Esther 4 – Compare Chapter Translations
Verse-by-verse comparison of Esther 4 across supported Bible translations.
Verse 1
KJV When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;
ASV Now when Mordecai knew all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;
WEB Now when Mordecai found out all that was done, Mordecai tore his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the middle of the city, and wailed loudly and bitterly.
YLT And Mordecai hath known all that hath been done, and Mordecai rendeth his garments, and putteth on sackcloth and ashes, and goeth forth into the midst of the city and crieth--a cry loud and bitter,
DRB Now when Mardochai had heard these things, he rent his garments, and put on sackcloth, strewing ashes on his head and he cried with a loud voice in the street in the midst of the city, shewing the anguish of his mind.
DBY And when Mordecai knew all that was done, Mordecai rent his garments, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and bitter cry,
GNV Now when Mordecai perceiued all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackecloth and ashes, and went out into the middes of the citie, and cryed with a great crye, and a bitter.
LSB Now Mordecai came to know of all that had been done. And he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city and cried out loudly and bitterly.
Verse 2
KJV And came even before the king’s gate: for none might enter into the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth.
ASV and he came even before the king`s gate: for none might enter within the king`s gate clothed with sackcloth.
WEB He came even before the king’s gate, for no one is allowed inside the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth.
YLT and he cometh in unto the front of the gate of the king, but none is to come in unto the gate of the king with a sackcloth-garment.
DRB And he came lamenting in this manner even to the gate of the palace: for no one clothed with sackcloth might enter the king's court.
DBY and came even before the king's gate; for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.
GNV And he came euen before the Kings gate, but he might not enter within the Kings gate, being clothed with sackecloth.
LSB And he went as far as the king’s gate, for no one was to enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth.
Verse 3
KJV And in every province, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
ASV And in every province, whithersoever the king`s commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
WEB In every province, wherever the king’s commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
YLT And in every province and province, the place where the word of the king, even his law, is coming, a great mourning have the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and lamenting: sackcloth and ashes are spread for many.
DRB And in all provinces, towns, and places, to which the king's cruel edict was come, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, wailing, and weeping, many using sackcloth and ashes for their bed.
DBY And in every province, wherever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing: many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
GNV And in euery prouince, and place, whither the Kings charge and his commission came, there was great sorowe among the Iewes, and fasting, and weeping and mourning, and many laye in sackecloth and in ashes.
LSB Now in each and every province where the word and law of the king reached, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing; and many made their bed in sackcloth and ashes.
Verse 4
KJV So Esther’s maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not.
ASV And Esther`s maidens and her chamberlains came and told it her; and the queen was exceedingly grieved: and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take his sackcloth from off him; but he received it not.
WEB Esther’s maidens and her eunuchs came and told her this, and the queen was exceedingly grieved. She sent clothing to Mordecai, to replace his sackcloth; but he didn’t receive it.
YLT And young women of Esther come in and her eunuchs, and declare <FI>it<Fi> to her, and the queen is exceedingly pained, and sendeth garments to clothe Mordecai, and to turn aside his sackcloth from off him, and he hath not received <FI> them<Fi> .
DRB Then Esther's maids and her eunuchs went in, and told her. And when she heard it she was in a consternation and she sent a garment, to clothe him, and to take away the sackcloth: but he would not receive it.
DBY And Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told [it] her; and the queen was exceedingly grieved: and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him; but he received [it] not.
GNV Then Esters maydes and her eunuches came and tolde it her: therefore the Queene was very heauie, and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackecloth from him, but he receiued it not.
LSB Then Esther’s young women and her eunuchs came and told her, and the queen writhed in great anguish. And she sent garments to clothe Mordecai and to remove his sackcloth from upon him, but he did not accept them.
Verse 5
KJV Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king’s chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was.
ASV Then called Esther for Hathach, one of the king`s chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and charged him to go to Mordecai, to know what this was, and why it was.
WEB Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs, whom he had appointed to attend her, and commanded him to go to Mordecai, to find out what this was, and why it was.
YLT And Esther calleth to Hatach, of the eunuchs of the king, whom he hath stationed before her, and giveth him a charge for Mordecai, to know what this <FI>is<Fi> , and wherefore this <FI>is<Fi> .
DRB And she called for Athach the eunuch, whom the king had appointed to attend upon her, and she commanded him to go to Mardochai, and learn of him why he did this.
DBY Then Esther called for Hatach, [one] of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to wait upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was.
GNV Then called Ester Hatach one of the Kings eunuches, whom he had appointed to serue her, and gaue him a commandement vnto Mordecai, to knowe what it was, and why it was.
