Estherchapter 4
17 verses · BSBEsther book hub →
Original Language
Esther 4— Hebrew word study · with the Hebrew tradition
How to read a word below: the Hebrewword, then how it sounds, then what it means, then its number in Strong’s concordance, a widely used lookup this site follows (H for Hebrew and Aramaic, G for Greek). Square brackets hold a word the English supplies that the Hebrew does not, angle brackets mark the Hebrew’s own grammatical elements that English renders as separate words, and the mark ס or פ is where the Hebrew manuscripts end a paragraph.
Sackcloth in the middle of the city, and a copy of the decree1
Esther 4:1· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וּמָרְדֳּכַ֗יumaredokhaiand MordecaiH4782יָדַע֙yada'he knewH3045אֶת־ʾet-<obj.>H853כָּל־kol-allH3605אֲשֶׁ֣רʾasherthatH834נַעֲשָׂ֔הnaasahit had been doneH6213וַיִּקְרַ֤עvaiyikra'and he toreH7167מָרְדֳּכַי֙maredokhaiMordecaiH4782אֶת־ʾet-<obj.>H853בְּגָדָ֔יוbegadavclothes hisH899וַיִּלְבַּ֥שׁvaiyilbashand he put onH3847שַׂ֖קsaksackclothH8242וָאֵ֑פֶרvaeferand ash[es]H665וַיֵּצֵא֙vaiyetze'and he went outH3318בְּת֣וֹךְbetokhin [the] midst ofH8432הָעִ֔ירhairthe cityH5892וַיִּזְעַ֛קvaiyizakand he criedH2199זְעָקָ֥הzeakaha cryH2201גְדֹלָ֖הgedolahloudH1419וּמָרָֽה׃umarahand bitterH4751
Esther 4:2· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וַיָּב֕וֹאvaiyavo'and he wentH935עַ֖דʾadtoH5704לִפְנֵ֣יlifnei<to> beforeH6440שַֽׁעַר־shaar-[the] gate ofH8179הַמֶּ֑לֶךְhamelekhthe kingH4428כִּ֣יkiforH3588אֵ֥יןʾeinnotH369לָב֛וֹאlavo'to goH935אֶל־ʾel-intoH413שַׁ֥עַרshaar[the] gate ofH8179הַמֶּ֖לֶךְhamelekhthe kingH4428בִּלְב֥וּשׁbilvushin clothing ofH3830שָֽׂק׃saksackclothH8242
Esther 4:3· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וּבְכָל־uvekhol-and in everyH3605מְדִינָ֣הmedinahprovinceH4082וּמְדִינָ֗הumedinahand provinceH4082מְקוֹם֙mekom[the] placeH4725אֲשֶׁ֨רʾasher<of> whereH834דְּבַר־devar-[the] word ofH1697הַמֶּ֤לֶךְhamelekhthe kingH4428וְדָתוֹ֙vedatoand law hisH1881מַגִּ֔יעַmagia'[were] reachingH5060אֵ֤בֶלʾevelmourningH60גָּדוֹל֙gadolgreatH1419לַיְּהוּדִ֔יםlaiyehudim[belonged] to the JewsH3064וְצ֥וֹםvetzomand fastingH6685וּבְכִ֖יuvekhiand weepingH1065וּמִסְפֵּ֑דumispedand wailingH4553שַׂ֣קsaksackclothH8242וָאֵ֔פֶרvaeferand ash[es]H665יֻצַּ֖עyutza'it was spread as a bedH3331לָֽרַבִּֽים׃larabimby <the> many [people]H7227
