Esther 9:5 Meaning: When God’s People Fought Back
The Jews struck all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and with slaughter and destruction, and did what they wanted to those who hated them.
Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them.
And the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and with slaughter and destruction, and did what they would unto them that hated them.
And the Jews smite among all their enemies--a smiting of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction--and do with those hating them according to their pleasure,
And the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword and slaughter and destruction, and did what they would to those that hated them.
Meaning in one sentence
Esther 9:5 describes the Jews defeating their enemies after Haman's plot. This verse raises hard questions about violence in the Old Testament.
Context
The book of Esther tells a story of survival. Haman, a high official in the Persian court, had plotted to wipe out every Jew in the empire. But through Queen Esther and her cousin Mordecai, the king issued a new decree: the Jews could defend themselves on the day set for their destruction. When that day came, the Jews gathered in their cities across the provinces. The fear of Mordecai had spread, and even local officials helped them. No one could stand against them. Verse 5 sums up what happened next: the Jews struck down their enemies completely, leaving no doubt about the outcome. This was not a random attack. It was a defensive response to a genocidal threat, and the text presents it as God’s deliverance, though His name never appears in the book.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words carry the weight of this verse. The first is makkah, translated here as “stroke.” It can mean a blow, a wound, or even a plague. Used with “sword,” it pictures a single decisive strike, not a prolonged brawl, but a finished victory. The second word is cherev, the ordinary word for a sword. But in this context it stands for the authority granted by the king. The Jews did not carry out a private vendetta; they acted under royal permission to protect their lives. The third word is rason, “pleasure” or “will.” It says the Jews “did what they wanted”, literally, “according to their will.” That does not mean reckless cruelty. It means they had full legal freedom to deal with those who meant to destroy them. The outcome was total, and it was lawful. These ordinary words remind us that this was a specific moment in history, not a timeless command. God gave His people the right to stand their ground, and they used it.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have wrestled with this verse for centuries. Some see it as a straightforward account of God’s judgment on those who sought to destroy His chosen people. The Geneva Bible notes simply that the Jews defeated their enemies. Matthew Henry calls it “divine vengeance.” Others feel the tension with Jesus’ command to love our enemies. How can the same God who says “turn the other cheek” authorize a day of slaughter? A key point is that the Jews acted in self-defense against a government-sponsored genocide, not as aggressors. Christians in many traditions read this as a historical narrative of deliverance, not a model for personal conduct. The New Testament does not tell believers to take up the sword. But it does affirm that God rescues His people, sometimes through means we find hard to hold together. Both responses, praising God’s salvation and struggling with the violence, have a place in the Church.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is that “did what they wanted” means the Jews killed arbitrarily or with cruelty. In fact, the phrase “according to their will” refers to the full legal authority they had been given. They acted within the bounds of the king’s decree, defending themselves against those who had plotted to destroy them. The text goes on to say they did not take any plunder (verse 10), which shows they were not motivated by greed. Their aim was to neutralize the threat, not to enrich themselves.
Main takeaway: God turned the day of destruction into a day of victory for His people, granting them complete deliverance from their enemies.
Questions People Ask
Does Esther 9:5 mean God approves of revenge?
The Jews were not acting out of personal revenge. They were defending their families against a government decree that called for their extermination. The king’s earlier decree had authorized anyone to kill Jews on that day. The second decree allowed Jews to defend themselves. This was self-defense, not vengeance. Christians today do not take up the sword to settle scores; we trust God to judge.
Should Christians follow the example of the Jews in Esther and use violence to protect themselves?
Most Christian traditions have interpreted this passage as a specific historical event, not a model for Christian conduct. The New Testament teaches us to love our enemies and not repay evil for evil. However, Christians disagree on whether self-defense or just war is ever permissible. This verse does not settle that debate. It shows one moment when God’s people survived a genocide through lawful means.
What does “did what they wanted” mean in Esther 9:5?
The Hebrew word is rason, meaning “will” or “pleasure.” It indicates they had the full freedom and authority to act against their enemies without restriction. It does not imply they behaved cruelly or without restraint. The context shows they acted in self-defense and did not take plunder, suggesting discipline, not lawlessness.
Why did the Jews kill so many people if God is love?
This is a hard question. The Book of Esther shows a world where God’s people faced a real threat of annihilation. The violence described was defensive, not offensive. Christians believe that God’s love includes protecting the innocent. The story also points forward to a time when God will finally defeat all evil and bring lasting peace. In the meantime, we live in a broken world where sometimes violence is used to stop greater violence.
Does the fact that God’s name never appears in Esther mean something about this verse?
The absence of God’s name is a distinctive feature of the book. Many readers see it as a sign that God works behind the scenes, even when He is not named. The deliverance of the Jews points to His providential care, not to human power alone. This verse records the outcome of His hidden guidance, not human aggression.
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