The Meaning of Esther 8:8 Explained

Esther 8:8

KJV: Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.

YLT: and ye, write ye for the Jews, as it is good in your eyes, in the name of the king, and seal with the signet of the king -- for the writing that is written in the name of the king, and sealed with the signet of the king, there is none to turn back.'

Darby: Write ye then for the Jews as seems good to you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring. For a writing that is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, cannot be reversed.

ASV: Write ye also to the Jews, as it pleaseth you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring; for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Write  ye also for the Jews,  as it liketh  you,  in the king's  name,  and seal  [it] with the king's  ring:  for the writing  which is written  in the king's  name,  and sealed  with the king's  ring,  may no man reverse. 

What does Esther 8:8 Mean?

Context Summary

Esther 8:1-17 - Courage Rewarded
The ring symbolized royal power and authority; by this sign Mordecai was suddenly raised to the position formerly held by Haman. He also managed for Esther the large estate which had come into her possession. Because of the fixity of the customs and laws of the Medes, it was impossible to reverse the royal proclamation, which had decreed that the Hebrew people should be exterminated. So the king granted Mordecai permission to send letters to his people, allowing them to arm and defend themselves. The speed with which the circulation of the royal decree was carried out is a rebuke to the Church of God which has been entrusted with the gospel of salvation. More than eighteen hundred years have passed, and still immense multitudes have never heard the name of Christ or the love of God. Let us at least strain every nerve to pass on the joyful news, overtaking the tidings of death. [source]

Chapter Summary: Esther 8

1  Mordecai is advanced
3  Esther makes suit to reverse Haman's letters
7  Xerxes grants to the Jews to defend themselves
15  Mordecai's honor, and the Jews' joy

What do the individual words in Esther 8:8 mean?

And You write [a decree] concerning the Jews as you please in name of the king and seal [it] with signet ring of the king for whatever that is written in name and sealed with signet ring of the king no one can revoke
וְ֠אַתֶּם כִּתְב֨וּ עַל־ הַיְּהוּדִ֜ים כַּטּ֤וֹב בְּעֵֽינֵיכֶם֙ בְּשֵׁ֣ם הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְחִתְמ֖וּ בְּטַבַּ֣עַת הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ כִּֽי־ כְתָ֞ב אֲשֶׁר־ נִכְתָּ֣ב בְּשֵׁם־ וְנַחְתּ֛וֹם בְּטַבַּ֥עַת הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֵ֥ין לְהָשִֽׁיב

וְ֠אַתֶּם  And  You 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, second person masculine plural
Root: אַתְּ 
Sense: you (second pers.
כִּתְב֨וּ  write  [a  decree] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: כָּתַב  
Sense: to write, record, enrol.
עַל־  concerning 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
הַיְּהוּדִ֜ים  the  Jews 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: יְהוּדִי  
Sense: Jew.
בְּעֵֽינֵיכֶם֙  you  please 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, cdc, second person masculine plural
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
בְּשֵׁ֣ם  in  name 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ  of  the  king 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
וְחִתְמ֖וּ  and  seal 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: חָתַם  
Sense: to seal, seal up, affix a seal.
בְּטַבַּ֣עַת  [it]  with  signet  ring 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: טַבַּעַת  
Sense: ring, signet, signet ring.
הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ  of  the  king 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
כְתָ֞ב  whatever 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: כְּתָב  
Sense: a writing, document, edict.
אֲשֶׁר־  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
נִכְתָּ֣ב  is  written 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: כָּתַב  
Sense: to write, record, enrol.
בְּשֵׁם־  in  name 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
וְנַחְתּ֛וֹם  and  sealed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Infinitive absolute
Root: חָתַם  
Sense: to seal, seal up, affix a seal.
בְּטַבַּ֥עַת  with  signet  ring 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: טַבַּעַת  
Sense: ring, signet, signet ring.
הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ  of  the  king 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
אֵ֥ין  no  one 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
לְהָשִֽׁיב  can  revoke 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.