The Meaning of Esther 4:8 Explained

Esther 4:8

KJV: Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.

YLT: and the copy of the writing of the law that had been given in Shushan to destroy them he hath given to him, to shew Esther, and to declare it to her, and to lay a charge on her to go in unto the king, to make supplication to him, and to seek from before him, for her people.

Darby: And he gave him a copy of the writing of the decree that had been given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it to Esther, and to declare it to her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication to him, and to make request before him, for her people.

ASV: Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given out in Shushan to destroy them, to show it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him, for her people.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Also he gave  him the copy  of the writing  of the decree  that was given  at Shushan  to destroy  them, to shew  [it] unto Esther,  and to declare  [it] unto her, and to charge  her that she should go in  unto the king,  to make supplication  unto him, and to make request  before  him for her people. 

What does Esther 4:8 Mean?

Context Summary

Esther 4:1-17 - Opportunity For Patriotic Devotion
It seemed as if the whole nation would suddenly be cut off to satisfy the hatred of Haman, and Mordecai knew that he had been the cause of the plot. Esther was evidently living in close sympathy with her uncle, though now separated from him. In reply to the demand that she should hazard her life for the people, there was at first a natural reluctance. Was her love for her people greater than her love for herself? In her resolve there was surely something of the great love of Christ. We may be quite sure that God will carry out His plans-with us, if possible; if not, in spite of us, to our utter loss. We should look upon our position as a sacred trust to be used for others. We are created for good works, which God hath prepared for us to walk in. There can be no presumption in action which is preceded by prayer and heart-searching. [source]

Chapter Summary: Esther 4

1  The great mourning of Mordecai and the Jews
4  Esther, understanding it, sends to Mordecai,
7  who shows the cause, and advises her to undertake the suit
10  She, excusing herself, is threatened by Mordecai
15  She, appointing a fast, undertakes the suit

What do the individual words in Esther 4:8 mean?

And also a copy of the written decree which was given at Shushan for their destruction He gave him that he might show it to Esther and to explain it to her that he might command her go in to the king to make supplication him and to plead before him for her people
וְאֶת־ פַּתְשֶׁ֣גֶן כְּתָֽב־ הַ֠דָּת אֲשֶׁר־ נִתַּ֨ן בְּשׁוּשָׁ֤ן לְהַשְׁמִידָם֙ נָ֣תַן ל֔וֹ לְהַרְא֥וֹת אֶת־ אֶסְתֵּ֖ר וּלְהַגִּ֣יד לָ֑הּ וּלְצַוּ֣וֹת עָלֶ֗יהָ לָב֨וֹא אֶל־ הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ לְהִֽתְחַנֶּן־ ל֛וֹ וּלְבַקֵּ֥שׁ מִלְּפָנָ֖יו עַל־ עַמָּֽהּ

וְאֶת־  And  also 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
פַּתְשֶׁ֣גֶן  a  copy 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פַּרְשֶׁגֶן 
Sense: copy.
כְּתָֽב־  of  the  written 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כְּתָב  
Sense: a writing, document, edict.
הַ֠דָּת  decree 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: דָּת  
Sense: decree, law, edict, regulation, usage.
נִתַּ֨ן  was  given 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
בְּשׁוּשָׁ֤ן  at  Shushan 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: שׁוּשַׁן  
Sense: the winter residence of the Persian kings; located on the river Ulai or Choaspes.
לְהַשְׁמִידָם֙  for  their  destruction 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַד  
Sense: to destroy, exterminate, be destroyed, be exterminated.
נָ֣תַן  He  gave 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
לְהַרְא֥וֹת  that  he  might  show  it 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
אֶסְתֵּ֖ר  Esther 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶסְתֵּר  
Sense: the queen of Persia, heroine of the book of Esther—daughter of Abihail, cousin and adopted daughter of Mordecai, of the tribe of Benjamin, made queen by king Ahasuerus to replace divorced queen, Vashti.
וּלְהַגִּ֣יד  and  to  explain  it 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: נָגַד  
Sense: to be conspicuous, tell, make known.
לָ֑הּ  to  her 
Parse: Preposition, third person feminine singular
וּלְצַוּ֣וֹת  that  he  might  command 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct
Root: צָוָה  
Sense: to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order.
עָלֶ֗יהָ  her 
Parse: Preposition, third person feminine singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
לָב֨וֹא  go 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
אֶל־  in  to 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ  the  king 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
לְהִֽתְחַנֶּן־  to  make  supplication 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hitpael, Infinitive construct
Root: חָנַן 
Sense: to be gracious, show favour, pity.
וּלְבַקֵּ֥שׁ  and  to  plead 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct
Root: בָּקַשׁ  
Sense: to seek, require, desire, exact, request.
מִלְּפָנָ֖יו  before  him 
Parse: Preposition-m, Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
עַמָּֽהּ  her  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person feminine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.