Esther 4 | Biblion Bible Reader

WEB·Esther 5

¹Now on the third day, Esther put on her royal clothing and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, next to the king’s house. The king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, next to the entrance of the house.

KJVNow it came to pass on the third^H7992 day^H3117, that Esther^H635 put on^H3847^(H8799) her royal^H4438 apparel, and stood^H5975^(H8799) in the inner^H6442 court^H2691 of the king's^H4428 house^H1004, over against^H5227 the king's^H4428 house^H1004: and the king^H4428 sat^H3427^(H8802) upon his royal^H4438 throne^H3678 in the royal^H4438 house^H1004, over against^H5227 the gate^H6607 of the house^H1004.

² When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight; and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther came near and touched the top of the scepter.

KJVAnd it was so, when the king^H4428 saw^H7200^(H8800) Esther^H635 the queen^H4436 standing^H5975^(H8802) in the court^H2691, that she obtained^H5375^(H8804) favour^H2580 in his sight^H5869: and the king^H4428 held out^H3447^(H8686) to Esther^H635 the golden^H2091 sceptre^H8275 that was in his hand^H3027. So Esther^H635 drew near^H7126^(H8799), and touched^H5060^(H8799) the top^H7218 of the sceptre^H8275.

³ Then the king asked her, “What would you like, queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you even to the half of the kingdom.”

KJVThen said^H559^(H8799) the king^H4428 unto her, What wilt thou, queen^H4436 Esther^H635? and what is thy request^H1246? it shall be even given^H5414^(H8735) thee to the half^H2677 of the kingdom^H4438.

⁴ Esther said, “If it seems good to the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.”

KJVAnd Esther^H635 answered^H559^(H8799), If it seem good^H2895^(H8804) unto the king^H4428, let the king^H4428 and Haman^H2001 come^H935^(H8799) this day^H3117 unto the banquet^H4960 that I have prepared^H6213^(H8804) for him.

⁵ Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, so that it may be done as Esther has said.” So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

KJVThen the king^H4428 said^H559^(H8799), Cause Haman^H2001 to make haste^H4116^(H8761), that he may do^H6213^(H8800) as Esther^H635 hath said^H1697. So the king^H4428 and Haman^H2001 came^H935^(H8799) to the banquet^H4960 that Esther^H635 had prepared^H6213^(H8804).

⁶ The king said to Esther at the banquet of wine, “What is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your request? Even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.”

KJVAnd the king^H4428 said^H559^(H8799) unto Esther^H635 at the banquet^H4960 of wine^H3196, What is thy petition^H7596? and it shall be granted^H5414^(H8735) thee: and what is thy request^H1246? even to the half^H2677 of the kingdom^H4438 it shall be performed^H6213^(H8735).

⁷ Then Esther answered and said, “My petition and my request is this.

KJVThen answered^H6030^(H8799) Esther^H635, and said^H559^(H8799), My petition^H7596 and my request^H1246 is;

⁸ If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I will prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king has said.”

KJVIf I have found^H4672^(H8804) favour^H2580 in the sight^H5869 of the king^H4428, and if it please^H2895^(H8804) the king^H4428 to grant^H5414^(H8800) my petition^H7596, and to perform^H6213^(H8800) my request^H1246, let the king^H4428 and Haman^H2001 come^H935^(H8799) to the banquet^H4960 that I shall prepare^H6213^(H8799) for them, and I will do^H6213^(H8799) to morrow^H4279 as the king^H4428 hath said^H1697.

⁹ Then Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart, but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he didn’t stand up nor move for him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai.

KJVThen went^H3318 Haman^H2001 forth^H3318^(H8799) that day^H3117 joyful^H8056 and with a glad^H2896 heart^H3820: but when Haman^H2001 saw^H7200^(H8800) Mordecai^H4782 in the king's^H4428 gate^H8179, that he stood not up^H6965^(H8804), nor moved^H2111^(H8804) for him, he^H2001 was full^H4390^(H8735) of indignation^H2534 against Mordecai^H4782.

¹⁰ Nevertheless Haman restrained himself, and went home. There, he sent and called for his friends and Zeresh his wife.

KJVNevertheless Haman^H2001 refrained^H662^(H8691) himself: and when he came^H935^(H8799) home^H1004, he sent^H7971^(H8799) and called^H935^(H8686) for his friends^H157^(H8802), and Zeresh^H2238 his wife^H802.

¹¹ Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, the multitude of his children, all the things in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.

KJVAnd Haman^H2001 told^H5608^(H8762) them of the glory^H3519 of his riches^H6239, and the multitude^H7230 of his children^H1121, and all the things wherein the king^H4428 had promoted^H1431^(H8765) him, and how he had advanced^H5375^(H8765) him above the princes^H8269 and servants^H5650 of the king^H4428.

¹² Haman also said, “Yes, Esther the queen let no man come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and tomorrow I am also invited by her together with the king.

KJVHaman^H2001 said^H559^(H8799) moreover, Yea, Esther^H635 the queen^H4436 did let no man come in^H935^(H8689) with the king^H4428 unto the banquet^H4960 that she had prepared^H6213^(H8804) but myself; and to morrow^H4279 am I invited^H7121^(H8803) unto her also with the king^H4428.

¹³ Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”

KJVYet all this availeth^H7737^(H8802) me nothing, so long as^H6256 I see^H7200^(H8802) Mordecai^H4782 the Jew^H3064 sitting^H3427^(H8802) at the king's^H4428 gate^H8179.

¹⁴ Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on it. Then go in merrily with the king to the banquet.” This pleased Haman, so he had the gallows made.

KJVThen said^H559^(H8799) Zeresh^H2238 his wife^H802 and all his friends^H157^(H8802) unto him, Let a gallows^H6086 be made^H6213^(H8799) of fifty^H2572 cubits^H520 high^H1364, and to morrow^H1242 speak^H559^(H8798) thou unto the king^H4428 that Mordecai^H4782 may be hanged^H8518^(H8799) thereon: then go^H935^(H8798) thou in merrily^H8056 with the king^H4428 unto the banquet^H4960. And the thing^H1697 pleased^H3190^(H8799)^H6440 Haman^H2001; and he caused^H6213 the gallows^H6086 to be made^H6213^(H8799).

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.

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

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