English Standard Version
Esther 4:8
8Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her and command her to go to the king to beg his favor and plead with him on behalf of her people.
Esther 4:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.
- New International Version (NIV)He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.
- New King James Version (NKJV)He also gave him a copy of the written decree for their destruction, which was given at Shushan, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her, and that he might command her to go in to the king to make supplication to him and plead before him for her people.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Mordecai gave Hathach a copy of the decree issued in Susa that called for the death of all Jews. He asked Hathach to show it to Esther and explain the situation to her. He also asked Hathach to direct her to go to the king to beg for mercy and plead for her people.
Context of Esther 4:8
6Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king's gate, 7and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king's treasuries for the destruction of the Jews. Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her and command her to go to the king to beg his favor and plead with him on behalf of her people. 9And Hathach went and told Esther what Mordecai had said. 10Then Esther spoke to Hathach and commanded him to go to Mordecai and say,
Read all of Esther 4Esther 4:8 word by word
וְאֶת־פַּתְשֶׁ֣גֶן כְּתָֽב־הַ֠דָּת אֲשֶׁר־נִתַּ֨ן בְּשׁוּשָׁ֤ן לְהַשְׁמִידָם֙ נָ֣תַן ל֔וֹ לְהַרְא֥וֹת אֶת־אֶסְתֵּ֖ר וּלְהַגִּ֣יד לָ֑הּ וּלְצַוּ֣וֹת עָלֶ֗יהָ לָב֨וֹא אֶל־הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ לְהִֽתְחַנֶּן־ל֛וֹ וּלְבַקֵּ֥שׁ מִלְּפָנָ֖יו עַל־עַמָּֽהּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Also he gaveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
- him the copyפַּתְשֶׁ֫גֶןparshegen pathshegen · copyH6572
- of the writingכְּתָבkâthâb · writingH3791
- of the decreeדָּתdâth · lawH1881
- at Shushanשׁוּשַׁןshûshan · SusaH7800
- to destroyשָׁמַדshâmad · to destroyH8045
- them, to shewרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- unto Estherאֶסְתֵּר'estêr · EstherH635
- and to declareנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
- unto her, and to chargeצָוָהtsâvâh · to commandH6680
- her that she should go inבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- unto the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- to make supplicationחָנַןchânan · be graciousH2603
- unto him, and to make requestבָּקַשׁbâqash · to seekH1245
- beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- him for her peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
Cross-references for Esther 4:8
- Esther 3:14A copy of the document was to be issued as a decree in every province by proclamation to all the peoples to be ready for that day.
- Esther 2:20Esther had not made known her kindred or her people, as Mordecai had commanded her, for Esther obeyed Mordecai just as when she was brought up by him.
- 1 Timothy 6:13I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession,
- Job 9:15Though I am in the right, I cannot answer him; I must appeal for mercy to my accuser.
- Proverbs 16:14A king's wrath is a messenger of death, and a wise man will appease it.
- Ecclesiastes 10:4If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay great offenses to rest.
- Acts 12:20Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and having persuaded Blastus, the king's chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king's country for food.
- Esther 7:3Then Queen Esther answered, "If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request.
- Esther 8:6For how can I bear to see the calamity that is coming to my people? Or how can I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?"
- Nehemiah 2:3I said to the king, "Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?"
- Proverbs 21:1The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.
Commentaries on Esther 4:8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8That she should go in unto the king - The Greek adds, "Remember the time of your low estate, and in what manner you have been nourished, and carried in my arms; and that Haman, who is next to the king, has got a decree for our destruction. Pray, therefore, to the Lord, and plead with the king, that we may be delivered from death." But there is not a word of this either in the Hebrew, Syriac, or Vulgate.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-17Verses 5-17 We are prone to shrink from services that are attended with peril or loss. But when the cause of Christ and his people demand it, we must take up our cross, and follow him. When Christians are disposed to consult their own ease or safety, rather than the public good, they should be blamed. The law was express, all knew it. It is not thus in the court of the King of kings: to the footstool of his throne of grace we may always come boldly, and…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8A copy of the decree with the king’s seal would show Esther how serious the situation was. implore his favor: Mordecai did not give Esther reasons to present to the king. He only asked her to appeal to the king’s mercy and use her influence for her people.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. charge her that she should go in unto the king--This language is exceedingly strong. As it can scarcely be supposed that Mordecai was still using authority over Esther as his adopted daughter, he must be considered as imploring rather than commanding her, in the name of her brethren and in the name of her God, to make a direct appeal to the feelings of her royal husband.Read the comment
Topics related to Esther 4:8
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Esther 4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries