Esther 4 15

Esther 4:15 kjv

Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,

Esther 4:15 nkjv

Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai:

Esther 4:15 niv

Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai:

Esther 4:15 esv

Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai,

Esther 4:15 nlt

Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai:

Esther 4 verses

Esther 4 15 Meaning

Esther 4:15 records Queen Esther's decisive response to Mordecai's impassioned plea and profound challenge. After a period of initial hesitation and fear concerning the royal protocol that could cost her life, this verse signals her resolute acceptance of the daunting task before her. It is a pivotal moment, marking her shift from a concerned queen to a courageous advocate for her people, directly preceding her famous declaration, "If I perish, I perish."

Esther 4 15 Context

This verse occurs at a critical juncture in the Book of Esther. Chapter 4 describes the imminent peril facing the Jewish people due to Haman's decree to annihilate them. Mordecai, Esther's guardian, makes a passionate appeal, explaining the gravity of the situation and directly challenging Esther by suggesting that her royal position might be divinely purposed for this very crisis (Esth 4:14). Esther had initially responded with hesitation, sending clothes and later detailing the royal law which made unsummoned entry to the king a death sentence (Esth 4:11). Esther 4:15 is her counter-response, signifying that she has taken Mordecai's words to heart and is now ready to commit to action, setting the stage for her courageous decision to risk her life for her people. Historically, this occurs within the vast Persian Empire, where Jewish people, having been exiled, now faced an existential threat orchestrated by a powerful official, Haman, who wielded influence over King Ahasuerus (Xerxes I). The political landscape of Susa, the capital, was highly centralized and dangerous, requiring absolute obedience to the king's arbitrary laws, hence Esther's prior fear was well-founded.

Esther 4 15 Word analysis

• Then: This adverb signifies an immediate, decisive temporal shift. It indicates that Esther's response followed directly after Mordecai's powerful and conviction-stirring message, especially his pivotal words about her divine calling in Esth 4:14. It marks the precise moment of her resolve.
• Esther: The protagonist queen. Her name, likely Persian for "star" or connected to Ishtar, stands in contrast to her Hebrew name Hadassah ("myrtle"). In this moment, "Esther" truly begins to shine as a leading figure, transitioning from a reactive position to a proactive one in securing her people's salvation. This decision defines her role as a savior for Israel.
• bade: The Hebrew word is וַתֹּאמֶר (vatomer), meaning "and she said" or "then she said." This is a strong, declarative verb. It indicates that Esther did not merely receive the message; she articulated a direct, purposeful instruction. It reflects her new found authority and determination, initiating a command rather than merely being commanded or asking.
• them: This refers to the specific messengers, likely eunuchs, including Hathach, who were acting as intermediaries between Esther and Mordecai. Her directing them emphasizes her use of the royal apparatus, asserting her queenly prerogative to send messages within the court structure.
• return: This implies that Esther is sending a communication back to Mordecai. It completes the two-way conversation, signifying that she has fully processed his counsel and is now ready to act upon it. Her message isn't a new thought but a response to his urgent query and plea.
• Mordecai: Esther's cousin and guardian. He served as her conscience and the voice of divine counsel (though God is not explicitly mentioned in Esther). Her sending a message specifically to him confirms her submission to his wise, Spirit-guided guidance and acknowledges him as the strategic leader for their people in this crisis.
• this answer: This refers to the content of her subsequent message in Esther 4:16, where she outlines her plan: to call for a fast, then go to the king. The phrase "this answer" is anticipatory, highlighting the significance and weight of her decision. It implies a resolved, carefully considered response rather than an impulsive one.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Then Esther bade them": This phrase marks Esther's initiation of action and her assumption of direct command. After deliberating over Mordecai's words and the immense risk, she steps into her role, demonstrating decisive leadership within the existing court hierarchy, using her authority as queen to communicate her intent. This is the moment she crosses the threshold from hesitant concern to determined purpose.
• "return Mordecai this answer": This specific directive signifies the completion of a vital consultation and Esther's firm commitment. She isn't just sending any message, but a particular "answer" to the profound question of what she will do. It emphasizes that her response is directly aimed at resolving the critical situation Mordecai presented, confirming that she intends to act according to the wisdom shared by him and implied divine providence.

Esther 4 15 Bonus section

• This verse highlights the powerful effect of truth spoken boldly and in love (Mordecai's counsel) upon a prepared heart (Esther's). It demonstrates that moments of decision often follow periods of intense spiritual or personal struggle.
• The communication process here—from Mordecai to Esther via messengers, and Esther's specific directive to "return Mordecai this answer"—illustrates a pragmatic use of the king's court protocol while maintaining essential covert operations against Haman's plot.
• Esther's decision to act, spurred by Mordecai's counsel, anticipates a fundamental Christian principle: that faith, while rooted in divine providence, demands human action and courageous steps when God opens the way.

Esther 4 15 Commentary

Esther 4:15 is a terse but incredibly potent verse, serving as the dramatic pivot point in the entire narrative. It encapsulates Queen Esther's transformation from a hesitant figure, focused on self-preservation, to a courageous leader prepared to lay down her life for her people. This verse immediately follows Mordecai's profound challenge regarding her purpose in the kingdom (Esth 4:14), revealing that his words pierced through her fear and instilled within her a resolute determination. Though the name of God is absent from the book of Esther, His providential hand is vividly displayed in this verse; it marks Esther's Spirit-prompted decision to fulfill her unique calling. Her instruction to "return Mordecai this answer" is a powerful confirmation of her resolved courage and submission to wise counsel, setting the stage for one of the most heroic acts of faith recorded in Scripture.