Esther 4:8

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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)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.
• 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.

Context of Esther 4:8

6So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the city square in front of the king’s gate. 7Mordecai informed him about everything that had happened to him. He told him the exact amount of silver that Haman had promised to pay into the king’s treasury to destroy the Jews. He also gave him a copy of the decree that was issued in Susa. The decree gave permission to exterminate the Jews. Hathach was supposed to show it to Esther to inform and command her to go to the king, beg him for mercy, and appeal to him for her people. 9So Hathach returned and told Esther what Mordecai had said. 10Esther spoke to Hathach and commanded him to say to Mordecai,

Esther 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 made public in a decree to every province. All the people were to be ready for this day.
• Esther 2:20Esther still had not revealed her family background or nationality, as Mordecai had ordered her. Esther always did whatever Mordecai told her, as she did when she was a child.
• 1 Timothy 6:13In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and in the sight of Christ Jesus, who gave a good testimony in front of Pontius Pilate,
• Job 9:15Even if I were right, I could not answer ⌞him⌟. I would have to plead for mercy from my judge.
• Proverbs 16:14A king’s anger announces death, but a wise man makes peace with him.
• Ecclesiastes 10:4If a ruler becomes angry with you, don’t resign your position. If you remain calm, you can make up for serious offenses.
• Acts 12:20Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They were going to meet with Herod. They had agreed on what they wanted to do: They enlisted the help of Blastus to ask Herod for terms of peace. This was because their cities depended on Herod for their food supply. (Blastus was in charge of the king’s living quarters.)
• Esther 7:3Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, Your Majesty, spare my life. That is my request. And spare the life of my people. That is what I ask for.
• Esther 8:6I cannot bear to see my people suffer such evil. And I simply cannot bear to see the destruction of my relatives.”
• Nehemiah 2:3“May the king live forever!” I said to the king. “Why shouldn’t I look sad when the city, the place where my ancestors are buried, is in ruins and its gates are burned down?”
• Proverbs 21:1The king’s heart is like streams of water. Both are under the Lord’s control. He turns them in any direction he chooses.

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

• Courage
• Readings, Select
• Shushan (Susa)

In the dictionaries

• Esther
• Esther, Hadassah
• Esther, Book of

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