King James Version

What Does Esther 8:3 Mean?

Esther 8:3 in the King James Version says “And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the misch...” — study this verse from Esther chapter 8 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews. and besought: Heb. and she wept, and besought him”

Esther 8:3 · KJV

Context

1

On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her.

2

And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.

3

And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews. and besought: Heb. and she wept, and besought him

4

Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,

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: devised: Heb. the device which he: or, who wrote

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews. Despite Haman's execution and Mordecai's elevation, the core crisis remained—the immutable decree. Esther returned to the king, this time prostrate and weeping, begging him to "put away" (haavir, הַעֲבִיר, "cause to pass away/remove") Haman's decree. The phrase "besought him with tears" emphasizes emotional intensity and desperate appeal. Her reference to "Haman the Agagite" connects his plot to ancient Amalekite enmity toward Israel (Exodus 17; 1 Samuel 15). Though Haman was dead, his "device" (machashavah, מַחֲשָׁבָה, "evil plan/scheme") survived in the irreversible decree. This scene demonstrates that removing the perpetrator doesn't automatically remove evil's effects—systemic injustice requires active dismantling.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Persian law's immutability (1:19; 8:8) meant Haman's decree couldn't simply be revoked, even after his execution. This created legal crisis requiring creative solution. Esther's tears and prostration demonstrate both genuine emotion and rhetorical strategy—appealing to the king's compassion and affection. Her specific mention of Jews as the targeted group revealed her identity's full implications: the king's authorization threatened his own queen's people. The reference to Haman as "Agagite" reminded the king that this was ancient ethnic enmity, not mere political conflict. Ancient sources describe similar situations where executed officials' policies remained legally binding, creating administrative and moral problems.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the persistence of evil decree despite Haman's death illustrate that removing individual perpetrators doesn't automatically dismantle systemic injustice?
  2. What does Esther's continued intercession teach about persistence in advocacy even after partial victories?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 22 words
וַתּ֣וֹסֶף1 of 22

“yet again”

H3254

to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing)

אֶסְתֵּ֗ר2 of 22

“And Esther”

H635

ester, the jewish heroine

וַתְּדַבֵּר֙3 of 22

“spake”

H1696

perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue

לִפְנֵ֣י4 of 22

“at”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ5 of 22

“the king”

H4428

a king

וַתִּפֹּ֖ל6 of 22

“and fell down”

H5307

to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)

לִפְנֵ֣י7 of 22

“at”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

רַגְלָ֑יו8 of 22

“his feet”

H7272

a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda

וַתֵּ֣בְךְּ9 of 22

“him with tears”

H1058

to weep; generally to bemoan

וַתִּתְחַנֶּן10 of 22

“and besought”

H2603

properly, to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior; to favor, bestow; causatively to implore (i.e., move to favor by petition)

ל֗וֹ11 of 22
H0
לְהַֽעֲבִיר֙12 of 22

“to put away”

H5674

to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in

אֶת13 of 22
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

רָעַת֙14 of 22

“the mischief”

H7451

bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

הָמָ֣ן15 of 22

“of Haman”

H2001

haman, a persian vizier

הָֽאֲגָגִ֔י16 of 22

“the Agagite”

H91

an agagite or descendent (subject) of agag

וְאֵת֙17 of 22
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

מַֽחֲשַׁבְתּ֔וֹ18 of 22

“and his device”

H4284

a contrivance, i.e., (concretely) a texture, machine, or (abstractly) intention, plan (whether bad, a plot; or good, advice)

אֲשֶׁ֥ר19 of 22
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

חָשַׁ֖ב20 of 22

“that he had devised”

H2803

properly, to plait or interpenetrate, i.e., (literally) to weave or (generally) to fabricate; figuratively, to plot or contrive (usually in a maliciou

עַל21 of 22
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

הַיְּהוּדִֽים׃22 of 22

“against the Jews”

H3064

a jehudite (i.e., judaite or jew), or descendant of jehudah (i.e., judah)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Esther. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Esther 8:3 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Esther 8:3 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Esther 3:8-151 Samuel 25:24Isaiah 38:2Hebrews 5:7Hosea 12:42 Kings 4:27

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