Esther 3 | Biblion Bible Reader

WEB·Esther 4

¹Now when Mordecai found out all that was done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the middle of the city, and wailed loudly and bitterly.

KJVWhen Mordecai^H4782 perceived^H3045^(H8804) all that was done^H6213^(H8738), Mordecai^H4782 rent^H7167^(H8799) his clothes^H899, and put on^H3847^(H8799) sackcloth^H8242 with ashes^H665, and went out^H3318^(H8799) into the midst^H8432 of the city^H5892, and cried^H2199^(H8799) with a loud^H1419 and a bitter^H4751 cry^H2201;

² He came even before the king’s gate, for no one is allowed inside the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth.

KJVAnd came^H935^(H8799) even before^H6440 the king's^H4428 gate^H8179: for none might enter^H935^(H8800) into the king's^H4428 gate^H8179 clothed^H3830 with sackcloth^H8242.

³ In every province, wherever the king’s commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

KJVAnd in every province^H4082, whithersoever^H4725 the king's^H4428 commandment^H1697 and his decree^H1881 came^H5060^(H8688), there was great^H1419 mourning^H60 among the Jews^H3064, and fasting^H6685, and weeping^H1065, and wailing^H4553; and many^H7227 lay^H3331^(H8714) in sackcloth^H8242 and ashes^H665.

⁴ Esther’s maidens and her eunuchs came and told her this, and the queen was exceedingly grieved. She sent clothing to Mordecai, to replace his sackcloth, but he didn’t receive it.

KJVSo Esther's^H635 maids^H5291 and her chamberlains^H5631 came^H935^(H8799) and told^H5046^(H8686) it her. Then was the queen^H4436 exceedingly^H3966 grieved^H2342^(H8698); and she sent^H7971^(H8799) raiment^H899 to clothe^H3847^(H8687) Mordecai^H4782, and to take away^H5493^(H8687) his sackcloth^H8242 from him: but he received^H6901^(H8765) it not.

⁵ Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs, whom he had appointed to attend her, and commanded him to go to Mordecai, to find out what this was, and why it was.

KJVThen called^H7121^(H8799) Esther^H635 for Hatach^H2047, one of the king's^H4428 chamberlains^H5631, whom he had appointed^H5975^(H8689) to attend^H6440 upon her, and gave him a commandment^H6680^(H8762) to Mordecai^H4782, to know^H3045^(H8800) what it was, and why it was.

⁶ So Hathach went out to Mordecai, to the city square which was before the king’s gate.

KJVSo Hatach^H2047 went forth^H3318^(H8799) to Mordecai^H4782 unto the street^H7339 of the city^H5892, which was before^H6440 the king's^H4428 gate^H8179.

⁷ Mordecai told him of all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews.

KJVAnd Mordecai^H4782 told^H5046^(H8686) him of all that had happened^H7136^(H8804) unto him, and of the sum^H6575 of the money^H3701 that Haman^H2001 had promised^H559^(H8804) to pay^H8254^(H8800) to the king's^H4428 treasuries^H1595 for the Jews^H3064, to destroy^H6^(H8763) them.

⁸ He also gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given out in Susa to destroy them, to show it to Esther, and to declare it to her, and to urge her to go in to the king to make supplication to him, and to make request before him for her people.

KJVAlso he gave^H5414^(H8804) him the copy^H6572 of the writing^H3791 of the decree^H1881 that was given^H5414^(H8738) at Shushan^H7800 to destroy^H8045^(H8687) them, to shew^H7200^(H8687) it unto Esther^H635, and to declare^H5046^(H8687) it unto her, and to charge^H6680^(H8763) her that she should go in^H935^(H8800) unto the king^H4428, to make supplication^H2603^(H8692) unto him, and to make request^H1245^(H8763) before^H6440 him for her people^H5971.

⁹ Hathach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.

KJVAnd Hatach^H2047 came^H935^(H8799) and told^H5046^(H8686) Esther^H635 the words^H1697 of Mordecai^H4782.

¹⁰ Then Esther spoke to Hathach, and gave him a message to Mordecai:

KJVAgain Esther^H635 spake^H559^(H8799) unto Hatach^H2047, and gave him commandment^H6680^(H8762) unto Mordecai^H4782;

¹¹ “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that whoever, whether man or woman, comes to the king into the inner court without being called, there is one law for him, that he be put to death, except those to whom the king might hold out the golden scepter, that he may live. I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.”

KJVAll the king's^H4428 servants^H5650, and the people^H5971 of the king's^H4428 provinces^H4082, do know^H3045^(H8802), that whosoever, whether man^H376 or woman^H802, shall come^H935^(H8799) unto the king^H4428 into the inner^H6442 court^H2691, who is not called^H7121^(H8735), there is one^H259 law^H1881 of his to put him to death^H4191^(H8687), except^H905 such to whom the king^H4428 shall hold out^H3447^(H8686) the golden^H2091 sceptre^H8275, that he may live^H2421^(H8804): but I have not been called^H7121^(H8738) to come in^H935^(H8800) unto the king^H4428 these thirty^H7970 days^H3117.

¹² They told Esther’s words to Mordecai.

KJVAnd they told^H5046^(H8686) to Mordecai^H4782 Esther's^H635 words^H1697.

¹³ Then Mordecai asked them to return this answer to Esther: “Don’t think to yourself that you will escape in the king’s house any more than all the Jews.

KJVThen Mordecai^H4782 commanded^H559^(H8799) to answer^H7725^(H8687) Esther^H635, Think^H1819^(H8762) not with thyself^H5315 that thou shalt escape^H4422^(H8736) in the king's^H4428 house^H1004, more than all the Jews^H3064.

¹⁴ For if you remain silent now, then relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Who knows if you haven’t come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

KJVFor if thou altogether^H2790^(H8687) holdest thy peace^H2790^(H8686) at this time^H6256, then shall there enlargement^H7305 and deliverance^H2020 arise^H5975^(H8799) to the Jews^H3064 from another^H312 place^H4725; but thou and thy father's^H1 house^H1004 shall be destroyed^H6^(H8799): and who knoweth^H3045^(H8802) whether thou art come^H5060^(H8689) to the kingdom^H4438 for such a time^H6256 as this?

¹⁵ Then Esther asked them to answer Mordecai,

KJVThen Esther^H635 bade^H559^(H8799) them return^H7725^(H8687) Mordecai^H4782 this answer,

¹⁶ “Go, gather together all the Jews who are present in Susa, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day. I and my maidens will also fast the same way. Then I will go in to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish.”

KJVGo^H3212^(H8798), gather together^H3664^(H8798) all the Jews^H3064 that are present^H4672^(H8737) in Shushan^H7800, and fast^H6684^(H8798) ye for me, and neither eat^H398^(H8799) nor drink^H8354^(H8799) three^H7969 days^H3117, night^H3915 or day^H3117: I also and my maidens^H5291 will fast^H6684^(H8799) likewise; and so^H3651 will I go^H935^(H8799) in unto the king^H4428, which is not according to the law^H1881: and if I perish^H6^(H8804), I perish^H6^(H8804).

¹⁷ So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.

KJVSo Mordecai^H4782 went his way^H5674^(H8799), and did^H6213^(H8799) according to all that Esther^H635 had commanded^H6680^(H8765) him.

WEB·Esther 3

¹After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes who were with him.

KJVAfter^H310 these things^H1697 did king^H4428 Ahasuerus^H325 promote^H1431^(H8765) Haman^H2001 the son^H1121 of Hammedatha^H4099 the Agagite^H91, and advanced^H5375^(H8762) him, and set^H7760^(H8799) his seat^H3678 above all the princes^H8269 that were with him.

² All the king’s servants who were in the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai didn’t bow down or pay him homage.

KJVAnd all the king's^H4428 servants^H5650, that were in the king's^H4428 gate^H8179, bowed^H3766^(H8802), and reverenced^H7812^(H8693) Haman^H2001: for the king^H4428 had so commanded^H6680^(H8765) concerning him. But Mordecai^H4782 bowed^H3766^(H8799) not, nor did him reverence^H7812^(H8691).

³ Then the king’s servants who were in the king’s gate said to Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the king’s commandment?”

KJVThen the king's^H4428 servants^H5650, which were in the king's^H4428 gate^H8179, said^H559^(H8799) unto Mordecai^H4782, Why transgressest^H5674^(H8802) thou the king's^H4428 commandment^H4687?

⁴ Now it came to pass, when they spoke daily to him, and he didn’t listen to them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai’s reason would stand; for he had told them that he was a Jew.

KJVNow it came to pass, when they spake^H559^(H8800) daily^H3117^H3117 unto him, and he hearkened^H8085^(H8804) not unto them, that they told^H5046^(H8686) Haman^H2001, to see^H7200^(H8800) whether Mordecai's^H4782 matters^H1697 would stand^H5975^(H8799): for he had told^H5046^(H8689) them that he was a Jew^H3064.

⁵ When Haman saw that Mordecai didn’t bow down nor pay him homage, Haman was full of wrath.

KJVAnd when Haman^H2001 saw^H7200^(H8799) that Mordecai^H4782 bowed^H3766^(H8802) not, nor did him reverence^H7812^(H8693), then was Haman^H2001 full^H4390^(H8735) of wrath^H2534.

⁶ But he scorned the thought of laying hands on Mordecai alone, for they had made known to him Mordecai’s people. Therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even Mordecai’s people.

KJVAnd he thought^H5869 scorn^H959^(H8799) to lay^H7971^(H8800) hands^H3027 on Mordecai^H4782 alone; for they had shewed^H5046^(H8689) him the people^H5971 of Mordecai^H4782: wherefore Haman^H2001 sought^H1245^(H8762) to destroy^H8045^(H8687) all the Jews^H3064 that were throughout the whole kingdom^H4438 of Ahasuerus^H325, even the people^H5971 of Mordecai^H4782.

