Esther 8:5
And said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour 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 which are in all the king's provinces:
Original Language Analysis
אִם
H518
אִם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
2 of 34
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
3 of 34
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
וְטוֹבָ֥ה
If it please
H2896
וְטוֹבָ֥ה
If it please
Strong's:
H2896
Word #:
5 of 34
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good
וְאִם
H518
וְאִם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
6 of 34
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
מָצָ֧אתִי
and if I have found
H4672
מָצָ֧אתִי
and if I have found
Strong's:
H4672
Word #:
7 of 34
properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
חֵ֣ן
favour
H2580
חֵ֣ן
favour
Strong's:
H2580
Word #:
8 of 34
graciousness, i.e., subjective (kindness, favor) or objective (beauty)
לִפְנֵ֣י
before
H6440
לִפְנֵ֣י
before
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
9 of 34
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
וְכָשֵׁ֤ר
seem right
H3787
וְכָשֵׁ֤ר
seem right
Strong's:
H3787
Word #:
10 of 34
by implication, to be acceptable; also to succeed or prosper
הַדָּבָר֙
and the thing
H1697
הַדָּבָר֙
and the thing
Strong's:
H1697
Word #:
11 of 34
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
לִפְנֵ֣י
before
H6440
לִפְנֵ֣י
before
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
12 of 34
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
וְטוֹבָ֥ה
If it please
H2896
וְטוֹבָ֥ה
If it please
Strong's:
H2896
Word #:
14 of 34
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good
בְּעֵינָ֑יו
in his eyes
H5869
בְּעֵינָ֑יו
in his eyes
Strong's:
H5869
Word #:
16 of 34
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
כָּתַ֗ב
let it be written
H3789
כָּתַ֗ב
let it be written
Strong's:
H3789
Word #:
17 of 34
to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe)
לְהָשִׁ֣יב
to reverse
H7725
לְהָשִׁ֣יב
to reverse
Strong's:
H7725
Word #:
18 of 34
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
19 of 34
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַסְּפָרִ֗ים
the letters
H5612
הַסְּפָרִ֗ים
the letters
Strong's:
H5612
Word #:
20 of 34
properly, writing (the art or a document); by implication, a book
מַֽחֲשֶׁ֜בֶת
devised
H4284
מַֽחֲשֶׁ֜בֶת
devised
Strong's:
H4284
Word #:
21 of 34
a contrivance, i.e., (concretely) a texture, machine, or (abstractly) intention, plan (whether bad, a plot; or good, advice)
בֶּֽן
the son
H1121
בֶּֽן
the son
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
23 of 34
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
26 of 34
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
כָּתַ֗ב
let it be written
H3789
כָּתַ֗ב
let it be written
Strong's:
H3789
Word #:
27 of 34
to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe)
לְאַבֵּד֙
to destroy
H6
לְאַבֵּד֙
to destroy
Strong's:
H6
Word #:
28 of 34
properly, to wander away, i.e., lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
29 of 34
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַיְּהוּדִ֔ים
the Jews
H3064
הַיְּהוּדִ֔ים
the Jews
Strong's:
H3064
Word #:
30 of 34
a jehudite (i.e., judaite or jew), or descendant of jehudah (i.e., judah)
אֲשֶׁ֖ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֖ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
31 of 34
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
בְּכָל
H3605
בְּכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
32 of 34
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
Cross References
Esther 7:3Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:Esther 5:8If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow as the king hath said.
Historical Context
Esther's understanding of Persian legal system shows sophistication: she knew reversing an immutable decree required counter-decree with equal authority and formality. Her multiple conditional phrases reflect ancient Near Eastern diplomatic language used when making difficult requests of superiors. The phrase "which he wrote to destroy the Jews" explicitly identified the decree's genocidal nature and Haman's authorship, potentially allowing the king to distance himself from it (though he had authorized it, 3:10-11). Her diplomatic language provided the king face-saving opportunity to issue counter-decree without admitting error in approving the original. Ancient political wisdom recognized the importance of allowing superiors to change course while preserving dignity.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Esther's diplomatic language model effective advocacy that achieves goals while preserving relationships and others' dignity?
- What does her understanding of legal procedures teach about the importance of strategic knowledge in advocacy and reform?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour 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 which are in all the king's provinces: Esther's carefully crafted appeal piles up conditions—"if it please the king," "if I have found favour," "if the thing seem right," "if I be pleasing"—demonstrating humble deference despite her established influence. She requests written reversal of Haman's letters "to destroy the Jews." The fourfold conditional phrases show strategic rhetoric: she doesn't presume on the king's favor but appeals to his judgment, affection, and sense of justice. Her specific request for written documentation matches the original decree's form (3:12-14), showing she understands Persian administrative and legal procedures.