New International Version
Esther 4:8
8He 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.
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.
- 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.
- 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
6So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate. 7Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. 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. 9Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. 10Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai,
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 text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so they would be ready for that day.
- Esther 2:20But Esther had kept secret her family background and nationality just as Mordecai had told her to do, for she continued to follow Mordecai’s instructions as she had done when he was bringing her up.
- 1 Timothy 6:13In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you
- Job 9:15Though I were innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my Judge for mercy.
- Proverbs 16:14A king’s wrath is a messenger of death, but the wise will appease it.
- Ecclesiastes 10:4If a ruler’s anger rises against you, do not leave your post; calmness can lay great offenses to rest.
- Acts 12:20He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. After securing the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king’s country for their food supply.
- Esther 7:3Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request.
- Esther 8:6For how can I bear to see disaster fall on my people? How can I bear to see the destruction of my family?”
- Nehemiah 2:3but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”
- Proverbs 21:1In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him.
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
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