Esther 4 אֶסְתֵּר פרק ד׳

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Esther 4 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

1. 1

   וּמׇרְדֳּכַיu/Mor/do/KHAYand Mordecaiיָדַעya/DAknewאֶת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁרet-kol-a/SHERall thatנַעֲשָׂהna/a/SAwas doneוַיִּקְרַעvay/yik/RAand rentמׇרְדֳּכַיMor/do/KHAYMordecaiאֶת־בְּגָדָיוet-be/ga/DAYVhis garmentsוַיִּלְבַּשׁvay/yil/BASHand put onשַׂקsaksackclothוָאֵפֶרva/E/ferand ashesוַיֵּצֵאvay/ye/TSEand went outבְּתוֹךְbe/TOKHinto the midst ofהָעִירha/IRthe cityוַיִּזְעַקvay/yiz/AKand criedזְעָקָהze/a/KAa cryגְדוֹלָהge/do/LAgreatוּמָרָה׃u/ma/RAand bitter

   When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;

2. 2

   וַיָּבוֹאvay/ya/VOand he cameעַדadevenלִפְנֵיlif/NEbeforeשַׁעַר־הַמֶּלֶךְSHA/ar-ham/ME/lekhthe gate of the kingכִּיkiforאֵיןennone mightלָבוֹאla/VOenterאֶל־שַׁעַרel-SHA/arinto the gate ofהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingבִּלְבוּשׁbil/VUSHclothed withשָׂק׃saksackcloth

   And came even before the king's gate: for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.

3. 3

   וּבְכׇל־מְדִינָהu/ve/KHOL-me/di/NAand in every provinceוּמְדִינָהu/me/di/NAand provinceמְקוֹםme/KOMthe placeאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhereדְּבַר־הַמֶּלֶךְde/VAR-ham/ME/lekhthe word of the kingוְדָתוֹve/da/TOand his decreeמַגִּיעַmag/GI/acameאֵבֶלE/velmourningגָּדוֹלga/DOLgreatלַיְּהוּדִיםlay/Ye/hu/DIMamong the Jewsוְצוֹםve/TSOMand fastingוּבְכִיu/ve/KHIand weepingוּמִסְפֵּדu/mis/PEDand lamentationשַׂקsaksackclothוָאֵפֶרva/E/ferand ashesיֻצַּעyuts/TSAwas spreadלָרַבִּים׃la/rab/BIMfor many

   And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

4. 4

   (ותבואינה)vatavavyanah[וַתָּבוֹאנָה]vat/ta/vo/NAand cameנַעֲרוֹתna/a/ROTthe maids ofאֶסְתֵּרEs/TEREstherוְסָרִיסֶיהָve/sa/ri/SE/haand her officialsוַיַּגִּידוּvay/yag/GI/duand told itלָהּlato herוַתִּתְחַלְחַלvat/tit/chal/CHALand was in anguishהַמַּלְכָּהham/mal/KAthe queenמְאֹדme/ODexceedinglyוַתִּשְׁלַחvat/tish/LACHand she sentבְּגָדִיםbe/ga/DIMgarmentsלְהַלְבִּישׁle/hal/BISHto clotheאֶת־מׇרְדֳּכַיet-Mor/do/KHAYMordecaiוּלְהָסִירu/le/ha/SIRand to take awayשַׂקּוֹsak/KOhis sackclothמֵעָלָיוme/a/LAYVfrom himוְלֹאve/LOand notקִבֵּל׃kib/BELhe received it

   So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not.

5. 5

   וַתִּקְרָאvat/tik/RAand she calledאֶסְתֵּרEs/TEREstherלַהֲתָךְla/Ha/TAKHfor Hatachמִסָּרִיסֵיmis/sa/ri/SEone of the officials ofהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhomהֶעֱמִידhe/e/MIDhe had appointedלְפָנֶיהָle/fa/NE/hato attend herוַתְּצַוֵּהוּvat/te/tsav/VE/huand she charged himעַל־מׇרְדֳּכָיal-Mor/do/KHAYconcerning Mordecaiלָדַעַתla/DA/atto knowמַה־זֶּהma-zewhat this wasוְעַל־מַה־זֶּה׃ve/AL-ma-zeand why it was

   Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was.

