Esther 4:2
New International Version
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
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
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.

Berean Standard Bible
But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because the law prohibited anyone wearing sackcloth from entering that gate.

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

New King James Version
He went as far as the front of the king’s gate, for no one might enter the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth.

New American Standard Bible
And he came as far as the king’s gate, for no one was to enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth.

NASB 1995
He went as far as the king’s gate, for no one was to enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth.

NASB 1977
And he went as far as the king’s gate, for no one was to enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth.

Legacy Standard Bible
And he went as far as the king’s gate, for no one was to enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth.

Amplified Bible
He went [only] as far as the king’s gate, because no one was to enter the king’s gate dressed in sackcloth.

Christian Standard Bible
He went only as far as the King’s Gate, since the law prohibited anyone wearing sackcloth from entering the King’s Gate.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He only went as far as the King’s Gate, since the law prohibited anyone wearing sackcloth from entering the King’s Gate.

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

Contemporary English Version
But he could go only as far as the palace gate, because no one wearing sackcloth was allowed inside the palace.

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

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

Good News Translation
until he came to the entrance of the palace. He did not go in because no one wearing sackcloth was allowed inside.

International Standard Version
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.

Majority Standard Bible
But he went only as far as the king?s gate, because the law prohibited anyone wearing sackcloth from entering that gate.

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

New Heart English Bible
He came even before the King's Gate, for no one is allowed inside 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.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and he comes to the front of the gate of the king, but none is to come to the gate of the king with a sackcloth-garment.

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.

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will come even before the king's gate: for none to come into the king's gate in putting on sackcloth.
Catholic Translations
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.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he continued with this lamenting, even up to the gate of the palace, for no one clothed with sackcloth is permitted to enter the king’s court.

New American Bible
till he came before the royal gate, which no one clothed in sackcloth might enter.

New Revised Standard Version
he went up to the entrance of the king’s gate, for no one might enter the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And came even as far as the king's gate; for it was unlawful for any man to enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he came unto the gate of the King, and there was no law that a man may wear sackcloth and may come to the door of the King.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and he came even before the king's gate; for none might enter within the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he came to the king's gate, and stood; for it was not lawful for him to enter into the palace, wearing sackcloth and ashes.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Mordecai Appeals to Esther
1When 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. 2But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because the law prohibited anyone wearing sackcloth from entering that gate. 3In 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.…

Cross References
Nehemiah 2:1-3
Now in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was set before him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had never been sad in his presence, / so the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, though you are not ill? This could only be sadness of the heart.” I was overwhelmed with fear / and replied to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should I not be sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”

Daniel 6:10
Now when Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house, where the windows of his upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

Genesis 37:34
Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth around his waist, and mourned for his son many days.

2 Samuel 3:31
Then David ordered Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the funeral bier.

2 Kings 19:1
On hearing this report, King Hezekiah tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and entered the house of the LORD.

Isaiah 37:1
On hearing this report, King Hezekiah tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and entered the house of the LORD.

Jonah 3:6
When word reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

Matthew 6:16-18
When you fast, do not be somber like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward. / But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, / so that your fasting will not be obvious to men, but only to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Luke 18:13
But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’

James 4:9
Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom.

Joel 1:13
Put on sackcloth and lament, O priests; wail, O ministers of the altar. Come, spend the night in sackcloth, O ministers of my God, because the grain and drink offerings are withheld from the house of your God.

Joel 2:12-13
“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” / So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster.

Jeremiah 6:26
O daughter of my people, dress yourselves in sackcloth and roll in ashes. Mourn with bitter wailing, as you would for an only son, for suddenly the destroyer will come upon us.

Ezekiel 27:31
They will shave their heads for you and wrap themselves in sackcloth. They will weep over you with anguish of soul and bitter mourning.

Lamentations 2:10
The elders of the Daughter of Zion sit on the ground in silence. They have thrown dust on their heads and put on sackcloth. The young women of Jerusalem have bowed their heads to the ground.


Treasury of Scripture

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

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Allowed Clothed Door Doorway Enter Entrance Far Front Gate Inside King's Sackcloth Within
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Allowed Clothed Door Doorway Enter Entrance Far Front Gate Inside King's Sackcloth Within
Esther 4
1. The great mourning of Mordecai and the Jews.
4. Esther, understanding it, sends to Mordecai,
7. who shows the cause, and advises her to undertake the suit.
10. She, excusing herself, is threatened by Mordecai.
15. She, appointing a fast, undertakes the suit.














But he went only as far as the king’s gate
This phrase highlights the boundary that Mordecai respected in his mourning. The king’s gate was a place of official business and royal administration in the Persian Empire. Historically, the king’s gate was a significant location, often bustling with activity and serving as a place where legal matters were addressed. Mordecai’s decision to go only as far as the gate signifies his deep respect for the law and the customs of the land, even in his distress. The Hebrew root for "gate" (שַׁעַר, sha'ar) often symbolizes a place of judgment and decision-making, underscoring the gravity of Mordecai’s actions and the seriousness of the situation facing the Jewish people.

because no one was allowed to enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth
This phrase underscores the Persian law and custom that prohibited expressions of mourning within the royal precincts. Sackcloth, a coarse material typically made from goat’s hair, was worn as a sign of mourning and repentance. The Hebrew word for sackcloth (שַׂק, saq) conveys a sense of humility and supplication. In the context of Esther, this prohibition highlights the separation between the king’s world of power and the reality of human suffering. It also reflects the broader biblical theme of the tension between earthly authority and divine justice. Mordecai’s choice to wear sackcloth at the gate, despite the prohibition, is a powerful testament to his faith and his commitment to intercede for his people, even at great personal risk. This act of defiance serves as an inspiration for believers to stand firm in their convictions and to seek God’s intervention in times of crisis.

(2) None might enter . . .--That nothing sad or ill-omened might meet the monarch's gaze, as though by shutting his eyes, as it were, to the presence of sorrow, or sickness, or death, he might suppose that he was successfully evading them.

Verse 2. - And came even before the king's gate. After some aimless wandering Mordecai as returned toward the palace, either his proper place, or with some incipient notion of obtaining Esther's help. He was not allowed, however, to pass the outer gate on account of his garb of woe, and he remained outside (see ver. 6).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But he went only
וַיָּב֕וֹא (way·yā·ḇō·w)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

as
עַ֖ד (‘aḏ)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

far as the King’s
הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

Gate,
שַֽׁעַר־ (ša·‘ar-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8179: An opening, door, gate

because
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the law prohibited
אֵ֥ין (’ên)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

anyone wearing
בִּלְב֥וּשׁ (bil·ḇūš)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3830: A garment, clothing, raiment

sackcloth
שָֽׂק׃ (śāq)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8242: A mesh, coarse loose cloth, sacking, a bag

from entering
לָב֛וֹא (lā·ḇō·w)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

[that]
הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

gate.
שַׁ֥עַר (ša·‘ar)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8179: An opening, door, gate


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OT History: Esther 4:2 He came even before the king's gate (Est Esth. Es)
Esther 4:1
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