Esther 4:5 - Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs, whom he had appointed to attend her, and commanded him to go to Mordecai, to find out what this was, and why it was.

Generated Verse: Esther 4:5

What does "Esther 4:5" mean?


This verse is a crucial moment in the Book of Esther and shows her beginning to take action. Here's a breakdown of what it means:

"Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs...": Esther is in the royal palace, safe but also isolated. She has access to servants, and Hathach is specifically identified as a eunuch whom the king himself assigned to attend to her. This implies he is someone she trusts, or at least someone she believes is loyal to her.

"...whom he had appointed to attend her...": This emphasizes that Hathach is not just a random servant. He has a specific role, designated by the king, to serve Esther's needs and be under her command.

"...and commanded him to go to Mordecai...": Esther is giving Hathach a direct order to go to Mordecai, who is outside the palace walls (likely near the gate, where he had been publicly mourning).

"...to find out what this was, and why it was.": This is the key part. Esther is deeply concerned about Mordecai's obvious distress. "What this was" refers to Mordecai's mourning attire (sackcloth and ashes) and his loud lamenting. "Why it was" means she wants to know the reason for his grief and what has happened to cause him such sorrow. Since Mordecai is her cousin and was a father figure to her, his distress naturally worries her.

In summary, the verse shows:

Esther's concern for Mordecai: She is not oblivious to the unrest outside the palace.
Esther's caution: She cannot directly go to Mordecai herself without the king's permission, so she uses a trusted intermediary.
Esther's initial ignorance: She is in the dark about the edict that threatens the Jewish people, highlighting the isolation she experiences within the palace.
Esther's agency: Though constrained by her position, she takes the first step to investigate the situation and understand the crisis.

This verse sets the stage for the revelation of Haman's plot and Esther's eventual courageous actions to save her people. It's a pivotal moment where Esther moves from being a queen living a comfortable life to becoming a key figure in a life-or-death situation.