Esther 7:3

KJV

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:

KJV (with Strong's)

Then Esther {H635} the queen {H4436} answered {H6030} and said {H559}, If I have found {H4672} favour {H2580} in thy sight {H5869}, O king {H4428}, and if it please {H2895} the king {H4428}, let my life {H5315} be given {H5414} me at my petition {H7596}, and my people {H5971} at my request {H1246}:

Complete Jewish Bible

Ester the queen answered, "If I have won your favor, king, and if it pleases the king, then what I ask be given me is my own life and the lives of my people.

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.

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:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Esther 7:3 marks the dramatic turning point in Queen Esther's meticulously planned strategy, as she finally articulates her urgent and life-altering petition to King Ahasuerus. Following the king's repeated and generous offer to grant her any request, Esther seizes the opportune moment at the second banquet to plead not for material wealth or power, but for the preservation of her own life and the lives of her people, thereby setting the stage for the explosive revelation of Haman's genocidal plot and the subsequent, divinely orchestrated reversal of their fate.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as the narrative climax of Esther's carefully orchestrated plan, immediately following King Ahasuerus's second, open-ended offer to grant her "whatsoever thy petition, and whatsoever thy request, even to the half of the kingdom" ([Esther 7:2](/esther/7-2 "Esther 7:2 - The King's Second Offer")). Having hosted two banquets, Esther has masterfully built suspense and piqued the king's curiosity, creating the perfect environment for her extraordinary revelation. Her words here are the culmination of her courageous decision to approach the king unbidden, risking her life in the process ([Esther 4:16](/esther/4-16 "Esther 4:16 - Esther's Resolve and Call to Action")). This pivotal moment directly precedes the unmasking of Haman's treachery and the king's explosive wrath ([Esther 7:4-6](/esther/7-4-6 "Esther 7:4-6 - Esther Exposes Haman's Plot")), transitioning the narrative from tense anticipation to decisive action and ultimately leading to the dramatic reversal of Haman's wicked decree.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop of the Persian Empire, characterized by its vastness and the absolute, often capricious, power of its monarch, is crucial for understanding Esther's immense risk. Approaching the king without a summons was a capital offense, punishable by death unless the king extended his golden scepter ([Esther 4:11](/esther/4-11 "Esther 4:11 - The King's Law and Esther's Peril")). Esther's opening phrase, "If I have found favour in thy sight," is a deeply ingrained biblical and ancient Near Eastern idiom, signifying profound humility and a deferential appeal to a superior's goodwill, demonstrating Esther's astute understanding of court protocol and her strategic wisdom. The inherent vulnerability of ethnic minorities within such autocratic empires, starkly highlighted by Haman's genocidal decree against the Jews, underscores the profound gravity of Esther's plea for her "people." Her petition transcends personal grievance, representing the desperate struggle for survival of an entire nation under existential threat.
* **Key Themes:** Esther's petition in this verse powerfully embodies several central themes woven throughout the book. Firstly, **Courageous Intercession** stands paramount; having already risked her life to enter the king's presence, Esther now boldly and articulately intercedes for herself and her people, embodying the profound call to speak truth to power and advocate for the vulnerable. Secondly, **Strategic Wisdom** is brilliantly displayed in her impeccable timing and her deferential yet impactful phrasing, which skillfully appeals to the king's ego and goodwill before revealing the dire and shocking threat. Thirdly, the overarching theme of **Divine Providence** is powerfully at play, even in a book conspicuously devoid of God's explicit name. Esther's unlikely ascent to queen ([Esther 2:17](/esther/2-17 "Esther 2:17 - Esther Becomes Queen")), Mordecai's poignant counsel ([Esther 4:14](/esther/4-14 "Esther 4:14 - For Such a Time as This")), and the precise, opportune timing of this revelation all subtly yet powerfully point to an unseen, sovereign hand guiding events to secure the miraculous deliverance of God's chosen people from utter destruction.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Favour (Hebrew, _chên_):** Derived from the root meaning "to be gracious," this term signifies grace, goodwill, or unmerited kindness. Esther's opening phrase, "If I have found favour in thy sight," is a classic, humble, and respectful idiom employed to appeal to a superior's benevolent disposition. It profoundly acknowledges the king's absolute authority and her complete reliance on his personal inclination rather than any inherent right. It subtly yet powerfully reminds the king of his previous affection for her, skillfully setting a positive and receptive tone for her extraordinary and unprecedented request.
* **Life (Hebrew, _nephesh_):** Often translated as "soul," _nephesh_ here refers to one's very existence, the vital essence and being of a person. By asking for "my life" first, Esther masterfully personalizes the threat in the most visceral and immediate way possible. It conveys the extreme urgency and the existential nature of the danger she faces, making the king's prior offers of "half the kingdom" seem utterly trivial in comparison to the preservation of life itself. This choice immediately grabs the king's attention and emotional investment.
* **People (Hebrew, _ʻam_):** This term, meaning "my nation" or "my kin," is strategically introduced immediately after Esther personalizes the threat. This move broadens her plea to encompass her entire ethnic community, making it powerfully clear that the genocidal decree affects not merely an abstract group but the queen's own family, heritage, and identity. It elevates the petition from a personal grievance to a matter of national survival, underscoring the immense scope of Haman's wickedness.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then Esther the queen answered and said":** This phrase signals the precise, decisive moment where Esther, having meticulously prepared the setting and built the king's anticipation, finally breaks her silence. It emphasizes her royal status and the unique authority she now wields, despite her inherent vulnerability, indicating the profound gravity and transformative nature of her forthcoming words.
* **"If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king":** This masterful double appeal to the king's goodwill and pleasure is a rhetorical tour de force. It is profoundly humble, deferential, and strategically designed to disarm any potential anger or resistance, securing his benevolent attention and emotional receptivity before the shocking nature of her request is unveiled. It establishes a crucial foundation of respect and submission to his absolute sovereignty.
* **"let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request":** This is the core of Esther's desperate plea, delivered with profound urgency and strategic precision. By asking for "my life" first, she makes the danger immediate and intensely personal to the king, who has clearly expressed affection for her. The immediate expansion to "my people" then brilliantly reveals the true, horrifying scope of the threat, inextricably linking her personal survival directly to the impending fate of her entire community. The powerful parallelism in phrasing ("my petition" / "my request") underscores the singular, desperate, and existential nature of her plea for mere existence.

