Esther 4:2 (GNV)

Passage

And he came euen before the Kings gate, but he might not enter within the Kings gate, being clothed with sackecloth.

Nearby Context

Esther 4:1 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.

Esther 4:2 And he came euen before the Kings gate, but he might not enter within the Kings gate, being clothed with sackecloth.

Esther 4:3 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.

Esther 4:4 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.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "came", "euen", "before", "kings", "gate", "might", "enter", and "within". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "came" and "euen", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 1's "Now when Mordecai perceiued all that was..." into verse 3's "And in euery prouince and place whither...", so "came" and "euen" belong inside that flow. In Esther context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "came" and "euen" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.