Esther 8:6

For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?

For how {H349} can I endure {H3201} to see {H7200} the evil {H7451} that shall come {H4672} unto my people {H5971}? or how {H349} can I endure {H3201} to see {H7200} the destruction {H13} of my kindred {H4138}?

For how can I bear to see the disaster that will overcome my people? How can I endure seeing the extermination of my kinsmen?"

For how could I bear to see the disaster that would befall my people? How could I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?”

for how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?

Commentary

Context

Esther 8:6 finds Queen Esther in a pivotal moment following the dramatic events of Haman's failed plot. Though Haman, the antagonist, has been executed, his evil decree authorizing the annihilation of all Jews throughout the Persian Empire remained legally binding, as Persian laws could not be revoked (Esther 8:8). This verse captures Esther's profound anguish and desperation as she pleads with King Ahasuerus for the second time, not for her own life, but for the salvation of her entire people. Her initial courageous act of revealing her Jewish identity and exposing Haman's treachery (Esther 7:4) was successful, but the underlying threat to her kindred persisted. This plea highlights her continued selfless leadership and deep empathy for her nation.

Key Themes

  • Profound Empathy and Selfless Intercession: Esther's words reveal a deep personal identification with the fate of her people. She cannot bear the thought of witnessing their suffering and destruction. This is a powerful demonstration of weeping with those who weep and acting on behalf of the vulnerable.
  • Courage in Continued Advocacy: Despite having secured her own safety and Haman's demise, Esther does not rest. She risks the king's favor again to ensure the complete deliverance of her people, demonstrating persistent and unwavering courage. This echoes her earlier resolve in "If I perish, I perish."
  • The Weight of Leadership and Responsibility: As queen, Esther felt the immense responsibility to protect her people. Her rhetorical question, "how can I endure?", underscores the unbearable burden of seeing her community destroyed under her watch.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "how can I endure to see" in the KJV translates the Hebrew אֵיכָכָה אוּכַל וְרָאִיתִי (eikhakhah ukhal v'ra'iti). This is a rhetorical question that powerfully expresses emotional distress and the utter impossibility of the scenario for the speaker. It conveys an acute sense of agony, dread, and a refusal to passively accept the impending tragedy. It's not a question seeking an answer, but a declaration of profound anguish and a plea for intervention, emphasizing the depth of her suffering at the mere thought of such a calamity.

Significance and Application

Esther 8:6 serves as a timeless example of compassionate leadership and the importance of advocating for justice, even when personal risk is involved. Esther's plea reminds believers of their call to stand for the vulnerable and to intercede for those facing oppression or persecution. It challenges us to move beyond personal comfort and to actively work towards the well-being of our communities and fellow human beings, reflecting a Christ-like love that seeks the good of others above oneself (Philippians 2:4). Her unwavering resolve to save her people, even after securing her own position, highlights the enduring power of selfless service and determined prayer in the face of great adversity.

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Cross-References

  • Esther 7:4 (5 votes)

    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.

  • Romans 10:1 (3 votes)

    ¶ Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

  • Romans 9:2 (3 votes)

    That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.

  • Romans 9:3 (3 votes)

    For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

  • Nehemiah 2:3 (2 votes)

    And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, [lieth] waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?

  • Luke 19:41 (2 votes)

    ¶ And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,

  • Luke 19:42 (2 votes)

    Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things [which belong] unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.