Esther 4 10

Esther 4:10 kjv

Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai;

Esther 4:10 nkjv

Then Esther spoke to Hathach, and gave him a command for Mordecai:

Esther 4:10 niv

Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai,

Esther 4:10 esv

Then Esther spoke to Hathach and commanded him to go to Mordecai and say,

Esther 4:10 nlt

Then Esther told Hathach to go back and relay this message to Mordecai:

Esther 4 verses

Esther 4 10 Meaning

Esther 4:10 describes Esther's initial response after hearing from Mordecai about Haman's decree. She communicates through Hathach, her designated eunuch, giving him an instruction or message to convey back to Mordecai. This verse signifies Esther's engagement with the grave situation affecting her people, initiating a crucial exchange of communication that will ultimately lead to her pivotal decision. It marks the moment Esther moves from passive awareness to active participation in addressing the impending doom.

Esther 4 10 Context

Esther chapter 4 marks a turning point in the book, moving from Haman's general decree against the Jews (chapter 3) to the critical intercession phase. Upon hearing of the king's irrevocable edict for the annihilation of all Jews (Esther 3:12-13), Mordecai expresses deep public lamentation (Esther 4:1-3). When Esther learns of Mordecai's distress, she sends clothes for him, unaware of the reason for his mourning. Hathach, a royal eunuch assigned to Esther, serves as the intermediary, carrying messages back and forth (Esther 4:4-9). This verse (Esther 4:10) records Esther's first direct communication concerning the national crisis, after receiving Mordecai's full report detailing Haman's genocidal plot and his desperate plea for Esther to intercede with the king on behalf of their people. This context highlights Esther's initial, cautious response within the dangerous realities of the Persian court, where unsummoned appearances before the king risked death.

Esther 4 10 Word analysis

• Then: Indicates a sequence of events, a progression from Esther's previous actions (sending clothes in 4:4) to her direct engagement with the crisis. It signifies a transition point in her understanding and response.
• Esther: The Jewish queen of Persia, placed in a unique and critical position. Her name (Hebrew: Hadassah) meaning 'myrtle,' symbolizes purity and restoration in biblical tradition, though here she is known by her Persian name. She is the central figure through whom deliverance will come.
• spake: (Hebrew: dabar) Implies not just simple speaking, but a giving of a 'word' or instruction. It denotes a deliberate communication, weighty enough to be conveyed by a royal intermediary.
• unto Hathach: Hathach was one of the king's eunuchs "appointed to attend her" (Esther 2:15), indicating he was a trusted personal attendant to Queen Esther. Eunuchs served as crucial intermediaries in royal harems due to strict protocols and the limited access of queens to the outside world, particularly other men. His role is vital for communication.
• and gave him commandment: (Hebrew: tsavah or dabar) "Gave him a command" or "issued an order." While Hathach was a royal attendant, Esther's use of "commandment" here underscores the seriousness and authoritative nature of the message she entrusted to him, recognizing the urgency and importance of her communication with Mordecai.
• unto Mordecai: The recipient of Esther's message. Mordecai, her older cousin and guardian, initiated this desperate plea, emphasizing his faith and conviction that Esther's position might be divinely intended for this moment. His previous messages (Esther 4:7-9) spurred her to action.
• saying: Introduces the direct content of Esther's message, which will be revealed in the subsequent verse (Esther 4:11), expressing her fear and the perilous nature of approaching the king unbidden.

Words-group analysis:

• "Then Esther spake unto Hathach": This phrase highlights Esther's initial decisive action and her reliance on the established palace system for communication. She is engaging with the crisis through official channels available to her as queen.
• "and gave him commandment unto Mordecai": This sequence emphasizes the gravity of Esther's communication. It's not a casual chat but an authorized instruction delivered through a trusted, formal channel, underscoring the vital nature of the interchange between the queen and her kinsman.

Esther 4 10 Bonus section

The role of eunuchs like Hathach in the Persian court system was crucial, not merely as servants, but often as trusted agents who could bypass certain social conventions or act as neutral liaisons due to their unique status. This underscores the restricted world of the queen, where personal communication outside specific channels was almost impossible. The very fact that Esther needed to use an intermediary emphasizes the profound danger and protocol she faced, heightening the tension before she makes her courageous decision to go before the king. This hidden barrier in communication adds to the dramatic build-up of the narrative, highlighting the risk involved in any deviation from established norms in the king's presence.

Esther 4 10 Commentary

Esther 4:10 marks the initial step in Queen Esther's engagement with the existential threat facing her people. Her communication through Hathach signifies the bureaucratic reality of her isolated position within the Persian palace. The instruction she relays to Mordecai reveals her immediate grasp of the danger she would face by approaching King Ahasuerus without a summons, a fear that is explicitly stated in verse 11. This verse, though brief, sets the stage for the intense deliberation and ultimate courageous decision that follows. It shows Esther is listening to Mordecai, processing the information, and preparing her response within the strictures of her environment, demonstrating both prudence and an initial degree of fear before her spirit of sacrificial courage fully manifests. It illustrates that even within limitations, communication and engagement are first steps to addressing a crisis.