Esther 9:24 Meaning and Explanation
“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;”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The festival’s name is traced to the Pur, the lot Haman cast to set the date of destruction.
What Does Esther 9:24 Mean?
The narrator recalls the origin of it all: Haman the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, who devised their destruction and cast Pur, the lot, to consume them. The summary gathers the whole conflict into a sentence, naming the enemy, his lineage, and his deadly scheme.
The detail of the lot is central, for from it the festival takes its name. Haman trusted chance to choose the day of slaughter, casting lots as though fate were on his side. Yet the day he chose by lot became the day of his enemies’ defeat. The narrator lets the reader see whose hand truly governed the lot that Haman cast.
Esther 9:24 in the Original Language
pur (פּוּר), 'lot' -- the lot Haman cast to set the date for destroying the Jews, from which the festival of Purim takes its name.
Frequently Asked Questions About Esther 9:24
What does Esther 9:24 mean?
The festival’s name is traced to the Pur, the lot Haman cast to set the date of destruction.