The Daily RootedHome StoriesGradesChurchesWhat's NewAbout

Esther 8: Light, Gladness, Joy, and Honor

That day King Ahasuerus gave Haman's house to Esther, and Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told what he was to her. The king gave Mordecai his ring, and Esther set Mordecai over Haman's house. Esther fell at the king's feet and begged him with tears to put away Haman's evil plan against the Jews. The king held out the golden scepter, and because a law sealed with the king's ring could not be reversed, he told Esther and Mordecai to write a new decree in his name. Letters were sent swiftly to all 127 provinces, allowing the Jews in every city to gather and stand for their lives. Mordecai went out in royal clothing and a great crown of gold, and the city of Susa shouted and was glad. The Jews had light, gladness, joy, and honor, and many of the peoples of the land became Jews.

Go to worksheets ↓

Bible:

Read Esther 8

World English Bible · 17 verses

  1. 1 On that day, King Ahasuerus gave the house of Haman, the Jews’ enemy, to Esther the queen. Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was to her.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  2. 2 The king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  3. 3 Esther spoke yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet and begged him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his plan that he had planned against the Jews.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  4. 4 Then the king held out to Esther the golden scepter. So Esther arose, and stood before the king.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  5. 5 She said, “If it pleases the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and the thing seems right to the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the king’s provinces.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  6. 6 For how can I endure to see the evil that would come to my people? How can I endure to see the destruction of my relatives?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  7. 7 Then King Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, “See, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows because he laid his hand on the Jews.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  8. 8 Write also to the Jews as it pleases 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 not be reversed by any man.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  9. 9 Then the king’s scribes were called at that time, in the third month, which is the month Sivan, on the twenty-third day of the month; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded to the Jews, and to the local governors, and the governors and princes of the provinces which are from India to Ethiopia, one hundred twenty-seven provinces, to every province according to its writing, and to every people in their language, and to the Jews in their writing, and in their language.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  10. 10 He wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king’s ring, and sent letters by courier on horseback, riding on royal horses that were bred from swift steeds.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  11. 11 In those letters, the king granted the Jews who were in every city to gather themselves together and to defend their lives—to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish all the power of the people and province that would assault them, their little ones and women, and to plunder their possessions,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  12. 12 on one day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  13. 13 A copy of the letter, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published to all the peoples, that the Jews should be ready for that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  14. 14 So the couriers who rode on royal horses went out, hastened and pressed on by the king’s commandment. The decree was given out in the citadel of Susa.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  15. 15 Mordecai went out of the presence of the king in royal clothing of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a robe of fine linen and purple; and the city of Susa shouted and was glad.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  16. 16 The Jews had light, gladness, joy, and honor.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  17. 17 In every province and in every city, wherever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Jews had gladness, joy, a feast and a holiday. Many from among the peoples of the land became Jews, for the fear of the Jews had fallen on them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

  1. 1Pick a grade below
  2. 2Look over the worksheet
  3. 3Tap Print worksheet. Print the answer key separately.

Pick a grade:

Answer key (print separately)More print options ↓

Esther 8 · Preschool

Joy for God's People

Name Date

Color the happy people celebrating!

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“The Jews had light, gladness, joy, and honor.”

Esther 8:16 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: God's people were safe! The king let them protect themselves. Everyone was so happy! God turns sadness into joy.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

‹ All Esther chapters · All books