Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.” New Living Translation “All the king’s officials and even the people in the provinces know that anyone who appears before the king in his inner court without being invited is doomed to die unless the king holds out his gold scepter. And the king has not called for me to come to him for thirty days.” English Standard Version “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—to be put to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live. But as for me, I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.” Berean Standard Bible “All the royal officials and the people of the king’s provinces know that one law applies to every man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned—that he be put to death. Only if the king extends the gold scepter may that person live. But I have not been summoned to appear before the king for the past thirty days.” King James Bible All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days. New King James Version “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that any man or woman who goes into the inner court to the king, who has not been called, he has but one law: put all to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter, that he may live. Yet I myself have not been called to go in to the king these thirty days.” New American Standard Bible “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that for any man or woman who comes to the king in the inner courtyard, who is not summoned, he has only one law, that he be put to death, unless the king holds out to him the golden scepter so that he may live. And I have not been summoned to come to the king for these thirty days.” NASB 1995 “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that for any man or woman who comes to the king to the inner court who is not summoned, he has but one law, that he be put to death, unless the king holds out to him the golden scepter so that he may live. And I have not been summoned to come to the king for these thirty days.” NASB 1977 “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that for any man or woman who comes to the king to the inner court who is not summoned, he has but one law, that he be put to death, unless the king holds out to him the golden scepter so that he may live. And I have not been summoned to come to the king for these thirty days.” Legacy Standard Bible “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that for any man or woman who comes to the king to the inner court who is not summoned, he has but one law, that he be put to death, unless the king holds out to him the golden scepter so that he may live. And I have not been summoned to come to the king for these thirty days.” Amplified Bible “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that for any man or woman who comes to the king to the inner court without being summoned, he has but one law, that he is to be put to death, unless the king holds out to him the golden scepter so that he may live. And as for me, I have not been summoned to come to the king for these [last] thirty days.” Christian Standard Bible “All the royal officials and the people of the royal provinces know that one law applies to every man or woman who approaches the king in the inner courtyard and who has not been summoned—the death penalty — unless the king extends the gold scepter, allowing that person to live. I have not been summoned to appear before the king for the last thirty days.” Holman Christian Standard Bible All the royal officials and the people of the royal provinces know that one law applies to every man or woman who approaches the king in the inner courtyard and who has not been summoned—the death penalty. Only if the king extends the gold scepter will that person live. I have not been summoned to appear before the king for the last 30 days.” American Standard Version All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law for him, that he be put to death, except those to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days. Contemporary English Version there is a law about going in to see the king, and all his officials and his people know about this law. Anyone who goes in to see the king without being invited by him will be put to death. The only way that anyone can be saved is for the king to hold out the gold scepter to that person. And it's been thirty days since he has asked for me." English Revised Version All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law for him, that he be put to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days. GOD'S WORD® Translation "All the king's advisers and the people in the king's provinces know that no one approaches the king in the throne room without being summoned. By law that person must be put to death. Only if the king holds out the golden scepter to him will he live. I, myself, have not been summoned to enter the king's presence for 30 days now." Good News Translation "If anyone, man or woman, goes to the inner courtyard and sees the king without being summoned, that person must die. That is the law; everyone, from the king's advisers to the people in the provinces, knows that. There is only one way to get around this law: if the king holds out his gold scepter to someone, then that person's life is spared. But it has been a month since the king sent for me." International Standard Version "Every servant of the king and every person in the king's provinces knows that for any man or woman who goes to the king in the inner court without being summoned there is only one law—that he be put to death—unless the king holds out the golden scepter to him. Only then he will live. For these last 30 days I've not been summoned to come to the king." Majority Standard Bible “All the royal officials and the people of the king’s provinces know that one law applies to every man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned—that he be put to death. Only if the king extends the gold scepter may that person live. But I have not been summoned to appear before the king for the past thirty days.” NET Bible "All the servants of the king and the people of the king's provinces know that there is only one law applicable to any man or woman who comes uninvited to the king in the inner court--that person will be put to death, unless the king extends to him the gold scepter, permitting him to be spared. Now I have not been invited to come to the king for some thirty days!" New Heart English Bible "All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, know, that whoever, whether man or woman, comes to the king into the inner court without being called, there is one law for him, that he be put to death, except those to whom the king might hold out the golden scepter, that he may live. I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days." Webster's Bible Translation All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whoever, whether man or woman, shall come to the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except him to whom the king shall hold out the golden scepter, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days. World English Bible “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that whoever, whether man or woman, comes to