The Meaning of Esther 4:16 Explained

Esther 4:16

KJV: Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

YLT: Go, gather all the Jews who are found in Shushan, and fast for me, and do not eat nor drink three days, by night and by day; also I and my young women do fast likewise, and so I go in unto the king, that is not according to law, and when I have perished -- I have perished.'

Darby: Go, gather together all the Jews that are found in Shushan, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise, and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.

ASV: Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast in like manner; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Go,  gather together  all the Jews  that are present  in Shushan,  and fast  ye for me, and neither eat  nor drink  three  days,  night  or day:  I also and my maidens  will fast  likewise; and so  will I go  in unto the king,  which [is] not according to the law:  and if I perish,  I perish. 

What does Esther 4:16 Mean?

Context Summary

Esther 4:1-17 - Opportunity For Patriotic Devotion
It seemed as if the whole nation would suddenly be cut off to satisfy the hatred of Haman, and Mordecai knew that he had been the cause of the plot. Esther was evidently living in close sympathy with her uncle, though now separated from him. In reply to the demand that she should hazard her life for the people, there was at first a natural reluctance. Was her love for her people greater than her love for herself? In her resolve there was surely something of the great love of Christ. We may be quite sure that God will carry out His plans-with us, if possible; if not, in spite of us, to our utter loss. We should look upon our position as a sacred trust to be used for others. We are created for good works, which God hath prepared for us to walk in. There can be no presumption in action which is preceded by prayer and heart-searching. [source]

Chapter Summary: Esther 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

What do the individual words in Esther 4:16 mean?

Go gather - all the Jews who are present in Shushan and fast for me and neither eat nor drink [for] three days night or day Also I and My maids will fast likewise and so will I go to the king which [is] against the law and if I perish I perish
לֵךְ֩ כְּנ֨וֹס אֶת־ כָּל־ הַיְּהוּדִ֜ים הַֽנִּמְצְאִ֣ים בְּשׁוּשָׁ֗ן וְצ֣וּמוּ עָ֠לַי וְאַל־ תֹּאכְל֨וּ וְאַל־ תִּשְׁתּ֜וּ שְׁלֹ֤שֶׁת יָמִים֙ לַ֣יְלָה וָי֔וֹם גַּם־ אֲנִ֥י וְנַעֲרֹתַ֖י אָצ֣וּם כֵּ֑ן וּבְכֵ֞ן אָב֤וֹא אֶל־ הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־ כַדָּ֔ת וְכַאֲשֶׁ֥ר אָבַ֖דְתִּי אָבָֽדְתִּי

לֵךְ֩  Go 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
כְּנ֨וֹס  gather 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: כָּנַס  
Sense: to gather, collect, wrap.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַיְּהוּדִ֜ים  the  Jews 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: יְהוּדִי  
Sense: Jew.
הַֽנִּמְצְאִ֣ים  who  are  present 
Parse: Article, Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: מָצָא  
Sense: to find, attain to.
בְּשׁוּשָׁ֗ן  in  Shushan 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: שׁוּשַׁן  
Sense: the winter residence of the Persian kings; located on the river Ulai or Choaspes.
וְצ֣וּמוּ  and  fast 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: צוּם  
Sense: (Qal) to abstain from food, fast.
עָ֠לַי  for  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
וְאַל־  and  neither 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: אַל  
Sense: not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference).
תֹּאכְל֨וּ  eat 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
וְאַל־  nor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: אַל  
Sense: not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference).
תִּשְׁתּ֜וּ  drink 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: שָׁתָה  
Sense: to drink.
שְׁלֹ֤שֶׁת  [for]  three 
Parse: Number, masculine singular construct
Root: מִשְׁלֹשׁ 
Sense: three, triad.
יָמִים֙  days 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
לַ֣יְלָה  night 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: לַיִל 
Sense: night.
וָי֔וֹם  or  day 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
גַּם־  Also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
וְנַעֲרֹתַ֖י  and  My  maids 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: נַעֲרָה  
Sense: girl, damsel, female servant.
אָצ֣וּם  will  fast 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: צוּם  
Sense: (Qal) to abstain from food, fast.
כֵּ֑ן  likewise 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֵּן 
Sense: so, therefore, thus.
וּבְכֵ֞ן  and  so 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Adverb
Root: כֵּן 
Sense: so, therefore, thus.
אָב֤וֹא  will  I  go 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙  the  king 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
לֹֽא־  [is]  against 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
כַדָּ֔ת  the  law 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: דָּת  
Sense: decree, law, edict, regulation, usage.
וְכַאֲשֶׁ֥ר  and  if 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k, Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
אָבַ֖דְתִּי  I  perish 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: אָבַד  
Sense: perish, vanish, go astray, be destroyed.
אָבָֽדְתִּי  I  perish 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: אָבַד  
Sense: perish, vanish, go astray, be destroyed.