Original Word: פוֹרָתָא
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Powratha'
Pronunciation: po-RA-tha
Phonetic Spelling: (po-raw-thaw')
KJV: Poratha
NASB: Poratha
Word Origin: [of Persian origin]

1. Poratha, a son of Haman

Poratha

Of Persian origin; Poratha, a son of Haman -- Poratha.

Word Origin
probably of foreign origin
Definition
a son of Haman
NASB Translation
Poratha (1).

מּוֺרָתָא proper name, masculine son of Haman Esther 9:8, Φαραδαθα, Βαρδαθα.

Biblical Occurrence and Narrative Setting

Poratha (Strong’s Hebrew 6334, פוֹרָתָא) appears once, in Esther 9:8. He is listed as the fourth of the ten sons of Haman who were killed after the downfall of their father’s genocidal plot against the Jews: “Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vaizatha” (Esther 9:7-9). Their corpses were afterward displayed on the gallows (Esther 9:14), underscoring the total reversal of Haman’s schemes.

Historical and Cultural Background

1. Persian Context – The name Poratha is widely regarded as Persian, fitting the Achaemenid court setting of the book. The sons’ execution likely took place in Susa around 473 B.C., in the reign of Xerxes I (Ahasuerus).
2. Amalekite Lineage – Haman is called “the Agagite” (Esther 3:1), linking him to Agag, king of the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:8). The slaying of Haman’s sons, including Poratha, thus represents the completion of a divine mandate that stretched back to Exodus 17:14 and Deuteronomy 25:17-19.
3. Purim Tradition – In synagogue readings for Purim, the ten names are recited in a single breath, symbolizing the swift judgment that befell them. Poratha’s place in that list therefore holds liturgical prominence to this day.

Theological Themes

• Covenant Protection – The removal of Poratha and his brothers manifests the promise in Genesis 12:3 that God would curse those who curse Abraham’s descendants.
• Divine Reversal – Esther repeatedly highlights “measure-for-measure” justice. The gallows Haman built for Mordecai became the site of his own demise, and Poratha’s death reinforces the completeness of that reversal (Proverbs 26:27).
• The End of Amalekite Hostility – Poratha’s fall illustrates the eventual and certain eradication of persistent covenant enmity (Numbers 24:20).

Practical Ministry Applications

1. Confidence in God’s Sovereign Justice – Believers can draw assurance that apparent victories of wickedness are temporary (Psalm 37:35-36).
2. Vigilance against Spiritual Amalek – Just as Israel was called to blot out Amalek, the church is called to mortify lingering sin (Romans 8:13).
3. Celebrating God’s Deliverance – Purim’s remembrance of Poratha’s defeat encourages congregations to mark their own testimonies of deliverance with joyful thanksgiving (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Legacy in Jewish and Christian Reflection

Jewish tradition views Poratha’s execution as part of a decisive national preservation, while Christian commentators often see a foreshadowing of the ultimate triumph of the Messiah over all hostile powers (Colossians 2:15). Poratha’s single biblical mention, therefore, contributes to a thematic tapestry of divine faithfulness, historical justice, and eschatological hope.

פּוֹרָ֛תָא פורתא pō·w·rā·ṯā poRata pōwrāṯāInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts