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 to Mordecai at the plaza of the city in front of the king’s gate. 7Then Mordecai related to him everything that had happened to him, even the specific amount of money that Haman had offered to pay to the king’s treasuries for the Jews to be destroyed. He also gave him a written copy of the law that had been disseminated in Susa for their destruction so that he could show it to Esther and talk to her about it. He also gave instructions that she should go to the king to implore him and petition him on behalf of her people. 9So Hathach returned and related Mordecai’s instructions to Esther. 10Then Esther replied to Hathach with instructions for 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 this edict was to be presented as law throughout every province; it was to be made known to all the inhabitants, so that they would be prepared for this day.
• Esther 2:20Esther was still not divulging her lineage or her people, just as Mordecai had instructed her. Esther continued to do whatever Mordecai said, just as she had done when he was raising her.
• 1 Timothy 6:13I charge you before God who gives life to all things and Christ Jesus who made his good confession before Pontius Pilate,
• Job 9:15Although I am innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my judge for mercy.
• Proverbs 16:14A king’s wrath is like a messenger of death, but a wise person appeases it.
• Ecclesiastes 10:4If the anger of the ruler flares up against you, do not resign from your position, for a calm response can undo great offenses.
• Acts 12:20Now Herod was having an angry quarrel with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they joined together and presented themselves before him. And after convincing Blastus, the king’s personal assistant, to help them, they asked for peace, because their country’s food supply was provided by the king’s country.
• Esther 7:3Queen Esther replied, “If I have met with your approval, O king, and if the king is so inclined, grant me my life as my request, and my people as my petition.
• Esther 8:6For how can I watch the calamity that will befall my people, and how can I watch the destruction of my relatives?”
• Nehemiah 2:3I replied to the king, “O king, live forever! Why would I not appear dejected when the city with the graves of my ancestors lies desolate and its gates destroyed by fire?”
• Proverbs 21:1The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord like channels of water; he turns it wherever he wants.

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