Esther 8:3
New International Version
Esther again pleaded with the king, falling at his feet and weeping. She begged him to put an end to the evil plan of Haman the Agagite, which he had devised against the Jews.

New Living Translation
Then Esther went again before the king, falling down at his feet and begging him with tears to stop the evil plot devised by Haman the Agagite against the Jews.

English Standard Version
Then Esther spoke again to the king. She fell at his feet and wept and pleaded with him to avert the evil plan of Haman the Agagite and the plot that he had devised against the Jews.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Now Esther spoke again to the king, fell down at his feet, and implored him with tears to counteract the evil of Haman the Agagite, and the scheme which he had devised against the Jews.

New American Standard Bible
Then Esther spoke again to the king, fell at his feet, wept, and pleaded for his compassion to avert the evil scheme of Haman the Agagite and his plot which he had devised against the Jews.

NASB 1995
Then Esther spoke again to the king, fell at his feet, wept and implored him to avert the evil scheme of Haman the Agagite and his plot which he had devised against the Jews.

NASB 1977
Then Esther spoke again to the king, fell at his feet, wept, and implored him to avert the evil scheme of Haman the Agagite and his plot which he had devised against the Jews.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Esther spoke again to the king, fell at his feet, wept, and implored him to repeal the evil scheme of Haman the Agagite and his scheme which he had devised against the Jews.

Amplified Bible
Then Esther spoke again to the king and fell down at his feet and wept and implored him to avert the evil plot of Haman the Agagite and his plan which he had devised against the Jews [because the decree to annihilate the Jews was still in effect].

Christian Standard Bible
Then Esther addressed the king again. She fell at his feet, wept, and begged him to revoke the evil of Haman the Agagite and his plot he had devised against the Jews.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then Esther addressed the king again. She fell at his feet, wept, and begged him to revoke the evil of Haman the Agagite, and his plot he had devised against the Jews.

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
Once again Esther went to speak to the king. This time she fell down at his feet, crying and begging, "Please stop Haman's evil plan to have the Jews killed!"

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Esther spoke again to the king. She fell down at his feet crying and begged him to have mercy and to undo the evil plot of Haman, who was from Agag, and his conspiracy against the Jews.

Good News Translation
Then Esther spoke to the king again, throwing herself at his feet and crying. She begged him to do something to stop the evil plot that Haman, the descendant of Agag, had made against the Jews.

International Standard Version
Then Esther spoke to the king again and fell at his feet. She wept and pleaded with him for mercy to overturn the evil plan devised by Haman the Agagite and his plot against the Jewish people.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

NET Bible
Then Esther again spoke with the king, falling at his feet. She wept and begged him for mercy, that he might nullify the evil of Haman the Agagite which he had intended against the Jews.

New Heart English Bible
Esther spoke yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and begged him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his plot that he had devised against the Jews.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Esther spoke 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.

World English Bible
Esther spoke yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet and begged him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his plan that he had planned against the Jews.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Esther adds, and speaks before the king, and falls before his feet, and weeps, and makes supplication to him, to cause the evil of Haman the Agagite to pass away, and his scheme that he had devised against the Jews;

Young's Literal Translation
And Esther addeth, and speaketh before the king, and falleth before his feet, and weepeth, and maketh supplication to him, to cause the evil of Haman the Agagite to pass away, and his device that he had devised against the Jews;

Smith's Literal Translation
And Esther will add and she will speak before the king, and she will fall before his feet and weep, and make supplication to him to cause the evil of Haman the Agagite to pass away, and his purpose that he purposed against the Jews.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And not content with these things, she fell down at the king's feet and wept, and speaking to him besought him, that he would give orders that the malice of Aman the Agagite, and his most wicked devices which he had invented against the Jews, should be of no effect.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Not content with these things, she threw herself down at the king’s feet and wept, and, speaking to him, pleaded that he would give orders that the malice of Haman the Agagite, and his most wicked schemes, which he had contrived against the Jews, would be made ineffective.

New American Bible
Esther again spoke to the king. She fell at his feet and tearfully implored him to revoke the harm done by Haman the Agagite and the plan he had devised against the Jews.

