3. Source Text: Hebrew (WLC) Esther 4:3:1 ⧉וּבְכָל־מְדִינָ֣הuvekholmedinaand in every province Esther 4:3:2 ⧉וּמְדִינָ֗הumedinaand province Esther 4:3:3 ⧉מְקוֹם֙mekomplace Esther 4:3:4 ⧉אֲשֶׁ֨רasherwhich or where Esther 4:3:5 ⧉דְּבַר־הַמֶּ֤לֶךְdevarhamelekhthe word of the king Esther 4:3:6 ⧉וְדָתוֹ֙vedatoand his law or decree Esther 4:3:7 ⧉מַגִּ֔יעַmagiais reaching Esther 4:3:8 ⧉אֵ֤בֶלevelmourning Esther 4:3:9 ⧉גָּדוֹל֙gadolgreat Esther 4:3:10 ⧉לַיְּהוּדִ֔יםlayehudimfor the Jews Esther 4:3:11 ⧉וְצ֥וֹםvetsomand fasting Esther 4:3:12 ⧉וּבְכִ֖יuvekhiand weeping Esther 4:3:13 ⧉וּמִסְפֵּ֑דumispedand lamenting Esther 4:3:14 ⧉שַׂ֣קsaksackcloth Esther 4:3:15 ⧉וָאֵ֔פֶרvaeferand ashes Esther 4:3:16 ⧉יֻצַּ֖עyutsawas spread out Esther 4:3:17 ⧉לָֽרַבִּֽים׃larabimfor many |
3. Formal Translation In every province—every place where the king’s order and his decree arrived—there was great mourning among the Jews with fasting, weeping, and lamentation; and for many people, sackcloth and ashes were laid out beneath them. |
3. Dynamic Translation As the king’s edict reached each region, the Jews grieved deeply with fasting, tears, and loud mourning. Many sat down on sackcloth and ashes in public sorrow. |