Esther 5 2

Esther 5:2 kjv

And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.

Esther 5:2 nkjv

So it was, when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, that she found favor in his sight, and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther went near and touched the top of the scepter.

Esther 5:2 niv

When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.

Esther 5:2 esv

And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight, and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.

Esther 5:2 nlt

When he saw Queen Esther standing there in the inner court, he welcomed her and held out the gold scepter to her. So Esther approached and touched the end of the scepter.

Esther 5 verses

Esther 5 2 Meaning

Esther 5:2 marks a pivotal moment in the biblical narrative of Esther. After Queen Esther, unbidden, entered the inner court of King Ahasuerus, risking immediate death according to Persian law, the king observed her. In a crucial display of sovereign mercy and favor, he extended to her his golden scepter, symbolizing life, acceptance, and an open invitation to approach him with her request. Esther's act of drawing near and touching the scepter's tip confirmed her acceptance of his grace, signifying that her life was spared and her petition would be heard. This moment illustrates God's unseen hand working through human actions and decisions to bring about salvation for His people.

Esther 5 2 Context

Esther chapter 5 begins after Esther has risked everything. According to Persian law (Esther 4:11), anyone who approached the king in the inner court without being summoned faced instant execution, unless the king extended his golden scepter as a sign of mercy and acceptance. Queen Esther had been prompted by her cousin Mordecai to intercede for her people, the Jews, who were under a decree of annihilation orchestrated by Haman. She had called for a three-day fast among all the Jews in Susa, pledging, "If I perish, I perish" (Esther 4:16). The suspense surrounding her approach was immense, as her success or failure hinged entirely on the unpredictable and absolute will of King Ahasuerus (Xerxes), a monarch known for his immense power and volatile temperament. Verse 2 details the precise moment the king's favor, an act of unmerited grace, transformed the perilous situation into one of hopeful opportunity.

Esther 5 2 Word analysis

• When the king saw (וַיַּרְא הַמֶּלֶךְ, vayyar' hammelekh):

  • The Hebrew verb ra'ah (to see) signifies more than mere visual perception; it can imply a discerning or favorable look.
  • The king's immediate reaction upon seeing Esther indicates a change in the atmosphere from danger to grace.
  • His sight is the initiating act that opens the way for her.

• Queen Esther (אֶסְתֵּר הַמַּלְכָּה, Esther hammalkah):

  • Her title underscores her high position, yet she risked everything for her people, placing the demands of her royalty and God's plan above her own safety.

• standing in the court:

  • Highlights her vulnerable position, openly presenting herself for judgment.
  • It emphasizes her courage and resolve, as she faced death head-on.

• he extended to her (וַיֹּשֶׁט לָהּ, vayyoshet lah):

  • From the verb nashat (to stretch out, extend).
  • A deliberate, decisive action that demonstrates his sovereign will for mercy, directly reversing the expectation of punishment.
  • It signifies a unique display of unmerited favor.

• the golden scepter (שַׁרְבִיט הַזָּהָב, sharvit hazzahav):

  • Sharvit: A Persian loanword, emphasizing the foreign, immense, and absolute nature of the Persian monarchy's authority.
  • Zahav: Gold, symbolizing its preciousness, royalty, purity, and supreme value.
  • The scepter was the ultimate symbol of a king's authority, life, and death power. Its extension meant life; its withholding meant death.

• that was in his hand:

  • The king held the scepter readily, indicating his power was present and capable of immediate exercise.
  • It shows his full control over the decision of life or death.

• So Esther approached (וַתִּקְרַב אֶסְתֵּר, vattikrav Esther):

  • From the verb karav (to draw near, approach).
  • This shows Esther's immediate, humble, and obedient response to the king's gesture of favor.
  • Her approaching confirms her acceptance of his mercy and sets in motion the events for her petition.

• and touched the tip of the scepter (וַתִּגַּע עַל רֹאשׁ הַשַּׁרְבִיט, vattigga 'al rosh hashsharvit):

  • Vattigga: From the verb naga' (to touch). In biblical contexts, touching can signify an affirmation or transfer (e.g., of purity or impurity, or blessing). Here, it signifies formal acceptance of the royal decree of life and an acknowledgment of the king's authority.
  • Rosh hashsharvit: Touching the "head" or "tip" signifies reverent submission rather than grasping for power. It sealed the moment of royal grace, making the king's offer of mercy official and binding for Esther.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "When the king saw...he extended...So Esther approached and touched...": This sequence of seeing, offering mercy, and accepting grace is central. It demonstrates a divine orchestration where the king's perception leads to a specific action, which in turn elicits an obedient response from Esther, all pointing to God's providence.
  • "golden scepter...in his hand...touched the tip of the scepter": These phrases highlight the absolute power of the monarch and the ritualistic significance of the scepter. It portrays a life-or-death scenario dependent on the king's decision, making his mercy profoundly impactful. This act establishes the king's benevolent disposition toward Esther, crucial for the deliverance of her people.

Esther 5 2 Bonus section

• Contrast with Queen Vashti: While Queen Vashti lost her position for refusing to appear before the king (Esther 1:12), Queen Esther gains favor and saves her people by daring to appear before him when unsummoned. This highlights the unexpected ways in which divine purposes are often fulfilled.
• A Figure of Drawing Near to God: This dramatic scene serves as a compelling parallel for believers drawing near to God's throne of grace (Heb 4:16). Just as Esther required the king's scepter of mercy, humanity requires the mercy and grace extended through Christ to approach God, not by merit but by divine invitation.
• The Scepter of Messiah: In a broader biblical context, the scepter is also a symbol of divine kingship and rule, especially the Messiah (Num 24:17, Ps 45:6, Heb 1:8). The golden scepter in Ahasuerus's hand foreshadows a greater, spiritual King whose scepter is always one of mercy and salvation for those who draw near in faith.
• The Reversal of Fortune: This verse kicks off a series of dramatic reversals that define the Book of Esther, from certain death to triumphant deliverance for God's people.

Esther 5 2 Commentary

Esther 5:2 is a moment of profound relief and a pivotal turning point in the Book of Esther. Esther's act of appearing before the king unbidden was an extreme risk, punishable by death. Her approach was a desperate, prayerful act of faith, embodying "If I perish, I perish." The king's unexpected extension of the golden scepter, however, instantly transformed her predicament from certain doom to an open door of opportunity. This spontaneous act of royal favor demonstrates the absolute authority of King Ahasuerus and, implicitly, the overarching sovereignty of God.

This verse reveals divine providence at work, though God's name is conspicuously absent from the book of Esther. The sudden softening of the king's heart and his immediate grace towards Esther highlight how God can supernaturally influence human authorities (Prov 21:1) to achieve His purposes. Esther's humble and immediate response of touching the scepter's tip confirmed her acceptance of the king's mercy and respect for his authority. This gesture finalized the royal pardon, giving her the platform to begin her critical mission of intercession for the Jewish people, setting in motion the reversal of Haman's decree.