LSB Then Esther summoned Hathach from the king’s eunuchs, whom the king had appointed to attend her, and commanded him to go to Mordecai to know what this was and why it was.
Verse 6
KJV So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king’s gate.
ASV So Hathach went forth to Mordecai unto the broad place of the city, which was before the king`s gate.
WEB So Hathach went out to Mordecai, to city square which was before the king’s gate.
YLT And Hatach goeth out unto Mordecai, unto a broad place of the city, that <FI>is<Fi> before the gate of the king,
DRB And Athach going out went to Mardochai, who was standing in the street of the city, before the palace gate:
DBY And Hatach went forth to Mordecai, unto the public place of the city which was before the king's gate.
GNV So Hatach went foorth to Mordecai vnto the streete of the citie, which was before the Kings gate.
LSB So Hathach went out to Mordecai to the city square in front of the king’s gate.
Verse 7
KJV And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.
ASV And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and the exact sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king`s treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.
WEB Mordecai told him of all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews.
YLT and Mordecai declareth to him all that hath met him, and the explanation of the money that Haman said to weigh to the treasuries of the king for the Jews, to destroy them,
DRB And Mardochai told him all that had happened, how Aman had promised to pay money into the king's treasures, to have the Jews destroyed.
DBY And Mordecai told him of all that had happened to him, and of the sum of money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.
GNV And Mordecai tolde him of all that which had come vnto him, and of the summe of the siluer that Haman had promised to pay vnto the Kings treasures, because of the Iewes, for to destroy them.
LSB And Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact amount of silver that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries to cause the Jews to perish.
Verse 8
KJV Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.
ASV Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given out in Shushan to destroy them, to show it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him, for her people.
WEB He also gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given out in Shushan to destroy them, to show it to Esther, and to declare it to her, and to urge her to go in to the king, to make supplication to him, and to make request before him, for her people.
YLT and the copy of the writing of the law that had been given in Shushan to destroy them he hath given to him, to shew Esther, and to declare <FI>it<Fi> to her, and to lay a charge on her to go in unto the king, to make supplication to him, and to seek from before him, for her people.
DRB He gave him also a copy of the edict which was hanging up in Susan, that he should shew it to the queen, and admonish her to go in to the king, and to entreat him for her people.
DBY And he gave him a copy of the writing of the decree that had been given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew [it] to Esther, and to declare [it] to her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication to him, and to make request before him, for her people.
GNV Also he gaue him the copy of the writing and commission that was giuen at Shushan, to destroy them, that he might shewe it vnto Ester and declare it vnto her, and to charge her that she should goe in to the King, and make petition and supplication before him for her people.
LSB He also gave him a copy of the written law which had been given in Susa for their destruction, in order to show Esther and to tell her and to command her to go in to the king to implore his favor and to seek him out for her people.
Verse 9
KJV And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.
ASV And Hathach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.
WEB Hathach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.
YLT And Hatach cometh in and declareth to Esther the words of Mordecai,
DRB And Athach went back and told Esther all that Mardochai had said.
DBY And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.
GNV So when Hatach came, he told Ester the wordes of Mordecai.
LSB Then Hathach came back and told Mordecai’s words to Esther.
Verse 10
KJV Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai;
ASV Then Esther spake unto Hathach, and gave him a message unto Mordecai [saying]:
WEB Then Esther spoke to Hathach, and gave him a message to Mordecai:
YLT and Esther speaketh to Hatach, and chargeth him for Mordecai:
DRB She answered him, and bade him say to Mardochai:
DBY And Esther spoke to Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai:
GNV Then Ester sayde vnto Hatach, and commanded him to say vnto Mordecai,
LSB Then Esther spoke to Hathach and commanded him to reply to Mordecai:
Verse 11
KJV All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.
ASV All the king`s servants, and the people of the king`s provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law for him, that he be put to death, except those to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.
WEB “All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, know, that whoever, whether man or woman, comes to the king into the inner court without being called, there is one law for him, that he be put to death, except those to whom the king might hold out the golden scepter, that he may live. I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.”
YLT `All servants of the king, and people of the provinces of the king, do know that any man and woman, who cometh in unto the king, unto the inner court, who is not called--one law <FI>of<Fi> his <FI>is<Fi> to put <FI>them<Fi> to death, apart from him to whom the king holdeth out the golden sceptre, then he hath lived; and I--I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.'
DRB All the king's servants, and all the provinces that are under his dominion, know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, cometh into the king's inner court, who is not called for, is immediately to be put to death without any delay: except the king shall hold out the golden sceptre to him, in token of clemency, that so he may live. How then can I go in to the king, who for these thirty days now have not been called unto him?