#### Literary Devices
Esther 7:3 is a masterclass in **Rhetorical Skill** and is imbued with profound **Dramatic Irony**. Esther's opening, "If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king," is a prime example of **Parallelism** and subtle **Anaphora**, using similar phrasing to emphasize her deference and appeal to the king's benevolence. This careful, deferential phrasing also powerfully demonstrates **Ethos**, as she skillfully establishes her credibility and respectful posture before making an extraordinary and dangerous demand. The entire scene is steeped in **Suspense**, meticulously built through Esther's delayed revelation and the king's repeated, curious offers, culminating in the profound tension of this verse. There is also a striking element of **Juxtaposition** between the king's immense, absolute power and Esther's vulnerable position as a woman and a member of a condemned people, which serves to amplify her immense courage. Crucially, the audience's full awareness of Haman's genocidal plot, while the king remains oblivious to its direct implications for his queen, creates a powerful and pervasive sense of **Dramatic Irony** that heightens the tension until Esther finally names her adversary.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Esther's courageous and self-sacrificial petition in this verse resonates deeply with the enduring biblical theme of intercession and the divine use of human agents for redemptive purposes. Her willingness to risk her own life to save her people from certain annihilation exemplifies a profound act of self-sacrificial love and courageous advocacy. Though God's name is conspicuously absent from the book of Esther, His providential hand is undeniably evident in Esther's strategic wisdom, her impeccable timing, and the ultimate success of her appeal, demonstrating that He sovereignly works through ordinary individuals in extraordinary circumstances to accomplish His righteous will. This profound act of intercession powerfully foreshadows the greater intercessory work that is central to God's grand plan of salvation, where a chosen individual stands in the gap for others facing condemnation and death.

