Esther 7:2 kjv
And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom.
Esther 7:2 nkjv
And on the second day, at the banquet of wine, the king again said to Esther, "What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request, up to half the kingdom? It shall be done!"
Esther 7:2 niv
and as they were drinking wine on the second day, the king again asked, "Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted."
Esther 7:2 esv
And on the second day, as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king again said to Esther, "What is your wish, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled."
Esther 7:2 nlt
On this second occasion, while they were drinking wine, the king again said to Esther, "Tell me what you want, Queen Esther. What is your request? I will give it to you, even if it is half the kingdom!"
Esther 7 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Esth 5:3 | Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, Queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom. | King's initial, generous promise. |
| Esth 5:6 | And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and what is thy request? and it shall be performed. | King's promise repeated at the first banquet. |
| Ps 37:4 | Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. | God's promise to grant desires. |
| Prov 21:1 | The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. | Divine control over earthly rulers' decisions. |
| 1 Kin 3:5 | In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what thou wilt. | God's direct invitation to a request, similar in magnanimity. |
| Mark 6:22-23 | And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in... the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee... unto the half of my kingdom. | Foolish king's similar rash promise leading to John the Baptist's death. |
| 1 John 5:14-15 | And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us... we know that we have... requests. | Believer's assurance in God answering prayers. |
| Phil 4:6 | Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. | Encouragement to bring all requests to God. |
| Luke 11:9-10 | And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you... for every one that asketh receiveth... | Jesus teaching on persistence in asking and receiving from God. |
| Jam 4:3 | Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. | The condition of asking rightly to receive. |
| Jer 29:13 | And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. | The sincerity required for seeking divine help. |
| Eccl 3:1 | To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. | The importance of strategic timing, seen in Esther's delay. |
| Prov 15:23 | A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it! | Wisdom of speaking at the right time. |
| Isa 46:10 | Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: | God's sovereign control over all events and outcomes. |
| Ps 33:10-11 | The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever... | God frustrates wicked plans, aligning with Haman's fate. |
| Gen 39:21 | But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. | God's favor granted in unlikely circumstances. |
| Deut 6:7 | And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house... | Repetition as a method of emphasis and assurance. |
| Jos 1:6-7 | Be strong and of a good courage... only be thou strong and very courageous... | Repetition for emphasis on importance or assurance, as the king's reiteration. |
| Gen 24:12 | And he said, O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day... | Example of a specific request/petition to God. |
| 1 Sam 1:27 | For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him: | Hannah's granted petition, showcasing the nature of "petition." |
| Prov 28:18 | Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once. | Haman's immediate downfall as a consequence of his wicked scheme. |
| Esth 6:14 | And while they were yet talking with him, came the king's chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared. | Immediate context of Haman being brought to the banquet, unaware. |
Esther 7 verses
Esther 7 2 Meaning
Esther 7:2 details the precise moment when King Ahasuerus, at the second banquet hosted by Queen Esther, again extends his previous offer, promising to fulfill any petition or request she might have, even up to half his kingdom. This reiteration underscores the king's impatience and full commitment, setting the stage for Esther to finally reveal her life-saving plea concerning herself and her people, ultimately leading to Haman's downfall. It signifies the climax of Esther's strategic delay and manipulation of royal custom.
Esther 7 2 Context
Esther chapter 7 serves as the dramatic climax of the book. Following her successful strategy of delaying her petition by inviting the King Ahasuerus and Haman to two successive private banquets (Esth 5:4, 8), the stage is now perfectly set for Haman's downfall. The night preceding this second banquet (Esth 6:1) saw Ahasuerus's sleepless night and the subsequent discovery of Mordecai's loyalty, leading to Haman being forced to publicly honor his sworn enemy. Haman arrived at this second banquet humiliated and disturbed, a stark contrast to his pride at the first. Amidst the opulent setting of a "banquet of wine," the king's impatient and reiterated question in Esther 7:2 creates intense suspense, as Esther is finally compelled to make her critical request, thereby revealing the threat against herself and her people in Haman's presence. This carefully orchestrated moment demonstrates Esther's shrewdness and, behind the scenes, God's providential working.
Esther 7 2 Word analysis
- And the king (וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ - vayyomer hammèleḵ): The opening "And" (וַיֹּאמֶר - vayyomer) connects this speech directly to the ongoing narrative flow, indicating an immediate response to the festive setting. "The king" refers to Ahasuerus, whose royal decree carries absolute authority and the power of life and death in the Persian Empire.
- said (אָמַר - ’amar): This common Hebrew verb denotes a direct, formal utterance, emphasizing that this is a stated royal pronouncement.