⁷ In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, and chose the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.

KJVIn the first^H7223 month^H2320, that is, the month^H2320 Nisan^H5212, in the twelfth^H8147^H6240 year^H8141 of king^H4428 Ahasuerus^H325, they cast^H5307^(H8689) Pur^H6332, that is, the lot^H1486, before^H6440 Haman^H2001 from day^H3117 to day^H3117, and from month^H2320 to month^H2320, to the twelfth^H8147^H6240 month, that is, the month^H2320 Adar^H143.

⁸ Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom, and their laws are different from other people’s. They don’t keep the king’s laws. Therefore it is not for the king’s profit to allow them to remain.

KJVAnd Haman^H2001 said^H559^(H8799) unto king^H4428 Ahasuerus^H325, There is^H3426 a certain^H259 people^H5971 scattered abroad^H6340^(H8794) and dispersed^H6504^(H8794) among the people^H5971 in all the provinces^H4082 of thy kingdom^H4438; and their laws^H1881 are diverse^H8138^(H8802) from all people^H5971; neither keep^H6213^(H8802) they the king's^H4428 laws^H1881: therefore it is not for the king's^H4428 profit^H7737^(H8802) to suffer^H3240^(H8687) them.

⁹ If it pleases the king, let it be written that they be destroyed; and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who are in charge of the king’s business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries.”

KJVIf it please^H2895^(H8804) the king^H4428, let it be written^H3789^(H8735) that they may be destroyed^H6^(H8763): and I will pay^H8254^(H8799) ten^H6235 thousand^H505 talents^H3603 of silver^H3701 to the hands^H3027 of those that have the charge^H6213^(H8802) of the business^H4399, to bring^H935^(H8687) it into the king's^H4428 treasuries^H1595.

¹⁰ The king took his ring from his hand, and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy.

KJVAnd the king^H4428 took^H5493^(H8686) his ring^H2885 from his hand^H3027, and gave^H5414^(H8799) it unto Haman^H2001 the son^H1121 of Hammedatha^H4099 the Agagite^H91, the Jews^H3064' enemy^H6887^(H8802).

¹¹ The king said to Haman, “The silver is given to you, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to you.”

KJVAnd the king^H4428 said^H559^(H8799) unto Haman^H2001, The silver^H3701 is given^H5414^(H8803) to thee, the people^H5971 also, to do^H6213^(H8800) with them as it seemeth^H5869 good^H2896 to thee.

¹² Then the king’s scribes were called in on the first month, on the thirteenth day of the month; and all that Haman commanded was written to the king’s local governors, and to the governors who were over every province, and to the princes of every people, to every province according to its writing, and to every people in their language. It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus, and it was sealed with the king’s ring.

KJVThen were the king's^H4428 scribes^H5608^(H8802) called^H7121^(H8735) on the thirteenth^H7969^H6240 day^H3117 of the first^H7223 month^H2320, and there was written^H3789^(H8735) according to all that Haman^H2001 had commanded^H6680^(H8765) unto the king's^H4428 lieutenants^H323, and to the governors^H6346 that were over every province^H4082, and to the rulers^H8269 of every people^H5971 of every province^H4082 according to the writing^H3791 thereof, and to every people^H5971 after their language^H3956; in the name^H8034 of king^H4428 Ahasuerus^H325 was it written^H3789^(H8737), and sealed^H2856^(H8738) with the king's^H4428 ring^H2885.

¹³ Letters were sent by couriers into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to plunder their possessions.

KJVAnd the letters^H5612 were sent^H7971^(H8736) by^H3027 posts^H7323^(H8801) into all the king's^H4428 provinces^H4082, to destroy^H8045^(H8687), to kill^H2026^(H8800), and to cause to perish^H6^(H8763), all Jews^H3064, both young^H5288 and old^H2205, little children^H2945 and women^H802, in one^H259 day^H3117, even upon the thirteenth^H7969^H6240 day of the twelfth^H8147^H6240 month^H2320, which is the month^H2320 Adar^H143, and to take the spoil^H7998 of them for a prey^H962^(H8800).

¹⁴ A copy of the letter, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published to all the peoples, that they should be ready against that day.

KJVThe copy^H6572 of the writing^H3791 for a commandment^H1881 to be given^H5414^(H8736) in every province^H4082 was published^H1540^(H8803) unto all people^H5971, that they should be ready^H6264 against that day^H3117.

¹⁵ The couriers went out in haste by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given out in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Susa was perplexed.

KJVThe posts^H7323^(H8801) went out^H3318^(H8804), being hastened^H1765^(H8803) by the king's^H4428 commandment^H1697, and the decree^H1881 was given^H5414^(H8738) in Shushan^H7800 the palace^H1002. And the king^H4428 and Haman^H2001 sat down^H3427^(H8804) to drink^H8354^(H8800); but the city^H5892 Shushan^H7800 was perplexed^H943^(H8737).

Section titles come from the Biblion commentary, not from Scripture.

You can also read or listen to the Introduction to the book of Esther.