Esther 5:8

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow as the king hath said.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Then Ester answered, "My request, what I want, is this: if I have won the king's favor, if it pleases the king to grant my request and do what I want, let the king and Haman come to the banquet which I will prepare for them; and tomorrow I will do as the king has said."

Berean Standard Bible:

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.”

American Standard Version:

If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to-morrow as the king hath said.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

If I have found^{H4672} favour^{H2580} in the sight^{H5869} of the king^{H4428}, and if it please^{H2895} the king^{H4428} to grant^{H5414} my petition^{H7596}, and to perform^{H6213} my request^{H1246}, let the king^{H4428} and Haman^{H2001} come^{H935} to the banquet^{H4960} that I shall prepare^{H6213} for them, and I will do^{H6213} to morrow^{H4279} as the king^{H4428} hath said^{H1697}.

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Commentary for Esther 5:8

Esther 5:8 is a pivotal verse in the Book of Esther, which is set in the Persian Empire during the reign of King Ahasuerus (commonly identified with Xerxes I, who ruled from 486 to 465 BCE). The book tells the story of Esther, a Jewish woman who becomes queen of Persia and uses her influence to save her people from a planned genocide.

In this verse, Esther is inviting King Ahasuerus and his advisor, Haman, to a banquet. The historical context is significant because Haman has recently plotted to destroy all the Jews in the empire, and Esther's cousin Mordecai has urged her to intervene with the king on behalf of her people. Esther's approach is cautious; she first mentions finding favor in the king's sight, indicating her awareness of the precariousness of her position as a Jew and as a queen who must approach the king according to protocol. Her request for the king and Haman to attend a banquet is a strategic move to create a favorable atmosphere in which she can reveal her true petition concerning the survival of the Jewish people.

The themes present in this verse include divine providence, as Esther's rise to queen is seen as part of a larger plan to save the Jews; the use of wisdom and timing in diplomacy and governance; and the courage to act in the face of potential danger. Esther's words reflect her understanding of courtly etiquette, her shrewdness in navigating royal favor, and her determination to fulfill her duty to her people, all of which are central to the narrative's unfolding. Her invitation to the banquet sets the stage for the subsequent revelation of her identity and the unraveling of Haman's plot, ultimately leading to the deliverance of the Jews and the celebration of Purim.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H4672
   There are 425 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מָצָא
   Transliteration: mâtsâʼ
   Pronunciation: maw-tsaw'
   Description: a primitive root; 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; [phrase] be able, befall, being, catch, [idiom] certainly, (cause to) come (on, to, to hand), deliver, be enough (cause to) find(-ing, occasion, out), get (hold upon), [idiom] have (here), be here, hit, be left, light (up-) on, meet (with), [idiom] occasion serve, (be) present, ready, speed, suffice, take hold on.
   
2. Strong's Number: H2580
   There are 67 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חֵן
   Transliteration: chên
   Pronunciation: khane
   Description: from חָנַן; graciousness, i.e. subjective (kindness, favor) or objective (beauty); favour, grace(-ious), pleasant, precious, (well-) favoured.
   
3. Strong's Number: H5869
   There are 830 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עַיִן
   Transliteration: ʻayin
   Pronunciation: ah'-yin
   Description: probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape); affliction, outward appearance, [phrase] before, [phrase] think best, colour, conceit, [phrase] be content, countenance, [phrase] displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, [phrase] favour, fountain, furrow (from the margin), [idiom] him, [phrase] humble, knowledge, look, ([phrase] well), [idiom] me, open(-ly), [phrase] (not) please, presence, [phrase] regard, resemblance, sight, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them, [phrase] think, [idiom] us, well, [idiom] you(-rselves).
   
4. Strong's Number: H4428
   There are 1922 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֶלֶךְ
   Transliteration: melek
   Pronunciation: meh'-lek
   Description: from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal.
   
5. Strong's Number: H2895
   There are 33 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: טוֹב
   Transliteration: ṭôwb
   Pronunciation: tobe
   Description: a primitive root,; to be (transitively, do or make) good (or well) in the widest sense; be (do) better, cheer, be (do, seem) good, (make) goodly, [idiom] please, (be, do, go, play) well.
   
6. Strong's Number: H5414
   There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָתַן
   Transliteration: nâthan
   Pronunciation: naw-than'
   Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield.
   
7. Strong's Number: H7596
   There are 14 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שְׁאֵלָה
   Transliteration: shᵉʼêlâh
   Pronunciation: sheh-ay-law'
   Description: or שֵׁלָה; (1 Samuel 1:17), from שָׁאַל; a petition; by implication, a loan; loan, petition, request.
   
8. Strong's Number: H6213
   There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָשָׂה
   Transliteration: ʻâsâh
   Pronunciation: aw-saw'
   Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.
   
9. Strong's Number: H1246
   There are 8 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בַּקָּשָׁה
   Transliteration: baqqâshâh
   Pronunciation: bak-kaw-shaw'
   Description: from בָּקַשׁ; a petition; request.
   
10. Strong's Number: H2001
    There are 45 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: הָמָן
    Transliteration: Hâmân
    Pronunciation: haw-mawn'
    Description: of foreign derivation; Haman, a Persian vizier; Haman.
    
11. Strong's Number: H935
    There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בּוֹא
    Transliteration: bôwʼ
    Pronunciation: bo
    Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
    
12. Strong's Number: H4960
    There are 43 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מִשְׁתֶּה
    Transliteration: mishteh
    Pronunciation: mish-teh'
    Description: from שָׁתָה; drink, by implication, drinking (the act); also (by implication) a banquet or (generally) feast; banquet, drank, drink, feast((-ed), -ing).
    
13. Strong's Number: H4279
    There are 52 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מָחָר
    Transliteration: mâchâr
    Pronunciation: maw-khar'
    Description: probably from אָחַר; properly, deferred, i.e. the morrow; usually (adverbially) tomorrow; indefinitely, hereafter; time to come, tomorrow.
    
14. Strong's Number: H1697
    There are 1290 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: דָּבָר
    Transliteration: dâbâr
    Pronunciation: daw-baw'
    Description: from דָבַר; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause; act, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dearth, decree, deed, [idiom] disease, due, duty, effect, [phrase] eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-) ness, [phrase] glory, [phrase] harm, hurt, [phrase] iniquity, [phrase] judgment, language, [phrase] lying, manner, matter, message, (no) thing, oracle, [idiom] ought, [idiom] parts, [phrase] pertaining, [phrase] please, portion, [phrase] power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, [idiom] (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, [phrase] sign, [phrase] so, some (uncleanness), somewhat to say, [phrase] song, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, task, [phrase] that, [idiom] there done, thing (concerning), thought, [phrase] thus, tidings, what(-soever), [phrase] wherewith, which, word, work.