New Revised Standard Version
Then Esther spoke again to the king; she fell at his feet, weeping and pleading with him to avert the evil design of Haman the Agagite and the plot that he had devised against the Jews.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Esther came back and spoke again before the king, and fell down at his feet and besought him and entreated him earnestly to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite and his device that he had devised against the Jews.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Esthir returned and spoke before the King, and she fell before his feet, and she was begging and was making supplication to him that he would remove the evil of Haman the Aggagite and the plot that was determined against the Jews.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Esther spoke 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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And she spoke yet again to the king, and fell at his feet, and besought him to do away the mischief of Aman, and all that he had done against the Jews.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Esther's Appeal for the Jews
2The king removed the signet ring he had recovered from Haman and presented it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed Mordecai over the estate of Haman. 3And 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. 4The king extended the gold scepter toward Esther, and she arose and stood before the king.…

Cross References
Esther 4:8
Mordecai also gave Hathach a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for the destruction of the Jews, to show and explain to Esther, urging her to approach the king, implore his favor, and plead before him for her people.

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 9:13
Esther replied, “If it pleases the king, may the Jews in Susa also have tomorrow to carry out today’s edict, and may the bodies of Haman’s ten sons 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.”

Daniel 6:14-16
As soon as the king heard this, he was deeply distressed and set his mind on delivering Daniel, and he labored until sundown to rescue him. / Then the men approached the king together and said to him, “Remember, O king, that by the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or ordinance established by the king can be changed.” / 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!”

Genesis 44:18-34
Then Judah approached Joseph and said, “Sir, please let your servant speak personally to my lord. Do not be angry with your servant, for you are equal to Pharaoh himself. / My lord asked his servants, ‘Do you have a father or a brother?’ / And we answered, ‘We have an elderly father and a younger brother, the child of his old age. The boy’s brother is dead. He is the only one of his mother’s sons left, and his father loves 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 19:1-4
On hearing this report, King Hezekiah tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and entered the house of the LORD. / And he sent Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the scribe, and the leading priests, all wearing sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz / to tell him, “This is what Hezekiah says: Today is a day of distress, rebuke, and disgrace; for children have come to the point of birth, but there is no strength to deliver them. ...

Ezra 10:1
While Ezra prayed and made this confession, weeping and falling facedown before the house of God, a very large assembly of Israelites—men, women, and children—gathered around him, and the people wept bitterly as well.

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.

Luke 18:1-8
Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart: / “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected men. / And there was a widow in that town who kept appealing to him, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ ...

John 14:13-14
And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. / If you ask Me for anything in My name, I will do it.

Acts 12:5
So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was fervently praying to God for him.

Romans 9:1-3
I speak the truth in Christ; I am not lying, as confirmed by my conscience in the Holy Spirit. / I have deep sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. / For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my own flesh and blood,


Treasury of Scripture

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

fell.

1 Samuel 25:24
And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid.

2 Kings 4:27
And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the LORD hath hid it from me, and hath not told me.

besought him with tears.

Isaiah 38:2
Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the LORD,

Hosea 12:4
Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us;

Hebrews 5:7
Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

mischief.

Esther 3:8-15
And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them…

Esther 7:4
For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage.

Jump to Previous
Agagite Begged Besought Device Devised Esther Feet Fell Haman Jews Mischief Tears Wept
Jump to Next
Agagite Begged Besought Device Devised Esther Feet Fell Haman Jews Mischief Tears Wept
Esther 8
1. Mordecai is advanced.
3. Esther makes suit to reverse Haman's letters.
7. Xerxes grants to the Jews to defend themselves.
15. Mordecai's honor, and the Jews' joy.














And once again Esther spoke to the king
The phrase "once again" indicates persistence and courage. Esther, a Jewish queen in a foreign land, demonstrates remarkable bravery by approaching the king multiple times. In the Hebrew context, the repetition of actions often signifies determination and the importance of the request. Esther's actions remind us of the importance of perseverance in prayer and advocacy, especially when seeking justice or mercy.

