Berean Interlinear
Esther
Chapter 4
                                                            When Mordecai learned of all that had happened, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the middle of the city, wailing loudly and bitterly.
                                                    
                        
                    
        
        ū·mā·rə·do·ḵay
When Mordecai
When Mordecai
        
        yā·ḏa‘
learned of
learned of
        
        ’eṯ-
-
-
        
        kāl-
all
all
        
        ’ă·šer
that
that
        
        na·‘ă·śāh
had happened ,
had happened ,
        
        mā·rə·do·ḵay
he
he
        
        ’eṯ-
-
-
        
        way·yiq·ra‘
tore
tore
        
        bə·ḡā·ḏāw
his clothes ,
his clothes ,
        
        way·yil·baš
put on
put on
        
        śaq
sackcloth
sackcloth
        
        wā·’ê·p̄er
and ashes ,
and ashes ,
        
        way·yê·ṣê
and went out
and went out
        
        bə·ṯō·wḵ
into the middle
into the middle
        
        hā·‘îr
of the city ,
of the city ,
        
        way·yiz·‘aq
wailing
wailing
        
        zə·‘ā·qāh
. . .
. . .
        
        ḡə·ḏō·lāh
loudly
loudly
        
        ū·mā·rāh
and bitterly .
                            and bitterly .
                                                            But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because the law prohibited anyone wearing sackcloth from entering that gate.
                                                    
                        
                    
        
        way·yā·ḇō·w
But he went only
But he went only
        
        ‘aḏ
as
as
        
        lip̄·nê
. . .
. . .
        
        ham·me·leḵ
far as the king’s
far as the king’s
        
        ša·‘ar-
gate ,
gate ,
        
        kî
because
because
        
        ’ên
the law prohibited
the law prohibited
        
        bil·ḇūš
anyone wearing
anyone wearing
        
        śāq
sackcloth
sackcloth
        
        lā·ḇō·w
from entering
from entering
        
        ’el-
. . .
. . .
        
        ham·me·leḵ
[that]
[that]
        
        ša·‘ar
gate .
                            gate .
                                                            In every province to which the king’s command and edict came, there was great mourning among the Jews. They fasted, wept, and lamented, and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
                                                    
                        
                    
        
        ū·ḇə·ḵāl
In every
In every
        
        mə·ḏî·nāh
province
province
        
        ū·mə·ḏî·nāh
. . .
. . .
        
        mə·qō·wm
to which
to which
        
        ’ă·šer
-
-
        
        ham·me·leḵ
the king’s
the king’s
        
        də·ḇar-
command
command
        
        wə·ḏā·ṯōw
and edict
and edict
        
        mag·gî·a‘
came ,
came ,
        
        gā·ḏō·wl
there was great
there was great
        
        ’ê·ḇel
mourning
mourning
        
        lay·yə·hū·ḏîm
among the Jews .
among the Jews .
        
        wə·ṣō·wm
They fasted ,
They fasted ,
        
        ū·ḇə·ḵî
wept ,
wept ,
        
        ū·mis·pêḏ
and lamented ,
and lamented ,
        
        lā·rab·bîm
and many
and many
        
        yuṣ·ṣa‘
lay
lay
        
        śaq
in sackcloth
in sackcloth
        
        wā·’ê·p̄er
and ashes .
                            and ashes .
                                                            When Esther’s maidens and eunuchs came and told her about Mordecai, the queen was overcome with distress. She sent clothes for Mordecai to wear instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them.
                                                    
                        
                    
        
        ’es·têr
When Esther’s
When Esther’s
        
        na·‘ă·rō·wṯ
maidens
maidens
        
        wə·sā·rî·se·hā
and eunuchs
and eunuchs
        
        wat·tå̄·ḇō·nå̄h
came
came
        
        way·yag·gî·ḏū
and told
and told
        
        lāh
her [about Mordecai] ,
her [about Mordecai] ,
        
        ham·mal·kāh
the queen
the queen
        
        wat·tiṯ·ḥal·ḥal
was overcome with distress
was overcome with distress
        
        mə·’ōḏ
. . . .
. . . .
        
