Then Esther answered, “My wish and my request is:
Parallel translations
- WEB Then Esther answered and said, “My petition and my request is this.
- KJV Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is;
- BSB Esther replied, “This is my petition and my request:
- NKJV Then Esther answered and said, “My petition and request is this:
- NASB So Esther replied, “My request and my wish is:
- NLT Esther replied, “This is my request and deepest wish.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Esther begins to answer, stating that she does have a petition and request. She holds the king's attention while still delaying.
Overview
Esther's careful opening signals she is ready to ask yet draws out the moment further. The deliberate pacing keeps the king engaged and the reader in suspense. It reflects her measured, prayer-prepared approach to a matter of life and death.
Cross-references & the web
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Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Though God is never named, his hidden hand preserves the people from whom the Messiah will come — a deliverance 'for such a time as this' that anticipates the open deliverance of Christ.
How Esther 5:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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