the king into the inner court without being called, there is one law for him, that he be put to death, except those to whom the king might hold out the golden scepter, that he may live. I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.” Literal Translations Literal Standard Version“All servants of the king, and people of the provinces of the king, know that any man and woman who comes to the king, into the inner court, who is not called—one law of his [is] to put [them] to death, apart from him to whom the king holds out the golden scepter, then he has lived; and I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.” Young's Literal Translation All servants of the king, and people of the provinces of the king, do know that any man and woman, who cometh in unto the king, unto the inner court, who is not called -- one law of his is to put them to death, apart from him to whom the king holdeth out the golden sceptre, then he hath lived; and I -- I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.' Smith's Literal Translation All the king's servants, and the people of the kings provinces, knowing that every man and woman who shall go in to the king to the inner enclosure who shall not be called, one edict of his to put to death only which the king shall stretch out to him the sceptre of gold, and he lived: and I was not called to go in to the king this thirty days. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims Bible11All the king's servants, and all the provinces that are under his dominion, know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, cometh into the king's inner court, who is not called for, is immediately to be put to death without any delay: except the king shall hold out the golden sceptre to him, in token of clemency, that so he may live. How then can I go in to the king, who for these thirty days now have not been called unto him? Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible “All the servants of the king and the people of his provinces know that any man or woman who goes to the king in the inner court without being summoned is subject to the same law—death. Only if the king extends the golden scepter will such a person live. Now as for me, I have not been summoned to the king for thirty days.” New Revised Standard Version “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—all alike are to be put to death. Only if the king holds out the golden scepter to someone, may that person live. I myself have not been called to come in to the king for thirty days.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAll the king's servants know that whosoever, whether man or woman, comes to the king into the inner court who is not called, for him there is but one law to put him to death, except the one to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live; but I have not been called to come in to the king these three days. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated “All the Servants of the King know that every man or woman who enters before the King to the inner courtyard who is not commanded, this one who is coming comes to be killed, apart from the King reaching to him the scepter of gold and he lives, and I have not been called to enter before the King now for three days.” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law for him, that he be put to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live; but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.' Brenton Septuagint Translation All the nations of the empire know, that whoever, man or woman, shall go in to the king into the inner court uncalled, that person cannot live: only to whomsoever the king shall stretch out his golden sceptre, he shall live: and I have not been called to go into the king, for these thirty days. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Mordecai Appeals to Esther…10Then Esther spoke to Hathach and instructed him to tell Mordecai, 11“All the royal officials and the people of the king’s provinces know that one law applies to every man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned— that he be put to death. Only if the king extends the gold scepter may that person live. But I have not been summoned to appear before the king for the past thirty days.” 12When Esther’s words were relayed to Mordecai,… Cross References Daniel 6:7-9 All the royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors have agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce a decree that for thirty days anyone who petitions any god or man except you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions. / Therefore, O king, establish the decree and sign the document so that it cannot be changed—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” / Therefore King Darius signed the written decree. Nehemiah 2:1-4 Now in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was set before him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had never been sad in his presence, / so the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, though you are not ill? This could only be sadness of the heart.” I was overwhelmed with fear / 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?” ... Matthew 10:28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Romans 13:1-2 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. / Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. Acts 4:19-20 But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than God. / For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Proverbs 21:1 The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases. 1 Peter 3:14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken.” Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Acts 5:29 But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone— / for kings and all those in authority—so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity. Exodus 33:20 But He added, “You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live.” 2 Samuel 14:32-33 “Look,” said Absalom, “I sent for you and said, ‘Come here. I want to send you to the king to ask: Why have I come back from Geshur? It would be better for me if I were still there.’ So now, let me see the king’s face, and if there is iniquity in me, let him kill me.” / So Joab went and told the king, and David summoned Absalom, who came to him and bowed facedown before him. Then the king kissed Absalom. Isaiah 33:22 For the LORD is our Judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our King. It is He who will save us. Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. Treasury of Scripture All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whoever, whether man or women, shall come to the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden scepter, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days. shall come. the inner court. Esther 5:1 Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house. one law. Daniel 2:9 But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof. the king shall. Esther 5:2 And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre. Esther 8:4 Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king, the golden sceptre. but I. Esther 1:19 If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she. Esther 2:14 In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name. 1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. Jump to Previous Court Death Except Golden Hold Inner King's Law Provinces Scepter Sceptre Servants Thirty Whether WomenJump to Next Court Death Except Golden Hold Inner King's Law Provinces Scepter Sceptre Servants Thirty Whether WomenEsther 4 1. The great mourning of Mordecai and the Jews.4. Esther, understanding it, sends to Mordecai, 7. who shows the cause, and advises her to undertake the suit. 10. She, excusing herself, is threatened by Mordecai. 