16
"Go. Gather together all of the Jews who are in Susa. And fast for my benefit. Don't eat or drink anything for three days. Don't do it night or day. I and my attendants will fast just as you do. Then I'll go to the king. I'll do it even though it's against the law. And if I have to die, I'll die."
Reference
Greek: ἄπειμι (ápeimi)
to go away
Hebrew: ʼârach
to travel
Greek: σύνειμι (sýneimi)
to assemble
Hebrew: kânash
to assemble
Greek: ὅλος (hólos)
"whole" or "all", i.e. complete (in extent, amount, time or degree), especially (neuter) as noun or adverb
Hebrew: kôl
{properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)}
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: ἐστί (estí)
he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are
Greek: καίγε (kaíge)
and at least (or even, indeed)
Hebrew: kîy
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
Greek: νηστεύω (nēsteúō)
to abstain from food (religiously)
Hebrew: ʼoçparnâʼ
diligently
Greek: ἀντί (antí)
opposite, i.e. instead or because of (rarely in addition to)
Hebrew: bᵉmôw
in, with, by, etc.
Greek: ἀγαθός (agathós)
"good" (in any sense, often as noun)
Hebrew: tagmûwl
a bestowment
Greek: γεύομαι (geúomai)
to taste; by implication, to eat; figuratively, to experience (good or ill)
Greek: πίνω (pínō)
to imbibe (literally or figuratively)
Hebrew: çôbeʼ
potation, concretely (wine), or abstractly (carousal)
Greek: ἀντί (antí)
opposite, i.e. instead or because of (rarely in addition to)
Hebrew: bᵉmôw
in, with, by, etc.
Greek: τρεῖς (treîs)
"three"
Greek: κατατίθημι (katatíthēmi)
to place down, i.e. deposit (literally or figuratively)
Hebrew: hêm
they (only used when emphatic)
Hebrew: lêylᵉyâʼ
{Lael an Israelite}
Greek: ὥρα (hṓra)
an "hour" (literally or figuratively)
Greek: μέ (mé)
me
Hebrew: ʼănâʼ
I
Greek: καίγε (kaíge)
and at least (or even, indeed)
Hebrew: kîy
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
Greek: θέλησις (thélēsis)
determination (properly, the act), i.e. option
Hebrew: tsᵉbâʼ
to please
Greek: νηστεύω (nēsteúō)
to abstain from food (religiously)
Hebrew: ʼoçparnâʼ
diligently
Greek: ἔνδικος (éndikos)
in the right, i.e. equitable
Hebrew: tsaddîyq
just
Greek: καθά (kathá)
according to which things, i.e. just as
Hebrew: tachath
the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc.
Greek: κατατίθημι (katatíthēmi)
to place down, i.e. deposit (literally or figuratively)
Greek: τοίνυν (toínyn)
truly now, i.e. accordingly
Hebrew: ʼăzay
at that time
Greek: μέ (mé)
me
Hebrew: ʼănâʼ
I
Greek: ἄγε (áge)
properly, lead, i.e. come on
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: βασιλεύω (basileúō)
to rule (literally or figuratively)
Hebrew: melek
a king
Greek: μέ (mé)
me
Hebrew: ʼănâʼ
I
Greek: κατατίθημι (katatíthēmi)
to place down, i.e. deposit (literally or figuratively)
Hebrew: hêm
they (only used when emphatic)
Greek: μέν (mén)
properly, indicative of affirmation or concession (in fact); usually followed by a contrasted clause with G1161 (δέ) (this one, the former, etc.)
Hebrew: hêʼ
{lo!}
Hebrew: hêm
they (only used when emphatic)
Greek: ἔμπροσθεν (émprosthen)
in front of (in place (literally or figuratively) or time)
Hebrew: ʼêth
properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc.
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: νόμος (nómos)
law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of Moses (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively (a principle)
Hebrew: tôwrâh
a precept or statute, especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch
Greek: καίγε (kaíge)
and at least (or even, indeed)
Hebrew: kîy
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
Greek: μέ (mé)
me
Hebrew: ʼănâʼ
I
Greek: κατέχω (katéchō)
to hold down (fast), in various applications (literally or figuratively)
Hebrew: gâvaʻ
to breathe out, i.e. (by implication) expire
Greek: μέ (mé)
me
Hebrew: ʼănâʼ
I
Hebrew: gâvaʻ
to breathe out, i.e. (by implication) expire
Verse Explanation
Esther asked Mordecai and the Jewish community to fast for three days and three nights, without eating or drinking. She and her attendants would fast as well. Afterward, Esther would go to the king even though it was against the law. She accepted the possibility of death, saying that if she perished, she perished.
History
c. 474 BC. Esther's decision represents a dramatic act of courage and self-sacrifice.