim ('lots,' from pur, 3:7—Haman cast lots to determine Jews' destruction date) celebrates events of Esther. After Haman's plot failed and Jews defended themselves (9:1-17), Mordecai established annual celebration on 14-15 Adar (9:20-22). Jews have observed Purim for 2,500+ years, reading Esther's scroll, feasting, and giving to poor—testimony to God's faithfulness. The reversal theme resonates with gospel: Christ turned our death sentence to life, sorrow to joy, curse to blessing (Galatians 3:13, John 16:20-22). The social justice element (gifts to poor) reflects that genuine gratitude for deliverance expresses itself in generosity toward the vulnerable. Every rescue God provides should prompt both worship and compassion.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do I commemorate God's past deliverances in my life, keeping His faithfulness before my eyes?
  2. Does my gratitude for salvation in Christ manifest in joyful generosity toward the poor and needy?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 26 words
יְמֵי֙1 of 26

“As the days”

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

אֲשֶׁר2 of 26
H834

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

נָ֨חוּ3 of 26

“rested”

H5117

to rest, i.e., settle down; used in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, intransitive, transitive and causative (to dwell, stay, l

בָהֶ֤ם4 of 26
H0
הַיְּהוּדִים֙5 of 26

“wherein the Jews”

H3064

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

מֵא֣וֹיְבֵיהֶ֔ם6 of 26

“from their enemies”

H341

hating; an adversary

וְהַחֹ֗דֶשׁ7 of 26

“and the month”

H2320

the new moon; by implication, a month

אֲשֶׁר֩8 of 26
H834

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

נֶהְפַּ֨ךְ9 of 26

“which was turned”

H2015

to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert

לָהֶ֤ם10 of 26
H1992

they (only used when emphatic)

מִיָּגוֹן֙11 of 26

“unto them from sorrow”

H3015

affliction

וְשִׂמְחָ֔ה12 of 26

“and joy”

H8057

blithesomeness or glee, (religious or festival)

וּמֵאֵ֖בֶל13 of 26

“and from mourning”

H60

lamentation

יְמֵי֙14 of 26

“As the days”

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

ט֑וֹב15 of 26

“into a good”

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

לַֽעֲשׂ֣וֹת16 of 26

“that they should make”

H6213

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

אוֹתָ֗ם17 of 26
H853

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

יְמֵי֙18 of 26

“As the days”

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

מִשְׁתֶּ֣ה19 of 26

“of feasting”

H4960

drink, by implication, drinking (the act); also (by implication) a banquet or (generally) feast

וְשִׂמְחָ֔ה20 of 26

“and joy”

H8057

blithesomeness or glee, (religious or festival)

וּמִשְׁל֤וֹחַ21 of 26

“and of sending”

H4916

a sending out, i.e., (abstractly) presentation (favorable), or seizure (unfavorable); also (concretely) a place of dismissal, or a business to be disc

מָנוֹת֙22 of 26

“portions”

H4490

properly, something weighed out, i.e., (generally) a division; specifically (of food) a ration; also a lot

אִ֣ישׁ23 of 26

“one”

H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

לְרֵעֵ֔הוּ24 of 26

“to another”

H7453

an associate (more or less close)

וּמַתָּנ֖וֹת25 of 26

“and gifts”

H4979

a present; specifically (in a good sense), a sacrificial offering, (in a bad sense) a bribe

לָֽאֶבְיוֹנִֽים׃26 of 26

“to the poor”

H34

destitute

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 9:22 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 9:22 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Psalms 30:11Isaiah 12:1-2Esther 9:19Isaiah 14:3Esther 3:12-13Galatians 2:10

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