Esther 4:2
◄  Esther 4:2  ►
New International Version (©2011)
But he went only as far as the king's gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it.

New Living Translation (©2007)
He went as far as the gate of the palace, for no one was allowed to enter the palace gate while wearing clothes of mourning.

English Standard Version (©2001)
He went up to the entrance of the king’s gate, for no one was allowed to enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
He went as far as the king's gate, for no one was to enter the king's gate clothed in sackcloth.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And came even before the king's gate: for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
He only went as far as the King's Gate, since the law prohibited anyone wearing sackcloth from entering the King's Gate.

International Standard Version (©2012)
He came as far as the front of the king's gate, because no one was allowed to enter the king's gate clothed in sackcloth.

NET Bible (©2006)
But he went no further than the king's gate, for no one was permitted to enter the king's gate clothed in sackcloth.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
He even went right up to the king's gate. (No one could enter it wearing sackcloth.)

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And came even before the king's gate: for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.

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

American Standard Version
and he came even before the king's gate: for none might enter within the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he came lamenting in this manner even to the gate of the palace: for no one clothed with sackcloth might enter the king's court.

Darby Bible Translation
and came even before the king's gate; for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.

English Revised Version
and he came even before the king's gate: for none might enter within the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.

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

World English Bible
He came even before the king's gate, for no one is allowed inside the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.

Young's Literal Translation
and he cometh in unto the front of the gate of the king, but none is to come in unto the gate of the king with a sackcloth-garment.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And came even before the king's gate,.... Or court, that Esther might if possible be made acquainted with this dreadful calamity coming upon her people:

continued...

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

And came even before the king's gate, i.e., according to Esther 4:6, the open space before the entrance to the royal palace; for none might enter wearing mourning. לבוא אין, there is no entering, i.e., none may enter; comp. Ewald, 321, c.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

None might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth - This law is not elsewhere mentioned; but its principle - that nothing of evil omen is to be obtruded on the monarch - has been recognized throughout the East in all ages.

Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Before the king's gate - He could not enter into the gate, of the place where the officers waited, because he was in the habit of a mourner; for this would have been contrary to law.

Geneva Study Bible

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

(a) Because he would inform Esther of this cruel proclamation.

Wesley's Notes

4:2 Sackcloth - Lest it should give the king any occasion of grief and trouble. But what availed, to keep out the badges of sorrow unless they could have kept out the causes of sorrow too? To forbid sackcloth to enter unless they could likewise forbid sickness, and trouble, and death?

Esther 4:2 Parallel Commentaries
Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


Mordecai Requests Esther's Help
1When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the middle of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry; 2And came even before the king's gate: for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth. 3And in every province, wherever 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. …

Esther 4:1 When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly.
Esther 4:3 In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes.