unfoldingWord® Translation Questions

v88

Esther

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unfoldingWord® Translation Questions

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unfoldingWord® Translation Questions

Date: 2026-01-14

Version: v88

Published by: unfoldingWord®

unfoldingWord® Literal Text

Date: 2026-01-14

Version: v88

Published by: unfoldingWord®

unfoldingWord® Simplified Text

Date: 2026-01-14

Version: v88

Published by: unfoldingWord®

Generated with: Door43 Preview

Version: 1.3.6

Date: 2026-01-21

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions - Esther

Esther 1
Esther 2
Esther 3
Esther 4
Esther 5
Esther 6
Esther 7
Esther 8
Esther 9
Esther 10

Esther

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 3:1

After these things, the king Ahasuerus made Haman, the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, great. And he lifted him up and placed his seat of authority from over all the officials who were with him.

Some time later, King Ahasuerus promoted {one of his officials,} Haman, the son of Hammedatha, who was a descendant of Agag. The king gave Haman a very important position, more important than any of his other officials.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 3:2

And all the servants of the king who were at the gate of the king were bowing down and prostrating themselves to Haman, for thus the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai would neither bow down nor would he prostrate himself.

The king {wanted to show that he had given Haman an important position. So he} commanded all of his other servants who were at the king’s gate to bow down all the way to the ground to honor Haman {whenever he walked by}. But Mordecai refused to bow down to Haman, {because as a Jew he would not worship anyone except Yahweh}.

Who were kneeling and prostrating themselves to Haman?

All the servants of the king were at the gate of the king and were bowing down and prostrating themselves to Haman.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 3:3

And the servants of the king who were at the gate of the king said to Mordecai, “Why are you trespassing the command of the king?”

The other servants at the king’s gate {saw that Mordecai refused to bow down, and they} asked him, “Why are you disobeying the king’s command?”

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 3:4

And it happened that, when they spoke to him day after day, he did not listen to them. So they told Haman to see if the words of Mordecai would stand, for he had told them that he was a Jew.

Mordecai told them that he was a Jew, {and that Jews only worship Yahweh}. The other servants warned Mordecai every day {that he would be punished severely if he kept disobeying the king and not honoring his most important official}. But Mordecai still refused to bow down. So they told Haman about it to see if he would allow Mordecai to keep refusing to bow down {because he was a Jew}.

What did Mordecai refuse to do?

Mordecai would neither bow down nor would he prostrate himself.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 3:5

And Haman saw that Mordecai would neither bow down nor prostrate himself to him. And Haman was filled with rage.

When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down to him, he became furious.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 3:6

And it was despised in his eyes to stretch out a hand against Mordecai alone, for they had told him the people of Mordecai. And Haman sought to annihilate all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, who were in all the kingdom of Ahasuerus.

The other servants told Haman that {Mordecai was not bowing down to him because} Mordecai was a Jew. So Haman decided it would not be enough just to kill Mordecai alone. Haman decided that he would try to kill all the Jews in the entire empire of Ahasuerus.

Who did Haman want to kill?

Haman sought to annihilate all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, who were in all the kingdom of Ahasuerus.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 3:7

In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in year 12 of the king Ahasuerus, a Pur (which is “the lot”) was cast before the face of Haman from day to day and from month to month: the twelfth, which is the month of Adar.

So Haman had his servants cast a Pur (that is, a lot) while he watched {to determine the best month and the best day of the month to kill the Jews}. They did that in the first month, the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year that Ahasuerus reigned {as king of Persia}. The lot selected the twelfth month of that year, the month of Adar, {as the time for Haman to carry out his plan}.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 3:8

And Haman said to the king Ahasuerus, “He has one people scattered and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom. And their laws are different from every people, and the laws of the king they do not obey. And there is no profit to the king to leave them untouched.

Then Haman went to King Ahasuerus and said, “Your Majesty, there is a certain group of people who live among the other peoples in your empire. They are in every province. They have their own set of laws, and so they do not obey your laws. It is not good for you to allow them to live in your empire.

When they threw lots, what month did they chose?

In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of the king Ahasuerus, a Pur (which is “the lot”) was cast before the face of Haman from day to day and from month to month: the twelfth, which is the month of Adar.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 3:9

If it is good to the king, let it be written to destroy them, and I will weigh out 10,000 talents of silver into the hands of the doers of the work, to bring into the treasuries of the king.”

