FocusHaman's decree and Esther's decision
Connection to the wholeThe planned destruction of the Jews brings Mordecai's appeal and Esther's decision to approach the king.
interpretation Esther 4:14
KJVFor if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
Read it in context
Mordecai Appeals to Esther
Start reading at Esther 4:1 (Esther 4:1 to Esther 4:17).
An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
The planned destruction of the Jews brings Mordecai's appeal and Esther's decision to approach the king.
- 4:1 When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;
- 4:2 And came even before the king's gate: for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.
- 4:3 And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
- 4:4 So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not.
- 4:5 Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was.
- 4:6 So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king's gate.
- 4:7 And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.
- 4:8 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.
- 4:9 And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.
- 4:10 Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai;
- 4:11 All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.
- 4:12 And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.
- 4:13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.
- 4:14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
- 4:15 Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,
- 4:16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
- 4:17 So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.
Who
- Who wrote the book? The final author is unknown. Mordecai is a traditional proposal and wrote letters establishing Purim, but that does not prove he composed the whole book. Biblical references: Esther 9:20; Esther 9:29. book background
- Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Esther 4:1–4:17): Mordecai and Esther communicate through attendants about the decree and Esther's responsibility to approach the king. stated in the text
- Who was the book written to? Jewish communities in the Persian Empire and their descendants, especially those commemorating their deliverance at Purim. Biblical references: Esther 9:20; Esther 9:28. stated in the text
What
- What is the topic of this reading unit? Mordecai Appeals to Esther. Read Esther 4:1 through Esther 4:17 as a connected unit. interpretation
- How does it contribute to the book? The planned destruction of the Jews brings Mordecai's appeal and Esther's decision to approach the king. interpretation
When
- When are the events or message set? The narrative dates events by the reign of Ahasuerus, including the threatened destruction and the days later commemorated as Purim. book background
Where
- What is the book’s geographic setting? Shushan's palace and the Persian provinces form the setting; court scenes and provincial events should be distinguished. book background
- Where does the context start? This passage sits in Mordecai Appeals to Esther (Esther 4:1 to Esther 4:17). Start reading at Esther 4:1. An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
How
- How does this book connect with Jesus Christ? The preservation of the Jewish people belongs to the wider history in which the New Testament places Jesus' birth. The book itself does not name Jesus, and detailed typological identifications require argument. See Esther 9:1, Matthew 1:1, Matthew 1:17. interpretation
- How should this book guide our response? Consider courage, timely advocacy, and responsibility toward endangered neighbors. A reading of providence is an interpretation of the story's arrangement, rather than an explicit mention of God's name in its verses. interpretation
Cited: Esther 4:1, Esther 4:17, Esther 9:1, Matthew 1:1, Matthew 1:17
Who wrote it, and how we know
Uncertain; traditionally Mordecai
From early tradition
What Scripture saysThe book does not name its author. It records that Mordecai wrote these things.
Esther 9:20
Early traditionJewish tradition has suggested Mordecai.
What is debatedAuthorship is genuinely unknown. The book never names God directly.
Related passages
- then shall Gen 22:14 Num 23:22-24 Deut 32:26-27,36 1 Sam 12:22 Isa 54:17 Jer 30:11 Jer 33:24-26 Jer 46:28
- enlargement Ezra 9:9 Job 9:18
- but thou Esth 2:7,15 Judg 14:15-18 Judg 15:6
- whether Gen 45:4-8 Isa 45:1-5 Isa 49:23 Acts 7:20-25
- for such a time 1 Sam 17:29 2 Kgs 19:3 Neh 6:11
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Esther 4
Esther is set in the Persian court and provinces during Ahasuerus' reign. The text does not name its author. God's name is not explicitly used in the Hebrew-book narrative as represented here in the KJV; claims about providence are interpretive conclusions from the story. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Esther 1:1 Esther 4:14 Esther 9:26
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Esther
Esther is set in the Persian court and provinces during Ahasuerus' reign. The text does not name its author. God's name is not explicitly used in the Hebrew-book narrative as represented here in the KJV; claims about providence are interpretive conclusions from the story.
Esther 1:1 Esther 4:14 Esther 9:26
Esther enters the royal household
Esther 1:1–2:23FocusThe court and an unrecognized service
Connection to the wholeThe change of queen and Mordecai's discovery of a plot establish circumstances important to the later reversal.
interpretation FocusHaman's decree and Esther's decision
Connection to the wholeThe planned destruction of the Jews brings Mordecai's appeal and Esther's decision to approach the king.
interpretation The reversal begins
Esther 5:1–7:10FocusBanquets, remembrance, and Haman's fall
Connection to the wholeEsther's petitions and the king's remembrance of Mordecai reverse the positions of Mordecai and Haman.
interpretation Deliverance and remembrance
Esther 8:1–10:3FocusA counter-decree and Purim
Connection to the wholeThe danger is addressed through a new decree, and the events become the basis for the observance of Purim.
interpretation Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.