Esther 4:4· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וַ֠תָּבֹאינָהvatevoeinahand they cameH935נַעֲר֨וֹתnaarot[the] maids ofH5291אֶסְתֵּ֤רʾesterEstherH635וְסָרִיסֶ֙יהָ֙vesariseihaand eunuchs herH5631וַיַּגִּ֣ידוּvaiyagiduand they toldH5046לָ֔הּlahto herוַתִּתְחַלְחַ֥לvatitchalchaland she agonizedH2342הַמַּלְכָּ֖הhamalkahthe queenH4436מְאֹ֑דmeodexceedinglyH3966וַתִּשְׁלַ֨חvatishlachand she sentH7971בְּגָדִ֜יםbegadimgarmentsH899לְהַלְבִּ֣ישׁlehalbishto clotheH3847אֶֽת־ʾet-<obj.>H853מָרְדֳּכַ֗יmaredokhaiMordecaiH4782וּלְהָסִ֥ירulehasirand to removeH5493שַׂקּ֛וֹsakosackcloth hisH8242מֵעָלָ֖יוmealavfrom on <the> himH5921וְלֹ֥אvelo'and notH3808קִבֵּֽל׃kibelhe accepted [them]H6901
Esther 4:5· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וַתִּקְרָא֩vatikra'and she summonedH7121אֶסְתֵּ֨רʾesterEstherH635לַהֲתָ֜ךְlahatakh<to> HathachH2047מִסָּרִיסֵ֤יmisariseione of [the] eunuchs ofH5631הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙hamelekhthe kingH4428אֲשֶׁ֣רʾasherwhomH834הֶעֱמִ֣ידheemidhe had made standH5975לְפָנֶ֔יהָlefaneiha<to> before herH6440וַתְּצַוֵּ֖הוּvatetzavehuand she commanded himH6680עַֽל־ʾal-onH5921מָרְדֳּכָ֑יmaredokhaiMordecaiH4782לָדַ֥עַתladaatto knowH3045מַה־mah-what?H4100זֶּ֖הzeh[was] thisH2088וְעַל־veal-and concerningH5921מַה־mah-what?H4100זֶּֽה׃zeh[was] thisH2088
Esther 4:6· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וַיֵּצֵ֥אvaiyetze'and he went outH3318הֲתָ֖ךְhatakhHathachH2047אֶֽל־ʾel-toH413מָרְדֳּכָ֑יmaredokhaiMordecaiH4782אֶל־ʾel-toH413רְח֣וֹבrechov[the] open place ofH7339הָעִ֔ירhairthe cityH5892אֲשֶׁ֖רʾasherwhichH834לִפְנֵ֥יlifnei[was] <to> beforeH6440שַֽׁעַר־shaar-[the] gate ofH8179הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃hamelekhthe kingH4428
Esther 4:7· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וַיַּגֶּד־vaiyaged-and he toldH5046ל֣וֹloto himמָרְדֳּכַ֔יmaredokhaiMordecaiH4782אֵ֖תʾet<obj.>H853כָּל־kol-allH3605אֲשֶׁ֣רʾasherthatH834קָרָ֑הוּkarahuit had happened to himH7136וְאֵ֣ת׀veetand <obj.>H853פָּרָשַׁ֣תparashat[the] exact amount ofH6575הַכֶּ֗סֶףhakesefthe silverH3701אֲשֶׁ֨רʾasherwhichH834אָמַ֤רʾamarhe had saidH559הָמָן֙hamanHamanH2001לִ֠שְׁקוֹלlishkolto weigh outH8254עַל־ʾal-toH5921גִּנְזֵ֥יginzei[the] treasuries ofH1595הַמֶּ֛לֶךְhamelekhthe kingH4428בַּיְּהוּדִ֖יםbaiyehudiyimfor the JewsH3064לְאַבְּדָֽם׃leabedamto destroy themH6