If you approve of this plan, O king, then write a decree saying that all of the Jews must die. {When they are dead, we can take all of their goods, and from that} I will give 300 tons of silver to your administrators for them to put into your royal treasuries.”

How much money was Haman willing to put into the king’s treasury if the king would give a command to kill the Jews?

Haman said he would pay 10,000 talents of silver into the hands of the doers of the work, to bring into the treasuries of the king.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 3:10

And the king removed his signet ring from on his hand, and he gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the adversary of the Jews.

The king {liked what Haman said. So he} gave Haman the ring that he wore that had his official seal on it. {With that, Haman could make laws as if he were the king himself.} Haman, the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, had become the enemy of the Jews.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 3:11

And the king said to Haman, “The silver is given to you, and the people, to do with them as is good in your eyes.”

The king told Haman, “You can keep the money for yourself, and you can do whatever you want to do with those people.”

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 3:12

And the scribes of the king were called in the first month, on day 13 of it, and it was written according to all that Haman commanded: to the satraps of the king, and to the governors who were over province by province, and to the officials of people by people, province by province according to its writing, and people by people according to its tongue. In the name of the king Ahasuerus it was written, and it was sealed with the signet ring of the king.

On the thirteenth day of the first month of that same year, Haman called in the royal scribes, and he dictated a letter to them. He told them to send copies to the royal officials, the governors of each province, and the leaders of each people group. The scribes translated the letter so it could be sent to each province using its own alphabet and to each people group in its own language. To show that he was sending the letter under the king’s own authority, Haman sealed each copy of the letter with the ring that had the king’s official seal on it.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 3:13

And letters were sent by the hand of runners to all of the provinces of the king, to annihilate, to slaughter, and to destroy all the Jews from young even to old, children and women, in one day, on the thirteenth of month 12 (which is the month of Adar), and to plunder their spoils.

Couriers delivered the letters to the officials in every province in the empire. The letters said to completely destroy all the Jews, including the children and women, on a single day. That was to be the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, {in that same year}. The letters also said that those who killed the Jews could take everything that belonged to them.

How were documents delivered to all the king’s provinces?

And letters were sent by the hand of runners to all of the provinces of the king.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 3:14

A copy of the writing, to be given as a law in every province by province, was uncovered for all the peoples to be ready for this day.

The letter told the officials to post copies where everyone could see them. That way all the people in every single province would know that the king had commanded this, and they would get ready {to do what the letter said to do} when the day came.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 3:15

The runners went out, hurrying by decree of the king, and the law was given in Susa the citadel. And the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was in confusion.

As the king had commanded, couriers rushed {with the letters to every province in the empire}. A herald also proclaimed what the letter said in the capital city of Susa. The king and Haman relaxed and drank together. But everyone who lived in Susa was very upset {about what was going to happen}.

How did Susa respond to the decree?

The city of Susa was in confusion.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 4:1

Now when Mordecai knew about all that had been done, Mordecai tore his garments and put on sackcloth and ashes. And he went out into the midst of the city and cried out a great and bitter outcry.

When Mordecai found out about Haman’s plan {to kill all the Jews, as signs of grief} he tore his clothes and put on rough sackcloth and threw ashes over himself. Then he started walking towards the city center, {towards the king’s palace}, crying out in anguish.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 4:2

And he came only as far as before the face of the gate of the king because no one was to come into the gate of the king while wearing sackcloth.

But no one who was wearing sackcloth was allowed inside the king’s gate. So when Mordecai reached the gate, he had to stay just outside of it.

How far did Mordecai go? Why?

And he came only as far as before the face of the gate of the king, because no one was to come into the gate of the king while wearing sackcloth.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 4:3

And in every province by province, any place where the decree of the king and his law reached, there was great mourning by the Jews, and fasting and weeping and lamenting; sackcloth and ashes were laid out by the multitudes.

In every province of the empire, the letter that said to destroy the Jews {was announced in public. When} the Jews {heard about it, they} mourned greatly. They went without food and wailed loudly. Many of them also put on sackcloth and threw ashes on themselves and lay on the ground.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 4:4

When the young female attendants of Esther came with her eunuchs and they told her, even the queen was seized with extreme fear. And she sent garments to clothe Mordecai and to take off his sackcloth from upon him, but he did not accept.

Esther’s female attendants came with her guardians and told her {that Mordecai was sitting outside the gate wearing sackcloth. When she heard about this,} Queen Esther herself became very afraid. She sent Mordecai some good clothes to wear instead of the sackcloth, but he refused to put them on.