15. She, appointing a fast, undertakes the suit. All the royal officials and the people of the king’s provinces know This phrase sets the stage by emphasizing the widespread knowledge and understanding of the law within the Persian Empire. The Hebrew word for "know" (יָדַע, yada) implies not just awareness but a deep, experiential understanding. This suggests that the law was not only written but also ingrained in the culture and consciousness of the people. Historically, the Persian Empire was vast, and its laws were disseminated throughout its many provinces, ensuring that everyone, from royal officials to common citizens, was aware of the king's decrees. that any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned has but one law that he be put to death The only exception to this is for the king to extend the gold scepter to him and spare his life But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king The golden sceptre--We are told that in the representations of Persian kings at Persepolis, in every case the monarch holds a long staff or sceptre in his right hand. How forcibly, after reading this verse, the contrast strikes us between the self-styled king of kings, to enter into whose presence even as a suppliant for help and protection was to risk death, and the King of Kings, who has Himself instructed man to say, "Let us go into His tabernacle and fall low on our knees before His footstool." Verse 11. - All the king's servants seems to mean here "all the court," "all those in the immediate service of the king." The inner court. The palace had, as it would seem, only two courts, the "outward court" of ch. 6:4, and the "inner court" of the present passage. There is one law of his to put him to death. Rather, "there is one law for him. 'Whoever he be, there is one and the same law regarding him - he must suffer death. Herodotus excepts six persons from the operation of this law (3:84, 118), but in making the exception shows the general rule to have been such as here represented. Except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre. No other writer tells us of this custom, but it is in perfect harmony with Oriental habits and modes of thought. Some have objected that the king would not always have a golden sceptre by him; but the Persepolitan sculptures uniformly represent him with a long tapering staff in his hand, which is probably the "sceptre" (sharbith) of Esther. I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days. The king s passion had cooled, and Esther now, like his other wives, waited her occasional summons to his presence. She had not been called for a whole month, and did not know when a summons might come. It would not do to trust to so mere a chance; and therefore, if she was to interpose on behalf of her nation, she must intrude on the king uninvited, and risk being put to death.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew “Allכָּל־ (kāl-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every the royal הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4428: A king officials עַבְדֵ֣י (‘aḇ·ḏê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 5650: Slave, servant and the people וְעַם־ (wə·‘am-) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock of the king's הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4428: A king provinces מְדִינ֨וֹת (mə·ḏî·nō·wṯ) Noun - feminine plural construct Strong's 4082: A judgeship, jurisdiction, a district, a region know יֽוֹדְעִ֗ים (yō·wḏ·‘îm) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural Strong's 3045: To know that אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that one אַחַ֤ת (’a·ḥaṯ) Number - feminine singular Strong's 259: United, one, first law דָּתוֹ֙ (dā·ṯōw) Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 1881: A royal edict, statute applies to every כָּל־ (kāl-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every man אִ֣ישׁ (’îš) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person or woman וְאִשָּׁ֡ה (wə·’iš·šāh) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female who אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that approaches יָבֽוֹא־ (yā·ḇō·w-) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go the king הַמֶּלֶךְ֩ (ham·me·leḵ) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4428: A king in אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to the inner הַפְּנִימִ֜ית (hap·pə·nî·mîṯ) Article | Adjective - feminine singular Strong's 6442: Interior courtyard הֶחָצֵ֨ר (he·ḥā·ṣêr) Article | Noun - common singular Strong's 2691: A yard, a hamlet without אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that being summoned— יִקָּרֵ֗א (yiq·qā·rê) Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read that he be put to death. לְהָמִ֔ית (lə·hā·mîṯ) Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct Strong's 4191: To die, to kill Only if לְ֠בַד (lə·ḇaḏ) Preposition | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 905: Separation, a part of the body, branch of a, tree, bar for, carrying, chief of the king הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4428: A king extends יֽוֹשִׁיט־ (yō·wō·šîṭ-) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3447: To extend, hold out the gold הַזָּהָ֖ב (haz·zā·hāḇ) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2091: Gold, something gold-colored, as oil, a clear sky scepter שַׁרְבִ֥יט (šar·ḇîṭ) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 8275: A rod of empire may that person live. וְחָיָ֑ה (wə·ḥā·yāh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 2421: To live, to revive But I וַאֲנִ֗י (wa·’ă·nî) Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular Strong's 589: I have not לֹ֤א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no been summoned נִקְרֵ֙אתי֙ (niq·rê·ṯî) Verb - Nifal - Perfect - first person common singular Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read to appear לָב֣וֹא (lā·ḇō·w) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go before אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to the זֶ֖ה (zeh) Pronoun - masculine singular Strong's 2088: This, that king הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4428: A king for the past thirty שְׁלוֹשִׁ֥ים (šə·lō·wō·šîm) Number - common plural Strong's 7970: Thirty, thirtieth days.” יֽוֹם׃ (yō·wm) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3117: A day Links Esther 4:11 NIVEsther 4:11 NLT Esther 4:11 ESV Esther 4:11 NASB Esther 4:11 KJV Esther 4:11 BibleApps.com Esther 4:11 Biblia Paralela Esther 4:11 Chinese Bible Esther 4:11 French Bible Esther 4:11 Catholic Bible OT History: Esther 4:11 All the king's servants and the people (Est Esth. 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