Esther 4:13 kjv
Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.
Esther 4:13 nkjv
And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: "Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king's palace any more than all the other Jews.
Esther 4:13 niv
he sent back this answer: "Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape.
Esther 4:13 esv
Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, "Do not think to yourself that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews.
Esther 4:13 nlt
Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: "Don't think for a moment that because you're in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed.
Esther 4 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:3 | I will bless those who bless you... and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. | Corporate destiny and blessing/cursing related to Israel. |
| Num 32:23 | ...be sure your sin will find you out. | Corporate accountability; no one can escape the consequences of their actions or associations. |
| Jos 7:10-12 | Israel has sinned... therefore the children of Israel cannot stand before their enemies... | Corporate judgment due to an individual's sin affecting the entire community. |
| Job 22:2-3 | Can a man be profitable to God?... For your righteousness... does it profit Him? | Reminder that position or perceived goodness doesn't exempt from testing or common fate. |
| Ps 49:6-7 | Those who trust in their wealth and boast in the abundance of their riches, none of them can redeem another. | Wealth or position cannot ultimately deliver from impending doom or the common fate of humanity. |
| Ps 49:16-17 | Be not afraid when a man becomes rich... for when he dies, he will carry nothing away. | Earthly success or status is transient and offers no ultimate escape from mortality. |
| Prov 11:21 | Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered. | Wickedness cannot ultimately escape judgment, even with widespread support. |
| Prov 16:18 | Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. | Warning against overconfidence or false security due to high position. |
| Isa 13:15 | Everyone who is found will be thrust through, and everyone who is caught will fall by the sword. | A clear prophecy of widespread destruction with no escape for anyone targeted. |
| Jer 11:11 | Therefore thus says the Lord, Behold, I am bringing disaster upon them that they cannot escape. | Emphasizes the inevitability of collective judgment. |
| Ezek 9:4-6 | And the Lord said to him... but touch no one on whom is the mark. | God's specific mark can exempt some, but otherwise, there is widespread destruction. |
| Matt 10:39 | Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. | Paradox of true self-preservation through sacrifice, relevant to Esther's decision. |
| Matt 16:25 | For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. | Emphasizes that attempts at self-preservation often lead to ultimate loss, and vice versa. |
| Luke 12:16-21 | The parable of the rich fool, who thought his wealth secured his future but died suddenly. | A person's presumed safety based on possessions or status can be a deadly delusion. |
| Rom 12:15 | Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. | Call for deep identification and solidarity with others, particularly in their suffering. |
| 1 Cor 12:26 | If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. | Illustrates the inseparable nature and corporate solidarity within a body, applicable to Israel. |
| Gal 6:7 | Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. | Reaffirms that ultimately, actions have consequences that cannot be avoided. |
| Eph 6:10-12 | ...for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities... | Though against humans, the decree was instigated by spiritual forces, reminding Esther the fight is larger. |
| Phil 2:5-8 | Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus... taking the form of a servant. | Christ's example of humbling Himself, not clinging to privilege, resonates with Esther's call to risk. |
| Heb 13:3 | Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. | Direct command to identify and suffer with those facing tribulation. |
| 1 Pet 4:17 | For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us... | Even those within God's chosen group may face trials or judgments alongside others. |
| Rev 7:9 | After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number... | The redeemed people of God are a unified multitude, with shared salvation. |
Esther 4 verses
Esther 4 13 Meaning
Esther 4:13 conveys Mordecai's stern and urgent message to Queen Esther, warning her against any self-deception regarding her safety amidst Haman's decree to annihilate all Jews. He asserts that her royal position in the king's palace will not grant her immunity or escape from the widespread destruction intended for her people. Her Jewish identity means her fate is intrinsically tied to that of every other Jew, dispelling any illusion of personal refuge or privilege in the face of a communal threat.
Esther 4 13 Context
Esther 4:13 comes at a pivotal moment in the book of Esther. Queen Esther has just been informed by Mordecai about Haman's decree calling for the genocide of all Jews throughout the Persian Empire. Esther, initially unaware of the full scope of the crisis, reacts with shock and then fear, pointing out the severe penalty (death) for approaching the king without being summoned (Esth 4:11). She is concerned for her personal safety. Mordecai's message in verse 13 is a direct response to Esther's hesitancy, aimed at shattering any illusion she might harbor that her unique position as queen provides her with a personal shield from the fate awaiting her people. It forces her to confront the grim reality of corporate destruction and the ultimate irrelevance of her royal privilege in the face of Haman's all-encompassing decree.