When Esther sent garments to clothe Mordecai, how did he respond?

And she sent garments to clothe Mordecai and to take off his sackcloth from upon him, but he did not accept.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 4:5

And Esther called for Hathak, from the eunuchs of the king whom he had caused to stand before her face. She commanded him concerning Mordecai to know what this was and on account of what this was.

The king had assigned some of the royal guardians to Esther personally. So Esther called for one of them, a man named Hathak. She told him to go out and speak with Mordecai and find out why he was so distressed {that he was sitting at the king’s gate wearing sackcloth}.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 4:6

And Hathak went out to Mordecai, to the open place of the city that was before the face of the gate of the king.

So Hathak went out to {speak with} Mordecai, who was in the plaza in front of the king’s gate.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 4:7

And Mordecai reported to him all that had happened to him, and the exact amount of silver that Haman had said to weigh out into the treasuries of the king against the Jews to destroy them.

Mordecai told Hathak everything that Haman was planning to do {to the Jews}. He even told him how much money Haman said the king would get for his treasuries {if the king commanded people} to kill all of the Jews.

What did Mordecai report to Hathak?

And Mordecai reported to him all that had happened to him, and the exact amount of silver that Haman had said to weigh out into the treasuries of the king, against the Jews, to destroy them.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 4:8

Also he gave to him a copy of the writing of the law that had been given in Susa to annihilate them, in order to show Esther and to inform her and to lay a charge upon her to go to the king to implore his favor and to seek from before his face concerning her people.

Mordecai also gave Hathak a copy of the letter that the heralds had read out loud in Susa and that said that people must kill all of the Jews. He told Hathak to show the letter to Esther so that she would know exactly what it said. He also told him to urge her to go to the king personally and to beg him desperately to save her people from destruction.

Why did Mordecai give Hathak a copy of the decree that was issued in Susa for the Jews’ destruction?

Also he gave to him a copy of the writing of the law that had been given in Susa to annihilate them, in order to show Esther, and to inform her, and to lay a charge upon her to go to the king to implore his favor and to plead from before his face concerning her people.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 4:9

And Hathak went and told Esther the words of Mordecai.

So Hathak returned to Esther and told her what Mordecai had said.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 4:10

And Esther spoke to Hathak and commanded him to say to Mordecai:

Then Esther told Hathak to go back to Mordecai with this message:

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 4:11

“All the servants of the king and the people of the provinces of the king are knowing that for any man or woman who goes to the king, to the inner court, who has not been called, his law is one: to cause to die, apart from when the king holds out to him the scepter of gold; then he will live. But as for me, I have not been called to come to the king these 30 days.”

“There is a law {about going to the king} that applies to {everyone in the kingdom}, both men and women. If anyone goes into the inner courtyard of the palace, {where the king can see them}, and the king has not summoned them, that person will die. Only if the king holds out his golden scepter to them, then they will live. Everyone in the whole empire knows this law. {So I cannot go and speak to the king as you have requested.} The king has not called for me in over a month, {and if I go without being summoned, I could be put to death}.”

What happened if any man or woman went to the king inside the inner courtyard without being summoned?

The law was that any man or woman would die who went to the king inside the inner court without first being called unless the king held out to him or her the scepter of gold, in which case the person was allowed to live.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 4:12

And they told to Mordecai the words of Esther.

So {Hathak} went back to Mordecai and told him what Esther had said.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 4:13

And Mordecai said to return to Esther: “Do not think to yourself to escape in the palace of the king, different from all the Jews.

Mordecai told {Hathak} to tell this to Esther: “Do not imagine that just because you live there in the king’s palace that you will be safe when they kill all the other Jews.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 4:14

For if you indeed remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and the house of your father will perish. And who knows if you have arrived at royalty for such a time as this?”

If you say nothing at all now, someone from some other place will rescue the Jews, but you and your relatives will not survive. Who knows, perhaps it was for just such a time as this that you became queen.”

What did Mordecai say would happen if Esther remained silent at that time?

For if you, indeed, remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and the house of your father will perish.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 4:15

And Esther said to return to Mordecai:

{After Hathak told this to} Esther, she told him to go back to Mordecai and say this to him:

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 4:16

“Go, gather all the Jews who are found in Susa. And fast on account of me, neither eating nor drinking for three days, both night and day. Also, I myself and my young female attendants will fast likewise. Then, in such circumstances, I will go to the king, which is not according to the law. And if I perish, I perish.”

