The Meaning of Esther 4:14 Explained

Esther 4:14

KJV: For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

YLT: but if thou keep entirely silent at this time, respite and deliverance remaineth to the Jews from another place, and thou and the house of thy fathers are destroyed; and who knoweth whether for a time like this thou hast come to the kingdom?'

Darby: For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there arise relief and deliverance to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall perish. And who knows whether thou art not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

ASV: For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then will relief and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place, but thou and thy father's house will perish: and who knoweth whether thou art not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For if thou altogether  holdest thy peace  at this time,  [then] shall there enlargement  and deliverance  arise  to the Jews  from another  place;  but thou and thy father's  house  shall be destroyed:  and who knoweth  whether thou art come  to the kingdom  for [such] a time  as this? 

What does Esther 4:14 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 4:14 mean?

For if completely you remain silent at time this relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from place another but you and house of your father will perish And yet who knows whether for [such] a time as this you have come to the kingdom
כִּ֣י אִם־ הַחֲרֵ֣שׁ תַּחֲרִישִׁי֮ בָּעֵ֣ת הַזֹּאת֒ רֶ֣וַח וְהַצָּלָ֞ה יַעֲמ֤וֹד לַיְּהוּדִים֙ מִמָּק֣וֹם אַחֵ֔ר וְאַ֥תְּ וּבֵית־ אָבִ֖יךְ תֹּאבֵ֑דוּ וּמִ֣י יוֹדֵ֔עַ אִם־ לְעֵ֣ת ؟ כָּזֹ֔את הִגַּ֖עַתְּ לַמַּלְכֽוּת

הַחֲרֵ֣שׁ  completely 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Infinitive absolute
Root: חָרַשׁ 
Sense: to cut in, plough, engrave, devise.
תַּחֲרִישִׁי֮  you  remain  silent 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person feminine singular
Root: חָרַשׁ 
Sense: to cut in, plough, engrave, devise.
בָּעֵ֣ת  at  time 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, common singular
Root: עֵת  
Sense: time.
הַזֹּאת֒  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, feminine singular
Root: זׄאת  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, such.
רֶ֣וַח  relief 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: רֶוַח  
Sense: space.
וְהַצָּלָ֞ה  and  deliverance 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: הַצָּלָה  
Sense: deliverance, escape.
יַעֲמ֤וֹד  will  arise 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
לַיְּהוּדִים֙  for  the  Jews 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: יְהוּדִי  
Sense: Jew.
מִמָּק֣וֹם  from  place 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָקֹום  
Sense: standing place, place.
אַחֵ֔ר  another 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: אַחֵר  
Sense: another, other, following.
וְאַ֥תְּ  but  you 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, second person feminine singular
Root: אַתְּ 
Sense: you (second pers.
וּבֵית־  and  house 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
אָבִ֖יךְ  of  your  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person feminine singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
תֹּאבֵ֑דוּ  will  perish 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: אָבַד  
Sense: perish, vanish, go astray, be destroyed.
וּמִ֣י  And  yet  who 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interrogative
Root: מִי  
Sense: who?, whose?, whom?, would that, whoever, whosoever.
יוֹדֵ֔עַ  knows 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
אִם־  whether 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
לְעֵ֣ת  for  [such]  a  time 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common singular
Root: עֵת  
Sense: time.
؟ כָּזֹ֔את  as  this 
Parse: Preposition-k, Pronoun, feminine singular
Root: זׄאת  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, such.
הִגַּ֖עַתְּ  you  have  come 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, second person feminine singular
Root: נָגַע  
Sense: to touch, reach, strike.
לַמַּלְכֽוּת  to  the  kingdom 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מַלְכוּת  
Sense: royalty, royal power, reign, kingdom, sovereign power.