פּוֹרָתָא (po.ra.ta)
po.ra.ta
Poratha
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The proper noun Po’rātā appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Esther 9:8, where it identifies one of the ten sons of Haman. As a personal name, it is part of a list of individuals executed by the Jews in Susa to secure their safety after the plot against them was thwarted. The text provides no narrative detail about this specific man; he is recorded solely as a member of Haman’s family line.
Lexical sources suggest two possible meanings for the name: "fruitfulness" or "frustration." If understood as fruitfulness, it may reflect a hope for legacy or descendants. However, given that his father Haman was a declared enemy of the Jewish people and his own life ended in execution, some interpreters view the meaning as ironic or tragic—a promise of posterity cut short by violence. The name serves as a stark footnote in the Esther narrative, marking the end of Haman’s direct lineage.
This single occurrence highlights how personal names in Scripture often carry theological weight beyond their literal definition. In this case, the potential irony of a name meaning "fruitfulness" attached to a man who died without issue underscores the theme of divine reversal central to the book of Esther. The brevity of the reference emphasizes the completeness of Haman’s defeat.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Poratha appears only once in Scripture, listed among the ten sons of Haman who were executed in Susa (Esther 9:8). While the text offers no personal story for this individual, his name carries a quiet weight. It stands as a marker of the complete reversal of fortunes in the book of Esther, where the enemy’s lineage is cut short.
For readers today, this single mention reminds us that human plans often fail while God’s purposes endure. We do not know Poratha’s heart or his life, only his place in history. This invites us to trust that God sees every detail, even those hidden from our view. His story points to the broader theme of deliverance found throughout the Bible.
When we face uncertainty or opposition, we can look to the larger narrative of Scripture. The brevity of this name highlights how temporary human power is compared to eternal truth. It encourages us to rest in the knowledge that justice and mercy are part of God’s character, even when circumstances seem dark.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Poratha1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- פּוֹרָ֛תָא1×
Key Verses
-
Esther 9:8
Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha,
This verse lists Poratha as one of Haman's sons executed in Susa, marking the final elimination of his family line.