Esther 8:6

Fellowship and the church Grief Parents and children Courage and strength

⁴ The king extended the gold scepter toward Esther, and she arose and stood before the king.

⁵ “If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if I have found favor in his sight, and the matter seems proper to the king, and I am pleasing in his sight, may an order be written to revoke the letters that the scheming Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king’s provinces.

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?”

⁷ So King Xerxes said to Esther the Queen and Mordecai the Jew, “Behold, I have given Haman’s estate to Esther, and he was hanged on the gallows because he attacked the Jews.

⁸ Now you may write in the king’s name as you please regarding the Jews, and seal it with the royal signet ring. For a decree that is written in the name of the king and sealed with the royal signet ring cannot be revoked.”

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: 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?”
KJV: 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?
WEB: For how can I endure to see the evil that would come to my people? How can I endure to see the destruction of my relatives?”
ASV: 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?
DARBY: For how shall I endure to see the evil that shall befall my people? and how shall I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?
BLB: For how could I bear when I have looked on the evil that would find my people? And how could I bear when I have looked on the destruction of my kindred?”

ÅB: Hvordan skulle jeg kunne se på den ulykke som ville ramme mitt folk, og hvordan skulle jeg kunne se på min slekts undergang?
OTB: For hvordan kan jeg bære å se den ulykke som vil ramme mitt folk? Hvordan kan jeg utholde ødeleggelsen av min familie?"
B1930: Hvorledes skulde jeg kunne se på den ulykke som vilde ramme mitt folk, og hvorledes skulde jeg kunne se på min ætts undergang?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Esther 7:4
For my people and I have been sold out to destruction, death, and annihilation. If we had merely been sold as menservants and maidservants, I would have remained silent, because no such distress would justify burdening the king.”
Read in context
Romans 10:1
Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is for their salvation.
Read in context
Romans 9:2–3
I have deep sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
Read in context
Luke 19:41–42
As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it
Read in context
Jeremiah 4:19
My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain! Oh, the pain in my chest! My heart pounds within me; I cannot be silent. For I have heard the sound of the horn, the alarm of battle.
Read in context
Genesis 44:34
For how can I go back to my father without the boy? I could not bear to see the misery that would overwhelm him.”
Read in context
Jeremiah 9:1
Oh, that my head were a spring of water, and my eyes a fountain of tears! I would weep day and night over the slain daughter of my people.
Read in context
Esther 9:1
On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, the king’s command and edict were to be executed. On this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but their plan was overturned and the Jews overpowered those who hated them.
Read in context