Esther 4:8· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וְאֶת־veetand <obj.>H853פַּתְשֶׁ֣גֶןpatshegen<the> copy ofH6572כְּתָֽב־ketav-[the] writing ofH3791הַ֠דָּתhadotthe lawH1881אֲשֶׁר־ʾasher-whichH834נִתַּ֨ןnitanit had been givenH5414בְּשׁוּשָׁ֤ןbeshushanin SusaH7800לְהַשְׁמִידָם֙lehashmidamto annihilate themH8045נָ֣תַןnatanhe gaveH5414ל֔וֹloto himלְהַרְא֥וֹתleharotto showH7200אֶת־ʾet-<obj.>H853אֶסְתֵּ֖רʾesterEstherH635וּלְהַגִּ֣ידulehagidand to tellH5046לָ֑הּlahto herוּלְצַוּ֣וֹתuletzavotand to commandH6680עָלֶ֗יהָʾaleihato herH5921לָב֨וֹאlavo'to goH935אֶל־ʾel-toH413הַמֶּ֧לֶךְhamelekhthe kingH4428לְהִֽתְחַנֶּן־lehitchanen-to seek favorH2603ל֛וֹloto himוּלְבַקֵּ֥שׁulevakeshand to requestH1245מִלְּפָנָ֖יוmilefanavfrom to before himH6440עַל־ʾal-onH5921עַמָּֽהּ׃ʾamahpeople herH5971
Who knows whether you have come for such a time as this?9
Esther 4:9· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Esther 4:10· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Esther 4:11· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
כָּל־kol-allH3605עַבְדֵ֣יʾavdei[the] servants ofH5650הַמֶּ֡לֶךְhamelekhthe kingH4428וְעַם־veam-and [the] people ofH5971מְדִינ֨וֹתmedinot[the] provinces ofH4082הַמֶּ֜לֶךְhamelekhthe kingH4428יֽוֹדְעִ֗יםyodim[are] knowingH3045אֲשֶׁ֣רʾasherthatH834כָּל־kol-everyH3605אִ֣ישׁʾishmanH376וְאִשָּׁ֡הveishahand womanH802אֲשֶׁ֣רʾasherwhoH834יָבֽוֹא־yavo'-he goesH935אֶל־ʾel-toH413הַמֶּלֶךְ֩hamelekhthe kingH4428אֶל־ʾel-intoH413הֶחָצֵ֨רhechatzerthe courtH2691הַפְּנִימִ֜יתhapenimit<the> innerH6442אֲשֶׁ֣רʾasherwhoH834לֹֽא־lo'-notH3808יִקָּרֵ֗אyikare'he is summonedH7121אַחַ֤תʾachat[is] oneH259דָּתוֹ֙datolaw hisH1881לְהָמִ֔יתlehamitto put to deathH4191לְ֠בַדlevad<to> apartH905מֵאֲשֶׁ֨רmeasherfrom thatH834יֽוֹשִׁיט־yoshit-he extendsH3447ל֥וֹloto himהַמֶּ֛לֶךְhamelekhthe kingH4428אֶת־ʾet-<obj.>H853שַׁרְבִ֥יטsharvit[the] scepter ofH8275הַזָּהָ֖בhazahav<the> goldH2091וְחָיָ֑הvechayahand he will liveH2421וַאֲנִ֗יvaaniand IH589לֹ֤אlo'notH3808נִקְרֵ֙אתי֙nikretiI have been summonedH7121לָב֣וֹאlavo'to goH935אֶל־ʾel-toH413הַמֶּ֔לֶךְhamelekhthe kingH4428זֶ֖הzehthisH2088שְׁלוֹשִׁ֥יםsheloshimthirtyH7970יֽוֹם׃yomday[s]H3117
Esther 4:12· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Esther 4:13· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
וַיֹּ֥אמֶרvaiyomerand he saidH559מָרְדֳּכַ֖יmaredokhaiMordecaiH4782לְהָשִׁ֣יבlehashivto bring backH7725אֶל־ʾel-toH413אֶסְתֵּ֑רʾesterEstherH635אַל־ʾal-may notH408תְּדַמִּ֣יtedamiyou imagineH1819בְנַפְשֵׁ֔ךְvenafshekhin self yourH5315לְהִמָּלֵ֥טlehimaletto escapeH4422בֵּית־beit-[the] house ofH1004הַמֶּ֖לֶךְhamelekhthe kingH4428מִכָּל־mikolfrom allH3605הַיְּהוּדִֽים׃haiyehudimthe JewsH3064
Rashi on Esther 4:13
You had better not fantasize. [I.e.,] “Do not think,” as in, “And it will be, that which I had thought.” 4 Bamidbar:56.