        wat·tiš·laḥ
She sent
She sent
        
        bə·ḡā·ḏîm
clothes
clothes
        
        mā·rə·do·ḵay
for Mordecai
for Mordecai
        
        lə·hal·bîš
to wear
to wear
        
        ’eṯ-
-
-
        
        ū·lə·hā·sîr
instead of
instead of
        
        śaq·qōw
his sackcloth ,
his sackcloth ,
        
        mê·‘ā·lāw
. . .
. . .
        
        wə·lō
but he would not
but he would not
        
        qib·bêl
accept them .
                            accept them .
                                                            Then Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs appointed to her, and she dispatched him to Mordecai to learn what was troubling him and why.
                                                    
                        
                    
        
        ’es·têr
Then Esther
Then Esther
        
        wat·tiq·rā
summoned
summoned
        
        la·hă·ṯāḵ
Hathach ,
Hathach ,
        
        ham·me·leḵ
one of the king’s
one of the king’s
        
        ’ă·šer
-
-
        
        mis·sā·rî·sê
eunuchs
eunuchs
        
        he·‘ĕ·mîḏ
appointed
appointed
        
        lə·p̄ā·ne·hā
to her ,
to her ,
        
        wat·tə·ṣaw·wê·hū
and she dispatched him
and she dispatched him
        
        ‘al-
to
to
        
        mā·rə·do·ḵāy
Mordecai
Mordecai
        
        lā·ḏa·‘aṯ
to learn
to learn
        
        mah-
what was troubling him
what was troubling him
        
        zeh
. . .
. . .
        
        wə·‘al-
and why
and why
        
        mah-
. . .
. . .
        
        zeh
. . . .
                            . . . .
                                                            So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the city square in front of the king’s gate,
                                                    
                        
                    
                                                            and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money that Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury in order to destroy the Jews.
                                                    
                        
                    
        
        mā·rə·do·ḵay
and Mordecai
and Mordecai
        
        ’êṯ
-
-
        
        way·yag·geḏ-
told
told
        
        lōw
him
him
        
        kāl-
all
all
        
        ’ă·šer
that
that
        
        qā·rā·hū
had happened to him ,
had happened to him ,
        
        wə·’êṯ
including
including
        
        pā·rā·šaṯ
the exact amount
the exact amount
        
        hak·ke·sep̄
of money
of money
        
        ’ă·šer
that
that
        
        hā·mān
Haman
Haman
        
        ’ā·mar
had promised
had promised
        
        liš·qō·wl
to pay
to pay
        
        ‘al-
into
into
        
        ham·me·leḵ
the royal
the royal
        
        gin·zê
treasury
treasury
        
        lə·’ab·bə·ḏām
in order to destroy
in order to destroy
        
        bay·yə·hū·ḏī·yīm
the Jews .
                            the Jews .
                                                            Mordecai also gave Hathach a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for the destruction of the Jews, to show and explain to Esther, urging her to approach the king, implore his favor, and plead before him for her people.
                                                    
                        
                    
        
        wə·’eṯ-
-
-
        
        nit·tan
Mordecai also gave [Hathach]
Mordecai also gave [Hathach]
        
        paṯ·še·ḡen
a copy
a copy
        
        kə·ṯāḇ-
of the written
of the written
        
        had·dāṯ
decree
decree
        
        ’ă·šer-
-
-
        
        nā·ṯan
issued
issued
        
        lōw
         
    
        
        bə·šū·šān
in Susa
in Susa
        
        lə·haš·mî·ḏām
for the destruction [of the Jews] ,
for the destruction [of the Jews] ,
        
        lə·har·’ō·wṯ
to show
to show
        
        ū·lə·hag·gîḏ
and explain
and explain
        
        ’eṯ-
to
to
        
        ’es·têr
Esther
Esther
        
        lāh
,
,
        
        ū·lə·ṣaw·wō·wṯ
urging
urging
        
        ‘ā·le·hā
her
her
        
        lā·ḇō·w
to approach
to approach
        
        ’el-
. . .
. . .
        
        ham·me·leḵ
the king ,
the king ,
        
        lə·hiṯ·ḥan·nen-
implore his favor
implore his favor
        
        lōw
,
,
        
        ū·lə·ḇaq·qêš
and plead
and plead
        
        mil·lə·p̄ā·nāw
before him
before him
        
        ‘al-
for
for
        
        ‘am·māh
her people .
                            her people .
                                                            So Hathach went back and relayed Mordecai’s response to Esther.
                                                    
