Esther 3:15
New International Version
The couriers went out, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was bewildered.

New Living Translation
At the king’s command, the decree went out by swift messengers, and it was also proclaimed in the fortress of Susa. Then the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa fell into confusion.

English Standard Version
The couriers went out hurriedly by order of the king, and the decree was issued in Susa the citadel. And the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was thrown into confusion.

Berean Standard Bible
The couriers left, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. Then the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was in confusion.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
The couriers went out, hastened by the king’s command; and the decree was proclaimed in Shushan the citadel. So the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Shushan was perplexed.

New American Standard Bible
The couriers went out, speeded by the king’s order while the decree was issued at the citadel in Susa; and while the king and Haman sat down to drink, the city of Susa was agitated.

NASB 1995
The couriers went out impelled by the king’s command while the decree was issued at the citadel in Susa; and while the king and Haman sat down to drink, the city of Susa was in confusion.

NASB 1977
The couriers went out impelled by the king’s command while the decree was issued in Susa the capital; and while the king and Haman sat down to drink, the city of Susa was in confusion.

Legacy Standard Bible
The couriers went out, hastened by the word of the king. And the law was given at the citadel in Susa. Now the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was in confusion.

Amplified Bible
The couriers went out hurriedly by order of the king, and the decree was issued at the citadel in Susa. And while the king and Haman sat down to drink, the city of Susa was perplexed [by the unusual and alarming decree].

Christian Standard Bible
The couriers left, spurred on by royal command, and the law was issued in the fortress of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink, while the city of Susa was in confusion.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The couriers left, spurred on by royal command, and the law was issued in the fortress of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink, while the city of Susa was in confusion.

American Standard Version
The posts went forth in haste by the king's commandment, and the decree was given out in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan was perplexed.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And the Runners went out quickly by the commandment of the King, and the word had been commanded in Shushan the Palace, and the King and Haman reclined to drink together, and the city of Shushan was in an uproar.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the business was hastened, and that at Susa: and the king and Aman began to drink; but the city was troubled.

Douay-Rheims Bible
The couriers that were sent made haste to fulfil the king's commandment. And immediately the edict was hung up in Susan, the king and Aman feasting together, and all the Jews that were in the city weeping.

English Revised Version
The posts went forth in haste by the king's commandment, and the decree was given out in Shushan the palace: and the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan was perplexed.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The messengers hurried out as the king told them. The decree was also issued at the fortress of Susa. So the king and Haman sat down to drink a toast, but the city of Susa was in turmoil.

Good News Translation
At the king's command the decree was made public in the capital city of Susa, and runners carried the news to the provinces. The king and Haman sat down and had a drink while the city of Susa was being thrown into confusion.

International Standard Version
The couriers went out, urged on by the king's command, and the edict was issued in Susa the capital. The king and Haman sat down to drink, while the city of Susa was thrown into confusion.

JPS Tanakh 1917
The posts went forth in haste by the king's commandment, and the decree was given out in Shushan the castle; and the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan was perplexed.

Literal Standard Version
The runners have gone forth, hurried by the word of the king, and the law has been given in Shushan the palace, and the king and Haman have sat down to drink, and the city Shushan is perplexed.

Majority Standard Bible
The couriers left, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. Then the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was in confusion.

New American Bible
The couriers set out in haste at the king’s command; meanwhile, the decree was promulgated in the royal precinct of Susa. The king and Haman then sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was thrown into confusion.

NET Bible
The messengers scurried forth with the king's order. The edict was issued in Susa the citadel. While the king and Haman sat down to drink, the city of Susa was in an uproar!

New Revised Standard Version
The couriers went quickly by order of the king, and the decree was issued in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Susa was thrown into confusion.

New Heart English Bible
The couriers went forth in haste by the king's commandment, and the decree was given out in the citadel of Shushan. The king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan was perplexed.

Webster's Bible Translation
The posts departed, 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.

World English Bible
The couriers went out in haste by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given out in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Susa was perplexed.

Young's Literal Translation
The runners have gone forth, hastened by the word of the king, and the law hath been given in Shushan the palace, and the king and Haman have sat down to drink, and the city Shushan is perplexed.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Haman Plots Against the Jews
14A 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. 15The couriers left, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. Then the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was in confusion.

Cross References
1 Kings 14:27
Then King Rehoboam made bronze shields in their place and committed them to the care of the captains of the guard on duty at the entrance to the royal palace.

