Esther 4:4

So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told [it] her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received [it] not.

So Esther's {H635} maids {H5291} and her chamberlains {H5631} came {H935} and told {H5046} it her. Then was the queen {H4436} exceedingly {H3966} grieved {H2342}; and she sent {H7971} raiment {H899} to clothe {H3847} Mordecai {H4782}, and to take away {H5493} his sackcloth {H8242} from him: but he received {H6901} it not.

When the girls and officials attending Ester came and informed her of this, the queen became deeply distressed. She sent clothes for Mordekhai to wear instead of his sackcloth, but he wouldn't accept them.

When Esther’s maidens and eunuchs came and told her about Mordecai, the queen was overcome with distress. She sent clothes for Mordecai to wear instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them.

And Esther’s maidens and her chamberlains came and told it her; and the queen was exceedingly grieved: and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take his sackcloth from off him; but he received it not.

Commentary

Esther 4:4 describes Queen Esther's initial reaction to seeing her cousin and guardian, Mordecai, in deep distress. His public display of mourning—wearing sackcloth—was a clear sign of profound grief and alarm, a stark contrast to the usual decorum of the royal palace.

Context of the Verse

At this point in the narrative, Esther is queen in the Persian capital of Susa, but she is unaware of the genocidal decree issued by Haman against all Jews in the empire. Haman had convinced King Ahasuerus to sign an edict to annihilate the Jewish people. Mordecai, who had discovered the plot, was now outside the palace gate, openly lamenting and drawing attention to the dire situation. Esther's maids and chamberlains, observing Mordecai's unusual and distressing appearance, reported it to the queen.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Profound Grief and Despair: Mordecai's sackcloth and refusal to remove it signify not merely personal sorrow but a deep, public lament over the existential threat facing his people. This was a common biblical practice for expressing extreme distress or repentance, as seen with the king of Nineveh in Jonah 3:6.
  • Esther's Initial Ignorance and Concern: Esther's immediate reaction was "exceedingly grieved" by Mordecai's condition, prompting her to send him new clothing. This shows her affection and concern for him, but also highlights her initial ignorance of the true gravity of the situation. Her sheltered life in the palace had shielded her from the unfolding crisis.
  • Mordecai's Unwavering Resolve: His refusal of the clothes is crucial. It underscores that his distress was not a superficial matter that could be remedied by a change of attire. He wanted Esther to understand the depth of the crisis, not just to alleviate his discomfort. This refusal forces Esther to seek a deeper understanding, acting as a catalyst for her eventual involvement.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "exceedingly grieved" translates the Hebrew verb chul (חוּל), which can mean to writhe in pain, be in anguish, or be distressed. It conveys a strong sense of internal turmoil and deep emotional suffering on Esther's part, even before she knows the full story. The term "sackcloth" (Hebrew: saq) refers to a coarse, dark fabric, typically made of goat's hair, worn as a sign of mourning, humiliation, or repentance, often accompanied by ashes.

Practical Application

This verse reminds us that true solutions often require addressing the root cause of a problem, not just its outward symptoms. Mordecai's refusal to accept new clothes was a powerful non-verbal communication, forcing Esther to look beyond the surface. It also illustrates how God can use seemingly small interactions or acts of public lament to set in motion larger plans for divine intervention and deliverance. We are called to be attentive to the distress of others and to seek to understand the underlying issues, rather than offering superficial fixes.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Psalms 77:2

    In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.

  • Esther 1:12

    But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by [his] chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.

  • Genesis 37:35

    And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.

  • Isaiah 56:3

    ¶ Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I [am] a dry tree.

  • 2 Kings 9:32

    And he lifted up his face to the window, and said, Who [is] on my side? who? And there looked out to him two [or] three eunuchs.

  • Jeremiah 31:15

    Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, [and] bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they [were] not.

  • 1 Samuel 8:15

    And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.
← Back