King James Version

What Does Esther 8:5 Mean?

Esther 8:5 in the King James Version says “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 ... — study this verse from Esther chapter 8 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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

Esther 8:5 · KJV


Context

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

6

For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred? endure: Heb. be able that I may see

7

Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews.


Commentary

KJV Study 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.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural 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.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does Esther's diplomatic language model effective advocacy that achieves goals while preserving relationships and others' dignity?
  2. What does her understanding of legal procedures teach about the importance of strategic knowledge in advocacy and reform?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 34 words
וַ֠תֹּאמֶר1 of 34

And said

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אִם2 of 34
H518

used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not

עַל3 of 34
H5921

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

הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃4 of 34

the king

H4428

a king

וְטוֹבָ֥ה5 of 34

If it please

H2896

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

וְאִם6 of 34
H518

used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not

מָצָ֧אתִי7 of 34

and if I have found

H4672

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

חֵ֣ן8 of 34

favour

H2580

graciousness, i.e., subjective (kindness, favor) or objective (beauty)

לִפְנֵ֣י9 of 34

before

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

וְכָשֵׁ֤ר10 of 34

seem right

H3787

by implication, to be acceptable; also to succeed or prosper

הַדָּבָר֙11 of 34

and the thing

H1697

a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause

לִפְנֵ֣י12 of 34

before

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

הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃13 of 34

the king

H4428

a king

וְטוֹבָ֥ה14 of 34

If it please

H2896

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

אֲנִ֖י15 of 34
H589

i

בְּעֵינָ֑יו16 of 34

in his eyes

H5869

an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)

כָּתַ֗ב17 of 34

let it be written

H3789

to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe)

לְהָשִׁ֣יב18 of 34

to reverse

H7725

to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);

אֶת19 of 34
H853

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

הַסְּפָרִ֗ים20 of 34

the letters

H5612

properly, writing (the art or a document); by implication, a book

מַֽחֲשֶׁ֜בֶת21 of 34

devised

H4284

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

הָמָ֤ן22 of 34

by Haman

H2001

haman, a persian vizier

בֶּֽן23 of 34

the son

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

הַמְּדָ֙תָא֙24 of 34

of Hammedatha

H4099

medatha, the father of haman

הָֽאֲגָגִ֔י25 of 34

the Agagite

H91

an agagite or descendent (subject) of agag

אֲשֶׁ֣ר26 of 34
H834

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

כָּתַ֗ב27 of 34

let it be written

H3789

to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe)

לְאַבֵּד֙28 of 34

to destroy

H6

properly, to wander away, i.e., lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)

אֶת29 of 34
H853

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

הַיְּהוּדִ֔ים30 of 34

the Jews

H3064

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

אֲשֶׁ֖ר31 of 34
H834

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

בְּכָל32 of 34
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

מְדִינ֥וֹת33 of 34

provinces

H4082

properly, a judgeship, i.e., jurisdiction; by implication, a district (as ruled by a judge); generally, a region

הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃34 of 34

the king

H4428

a king


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 8:5 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 8:5 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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