The Meaning of Esther 4:5 Explained

Esther 4:5

KJV: Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was.

YLT: And Esther calleth to Hatach, of the eunuchs of the king, whom he hath stationed before her, and giveth him a charge for Mordecai, to know what this is, and wherefore this is.

Darby: Then Esther called for Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to wait upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was.

ASV: Then called Esther for Hathach, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and charged him to go to Mordecai, to know what this was, and why it was.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then called  Esther  for Hatach,  [one] of the king's  chamberlains,  whom he had appointed  to attend  upon her, and gave him a commandment  to Mordecai,  to know  what it [was], and why it [was]. 

What does Esther 4:5 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 4:5 mean?

And called Esther Hathach [one] of eunuchs of the king whom he had appointed to attend her and she gave him a command concerning Mordecai to learn what [is] this and why and why this [was]
וַתִּקְרָא֩ אֶסְתֵּ֨ר לַהֲתָ֜ךְ מִסָּרִיסֵ֤י הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֶעֱמִ֣יד לְפָנֶ֔יהָ וַתְּצַוֵּ֖הוּ עַֽל־ מָרְדֳּכָ֑י לָדַ֥עַת מַה־ זֶּ֖ה וְעַל־ מַה־ זֶּֽה

וַתִּקְרָא֩  And  called 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
אֶסְתֵּ֨ר  Esther 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶסְתֵּר  
Sense: the queen of Persia, heroine of the book of Esther—daughter of Abihail, cousin and adopted daughter of Mordecai, of the tribe of Benjamin, made queen by king Ahasuerus to replace divorced queen, Vashti.
לַהֲתָ֜ךְ  Hathach 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: הֲתָךְ  
Sense: a eunuch in the court of Ahasuerus.
מִסָּרִיסֵ֤י  [one]  of  eunuchs 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: סָרִיס  
Sense: official, eunuch.
הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙  of  the  king 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  whom 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
הֶעֱמִ֣יד  he  had  appointed 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
לְפָנֶ֔יהָ  to  attend  her 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person feminine singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
וַתְּצַוֵּ֖הוּ  and  she  gave  him  a  command 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: צָוָה  
Sense: to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order.
עַֽל־  concerning 
Parse: Preposition
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.
מָרְדֳּכָ֑י  Mordecai 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָרְדֳּכַי  
Sense: cousin and adoptive father of queen Esther; son of Jair of the tribe of Benjamin; deliverer under Divine providence of the children of Israel from the destruction plotted by Haman the chief minister of Ahasuerus; institutor of the feast of Purim.
לָדַ֥עַת  to  learn 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
זֶּ֖ה  [is]  this 
Parse: Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
וְעַל־  and  why 
Parse: Preposition
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.
מַה־  and  why 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
זֶּֽה  this  [was] 
Parse: Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.