Esther 7:3 Queen Esther replied, "If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, grant me my life as my petition, and the lives of my people as my request.

◄ Esther 7:3 ►

New International Version
Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request.

New Living Translation
Queen Esther replied, “If I have found favor with the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my request, I ask that my life and the lives of my people will be spared.

English Standard Version
Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request.

Berean Standard Bible
Queen Esther replied, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, grant me my life as my petition, and the lives of my people as my request.

King James Bible
Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:

New King James Version
Then Queen Esther answered and said, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request.

New American Standard Bible
Then Queen Esther replied, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me as my request, and my people as my wish;

NASB 1995
Then Queen Esther replied, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me as my petition, and my people as my request;

NASB 1977
Then Queen Esther answered and said, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me as my petition, and my people as my request;

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Queen Esther answered and said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, O king, and if it seems good to the king, let my life be given to me as my petition, and my people as my request;

Amplified Bible
Then Queen Esther replied, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be spared as my petition, and my people [be spared] as my request;

Christian Standard Bible
Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if the king is pleased, spare my life; this is my request. And spare my people; this is my desire.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Queen Esther answered, “If I have obtained your approval, my king, and if the king is pleased, spare my life—this is my request; and spare my people—this is my desire.

American Standard Version
Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favor in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:

Contemporary English Version
Esther answered, "Your Majesty, if you really care for me and are willing to help, you can save me and my people. That's what I really want,

English Revised Version
Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then Queen Esther answered, "If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, Your Majesty, spare my life. That is my request. And spare the life of my people. That is what I ask for.

Good News Translation
Queen Esther answered, "If it please Your Majesty to grant my humble request, my wish is that I may live and that my people may live.

International Standard Version
Queen Esther answered: "If I've found favor with you, your majesty, and if it seems good to the king, let my life be given to me as my petition and my people as my request.

Majority Standard Bible
Queen Esther replied, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, grant me my life as my petition, and the lives of my people as my request.

NET Bible
Queen Esther replied, "If I have met with your approval, O king, and if the king is so inclined, grant me my life as my request, and my people as my petition.

New Heart English Bible
Then Esther the queen answered, "If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favor in thy sight, O king, and if it shall please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:

World English Bible
Then Esther the queen answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And Esther the queen answers and says, “If I have found grace in your eyes, O king, and if to the king [it be] good, let my life be given to me at my petition, and my people at my request;

Young's Literal Translation
And Esther the queen answereth and saith, 'If I have found grace in thine eyes, O king, and if to the king it be good, let my life be given to me at my petition, and my people at my request;

Smith's Literal Translation
And Esther the queen will answer and say, If I found grace in thine eyes, O king, and if good to the king, my soul shall be given to me in my asking, and my people in my seeking.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Then she answered: If I have found Favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please thee, give me my life for which I ask, and my people for which I request.

Catholic Public Domain Version
She answered him, “If I have found favor in your eyes, O king, and if it pleases you, spare my soul, I ask you, and spare my people, I beg you.

New American Bible
Queen Esther replied: “If I have found favor with you, O king, and if it pleases your majesty, I ask that my life be spared, and I beg that you spare the lives of my people.

New Revised Standard Version
Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have won your favor, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me—that is my petition—and the lives of my people—that is my request.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Esthir answered and she said: “If I have found mercy in your eyes, oh King, and if it is good unto the King, let my life be given at my request, and my people at my request!

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
Then Esther the queen answered and said: 'If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And she answered and said, If I have found favour in the sight of the king, let my life be granted to my petition, and my people to my request.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Esther Pleads for Her People
…2and as they drank their wine on that second day, the king asked once more, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given to you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be fulfilled.” 3Queen Esther replied, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, grant me my life as my petition, and the lives of my people as my request. 4For my people and I have been sold out to destruction, death, and annihilation. If we had merely been sold as menservants and maidservants, I would have remained silent, because no such distress would justify burdening the king.”…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Esther 4:16
“Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day, and I and my maidens will fast as you do. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish!”

Esther 5:8
If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, may the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.”

Esther 8:3
And once again, Esther addressed the king. She fell at his feet weeping and begged him to revoke the evil scheme of Haman the Agagite, which he had devised against the Jews.

Esther 9:25
But when it came before the king, he commanded by letter that the wicked scheme which Haman had devised against the Jews should come back upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.

Nehemiah 2:3-5
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?” / “What is your request?” replied the king. So I prayed to the God of heaven / and answered the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city where my fathers are buried, so that I may rebuild it.”

Genesis 44:33-34
Now please let your servant stay here as my lord’s slave in place of the boy. Let him return with his brothers. / For how can I go back to my father without the boy? I could not bear to see the misery that would overwhelm him.”

1 Samuel 25:24-31
She fell at his feet and said, “My lord, may the blame be on me alone, but please let your servant speak to you; hear the words of your servant. / My lord should pay no attention to this scoundrel Nabal, for he lives up to his name: His name means Fool, and folly accompanies him. I, your servant, did not see my lord’s young men whom you sent. / Now, my lord, as surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, since the LORD has held you back from bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hand, may your enemies and those who seek harm for my lord be like Nabal. ...

2 Samuel 14:4-11
When the woman from Tekoa went to the king, she fell facedown in homage and said, “Help me, O king!” / “What troubles you?” the king asked her. “Indeed,” she said, “I am a widow, for my husband is dead. / And your maidservant had two sons who were fighting in the field with no one to separate them, and one struck the other and killed him. ...