                        
                    
        
        hă·ṯāḵ
So Hathach
So Hathach
        
        way·yā·ḇō·w
went back
went back
        
        way·yag·gêḏ
and relayed
and relayed
        
        mā·rə·do·ḵāy
Mordecai’s
Mordecai’s
        
        diḇ·rê
response
response
        
        lə·’es·têr
to Esther
to Esther
        
        ’êṯ
- .
                            - .
                                                            Then Esther spoke to Hathach and instructed him to tell Mordecai,
                                                    
                        
                    
        
        ’es·têr
Then Esther
Then Esther
        
        wat·tō·mer
spoke
spoke
        
        la·hă·ṯāḵ
to Hathach
to Hathach
        
        wat·tə·ṣaw·wê·hū
and instructed him
and instructed him
        
        ’el-
to
to
        
        mā·rə·do·ḵāy
tell Mordecai ,
                            tell Mordecai ,
                                                            “All the royal officials and the people of the king’s provinces know that one law applies to every man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned—that he be put to death. Only if the king extends the gold scepter may that person live. But I have not been summoned to appear before the king for the past thirty days.”
                                                    
                        
                    
        
        ’el-
. . .
. . .
        
        ham·me·leḵ
the king
the king
        
        ’el-
in
in
        
        hap·pə·nî·mîṯ
the inner
the inner
        
        he·ḥā·ṣêr
court
court
        
        ’ă·šer
without
without
        
        lō-
. . .
. . .
        
        yiq·qā·rê
being summoned —
being summoned —
        
        lə·hā·mîṯ
that he be put to death .
that he be put to death .
        
        lə·ḇaḏ
Only if
Only if
        
        mê·’ă·šer
-
-
        
        ham·me·leḵ
the king
the king
        
        ’eṯ-
-
-
        
        yō·wō·šîṭ-
extends
extends
        
        lōw
         
    
        
        haz·zā·hāḇ
the gold
the gold
        
        šar·ḇîṭ
scepter
scepter
        
        wə·ḥā·yāh
may that person live .
may that person live .
        
        wa·’ă·nî
But I
But I
        
        lō
have not
have not
        
        niq·rē·ṯ
been summoned
been summoned
        
        lā·ḇō·w
to appear
to appear
        
        ’el-
before
before
        
        zeh
the
the
        
        ham·me·leḵ
king
king
        
        šə·lō·wō·šîm
for the past thirty
for the past thirty
        
        yō·wm
days . ”
days . ”
        
        kāl-
“ All
“ All
        
        ham·me·leḵ
the royal
the royal
        
        ‘aḇ·ḏê
officials
officials
        
        wə·‘am-
and the people
and the people
        
        ham·me·leḵ
of the king’s
of the king’s
        
        mə·ḏî·nō·wṯ
provinces
provinces
        
        yō·wḏ·‘îm
know
know
        
        ’ă·šer
that
that
        
        ’a·ḥaṯ
one
one
        
        dā·ṯōw
law
law
        
        kāl-
applies to every
applies to every
        
        ’îš
man
man
        
        wə·’iš·šāh
or woman
or woman
        
        ’ă·šer
who
who
        
        yā·ḇō·w-
approaches
                            approaches
                                                            When Esther’s words were relayed to Mordecai,
                                                    
                        
                    
        
        ’es·têr
When Esther’s
When Esther’s
        
        diḇ·rê
words
words
        
        way·yag·gî·ḏū
were relayed
were relayed
        
        lə·mā·rə·do·ḵāy
to Mordecai
to Mordecai
        
        ’êṯ
- ,
                            - ,
                                                            he sent back to her this reply: “Do not imagine that because you are in the king’s palace you alone will escape the fate of all the Jews.
                                                    
                        
                    
        
        mā·rə·do·ḵay
he
he
        
        way·yō·mer
sent back
sent back
        
        ’el-
to
to
        
        ’es·têr
[her]
[her]
        
        lə·hā·šîḇ
this reply :
this reply :
        
