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 of his to put him to death, except such 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.
Original Language Analysis
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
1 of 42
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
וְעַם
and the people
H5971
וְעַם
and the people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
4 of 42
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
מְדִינ֨וֹת
provinces
H4082
מְדִינ֨וֹת
provinces
Strong's:
H4082
Word #:
5 of 42
properly, a judgeship, i.e., jurisdiction; by implication, a district (as ruled by a judge); generally, a region
יֽוֹדְעִ֗ים
do know
H3045
יֽוֹדְעִ֗ים
do know
Strong's:
H3045
Word #:
7 of 42
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
8 of 42
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
9 of 42
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
אִ֣ישׁ
that whosoever whether man
H376
אִ֣ישׁ
that whosoever whether man
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
10 of 42
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
12 of 42
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
לָב֣וֹא
shall come
H935
לָב֣וֹא
shall come
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
13 of 42
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
הֶֽחָצֵ֨ר
court
H2691
הֶֽחָצֵ֨ר
court
Strong's:
H2691
Word #:
17 of 42
a yard (as inclosed by a fence); also a hamlet (as similarly surrounded with walls)
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
19 of 42
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
לֹֽא
H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
20 of 42
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
נִקְרֵ֙אתִי֙
but I have not been called
H7121
נִקְרֵ֙אתִי֙
but I have not been called
Strong's:
H7121
Word #:
21 of 42
to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
אַחַ֤ת
there is one
H259
אַחַ֤ת
there is one
Strong's:
H259
Word #:
22 of 42
properly, united, i.e., one; or (as an ordinal) first
לְהָמִ֔ית
of his to put him to death
H4191
לְהָמִ֔ית
of his to put him to death
Strong's:
H4191
Word #:
24 of 42
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
לְ֠בַד
except
H905
לְ֠בַד
except
Strong's:
H905
Word #:
25 of 42
properly, separation; by implication, a part of the body, branch of a tree, bar for carrying; figuratively, chief of a city; especially (with preposit
מֵֽאֲשֶׁ֨ר
H834
מֵֽאֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
26 of 42
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
30 of 42
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַזָּהָ֖ב
the golden
H2091
הַזָּהָ֖ב
the golden
Strong's:
H2091
Word #:
32 of 42
gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e., yellow), as oil, a clear sky
וְחָיָ֑ה
that he may live
H2421
וְחָיָ֑ה
that he may live
Strong's:
H2421
Word #:
33 of 42
to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive
לֹ֤א
H3808
לֹ֤א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
35 of 42
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
נִקְרֵ֙אתִי֙
but I have not been called
H7121
נִקְרֵ֙אתִי֙
but I have not been called
Strong's:
H7121
Word #:
36 of 42
to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
לָב֣וֹא
shall come
H935
לָב֣וֹא
shall come
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
37 of 42
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
Cross References
Daniel 2:9But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.Esther 8:4Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,Esther 2:14In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.
Historical Context
Persian royal protocol's strictness is documented in classical sources. Herodotus and other ancient historians describe elaborate Persian court ceremonies and harsh penalties for protocol violations. The golden scepter practice appears in Esther and parallel ancient sources, serving both practical purposes (controlling access, preventing assassination) and ideological ones (demonstrating absolute royal power). The thirty-day gap since the king summoned Esther suggests either his attention had shifted to other concerns (possibly the Greek campaign referenced in 2:16) or simply the vagaries of harem rotation among multiple wives and concubines. This detail makes Esther's eventual approach even more courageous.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the death penalty for unbidden approach illustrate the real cost of obedience when God calls to risky action?
- What does Esther's candid expression of fear teach about honest wrestling with danger before faithful obedience?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
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 of his to put him to death, except such 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's response explained the risk: Persian law mandated death for anyone approaching the king unbidden unless he extended the golden scepter. The phrase "all the king's servants and the people...do know" indicates this was common knowledge, emphasizing the law's strictness and enforcement. The detail "I have not been called...thirty days" suggests the king's affection had cooled—making her approach even riskier. This excuse shows Esther's understandable fear while setting up Mordecai's powerful challenge (v. 13-14). The conversation demonstrates how God positions His servants in places of both opportunity and risk, requiring faith to act.