Esther 4 6

Esther 4:6 kjv

So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king's gate.

Esther 4:6 nkjv

So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the city square that was in front of the king's gate.

Esther 4:6 niv

So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king's gate.

Esther 4:6 esv

Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king's gate,

Esther 4:6 nlt

So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the square in front of the palace gate.

Esther 4 verses

Esther 4 6 Meaning

This verse describes the precise setting of a critical communication: Queen Esther dispatches her attendant, Hathach, to Mordecai, who is publicly grieving "to the street of the city before the king’s gate." It establishes Hathach as the vital link between the insulated royal palace and the crisis unfolding outside, demonstrating both Esther's limited knowledge of the dire situation and her immediate action to inquire. The location underscores Mordecai's public mourning, which prevents his entry to the royal complex, and marks the boundary between court protocol and the impending threat to the Jewish people.

Esther 4 6 Context

Esther 4:6 serves as a pivotal narrative point within the book of Esther. Prior to this verse, the reader learns of Haman's wicked decree to annihilate all Jews in the Persian Empire, leading Mordecai to respond with public and fervent mourning, tearing his clothes and donning sackcloth and ashes. He positions himself "before the king's gate," a conspicuous location where his distress would be noted by court officials. Queen Esther, confined within the palace and initially unaware of the specific crisis, is deeply distressed by the news of Mordecai's mourning. Because of strict palace protocol that prohibited anyone dressed in sackcloth from entering the royal precincts, Esther must send an intermediary. This verse thus describes her chosen servant, Hathach, going out from the royal inner sanctum to the public thoroughfare, initiating the vital communication that will inform Esther of Haman's genocidal plot and ultimately lead to the salvation of the Jewish people. This exchange bridges the gap between Esther's isolated reality and the kingdom's impending danger.

Esther 4 6 Word analysis

• Then (וַיֵּצֵא, vayeitze): A consecutive conjunction, "and he went out" or "so he went out." This signals the immediate, resultant action from Esther's previous instruction to Hathach, demonstrating promptness in seeking information.
• Hathach (הֲתָךְ, Hathak): An officer, or eunuch, from the king's household appointed to serve Queen Esther (Esth 2:3, 2:15). His name is likely Persian, possibly meaning "truth" or "he sent." His designated role implies direct access and reliability within the secure and protocol-driven environment of the Persian court, making him a trustworthy agent for sensitive communications.
• went forth (יֵּצֵא, yeitzei): Emphasizes a movement of egress, from the private inner royal residence to the public outside. This traversing of a boundary is crucial as it facilitates the transfer of vital information across a physical and social barrier.
• to Mordecai (אֶל מָרְדֳּכַי, el Mordechai): Directly specifies the intended recipient of Hathach's mission. Mordecai, the central Jewish figure and Esther's adoptive father, possesses the crucial intelligence regarding Haman's decree that Esther urgently requires. Their established close relationship is vital for this critical exchange.
• to the street of the city (אֶל רְחוֹב הָעִיר, el rechov ha'ir): "Rechov" (רְחוֹב) signifies a broad public square, plaza, or avenue within Susa, not a narrow lane. This setting highlights that Mordecai's act of mourning was public and visible, designed to convey a deep, widespread distress and crisis.
• before (לִפְנֵי, lifnei): Literally "in the face of," "in the presence of," or "in front of." This prepositions accurately situates Hathach and Mordecai at a precise point of interaction, highlighting proximity to a key landmark.
• the king’s gate (שַׁעַר הַמֶּלֶךְ, sha'ar ha'melekh): The main entrance to the royal palace complex. In the ancient Near East, city gates were critical multi-functional public spaces: points for justice, royal pronouncements, civic gatherings, and commerce (e.g., Deut 21:19, Prov 31:23). Mordecai's conspicuous position there, in mourning, underscores the severity of the crisis and his public appeal for recognition, while also reflecting his inability to enter the royal precinct in sackcloth (Esth 4:2).
• Words-group by words-group analysis:
  • "Then Hathach went forth to Mordecai": This phrase signals the immediate activation of Esther's concern, leading to a crucial information pipeline. Hathach, as the trusted intermediary, bypasses the inherent isolation of the royal palace, acting as the indispensable link to Mordecai, the source of vital knowledge for the crisis.
  • "to the street of the city before the king’s gate": This phrase provides a highly specific and symbolic location for the encounter. The "king's gate" represents both power and public access. It signifies the very threshold between the monarch's isolated world and the public sphere, making it the strategic point where Mordecai could publicly protest, but also crucially, where the queen could dispatch a messenger to acquire the vital details needed to avert catastrophe for her people. It subtly underscores both the barrier (Mordecai cannot enter in sackcloth) and the pathway (Hathach comes out).

Esther 4 6 Bonus section

The term "eunuch" (סָרִיס, saris) in ancient courts, as implicitly referring to Hathach (as a "king's servant" appointed to a harem), often designated highly trusted and influential officials, not exclusively implying physical castration. Such individuals held significant authority due to their direct access and presumed loyalty to royalty. Hathach's immediate obedience and efficient relay of information underscore this trust and effectiveness. This specific street and gate are part of a meticulously organized royal capital, Susa, reflecting the grandeur and sophisticated administration of the Achaemenid Empire. The book of Esther, though uniquely without direct mention of God's name, masterfully uses such narrative details, like Hathach's precise journey and position, to subtly illustrate divine providence orchestrating events and interactions among key players to achieve His sovereign purposes, particularly through His chosen people. The drama of the scene highlights the striking contrast between the external pomp and power of the Persian empire and the internal desperation, and ultimate reliance on God's hidden work, for His people's salvation.

Esther 4 6 Commentary

Esther 4:6 succinctly describes the vital bridging of a chasm—both literal and informational—at a critical juncture in the unfolding drama of Jewish deliverance. It establishes Hathach, a king's eunuch and Esther's attendant, as the indispensable go-between for the cloistered queen and her distressed cousin, Mordecai. The deliberate specification of the meeting place, "the street of the city before the king’s gate," is not mere geographical detail; it's a profound narrative element. The king's gate, a hub of Persian imperial power, public pronouncements, and judicial activity, is precisely where Mordecai, clad in sackcloth, publicly laments Haman's decree. His mourning clothes symbolize the spiritual and existential crisis of the Jewish people, but they also ritually forbid him entry into the royal presence. Thus, Hathach's sortie into this public space facilitates the covert but urgent transmission of Haman's genocidal plot. This encounter is God's subtle, guiding hand at work, arranging the human means—a trusted intermediary, a public display of distress, and the queen's concerned inquiry—to initiate the complex process of intervention and salvation for His people, without explicit divine mention.