        ’al-
“ Do not
“ Do not
        
        tə·ḏam·mî
imagine that
imagine that
        
        ḇə·nap̄·šêḵ
[because] you are
[because] you are
        
        ham·me·leḵ
in the king’s
in the king’s
        
        bêṯ-
palace
palace
        
        lə·him·mā·lêṭ
you alone will escape
you alone will escape
        
        mik·kāl
the fate of all
the fate of all
        
        hay·yə·hū·ḏîm
the Jews .
                            the Jews .
                                                            For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows if perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
                                                    
                        
                    
        
        kî
For
For
        
        ’im-
if
if
        
        ha·ḥă·rêš
you remain
you remain
        
        ta·ḥă·rî·šî
silent
silent
        
        haz·zōṯ
at this
at this
        
        bā·‘êṯ
time ,
time ,
        
        re·waḥ
relief
relief
        
        wə·haṣ·ṣā·lāh
and deliverance
and deliverance
        
        lay·yə·hū·ḏîm
for the Jews
for the Jews
        
        ya·‘ă·mō·wḏ
will arise
will arise
        
        ’a·ḥêr
from another
from another
        
        mim·mā·qō·wm
place ,
place ,
        
        wə·’at
but you
but you
        
        ’ā·ḇîḵ
and your father’s
and your father’s
        
        ū·ḇêṯ-
house
house
        
        tō·ḇê·ḏū
will perish .
will perish .
        
        ū·mî
And who
And who
        
        yō·w·ḏê·a‘
knows
knows
        
        ’im-
if perhaps
if perhaps
        
        hig·ga·‘at
you have come
you have come
        
        lam·mal·ḵūṯ
to the kingdom
to the kingdom
        
        lə·‘êṯ
for such a time
for such a time
        
        kā·zōṯ
as this ? ”
                            as this ? ”
                                                            Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai:
                                                    
                        
                    
        
        ’es·têr
Then Esther
Then Esther
        
        lə·hā·šîḇ
sent
sent
        
        wat·tō·mer
this reply
this reply
        
        ’el-
to
to
        
        mā·rə·do·ḵāy
Mordecai :
                            Mordecai :
                                                            “Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day, and I and my maidens will fast as you do. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish!”
                                                    
                        
                    
        
        lêḵ
“ Go
“ Go
        
        kə·nō·ws
and assemble
and assemble
        
        ’eṯ-
-
-
        
        kāl-
all
all
        
        hay·yə·hū·ḏîm
the Jews
the Jews
        
        han·nim·ṣə·’îm
who can be found
who can be found
        
        bə·šū·šān
in Susa ,
in Susa ,
        
        wə·ṣū·mū
and fast
and fast
        
        ‘ā·lay
for me .
for me .
        
        wə·’al-
Do not
Do not
        
        tō·ḵə·lū
eat
eat
        
        wə·’al-
. . .
. . .
        
        tiš·tū
or drink
or drink
        
        šə·lō·šeṯ
for three
for three
        
        yā·mîm
days ,
days ,
        
        lay·lāh
night
night
        
        wā·yō·wm
or day ,
or day ,
        
        ’ă·nî
and I
and I
        
        wə·na·‘ă·rō·ṯay
and my maidens
and my maidens
        
        gam-
-
-
        
        ’ā·ṣūm
will fast
will fast
        
        kên
as you do .
as you do .
        
        ū·ḇə·ḵên
After that ,
After that ,
        
        ’ā·ḇō·w
I will go
I will go
        
        ’el-
to
to
        
        ham·me·leḵ
the king ,
the king ,
        
        ’ă·šer
even though
even though
        
        lō-
it is against
it is against
        
        ḵad·dāṯ
the law .
the law .
        
        wə·ḵa·’ă·šer
And if
And if
        
        ’ā·ḇaḏ·tî
I perish ,
I perish ,
        
        ’ā·ḇā·ḏə·tî
I perish ! ”
                            I perish ! ”
                                                            So Mordecai went and did all that Esther had instructed him.
                                                    
                        
                    
        
        mā·rə·do·ḵāy
So Mordecai
So Mordecai
        
        way·ya·‘ă·ḇōr
went
went
        
        way·ya·‘aś
and did
and did
        
        kə·ḵōl
all
all
        
        ’ă·šer-
that
that
        
        ’es·têr
Esther
Esther
        
        ṣiw·wə·ṯāh
had instructed
had instructed
        
        ‘ā·lāw
him .
                            him .