Esther 8:3
What does Esther 8:3 mean?
A plain-English look at Esther 8:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Esther 8:3 means
Though honored already, Esther does not rest. She throws herself at the king’s feet, pleading with tears for the evil devised by Haman the Agagite to be stopped. Her grief is not for personal safety or gain—those are already secured—but for her people. She recognizes that a change of personnel does not automatically undo decrees sealed with the royal ring. Compassion drives her to seek not partial measures but the cancellation of the murderous scheme. Esther’s courage remains steady; her humility and urgency grow. She uses her influence as queen not for luxury but for intercession, modeling advocacy that persists until the danger to God’s covenant people is truly addressed.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Then Esther again came before the king, falling down at his feet, and made request to him with weeping, that he would put a stop to the evil purposes of Haman the Agagite and the designs which he had made against the Jews.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And Esther addeth, and speaketh before the king, and falleth before his feet, and weepeth, and maketh supplication to him, to cause the evil of Haman the Agagite to pass away, and his device that he had devised against the Jews;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And not content with these things, she fell down at the king's feet and wept, and speaking to him besought him, that he would give orders that the malice of Aman the Agagite, and his most wicked devices which he had invented against the Jews, should be of no effect.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And Esther spoke yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device which he had devised against the Jews.
Context
With Haman dead and Mordecai promoted (verses 1–2), the story turns to the unresolved threat. Esther’s renewed plea in verse 3 acknowledges the permanence of Persian law and the need for a fresh royal action. This plea leads to the king’s favorable reception in verse 4 and Esther’s carefully worded request in verses 5–6. The emphasis shifts from courtly honor to legal remedy, preparing for the counter-decree that will empower the Jews to defend themselves (verses 8–14).
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Esther 7:4
for we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my peace, although the adversary could not have compensated for the king’s damage.
- 2 Kings 4:27
And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught hold of his feet. And Gehazi came near to thrust her away; but the man of God said, Let her alone: for her soul is vexed within her; and Jehovah hath hid it from me, and hath not told me.
- Isaiah 38:2
Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto Jehovah,
- Esther 3:8
And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from those of every people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them.
- Hebrews 5:7
Who in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear,
- Hosea 12:4
yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him at Beth-el, and there he spake with us,