Original Word: עָתוּד
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: `athuwd
Pronunciation: ah-TOOD
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-thood')
KJV: ready
Word Origin: [passive participle of H6257 (עָתַד - destined)]

1. prepared

ready

Passive participle of athad; prepared -- ready.

see HEBREW athad

Word Origin
the same as athid, q.v.

עָתִיד, [עָתוּד] adjective ready, prepared; —

1 absolute עָתִיד לַכִּידוֺר Job 15:24 a king ready for the onset; plural עֲתִדִים לַיּוֺם Esther 3:14 ready for the day, so Esther 8:13 Qr (Kt עתודים).

2 ready = skilled הָעֲתִידִים עֹרֵר Job 3:8 those skilled in rousing Leviathan.

3 prepared = impending (compare Late Hebrew = future), feminine plural וְחָשׁ עֲתִדֹת Deuteronomy 32:35 the impending things are hastening ("" קָרוֺב יוֺם אֵידָם).

4 prepared = stored up, ועתידתיהם Isaiah 10:13 Kt (Qr וַעֲתוּדֹתַיהֶם, to differentiate it from above) and their stores have I plundered.

Canonical Context

The solitary appearance of עָתוּד in the Hebrew Bible occurs in Esther 8:13. The term communicates the state of being readied or equipped. In the narrative, Mordecai’s counter-edict is published “so that the Jews would be ready on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies” (Esther 8:13). The word encapsulates the sudden transition from vulnerability to preparedness that characterizes the book’s dramatic reversal.

Historical Setting

Esther 8 records the aftermath of Haman’s downfall. Although the initial royal decree authorizing genocide could not be revoked (Esther 8:8), a new decree empowered the Jews to defend themselves. The empire-wide circulation of this proclamation required rapid dissemination and immediate mobilization. “Ready” therefore is not a vague moral exhortation but a concrete summons to arm, organize, and stand watch from the thirteenth day of the twelfth month onward. Archaeological studies of Persian postal systems confirm the feasibility of swift communication across 127 provinces, underscoring how providence employed imperial infrastructure to safeguard covenant people.

Theological Themes

1. Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility

God’s hidden hand arranges deliverance, yet His people must still arm themselves. Scripture repeatedly holds these truths together (Nehemiah 4:9; Philippians 2:12-13). The single use of עָתוּד crystallizes this partnership.

2. Reversals and Redemption

Esther pivots on radical reversals (Esther 9:1). The verb “ready” becomes emblematic of the larger theme: those once appointed to death are now appointed to victory, prefiguring the ultimate reversal accomplished in Christ’s resurrection.

3. Holy Readiness

The motif of readiness bridges both Testaments. Old Testament calls to vigilance (Exodus 12:11; Isaiah 40:3) find New Testament amplification: “Be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:44). Esther 8:13 provides a practical illustration of what such readiness looks like in real time.

Intertextual Echoes

• 2 Chronicles 17:16 highlights military “men who served the king, volunteers for the service, … prepared for war,” reflecting organized preparedness.
• Ephesians 6:15 speaks of believers’ feet “fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace,” shifting the battleground from physical to spiritual realms.
• 1 Peter 3:15 commands, “Always be prepared to give a defense,” joining Esther’s martial imagery to evangelistic mission.

Ministry Significance

1. Spiritual Warfare

Mordecai’s edict pictures believers’ authority in Christ to resist the enemy (James 4:7). Churches are called to train congregants in Scripture, prayer, and discernment so that they stand ready when opposition arises.

2. Leadership and Mobilization

Mordecai exemplifies decisive leadership that galvanizes a scattered people. Modern ministry must likewise broadcast clear, biblically grounded directives that unite believers across cultural and geographic lines.

3. Readiness for Revival and Suffering

Whether anticipating outpourings of grace or seasons of persecution, the church must cultivate readiness. Esther 8:13 reminds us that sudden shifts in cultural climates demand a people already braced in faith.

Christological Foreshadowing

The Jews’ preparedness to act on a fixed future date anticipates the set time of redemption (Galatians 4:4). Just as Esther’s intercession precipitated the decree, Christ’s intercession secures the new covenant, urging His followers to live in constant expectation of the consummation.

Practical Discipleship

• Teach Scripture systematically so believers grasp both promise and responsibility.
• Foster habits of watchful prayer (Colossians 4:2).
• Equip members with apologetic tools, mirroring Mordecai’s strategic communication.
• Encourage readiness for good works (Titus 3:1) and for the return of the King (Revelation 19:7).

Conclusion

Though appearing only once, עָתוּד in Esther 8:13 distills a perennial biblical call: God’s people, confident in His sovereign plan, must stand prepared—spiritually armed, mentally alert, and mobilized for obedient action in the decisive moments He ordains.

עֲתִידִים֙ עתידים ‘ă·ṯî·ḏîm ‘ăṯîḏîm atiDimInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts