Esther 3:8

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws [are] diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it [is] not for the king's profit to suffer them.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Then Haman said to Achashverosh, "There is a particular people scattered and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom. Their laws are different from those of every other people; moreover, they don't observe the king's laws. It doesn't befit the king to tolerate them.

Berean Standard Bible:

Then Haman informed King Xerxes, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples of every province of your kingdom. Their laws are different from everyone else’s, and they do not obey the king’s laws. So it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them.

American Standard Version:

And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from those of every people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And Haman^{H2001} said^{H559} unto king^{H4428} Ahasuerus^{H325}, There is^{H3426} a certain^{H259} people^{H5971} scattered abroad^{H6340} and dispersed^{H6504} among the people^{H5971} in all the provinces^{H4082} of thy kingdom^{H4438}; and their laws^{H1881} are diverse^{H8138} from all people^{H5971}; neither keep^{H6213} they the king's^{H4428} laws^{H1881}: therefore it is not for the king's^{H4428} profit^{H7737} to suffer^{H3240} them.

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Commentary for Esther 3:8

Esther 3:8 is a pivotal verse in the narrative of the Book of Esther, which tells the story of a Jewish woman named Esther who becomes queen of Persia and thwarts a plan to commit genocide against her people. The verse captures a moment of manipulation and prejudice as Haman, an Agagite who has been promoted by King Ahasuerus (also known as Xerxes I), seeks to persuade the king to authorize the destruction of the Jews living within the vast Persian Empire.

In this verse, Haman identifies the Jews as "a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom," highlighting their diasporic existence across the empire. He then makes two critical accusations: first, that their laws are diverse from all people, implying a cultural and religious distinctiveness that sets them apart; and second, that they do not keep the king's laws, suggesting disloyalty and insubordination. Haman's ultimate argument is that it is not in the king's interest to tolerate the Jews, as they are presumably a hindrance to the unity and profitability of the kingdom.

The historical context of this verse reflects the period of Persian rule over a vast territory that included many ethnic and religious groups. The Persian kings were known for their administrative skill and relative tolerance of the diverse populations within their realm. However, the Book of Esther presents a scenario where local antisemitism, personified by Haman, threatens the safety of the Jewish population. The themes of the verse include the vulnerability of minority groups, the danger of prejudice and scapegoating, and the use of political power to incite hatred and violence. Haman's words are a chilling example of how a trusted advisor can exploit a ruler's ignorance and bias to further an agenda of ethnic hatred and persecution. The verse sets the stage for the unfolding drama where Esther and her cousin Mordecai will work to counteract Haman's plot and secure the survival of their people.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H2001
   There are 45 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: הָמָן
   Transliteration: Hâmân
   Pronunciation: haw-mawn'
   Description: of foreign derivation; Haman, a Persian vizier; Haman.
   
2. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
3. Strong's Number: H4428
   There are 1922 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֶלֶךְ
   Transliteration: melek
   Pronunciation: meh'-lek
   Description: from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal.
   
4. Strong's Number: H325
   There are 316 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ
   Transliteration: ʼĂchashvêrôwsh
   Pronunciation: akh-ash-vay-rosh'
   Description: or (shortened) אַחַשְׁרֹשׁ (Esther 10:1); of Persian origin; Achashverosh (i.e. Ahasuerus or Artaxerxes, but in this case Xerxes), the title (rather than name) of a Persian king; Ahasuerus.
   
5. Strong's Number: H3426
   There are 129 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יֵשׁ
   Transliteration: yêsh
   Pronunciation: yaysh
   Description: perhaps from an unused root meaning to stand out, or exist; entity; used adverbially or as a copula for the substantive verb (הָיָה); there is or are (or any other form of the verb to be, as may suit the connection); (there) are, (he, it, shall, there, there may, there shall, there should) be, thou do, had, hast, (which) hath, (I, shalt, that) have, (he, it, there) is, substance, it (there) was, (there) were, ye will, thou wilt, wouldest.
   
6. Strong's Number: H259
   There are 801 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֶחָד
   Transliteration: ʼechâd
   Pronunciation: ekh-awd'
   Description: a numeral from אָחַד; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first; a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-) ly, each (one), [phrase] eleven, every, few, first, [phrase] highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together,
   
7. Strong's Number: H5971
   There are 1654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עַם
   Transliteration: ʻam
   Pronunciation: am
   Description: from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people.
   
8. Strong's Number: H6340
   There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּזַר
   Transliteration: pâzar
   Pronunciation: paw-zar'
   Description: a primitive root; to scatter, whether in enmity or bounty; disperse, scatter (abroad).
   
9. Strong's Number: H6504
   There are 26 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּרַד
   Transliteration: pârad
   Pronunciation: paw-rad'
   Description: a primitive root; to break through, i.e. spread or separate (oneself); disperse, divide, be out of joint, part, scatter (abroad), separate (self), sever self, stretch, sunder.
   
10. Strong's Number: H4082
    There are 40 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מְדִינָה
    Transliteration: mᵉdîynâh
    Pronunciation: med-ee-naw'
    Description: from דִּין; properly, a judgeship, i.e. jurisdiction; by implication, a district (as ruled by a judge); generally, a region; ([idiom] every) province.
    
11. Strong's Number: H4438
    There are 82 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מַלְכוּת
    Transliteration: malkûwth
    Pronunciation: mal-kooth'
    Description: or מַלְכֻת; or (in plural) מַלְכֻיָּה; from מָלַךְ; a rule; concretely, a dominion; empire, kingdom, realm, reign, royal.
    
12. Strong's Number: H1881
    There are 21 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: דָּת
    Transliteration: dâth
    Pronunciation: dawth
    Description: of uncertain (perhaps foreign) derivation; a royal edict or statute; commandment, commission, decree, law, manner.
    
13. Strong's Number: H8138
    There are 21 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׁנָה
    Transliteration: shânâh
    Pronunciation: shaw-naw'
    Description: a primitive root; to fold, i.e. duplicate (literally or figuratively); by implication, to transmute (transitive or intransitive); do (speak, strike) again, alter, double, (be given to) change, disguise, (be) diverse, pervert, prefer, repeat, return, do the second time.
    
14. Strong's Number: H6213
    There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עָשָׂה
    Transliteration: ʻâsâh
    Pronunciation: aw-saw'
    Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.
    
15. Strong's Number: H7737
    There are 21 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׁוָה
    Transliteration: shâvâh
    Pronunciation: shaw-vaw'
    Description: a primitive root; properly, to level, i.e. equalize; figuratively, to resemble; by implication, to adjust (i.e. counterbalance, be suitable, compose, place, yield, etc.); avail, behave, bring forth, compare, countervail, (be, make) equal, lay, be (make, a-) like, make plain, profit, reckon.
    
16. Strong's Number: H3240
    There are 73 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יָנַח
    Transliteration: yânach
    Pronunciation: yaw-nakh'
    Description: a primitive root; to deposit; by implication, to allow to stay; bestow, cast down, lay (down, up), leave (off), let alone (remain), pacify, place, put, set (down), suffer, withdraw, withhold. (The Hiphil forms with the dagesh are here referred to, in accordance with the older grammarians; but if any distinction of the kind is to be made, these should rather be referred to נוּחַ, and the others here.)