2 Kings 4:13
and Elisha said to Gehazi, “Now tell her, ‘Look, you have gone to all this trouble for us. What can we do for you? Can we speak on your behalf to the king or the commander of the army?’” “I have a home among my own people,” she replied.

Ezra 7:6
this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted Ezra all his requests, for the hand of the LORD his God was upon him.

Proverbs 21:1
The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.

Isaiah 62:1
For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not keep still, until her righteousness shines like a bright light, her salvation like a blazing torch.

Jeremiah 31:8-9
Behold, I will bring them from the land of the north and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, including the blind and the lame, expectant mothers and women in labor. They will return as a great assembly! / They will come with weeping, and by their supplication I will lead them; I will make them walk beside streams of waters, on a level path where they will not stumble. For I am Israel’s Father, and Ephraim is My firstborn.”

Daniel 6:16-22
So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” / A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that nothing concerning Daniel could be changed. / Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No entertainment was brought before him, and sleep fled from him. ...

Matthew 7:7-8
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. / For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Treasury of Scripture

Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:

let my life.

Esther 7:7
And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.

1 Kings 20:31
And his servants said unto him, Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings: let us, I pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: peradventure he will save thy life.

2 Kings 1:13
And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight.

my people.

Esther 4:8
Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.

Psalm 122:6-9
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee…

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Approval Esther Eyes Favor Favour Found Good Grace Grant King's Life Majesty Petition Please Pleases Pleasure Queen Request Sight Spare

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Esther 7

1. Esther, entertaining the king and Haman, pleads for her own life, and her people's.
5. She accuses Haman.
7. The king in his anger, understanding of the gallows Haman had made for Mordecai,
10. causes Haman to be hanged thereon.

Berean Study Bible

Then Queen Esther answered
This phrase marks a pivotal moment in the narrative. Esther, who has been strategically silent and patient, now steps into her role as an advocate for her people. The Hebrew root for "answered" (עָנָה, anah) implies a response that is thoughtful and deliberate. Esther's response is not impulsive but carefully considered, reflecting her wisdom and courage. Historically, this moment is significant as it highlights the role of women in God's plan, showing that God can use anyone, regardless of gender, to fulfill His purposes.

“If I have found favor with you, O king,”
Esther begins her plea with humility and respect, acknowledging the king's authority. The phrase "found favor" (מָצָא חֵן, matza chen) is a common biblical expression denoting grace and acceptance. Esther's approach is reminiscent of other biblical figures who sought favor, such as Joseph and Daniel, indicating a reliance on God's providence. This reflects the biblical principle that God grants favor to those who walk in His ways.

“and if it pleases the king,”
Esther continues with a conditional statement, showing her deference to the king's will. The phrase "if it pleases" (טוֹב, tov) is rooted in the Hebrew concept of goodness and appropriateness. Esther's tactful language demonstrates her understanding of court protocol and her strategic acumen. This approach underscores the importance of wisdom and discernment in navigating complex situations.

“spare my life,”
Here, Esther reveals the personal stakes involved. The Hebrew word for "spare" (חָיָה, chayah) means to preserve or save alive. Esther's plea is not just for herself but is deeply connected to the survival of her people. This request highlights the theme of deliverance that runs throughout the book of Esther, reminding readers of God's power to save and protect His people.

“and the lives of my people.”
Esther identifies herself with her people, the Jews, showing solidarity and selflessness. The phrase "my people" (עַם, am) emphasizes the communal aspect of her plea. Esther's courage in revealing her identity is a turning point in the narrative, illustrating the biblical truth that God calls His people to stand together in times of crisis. This moment foreshadows the ultimate deliverance that God provides through Christ, who identifies with humanity to bring salvation.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 3. - Let my life be given me, etc. First of all, I ask at the king's hands my own life, which is threatened (Esther 4:13); secondly, I ask the life of my people, in whose sentence it is that I am involved. Some rhetorical skill is shown in separating the two, so as to make them correspond to the two clauses of the king's address "What is thy petition?" and "What is thy request?"

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Then Queen
הַמַּלְכָּה֙ (ham·mal·kāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4436: Queen -- a queen

Esther
אֶסְתֵּ֤ר (’es·têr)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 635: Esther -- 'star', Ahasuerus' queen who delivered Israel

replied,
וַתַּ֨עַן (wat·ta·‘an)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 6030: To answer, respond

“If
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

I have found
מָצָ֨אתִי (mā·ṣā·ṯî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present

favor
חֵ֤ן (ḥên)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2580: Graciousness, subjective, objective

in your sight,
בְּעֵינֶ֙יךָ֙ (bə·‘ê·ne·ḵā)
Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

O king,
הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

and if
וְאִם־ (wə·’im-)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

it pleases
ט֑וֹב (ṭō·wḇ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2895: To be pleasing or good

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

grant
תִּנָּֽתֶן־ (tin·nā·ṯen-)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

me
לִ֤י (lî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew

my life
נַפְשִׁי֙ (nap̄·šî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

as my petition,
בִּשְׁאֵ֣לָתִ֔י (biš·’ê·lā·ṯî)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 7596: Request, thing asked for

and [the lives of] my people
וְעַמִּ֖י (wə·‘am·mî)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

as my request.
בְּבַקָּשָׁתִֽי׃ (bə·ḇaq·qā·šā·ṯî)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1246: Request, entreaty

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OT History: Esther 7:3 Then Esther the queen answered If (Est Esth. Es)