6. 6

   וַיֵּצֵאvay/ye/TSEand went outהֲתָךְHa/TAKHHatachאֶל־מׇרְדֳּכָיel-Mor/do/KHAYto Mordecaiאֶל־רְחוֹבel-re/CHOVto the square ofהָעִירha/IRthe cityאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhich wasלִפְנֵיlif/NEbeforeשַׁעַר־הַמֶּלֶךְ׃SHA/ar-ham/ME/lekhthe gate of the king

   So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king's gate.

7. 7

   וַיַּגֶּד־לוֹvay/YAG/ged-loand told himמׇרְדֳּכַיMor/do/KHAYMordecaiאֵת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁרet-kol-a/SHERall thatקָרָהוּka/RA/huhad happened to himוְאֵתve/ETandפָּרָשַׁתpa/ra/SHATthe exact sum ofהַכֶּסֶףhak/KE/sefthe moneyאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhichאָמַרa/MARhad promisedהָמָןHa/MANHamanלִשְׁקוֹלlish/KOLto payעַל־גִּנְזֵיal-gin/ZEinto the treasuries ofהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe king[בַּיְּהוּדִים]Bay/ye/hu/DIMfor the Jewsלְאַבְּדָם׃le/ab/be/DAMto destroy them

   And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.

8. 8

   וְאֶת־פַּתְשֶׁגֶןve/ET-pat/SHE/genalso the copy ofכְּתָב־הַדָּתke/TAV-had/DATthe writing of the decreeאֲשֶׁר־נִתַּןa/SHER-nit/TANthat was givenבְּשׁוּשָׁןbe/Shu/SHANin Shushanלְהַשְׁמִידָםle/hash/mi/DAMto destroy themנָתַןna/TANhe gaveלוֹlohimלְהַרְאוֹתle/har/OTto showאֶת־אֶסְתֵּרet-Es/TEREstherוּלְהַגִּידu/le/hag/GIDand to declare itלָהּlato herוּלְצַוּוֹתu/le/tsav/VOTand to chargeעָלֶיהָa/LE/haherלָבוֹאla/VOto comeאֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְel-ham/ME/lekhunto the kingלְהִתְחַנֶּן־לוֹle/hit/chan/NEN-loto make supplication to himוּלְבַקֵּשׁu/le/vak/KESHand to make requestמִלְּפָנָיוmil/le/fa/NAYVfrom before himעַל־עַמָּהּ׃al-am/MAfor her people

   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.

9. 9

   וַיָּבוֹאvay/ya/VOand he cameהֲתָךְHa/TAKHHatachוַיַּגֵּדvay/yag/GEDand he toldלְאֶסְתֵּרle/Es/TERto Estherאֵת־דִּבְרֵיet-div/REthe words ofמׇרְדֳּכָי׃Mor/do/KHAYMordecai

   And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.

10. 10

    וַתֹּאמֶרvat/TO/merand saidאֶסְתֵּרEs/TEREstherלַהֲתָךְla/Ha/TAKHto Hatachוַתְּצַוֵּהוּvat/te/tsav/VE/huand gave him a chargeאֶל־מׇרְדֳּכָי׃el-Mor/do/KHAYto Mordecai

    Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai;

11. 11

    כׇּל־עַבְדֵיkol-av/DEall the servants ofהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingוְעַם־מְדִינוֹתve/AM-me/di/NOTand the people of the provinces ofהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingיֹדְעִיםyod/IMknowאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthatכׇּל־אִישׁkol-ishevery manוְאִשָּׁהve/ish/SHAor womanאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhoיָבוֹא־אֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְya/VO-el-ham/ME/lekhshall come to the kingאֶל־הֶחָצֵרel-he/cha/TSERinto the courtהַפְּנִימִיתhap/pe/ni/MITthe innerאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhoלֹא־יִקָּרֵאlo-yik/ka/REis not calledאַחַתa/CHAToneדָּתוֹda/TOlaw of hisלְהָמִיתle/ha/MITto put to deathלְבַדle/VADexceptמֵאֲשֶׁרme/a/SHERsuch to whomיוֹשִׁיט־לוֹyo/SHIT-loshall hold out to himהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingאֶת־שַׁרְבִיטet-shar/VITthe scepter ofהַזָּהָבhaz/za/HAVgoldenוְחָיָהve/cha/YAthat he may liveוַאֲנִיva/a/NIand Iלֹאlonotנִקְרֵאתִיnik/re/TIhave been calledלָבוֹאla/VOto comeאֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְel-ham/ME/lekhunto the kingזֶהzetheseשְׁלוֹשִׁיםshe/lo/SHIMthirtyיוֹם׃yomdays

    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.

