Who was Parshandatha in the Bible?

Parshandatha was one of the ten sons of Haman the Agagite, the primary villain in the Book of Esther who plotted to destroy the Jewish people (Esther 9:7-10). He was killed by the Jews in the city of Susa when they defended themselves against their enemies.

What is the significance of Parshandatha's death?

The death of Parshandatha and his brothers signifies the complete overthrow of Haman's evil lineage and the failure of his genocidal plot. It demonstrates God's protection of His people and the fulfillment of the decree allowing the Jews to defend themselves (Esther 9:5-10).

Where is Parshandatha mentioned in the Bible?

Parshandatha is mentioned only once in the Bible, in Esther 9:7, which lists him first among the ten sons of Haman who were killed. This occurs during the events of Purim when the Jews defended themselves throughout the Persian empire.

Parshandatha

Old TestamentExile & ReturnMaleSon

Parshandatha, one of the ten sons of Haman killed by the Jews.

Parshandatha

Biography

Parshandatha was the firstborn among the ten sons of Haman the Agagite, the powerful Persian official who orchestrated a plot to annihilate the Jewish people throughout the empire of King Ahasuerus (Esther 9:7). As the eldest son, Parshandatha would have held a position of particular prominence within Haman's household and likely shared in his father's authority and anti-Jewish sentiments. When Esther's intervention reversed Haman's decree and the Jews were authorized to defend themselves, Parshandatha was killed along with his nine brothers in the fighting at the citadel of Susa. His name, of Persian origin, heads the list of Haman's sons recorded in the Megillah. Jewish liturgical tradition prescribes that all ten names be read in a single breath during the public reading of Esther at Purim, symbolizing the simultaneity and completeness of their destruction.

Significance

Parshandatha's death, listed first among Haman's sons, symbolizes the total reversal of fortune that lies at the heart of the Purim narrative. His destruction fulfills the principle articulated throughout Scripture that those who curse God's people will themselves be cursed (Genesis 12:3). As potential heirs to Haman's vendetta, the elimination of Parshandatha and his brothers ensured that the threat against the Jewish community would not resurface through a new generation. Theologically, the complete downfall of Haman's house illustrates divine sovereignty operating through historical events, preserving the messianic line through which God's redemptive plan would ultimately be accomplished. Parshandatha's fate reminds readers that opposition to God's purposes carries ultimate and inescapable consequences.

Verse Appearances (1)

Esth

Esth 9:7

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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