Esther 4 13 Word analysis
Think not with thyself: Hebrew: אַל־תְּדַמִּי בְנַפְשֵׁךְ (al-tedammî bənafshekh).
- אַל־ (al-): A prohibitive particle, meaning "do not." It's a strong negative command.
- תְּדַמִּי (tedammî): From the root דָּמָה (damah), meaning "to imagine," "to resemble," "to think." Here, it implies forming a mental image, or perhaps deluding oneself. Mordecai is directly challenging Esther's internal reasoning and perception of her reality.
- בְנַפְשֵׁךְ (bənafshekh): "In your soul," "in yourself," or "to yourself." The Hebrew word נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh) often refers to the very essence of a person, their life, soul, or inner being. Mordecai is telling her not to entertain such a thought or delusion deep within her being. It's an internal warning against self-deception.
that thou shalt escape: Hebrew: הִמָּלֵט (himmalet).
- From the root מָלַט (malat), meaning "to escape," "to slip away," "to flee to safety," or "to be delivered." This term frequently appears in contexts of peril, where one barely manages to survive or get away from a dangerous situation. It implies an act of preserving one's life. Mordecai asserts that even with her queenly power, a physical "slipping away" from this fate is impossible for her.
in the king's house: Refers to the royal palace in Susa. This location symbolizes ultimate security, luxury, and political power within the empire. It was a sanctuary, seemingly impenetrable by the common man's fate. Yet, Mordecai declares that this seemingly safe haven provides no exemption from the coming decree.
more than all the Jews: Hebrew: מִכָּל־הַיְּהוּדִים (mikkol-hayyəhûḏîm).
- מִכָּל־ (mikkol-): "From all," or "more than all." It establishes a clear comparison and negates any preferential treatment.
- הַיְּהוּדִים (hayyəhûḏîm): "The Jews." This refers to the entire Jewish populace targeted by Haman's genocidal decree. It underscores the corporate nature of the threat. Esther's ethnic identity as a Jew outweighs her political status as queen when the very existence of her people is at stake.
Word-group analysis:
- "Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape": This phrase directly confronts Esther's internal assumptions and fears. It's a forceful injunction against the false sense of security that her elevated status might afford her. Mordecai pierces through any self-preserving thoughts, compelling her to acknowledge the broader, inescapable reality. It highlights the psychological battle Esther faces, moving her from personal safety concerns to communal responsibility.
- "in the king's house, more than all the Jews": This clause sets up a stark contrast between Esther's isolated privilege and the collective fate of her people. It emphatically states that her place of power and security will not isolate her from the destruction threatening her entire ethnicity. Her unique position offers no immunity but rather potentially positions her uniquely to act. The Jewish identity binds them all.
Esther 4 13 Bonus section
The profound spiritual implication of Esther 4:13 is Mordecai's understanding, albeit unstated, of divine providence operating through seemingly human events. Although God's name is conspicuously absent from the book of Esther, Mordecai's words lay the groundwork for Esther's realization that her elevation to queen might not be accidental but providential. If she cannot escape, then her position becomes a critical juncture for intervention. This verse subtly underscores the theme of God's hidden hand orchestrating events to protect His people, even through human instruments who are compelled to confront their destiny. It emphasizes that while individuals may seek comfort in worldly positions, ultimate safety and purpose are found in aligning with God's wider plan for His people.
Esther 4 13 Commentary
Esther 4:13 serves as a decisive turning point in the book, representing Mordecai's pivotal message that strips away Esther's illusion of safety and impels her towards her destiny. It highlights that the king's house, despite being a place of immense privilege and security, offers no refuge from a decree aimed at ethnic eradication. Mordecai's warning is profoundly realistic: as a Jew, Esther shares the inescapable fate of her people. Her high status, far from offering protection, simply means she, too, is included in the comprehensive edict. This forces Esther to see beyond her personal risk (approaching the king unbidden) to the overwhelming, existential threat to her entire community. This confrontation with inescapable corporate destiny is crucial for her to move from self-preservation to self-sacrifice, setting the stage for her heroic intervention detailed in the subsequent verses. It is a potent reminder that one's personal identity and solidarity with one's people often override any perceived individual immunity or advantage in times of communal crisis.