She fell at his feet
This act of falling at the king's feet is a gesture of deep humility and supplication. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, such a posture was a sign of respect and earnest pleading. It reflects Esther's recognition of the king's authority and her own vulnerability. Spiritually, it symbolizes the believer's posture before God, acknowledging His sovereignty and our dependence on His grace.

wept
Weeping here is an expression of genuine emotion and distress. In the Hebrew tradition, tears are often seen as a powerful form of communication with God, conveying sincerity and depth of feeling. Esther's tears underscore the gravity of the situation and her heartfelt concern for her people. This reminds us that God is moved by our heartfelt prayers and that He understands our deepest sorrows.

and begged him to revoke the evil of Haman the Agagite
The word "begged" indicates a fervent plea. Esther is not merely making a request; she is imploring the king with urgency. Haman the Agagite, a descendant of the Amalekites, represents longstanding enmity against the Jews. Historically, the Amalekites were ancient enemies of Israel, and Haman's plot is a continuation of this animosity. Esther's plea is not just for her people’s survival but for the reversal of a historical curse, highlighting the spiritual battle between good and evil.

and his plot against the Jews
The "plot" refers to Haman's decree to annihilate the Jewish people. This genocidal plan is a manifestation of evil intent and hatred. In the broader biblical narrative, the Jews are God's chosen people, and their preservation is crucial to the fulfillment of God's promises. Esther's intervention is pivotal in God's providential plan to protect His people. This serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness and His ability to use individuals to thwart evil and bring about His purposes.

(3) Besought him . . . to put away the mischief.--Esther's work was as yet only half done. She has seen the condemnation of the foe of her race, and the exaltation of her kinsman to his office. But the royal edict sent out against the Jews still remains valid, and being a written decree, sealed with the king's seal, is supposed to be beyond the possibility of alteration. It was not, therefore, a case where Mordecai's newly-acquired dignity would authorise him to interfere, and therefore Esther, who, now that the ice is once broken, becomes more courageous, makes a fresh appeal to the king to do what theoretically was beyond the king's power.

Verse 3. - Esther spake yet again before the king. It might have seemed to be the business of Mordecai, as the king's chief minister, to advise him in a matter of public policy, and one in which the interests of so many of his subjects were vitally concerned. But the new minister did not perhaps feel sure of his influence, or quite know what to recommend. Esther was therefore again put forward to address the king. Fell down at his feet. Compare 1 Samuel 25:24; 2 Kings 4:37, etc. And besought him... to put away the mischief of Haman. i.e. begged him, first of all, in a vague way, to "cause to pass" - put away, or undo - the mischief of Haman - not suggesting how it was to be done.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And once again,
וַתּ֣וֹסֶף (wat·tō·w·sep̄)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3254: To add, augment

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

addressed
וַתְּדַבֵּר֙ (wat·tə·ḏab·bêr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

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

She fell
וַתִּפֹּ֖ל (wat·tip·pōl)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 5307: To fall, lie

at
לִפְנֵ֣י (lip̄·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

his feet
רַגְלָ֑יו (raḡ·lāw)
Noun - fdc | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7272: A foot, a step, the pudenda

weeping
וַתֵּ֣בְךְּ (wat·tê·ḇək)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1058: To weep, to bemoan

and begged
וַתִּתְחַנֶּן־ (wat·tiṯ·ḥan·nen-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 2603: To bend, stoop in kindness to an inferior, to favor, bestow, to implore

him to revoke
לְהַֽעֲבִיר֙ (lə·ha·‘ă·ḇîr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

the evil
רָעַת֙ (rā·‘aṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

scheme
מַֽחֲשַׁבְתּ֔וֹ (ma·ḥă·šaḇ·tōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4284: A contrivance, a texture, machine, intention, plan

of Haman
הָמָ֣ן (hā·mān)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 2001: Haman -- to rage, be turbulent

the Agagite,
הָֽאֲגָגִ֔י (hā·’ă·ḡā·ḡî)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 91: Agagite -- a descriptive term for Haman

which
אֲשֶׁ֥ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

he had devised
חָשַׁ֖ב (ḥā·šaḇ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2803: To think, account

against
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the Jews.
הַיְּהוּדִֽים׃ (hay·yə·hū·ḏîm)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 3064: Jews -- Jewish


Links
Esther 8:3 NIV
Esther 8:3 NLT
Esther 8:3 ESV
Esther 8:3 NASB
Esther 8:3 KJV

Esther 8:3 BibleApps.com
Esther 8:3 Biblia Paralela
Esther 8:3 Chinese Bible
Esther 8:3 French Bible
Esther 8:3 Catholic Bible

OT History: Esther 8:3 Esther spoke yet again before the king (Est Esth. Es)
Esther 8:2
Top of Page
Top of Page