Esther 4:11
What does Esther 4:11 mean?
A plain-English look at Esther 4:11 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Esther 4:11 means
Esther explains the court’s absolute rule: anyone—man or woman—who enters the inner court uncalled must be put to death unless the king extends the golden scepter. She adds that she has not been summoned for thirty days, hinting at diminished access or favor. This is not mere reluctance; it is a candid appraisal of lethal risk. Approaching the king without invitation is no small breach but a life-or-death act. By informing Mordecai of these facts, Esther makes clear the cost of intercession and the uncertainty of success, placing her dilemma in stark relief before the counsel that will follow.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000All 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611All 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
American Standard Version · 1901All 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949It is common knowledge among all the king's servants and the people of every part of the kingdom, that if anyone, man or woman, comes to the king in his inner room without being sent for, there is only one law for him, that he is to be put to death; only those to whom the king's rod of gold is stretched out may keep their lives: but I have not been sent for to come before the king these thirty days.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`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.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752All 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
Darby Bible · 1890All 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.
Context
This verse provides the essential obstacle to Mordecai’s charge, explaining why Esther has hesitated. The mention of thirty days highlights her precarious position. The messengers now carry this information back to Mordecai, and the next verses will present his firm reply. He will confront her with the truth that safety in the palace is illusory and will propose a providential view of her rise to royalty.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Esther 2:14
In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s chamberlain, who kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and she were called by name.
- Esther 5:1
Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, over against the king’s house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the entrance of the house.
- Esther 8:4
Then the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre. So Esther arose, and stood before the king.
- Esther 1:19
If it please the king, let there go forth a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, that Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.
- Esther 6:4
And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king’s house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
- Daniel 2:9
But if ye make not known unto me the dream, there is but one law for you; for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can show me the interpretation thereof.