Esther 3:7 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Lots (Pur) are cast before Haman to choose the day for the slaughter, landing on the month of Adar.
What Does Esther 3:7 Mean?
Haman casts Pur, that is, the lot, to fix the day of slaughter, and the casting ranges day by day, month by month, until it falls on Adar, the twelfth month. He leaves the timing to chance, trusting the lot to mark an auspicious day for his evil. The whole grim enterprise is governed by a roll of fate.
Yet the lot lands almost a year away, in the last month, granting a long reprieve no one planned. What Haman means as fate's endorsement becomes, unknown to him, the very margin of time that allows for rescue. The proverb says the lot is cast but its decision is from the Lord, and here a pagan's dice quietly serve a purpose he cannot see.
Esther 3:7 in the Original Language
pur (פּוּר), 'lot' -- the lot cast to set the date, from which the festival of Purim takes its name.
Frequently Asked Questions About Esther 3:7
What does Esther 3:7 mean?
Lots (Pur) are cast before Haman to choose the day for the slaughter, landing on the month of Adar.