12. 12

    וַיַּגִּידוּvay/yag/GI/duand they toldלְמׇרְדֳּכָיle/Mor/do/KHAYto Mordecaiאֵת־דִּבְרֵיet-div/REthe words ofאֶסְתֵּר׃Es/TEREsther

    And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.

13. 13

    וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidמׇרְדֳּכַיMor/do/KHAYMordecaiלְהָשִׁיבle/ha/SHIVto answerאֶל־אֶסְתֵּרel-Es/TERto Estherאַל־תְּדַמִּיal-te/dam/MIthink notבְנַפְשֵׁךְve/naf/SHEKHwith yourselfלְהִמָּלֵטle/him/ma/LETthat you shall escapeבֵּית־הַמֶּלֶךְbet-ham/ME/lekhin the king's houseמִכׇּל־הַיְּהוּדִים׃mik/KOL-hay/ye/hu/DIMmore than all the Jews

    Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.

14. 14

    כִּיkiforאִם־הַחֲרֵשׁim-ha/cha/RESHif keep silenceתַּחֲרִישִׁיta/cha/ri/SHIyou keep silenceבָּעֵתba/ETat timeהַזֹּאתhaz/ZOTthisרֶוַחRE/vachreliefוְהַצָּלָהve/hats/tsa/LAand deliveranceיַעֲמוֹדya/a/MODshall ariseלַיְּהוּדִיםlay/Ye/hu/DIMfor the Jewsמִמָּקוֹםmim/ma/KOMfrom placeאַחֵרa/CHERanotherוְאַתְּve/ATTand youוּבֵית־אָבִיךְu/VET-a/VIKHand your father's houseתֹּאבֵדוּto/VE/duyou shall perishוּמִיu/MIand whoיוֹדֵעַyo/DE/aknowsאִם־לְעֵתim-le/ETwhether for a timeכָּזֹאתka/ZOTsuch as thisהִגַּעַתְּhig/GA/attyou have comeלַמַּלְכוּת׃lam/mal/KHUTto the kingdom

    For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

15. 15

    וַתֹּאמֶרvat/TO/merand saidאֶסְתֵּרEs/TEREstherלְהָשִׁיבle/ha/SHIVto answerאֶל־מׇרְדֳּכָי׃el-Mor/do/KHAYto Mordecai

    Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,

16. 16

    לֵךְlekhgoכְּנוֹסke/NOSgather togetherאֶת־כׇּל־הַיְּהוּדִיםet-Kol-hay/ye/hu/DIMall the Jewsהַנִּמְצְאִיםhan/nim/tse/IMthat are presentבְּשׁוּשָׁןbe/Shu/SHANin Shushanוְצוּמוּve/TSU/muand fastעָלַיa/LAYfor meוְאַל־תֹּאכְלוּve/AL-to/khe/LUand do not eatוְאַל־תִּשְׁתּוּve/AL-tish/TUand do not drinkשְׁלֹשֶׁתshe/LO/shetthreeיָמִיםya/MIMdaysלַיְלָהLAY/lanightוָיוֹםva/YOMand dayגַּם־אֲנִיgam-a/NIalso Iוְנַעֲרֹתַיve/na/a/ro/TAYand my maidsאָצוּםa/TSUMwill fastכֵּןkenlikewiseוּבְכֵןu/ve/KHENand soאָבוֹאa/VOI will comeאֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְel-ham/ME/lekhunto the kingאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhichלֹא־כַדָּתlo-khad/DATis not according to the lawוְכַאֲשֶׁרve/kha/a/SHERand ifאָבַדְתִּיa/VAD/tiI perishאָבָדְתִּי׃a/VAD/tiI perish

    Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

17. 17

    וַיַּעֲבֹרvay/ya/a/VORso went his wayמׇרְדֳּכָיMor/do/KHAYMordecaiוַיַּעַשׂvay/YA/asand he didכְּכֹלke/KHOLaccording to allאֲשֶׁר־צִוְּתָהa/SHER-tsiv/ve/TAthat had commandedעָלָיוa/LAYVhimאֶסְתֵּר׃Es/TEREsther

    So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.