Read it in full at Sefaria · The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001
Esther 4:14· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
כִּ֣יkithatH3588אִם־ʾim-exceptH518הַחֲרֵ֣שׁhachareshcertainly <to keep quiet>H2790תַּחֲרִישִׁי֮tacharishiyou will keep quietH2790בָּעֵ֣תbaetat the timeH6256הַזֹּאת֒hazot<the> thisH2063רֶ֣וַחrevachreliefH7305וְהַצָּלָ֞הvehatzalahand deliveranceH2020יַעֲמ֤וֹדyaamodit will ariseH5975לַיְּהוּדִים֙laiyehudimfor the JewsH3064מִמָּק֣וֹםmimakomfrom a placeH4725אַחֵ֔רʾacheranotherH312וְאַ֥תְּveatand youH859וּבֵית־uveit-and [the] house ofH1004אָבִ֖יךְʾavikhfather yourH1תֹּאבֵ֑דוּtoveduyou will perishH6וּמִ֣יumiand who?H4310יוֹדֵ֔עַyodea'[is] knowingH3045אִם־ʾim-ifH518לְעֵ֣תleetfor a timeH6256כָּזֹ֔אתkazotlike thisH2063הִגַּ֖עַתְּhigaatyou have reachedH5060לַמַּלְכֽוּת׃lamalkhut<to> the queenhoodH4438
Rashi on Esther 4:14
Who knows whether, at this time next year, you will retain your royal position. [I.e.,] “And who knows whether the king will desire you next year, which is the time of the massacre.” 6 I.e., who knows whether you will be spared from the decree.
Read it in full at Sefaria · The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001
Fast for me, and if I perish, I perish15
Esther 4:15· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
Esther 4:16· Hebrew and glosses: STEP Bible
לֵךְ֩lekhgoH1980כְּנ֨וֹסkenosgatherH3664אֶת־ʾet-<obj.>H853כָּל־kol-allH3605הַיְּהוּדִ֜יםhaiyehudimthe JewsH3064הַֽנִּמְצְאִ֣יםhanimtzeimwho are foundH4672בְּשׁוּשָׁ֗ןbeshushanin SusaH7800וְצ֣וּמוּvetzumuand fastH6684עָ֠לַיʾalaion meH5921וְאַל־veal-and may notH408תֹּאכְל֨וּtokheluyou eatH398וְאַל־veal-and may notH408תִּשְׁתּ֜וּtishtuyou drinkH8354שְׁלֹ֤שֶׁתsheloshetthreeH7969יָמִים֙yamimdaysH3117לַ֣יְלָהlaylahnightH3915וָי֔וֹםvayomand dayH3117גַּם־gam-alsoH1571אֲנִ֥יʾaniIH589וְנַעֲרֹתַ֖יvenaarotaiand maids myH5291אָצ֣וּםʾatzumI will fastH6684כֵּ֑ןkenthusH3651וּבְכֵ֞ןuvekhenand in suchH3651אָב֤וֹאʾavo'I will goH935אֶל־ʾel-toH413הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙hamelekhthe kingH4428אֲשֶׁ֣רʾasherwhichH834לֹֽא־lo'-notH3808כַדָּ֔תkhadat[is] according to the lawH1881וְכַאֲשֶׁ֥רvekhaasherand just asH834אָבַ֖דְתִּיʾavadtiI have perishedH6אָבָֽדְתִּי׃ʾavadetiI have perishedH6
Rashi on Esther 4:16
Even though it is unlawful. For it is contrary to the law for one who has not been summoned to enter.
Read it in full at Sefaria · The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001