- again (עוֹד - ‘ōḏ): This crucial adverb signifies repetition and reinforcement. It indicates that the king has previously made this exact offer (Esth 5:3, 5:6). Its inclusion here highlights his genuine earnestness, impatience for Esther's deferred request, and a subtle pressure on her to reveal it. This reiteration ensures there is no doubt regarding the validity or extent of his promise.
- unto Esther (אֶל־אֶסְתֵּר - ’el-’es•ter): Directly addressing the queen, confirming her central role and the highly personal nature of the conversation, especially within a small, private gathering.
- on the second day (בַּיּוֹם֙ הַשֵּׁנִ֔י - bayyōwm haš•šē•nî): This precise temporal marker emphasizes the chronological progression and critical timing. The preceding twenty-four hours have witnessed pivotal events, specifically Mordecai's honoring and Haman's humiliation (Esth 6), unbeknownst to Haman’s impending doom.
- at the banquet of wine (בְּמִשְׁתֵּה הַיַּיִן - bəmištê hayya•yin): Describes the specific luxurious and potentially intoxicating setting. "Banquet" (mishteh) denotes a lavish feast, a context often associated with important discussions and powerful individuals. The "wine" element often loosened inhibitions or indicated a relaxed atmosphere where important matters could be addressed.
- What is thy petition? (מַה־שְּׁאֵלָתֵךְ֙ - mah-ššə’ēlāṯêḵ): "Petition" (šə’ēlāh) implies a formal and serious request or plea, often to a higher authority (God or a king). It reflects the king's expectation that Esther's request is significant and specific. This word highlights the gravity of what is about to be revealed.
- and it shall be granted thee: (וְתִנָּ֣תֵן לָ֗ךְ - wəṯinnāṯên lāḵ): Passive verb "it shall be given" or "it shall be put/bestowed." This promises automatic fulfillment, reinforcing the king's immediate and unequivocal commitment to deliver on his word.
- and what is thy request? (וּמַה־בַּקָּשָׁתֵךְ - ūmah-baqqāšāṯēḵ): "Request" (baqqāšāh) is nearly synonymous with "petition," serving as a parallel phrase for emphatic reiteration. This stylistic device, common in biblical Hebrew, heightens the king's sincerity and the weightiness of his promise. It is often used for earnest or urgent requests.
- and it shall be performed. (וְתֵעָֽשׂ - wəṯē‘āś): "And it shall be done" or "it shall be carried out." This final phrase reinforces the active implementation of the promise, confirming that not only will it be granted verbally, but it will be thoroughly executed. It further highlights the absolute nature of the king's word in this decisive moment.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed." This full phrase demonstrates classical Hebrew parallelism, using two slightly different yet synonymous word pairs ("petition"/"request" and "granted"/"performed") to reiterate the king's immense and unwavering commitment. The repetition serves as a rhetorical device to express emphasis, ensuring that Esther understands the depth of the king's desire to fulfill her request, no matter its scope. It also heightens the suspense, as the listener knows the question is poised for the decisive answer. This comprehensive assurance provided by the king implies that Esther has indeed chosen the perfect moment to make her dire plea, and that no impediment, no matter how powerful (like Haman), will prevent its execution.
Esther 7 2 Bonus section
- The King's eagerness in repeating his offer after a delay can be seen as a sign of God's perfect timing and preparation. Esther's calculated patience allowed for the events of Chapter 6 (Mordecai's honor and Haman's humiliation) to unfold, making the King more amenable and Haman more vulnerable, a clear sign of divine orchestration without explicit mention.
- The repetitive nature of the king's promise reflects not only his insistence but also the legal weight and inviolable nature of a Persian king's word. Once spoken and officially registered, a decree was practically unchangeable, underscoring the finality of the request Esther was about to make.
- While God's name is not explicitly mentioned in the Book of Esther, verses like 7:2, where human free will and royal power coalesce precisely at the moment of deliverance, powerfully illustrate the hidden but ever-present hand of divine providence guiding the events to achieve His purposes for His people.
Esther 7 2 Commentary
Esther 7:2 captures the pivotal instant preceding the unraveling of Haman's plot. King Ahasuerus's "again" signifies not just a repeat but an insistence, reflecting both royal expectation and a king intrigued by Esther's initial deferral. His lavish double promise – "petition...granted," "request...performed" – uses formal, legalistic language typical of royal decrees, indicating a full commitment, irrespective of the scope of Esther's demand. The setting "at the banquet of wine" provided a private and controlled environment, conducive to the revelation of such a sensitive matter. This seemingly mundane royal reiteration, combined with the significant "second day" context, showcases Esther's brilliant strategic timing, and profoundly, God's hidden providential hand moving through human actions and decisions, setting the stage for divine deliverance and retribution. The verse masterfully builds tension, poised on the edge of the climax.