Esther 4:14
What does Esther 4:14 mean?
A plain-English look at Esther 4:14 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Esther 4:14 means
Mordecai adds both faith and urgency: if Esther remains silent, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, yet she and her father’s house will perish. He affirms providential preservation of God’s people while insisting on her personal accountability. Then the searching question: who knows whether she has come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Esther’s improbable rise may be purposeful, fitted to this very crisis. Mordecai calls her to see life not as accidental privilege but entrusted stewardship. It is an invitation to courageous risk, trusting that God’s larger plan will stand even as she chooses obedient action.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For 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?
KJV
King James Version · 1611For 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
American Standard Version · 1901For 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?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949If at this time you say nothing, then help and salvation will come to the Jews from some other place, but you and your father's family will come to destruction: and who is to say that you have not come to the kingdom even for such a time as this?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862but 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?'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For 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
Darby Bible · 1890For 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?
Context
This is the theological center of the chapter, framing Esther’s choice in light of divine providence and moral responsibility. Having removed false security, Mordecai offers hopeful confidence and a summons to purpose. The words pierce and persuade. The next verses show Esther answering decisively—calling for a communal fast, aligning herself with her people, and resolving to approach the king despite the law, even at the price of her life.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Isaiah 45:1
Thus saith Jehovah to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him, and I will loose the loins of kings; to open the doors before him, and the gates shall not be shut:
- Acts 7:20
At which season Moses was born, and was exceeding fair; and he was nourished three months in his father’s house:
- Jeremiah 46:28
Fear not thou, O Jacob my servant, saith Jehovah; for I am with thee: for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee; but I will not make a full end of thee, but I will correct thee in measure, and will in no wise leave thee unpunished.
- 1 Samuel 12:22
For Jehovah will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake, because it hath pleased Jehovah to make you a people unto himself.
- Deuteronomy 32:26
I said, I would scatter them afar, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men;
- Matthew 24:22
And except those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.