DBY All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces do know that whoever, whether man or woman, shall come to the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is *one* law, to put [him] to death, except [such] to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live; and I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.
GNV All the Kings seruants and the people of the Kings prouinces doe knowe, that whosoeuer, man or woman, that commeth to the King into the inner court, which is not called, there is a law of his, that he shall dye, except him to whom the King holdeth out the golden rodde, that he may liue. Now I haue not bene called to come vnto the King these thirtie dayes.
LSB “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that for any man or woman who comes to the king to the inner court who is not summoned, he has but one law, that he be put to death, unless the king holds out to him the golden scepter so that he may live. And I have not been summoned to come to the king for these thirty days.”
Verse 12
KJV And they told to Mordecai Esther’s words.
ASV And they told to Mordecai Esther`s words.
WEB They told to Mordecai Esther’s words.
YLT And they declare to Mordecai the words of Esther,
DRB And when Mardochai had heard this,
DBY And they told Mordecai Esther's words.
GNV And they certified Mordecai of Esters wordes.
LSB So they told Esther’s words to Mordecai.
Verse 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.
ASV Then Mordecai bade them return answer unto Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king`s house, more than all the Jews.
WEB Then Mordecai asked them to return this answer to Esther: “Don’t think to yourself that you will escape in the king’s house any more than all the Jews.
YLT and Mordecai speaketh to send back unto Esther: `Do not think in thy soul to be delivered <FI>in<Fi> the house of the king, more than all the Jews,
DRB He sent word to Esther again, saying: Think not that thou mayst save thy life only, because thou art in the king's house, more than all the Jews:
DBY And Mordecai bade to answer Esther: Imagine not in thy heart that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.
GNV And Mordecai saide, that they should answere Ester thus, Thinke not with thy selfe that thou shalt escape in the Kings house, more then all the Iewes.
LSB Then Mordecai said for them to respond to Esther, “Do not imagine that you in the king’s house can escape any more than all the Jews.
Verse 14
KJV For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
ASV For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then will relief and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place, but thou and thy father`s house will perish: and who knoweth whether thou art not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
WEB For if you remain silent now, then relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Who knows if you haven’t come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
YLT but if thou keep entirely silent at this time, respite and deliverance remaineth to the Jews from another place, and thou and the house of thy fathers are destroyed; and who knoweth whether for a time like this thou hast come to the kingdom?'
DRB For if thou wilt now hold thy peace, the Jews shall be delivered by some other occasion: and thou, and thy father's house shall perish. And who knoweth whether thou art not therefore come to the kingdom, that thou mightest be ready in such a time as this?
DBY For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there arise relief and deliverance to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall perish. And who knows whether thou art [not] come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
GNV For if thou holdest thy peace at this time, comfort and deliuerance shall appeare to the Iewes out of another place, but thou and thy fathers house shall perish: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdome for such a time?
LSB For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not reached royalty for such a time as this?”
Verse 15
KJV Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,
ASV Then Esther bade them return answer unto Mordecai,
WEB Then Esther asked them to answer Mordecai,
YLT And Esther speaketh to send back unto Mordecai:
DRB And again Esther sent to Mardochai in these words:
DBY And Esther bade to answer Mordecai:
GNV Then Ester commanded to answere Mordecai,
LSB Then Esther said for them to respond to Mordecai,
Verse 16
KJV Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
ASV Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast in like manner; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
WEB “Go, gather together all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day. I and my maidens will also fast the same way. Then I will go in to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish.”
YLT `Go, gather all the Jews who are found in Shushan, and fast for me, and do not eat nor drink three days, by night and by day; also I and my young women do fast likewise, and so I go in unto the king, that <FI>is<Fi> not according to law, and when I have perished--I have perished.'
DRB Go, and gather together all the Jews whom thou shalt find in Susan, and pray ye for me. Neither eat nor drink for three days and three nights: and I with my handmaids will fast in like manner, and then I will go in to the king, against the law, not being called, and expose myself to death and to danger.
DBY Go, gather together all the Jews that are found in Shushan, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise, and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.
GNV Goe, and assemble all the Iewes that are found in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and eate not, nor drinke in three dayes, day nor night. I also and my maydes will fast likewise, and so will I go in to the King, which is not according to the lawe: and if I perish, I perish.
LSB “Go, gather all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women also will fast in the same way. And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.”
Verse 17
KJV So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.
ASV So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.
WEB So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.
YLT And Mordecai passeth on, and doth according to all that Esther hath charged upon him.
DRB So Mardochai went, and did all that Esther had commanded him.
DBY And Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.
GNV So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Ester had commanded him.
LSB So Mordecai went away and did just as Esther had commanded him.