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Esther 4:5

in Esther 4

Then Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs appointed to her, and she dispatched him to Mordecai to learn what was troubling him and why.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

Then called Esther for Hathach, one of the king’s chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and charged him to go to Mordecai, to know what this was, and why it was.

KJV

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.

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This verse in Esther 4

Commentary

6 notes on this verse

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

Then called Esther for Hatach - This eunuch the king had appointed to wait upon her, partly, as is still the case in the East, to serve her, and partly, to observe her conduct; for no despot is ever exempt from a twofold torture, jealousy and suspicion.

This site's exposition

When Esther’s maidens and eunuchs came

on Esther 4:4-6

Esther's first response is clothing, and "he would not accept them": comfort is refused until the truth is faced. The queen must learn of her people's death sentence through Hathach, because the palace has sealed her off from the city's news. Every message in these verses passes through a go-between.

This site's exposition

Then Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king’s

Hathach was the king’s appointment, placed with Esther to serve her. Adam Clarke adds that such a servant also watched the queen for the king. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown note that it served a chief eunuch to win the queen’s favor as well.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

) and why it was that he would not put off his sackcloth. To enquire thus after news, that we may know the better how to direct our griefs and joys, our prayers and praises, well becomes all that love Sion.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens

Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her,....

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

When the commission is executed, the subaltern communicates it to the superintendent, by whom it is delivered to the queen. This chief eunuch, usually an old man who has recommended himself by a long course of faithful service, is always appointed by the king; but it is his interest, as well as his duty, to ingratiate himself with the queen also.

The words behind it

17 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וַתִּקְרָא֩and she summoned

    vatikra'H7121 →733 times

  • אֶסְתֵּ֨רEsther

    ʾesterH635 →55 times

  • לַהֲתָ֜ךְ<to> Hathach

    lahatakhH2047 →4 times

  • מִסָּרִיסֵ֤יone of [the] eunuchs of

    misariseiH5631 →42 times

  • הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙the king

    hamelekhH4428 →2525 times

  • אֲשֶׁ֣רwhom

    ʾasherH834 →5497 times

  • הֶעֱמִ֣ידhe had made stand

    heemidH5975 →521 times

  • לְפָנֶ֔יהָ<to> before her

    lefaneihaH6440 →2123 times

  • וַתְּצַוֵּ֖הוּand she commanded him

    vatetzavehuH6680 →494 times

  • עַֽל־on

    ʾal-H5921 →5755 times

  • מָרְדֳּכָ֑יMordecai

    maredokhaiH4782 →60 times

  • לָדַ֥עַתto know

    ladaatH3045 →945 times

  • מַה־what?

    mah-H4100 →752 times

  • זֶּ֖ה[was] this

    zehH2088 →1180 times

  • וְעַל־and concerning

    veal-H5921 →5755 times

  • מַה־what?

    mah-H4100 →752 times

  • זֶּֽה׃[was] this

    zehH2088 →1180 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

7 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

1 Corinthians 12:26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.4 worksRomans 12:15Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.3 worksPhilippians 2:4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.2 worksEsther 1:10On the seventh day, when the king’s heart was merry with wine, he ordered the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas—2 worksHebrews 4:15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin.2 works1 Kings 21:5Soon his wife Jezebel came in and asked, “Why are you so sullen that you refuse to eat?”2 works
The other 1 cross-references, with their words ▾
Esther 1:12Queen Vashti, however, refused to come at the king’s command brought by his eunuchs. And the king became furious, and his anger burned within him.1 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Philippians 2:4

    Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

    it leads to

    • 1 Corinthians 10:24

      No one should seek his own good, but the good of others.

    • Romans 15:1

      We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves.

    • James 2:8

      If you really fulfill the royal law stated in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.

    • 1 Corinthians 13:4–5

      Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

  • Through

    Hebrews 4:15

    For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin.

    it leads to

    • Hebrews 2:17–18

      For this reason He had to be made like His brothers in every way, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, in order to make atonement…

    • 2 Corinthians 5:21

      God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

  • Through

    Romans 12:15

    Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.

    it leads to

    • 1 Corinthians 12:26

      If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

    • Hebrews 13:3

      Remember those in prison as if you were bound with them, and those who are mistreated as if you were suffering with them.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

Where this verse is studied

About Esther

Esther Before the King, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Esther Before the King, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Esther: the study guide →Read Esther 4 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and W. F. Adeney, Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther (Expositor's Bible).

Read on in Esther 4 →