Esther 8:4
What does Esther 8:4 mean?
A plain-English look at Esther 8:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Esther 8:4 means
The king’s extension of the golden scepter signals welcome and safety for Esther, as earlier in the story. She rises and stands to make her case, granted the dignity to speak. This visible sign assures that her petition will be heard, not punished. Esther’s boldness remains measured by protocol; she honors the king even as she aims to save her people. The scepter moment shows once again that doors God opens cannot be shut. What began as a risky approach now becomes a recognized channel of mercy, and Esther steps forward to press for a reversal that only royal authority can provide in the face of an unchangeable law.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Then the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre. So Esther arose, and stood before the king.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Then the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre. So Esther arose, and stood before the king.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Then the king put out the rod of gold to Esther, and she got up before the king.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and the king holdeth out to Esther the golden sceptre, and Esther riseth, and standeth before the king,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But he, as the manner was, held out the golden sceptre with his hand, which was the sign of clemency: and she arose up and stood before him,
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. And Esther arose and stood before the king,
Context
Esther’s desperation in verse 3 is met with royal favor in verse 4, echoing earlier scenes of the scepter’s extension. This prepares the ground for her precise, respectful appeal in verses 5–6. The narrative is slowing to highlight process: access, request, and then response. After Esther speaks, the king will authorize a solution that respects Persian legal constraints while delivering the Jews (verses 7–8), leading to the drafting and dispatching of the new decree (verses 9–14).
v.3And 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.
v.4This passage
v.5And she said, If it please the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews that are in all the king’s provinces:
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 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.
- Esther 5:2
And 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.