* [Genesis 18:23-32](/genesis/18-23 "Abraham's Intercession for Sodom")
* [Romans 8:34](/romans/8-34 "Christ's Intercession for Believers")
* [Hebrews 4:16](/hebrews/4-16 "Approach the Throne of Grace with Confidence")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Esther's plea in this verse offers profound and timeless lessons for believers today. It powerfully underscores the transformative power of courageous advocacy for justice and the vulnerable, reminding us that there are crucial times when we, like Esther, are called to speak truth to power, even when it involves significant personal risk or requires careful, strategic communication. Her example encourages us to cultivate spiritual wisdom and discernment in our interactions, choosing the right time and the right words to present critical matters that impact others. Furthermore, Esther's profound willingness to identify completely with her condemned people challenges us to step out of our comfort zones and stand in solidarity with those who are marginalized, oppressed, or facing injustice in our own contexts. It is a powerful reminder that God often uses the seemingly weak or overlooked to bring about His mighty purposes, and that our petitions, offered with humility, courage, and strategic wisdom, can have world-changing and eternal implications.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific areas of your life, community, or broader society might God be calling you to courageous intercession, even when it feels risky or uncomfortable?**
* **How can you cultivate wisdom, discernment, and strategic timing in presenting important matters or advocating for others, drawing inspiration from Esther's example?**
* **How does Esther's willingness to identify deeply with her people's plight challenge you to connect with and respond to the suffering and needs of others in your world today?**

### FAQ

**Question?**
Why does Esther ask for her own life first, before mentioning her people?

Answer: Esther's decision to ask for her own life first is a masterful strategic and rhetorical move, designed to appeal directly to King Ahasuerus's personal affection and emotional investment in her. The king has just offered her "whatsoever thy petition, and whatsoever thy request" ([Esther 7:2](/esther/7-2 "Esther 7:2 - The King's Second Offer")), a remarkably open-ended promise. By personalizing the threat to her own existence, Esther makes the danger immediate, visceral, and deeply relatable to him. It subtly but powerfully implies that her life, which he values, is inextricably intertwined with her people's fate. This initial shock and personalization compel the king to realize the profound gravity of the situation, making the subsequent revelation about her people's impending doom even more impactful, as it directly implicates the queen he loves and cherishes. It is a highly effective rhetorical technique to capture the king's full attention, emotional investment, and sense of responsibility before revealing the full, horrifying scope of Haman's treachery.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Esther's courageous intercession for her people, risking her own life to save them from certain death, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate and perfect intercession of Jesus Christ. Just as Esther stood in the gap between the king's decree and her condemned nation, Jesus, the true and eternal King, stood between a holy God and a condemned humanity. Esther's desperate plea for "my life" and "my people" finds its perfect and glorious fulfillment in Christ, who not only risked His life but willingly and perfectly laid it down as the [Good Shepherd for His sheep](/john/10-11 "John 10:11 - Jesus, the Good Shepherd"). His sacrifice was not merely a petition but a perfect, atoning work, demonstrating God's immense and unparalleled love for us even while we were still sinners ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God Demonstrates His Love")). As the one and only [mediator between God and mankind](/1_timothy/2-5 "1 Timothy 2:5 - One Mediator Between God and Man"), Jesus continually intercedes for His people, ensuring their salvation, justification, and eternal life ([Hebrews 7:25](/hebrews/7-25 "Hebrews 7:25 - Christ Always Lives to Intercede")). Esther's bravery, strategic wisdom, and self-sacrificial love powerfully point to the divine wisdom, perfect love, and ultimate self-sacrifice of Christ, who secured not just physical deliverance but eternal redemption and reconciliation for all who believe in His name.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Jeremiah 38:26

Then thou shalt say unto them, I presented my supplication before the king, that he would not cause me to return to Jonathan's house, to die there.

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.

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.

Job 2:4

And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.

Psalms 122:6

¶ Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

Psalms 122:9

Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.

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.