Esther 5:1
What does Esther 5:1 mean?
A plain-English look at Esther 5:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Esther 5:1 means
On the third day, Esther moves from prayerful preparation to decisive action. She dresses in royal apparel, not to flatter vanity but to honor the office she holds and to present herself fittingly before the king. Standing in the inner court within the king’s sight line, she takes a calculated risk; approaching the Persian monarch without summons could cost her life. Yet she stands where the king will see her, neither barging in nor shrinking back. The scene underscores courageous faith joined to wise decorum. Esther places herself, and her people’s cause, under the sovereign hand of God while using every lawful means to seek favor from the earthly throne.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Now 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Now 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 gate of the house.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Now 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Now on the third day, Esther put on her queen's robes, and took her place in the inner room of the king's house, facing the king's house: and the king was seated on his high seat in the king's house, facing the doorway of the house.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And it cometh to pass on the third day, that Esther putteth on royalty, and standeth in the inner-court of the house of the king over-against the house of the king, and the king is sitting on his royal throne, in the royal-house, over-against the opening of the house,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And on the third day Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's hall: now he sat upon his throne in the hall of the palace, over against the door of the house.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on 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 to the house.
Context
This verse bridges the fast and resolve of chapter 4 with Esther’s bold appearance before Ahasuerus. The narrator carefully locates her opposite the royal throne, preparing the reader for the critical question: Will she be received or rejected? The next verse supplies the answer when the king notices her and responds. Understanding the risk and the careful staging helps us feel the tension that runs through the chapter and appreciate the significance of the king’s gesture that follows.
v.1This passage
v.2And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favor in his sight; and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Esther 1:11
to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to show the peoples and the princes her beauty; for she was fair to look on.
- Revelation 3:21
He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father in his throne.
- 1 Kings 10:18
Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the finest gold.
- Esther 4:11
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.
- Matthew 11:8
But what went ye out to see? a man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that wear soft raiment are in kings’ houses.
- 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.