Esther 8:15
Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal garments of blue and white, with a large gold crown and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced.


Treasury of Scripture

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.

hastened.

Proverbs 1:16
For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

Proverbs 4:16
For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.

sat down.

Hosea 7:5
In the day of our king the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners.

Amos 6:6
That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.

John 16:20
Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

the city.

Esther 4:16
Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

Esther 8:15
And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.

Proverbs 29:2
When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

Jump to Previous
Capital Citadel City Command Commandment Confusion Consternation Couriers Decree Departed Drink Edict Forth Haman Haste Hastened Impelled Issued King's Order Palace Perplexed Posts Public Quickly Runners Sat Shushan Statement Susa Together Wine Word
Jump to Next
Capital Citadel City Command Commandment Confusion Consternation Couriers Decree Departed Drink Edict Forth Haman Haste Hastened Impelled Issued King's Order Palace Perplexed Posts Public Quickly Runners Sat Shushan Statement Susa Together Wine Word
Esther 3
1. Haman, advanced by the king, and despised by Mordecai, seeks revenge upon the Jews.
7. He casts lots.
8. He obtains by false accusations a decree of the king to put the Jews to death.














(15) Perplexed.--The inhabitants of the capital were puzzled and alarmed, as well they might be, at so marvellously reckless an order. Their sympathies, too, were clearly with the Jews and against Haman. (See Esther 8:15.)

Verse 15. - The posts went out, being hastened. Though there was ample time, since the remotest part of the empire could be reached in a month, or two at the most, yet the posts were "hastened," Haman being impatient, lest the king should change his mind, and decline to publish the edict. The king may himself also have wished to have the matter settled past recall. The king sat down with Haman to drink. This touch seems intended to mark their hardness of heart. As Nero "fiddled while Rome was burning," so these two, having assigned a nation to destruction, proceeded to enjoy themselves at "a banquet of wine." But the city of Susa was perplexed. The Jews had enemies in Susa (Esther 9:12-15); but the bulk of the inhabitants being Persians, and so Zoroastrians, would be likely to sympathise with them. There might also be a widespread feeling among persons of other nationalities that the precedent now set was a dangerous one. Generally the people of the capital approved and applauded what. ever the great king did. Now they misdoubted the justice, and perhaps even the prudence, of what was resolved upon. The decree threw them into perplexity.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The couriers
הָֽרָצִ֞ים (hā·rā·ṣîm)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 7323: To run

left,
יָצְא֤וּ (yā·ṣə·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

spurred on
דְחוּפִים֙ (ḏə·ḥū·p̄îm)
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural
Strong's 1765: To drive, hasten

by the king's
הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

command,
בִּדְבַ֣ר (biḏ·ḇar)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

and the law
וְהַדָּ֥ת (wə·had·dāṯ)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1881: A royal edict, statute

was issued
נִתְּנָ֖ה (nit·tə·nāh)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

in the citadel
הַבִּירָ֑ה (hab·bî·rāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1002: A castle, palace

of Susa.
בְּשׁוּשַׁ֣ן (bə·šū·šan)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7800: Susa -- residence of person kings

Then the king
וְהַמֶּ֤לֶךְ (wə·ham·me·leḵ)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

and Haman
וְהָמָן֙ (wə·hā·mān)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 2001: Haman -- to rage, be turbulent

sat down
יָשְׁב֣וּ (yā·šə·ḇū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

to drink,
לִשְׁתּ֔וֹת (liš·tō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 8354: To imbibe

but the city
וְהָעִ֥יר (wə·hā·‘îr)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

of Susa
שׁוּשָׁ֖ן (šū·šān)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7800: Susa -- residence of person kings

was in confusion.
נָבֽוֹכָה׃ (nā·ḇō·w·ḵāh)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 943: To perplex, confuse


Links
Esther 3:15 NIV
Esther 3:15 NLT
Esther 3:15 ESV
Esther 3:15 NASB
Esther 3:15 KJV

Esther 3:15 BibleApps.com
Esther 3:15 Biblia Paralela
Esther 3:15 Chinese Bible
Esther 3:15 French Bible
Esther 3:15 Catholic Bible

OT History: Esther 3:15 The couriers went forth in haste (Est Esth. Es)
Esther 3:14
Top of Page
Top of Page