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 told him everything that had happened to him, even the exact amount of money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews. He also gave him a written copy of the decree, which had been distributed in Shushan, for their annihilation, to show to Esther and to explain it to her. He instructed her to go in to the king, to beg his favor and plead before him on behalf of her people. 9Hathach went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. 10Then Esther spoke to Hathach and gave him 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 the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to all people, so that they would be ready for that day.
• Esther 2:20Esther had not yet made known her lineage or her people, just as Mordecai had told her. Esther continued to follow Mordecai’s instructions as she had done when he was bringing her up.
• 1 Timothy 6:13I charge you before God who gives life to all things and Messiah Yeshua who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate,
• Job 9:15Even if I were right, I would not answer; I would implore the mercy of my Judge.
• Proverbs 16:14A king’s fury is like messengers of death, but a wise man will appease it.
• Ecclesiastes 10:4If a ruler’s spirit rises up against you, do not leave your post, for composure allays great offences.
• Acts 12:20Now it happened that Herod was furious with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they came to him, united. Having won over Blastus, the king’s personal aide, they began asking for peace—because their country was supplied with food from the king’s country.
• Esther 7:3So Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor in the eyes of the king, and if it pleases the king, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare the life of my people—this is my request!
• Esther 8:6For how can I endure seeing the disaster that will fall on my people? How can I bear to see the destruction of my relatives?”
• Nehemiah 2:3but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not be sad, when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”
• Proverbs 21:1A king’s heart is like a stream of water in the hand of Adonai; he directs 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, 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