“Gather together all the Jews who live here in Susa and tell them to fast for my sake. Tell them to not eat or drink anything for three days and three nights. My female attendants and I will also fast in the same way. At the end of the three days, I will go to {talk to} the king, even though doing that is against the law. I will do that even if it costs me my life.”

What did Esther tell Mordecai to do?

Go, gather all the Jews who are found in Susa. And fast on account of me, neither eating nor drinking for three days, both night and day. Also, I myself and my young female attendants will fast likewise. Then, in such circumstances, I will go to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 4:17

And Mordecai went and did according to the whole charge that Esther had laid upon him.

So {after Hathach told this to} Mordecai, he went and did everything that Esther had told him to do.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 5:1

And it happened on the third day that Esther put on royalty and stood in the inner court of the palace of the king, opposite to the house of the king. Now the king was sitting on the throne of his royalty in the palace of royalty opposite to the entrance of the palace.

After {fasting for} three days, Esther put on her royal robes, and she {went and} stood in the inner courtyard of the palace, across from the king’s house. He was in the royal palace, sitting on the royal throne and facing the entrance of the room.

Where was the inner courtyard of the king’s palace?

The inner courtyard of the king’s palace was opposite to the house of the king.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 5:2

And it happened that, as soon as the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she lifted favor in his eyes. And the king held out to Esther the scepter of gold that was in his hand, so Esther approached and touched the head of the scepter.

As soon as the king noticed Queen Esther standing there in the courtyard, he was very pleased to see her. So he held out his golden scepter to her, {to show that she could safely approach him}. So Esther came up {to the throne} and touched the top of the scepter.

When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, why did he hold out to her the golden scepter?

As soon as the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she lifted favor in his eyes.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 5:3

And the king said to her, “What is to you, Esther the queen? And what is your request? As much as half of the kingdom, and let it be given to you.”

Then the king asked her, “Why have you come here, Queen Esther? What do you want? {Tell me, and} I will give you anything you ask for, no matter how great it is.”

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 5:4

And Esther said, “If it is good to the king, let the king come with Haman today to the banquet that I have made for him.”

Esther replied, “If it pleases you, O king, please come with Haman today to the banquet that I have prepared for you.”

What did Esther request from the king?

If it is good to the king, let the king come with Haman today to the banquet that I have made for him.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 5:5

And the king said, “Bring Haman quickly in order to do the word of Esther.” And the king came with Haman to the banquet that Esther had made.

The king said to his servants, “{Go and} get Haman and bring him quickly so that we can do what Esther has asked us to do!” So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther {and her servants} had prepared {for them}.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 5:6

And the king said to Esther during the banquet of wine, “What is your petition? And let it be given to you. And what is your request? As much as half of the kingdom, and let it be done.”

While they were drinking wine, the king said to Esther, “Now please tell me what you {really} want. I will give you anything {you ask for}, no matter how great it is. I truly mean what I am saying.”

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 5:7

And Esther answered and said, “My petition and my request:

Esther answered, “This is what I {really} want:

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 5:8

if I have found favor in the eyes of the king, and if it is good to the king to grant my petition and to perform my request, let the king come with Haman to the banquet that I will make for them, and tomorrow I will do according to the word of the king.”

if you are pleased with me, and if you are pleased, O king, to give me what I want, please come with Haman to {another} banquet that I will prepare for you tomorrow. I will answer your question then.”

What did Esther request from the king the second time?

If I have found favor in the eyes of the king, and if it is good to the king to grant my petition and to perform my request, let the king come with Haman to the banquet which I will make for them, and tomorrow I will do according to the word of the king.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 5:9

And Haman went out that day joyful and pleased of heart. But as soon as Haman saw Mordecai at the gate of the king, that he neither rose up nor trembled from him, then Haman was filled with rage on account of Mordecai.

Haman was feeling very happy as he left {the banquet that day}. But then he saw Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate. Mordecai did not stand up to show respect for Haman or tremble fearfully in front of him. This made Haman furious with Mordecai.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 5:10

But Haman restrained himself and went to his house. Then he sent and brought his friends and Zeresh his wife.

But {even though} Haman {was so angry, he} kept himself from showing that he was angry. {Instead,} he went home and gathered together his friends with his wife Zeresh,

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 5:11

And Haman recounted to them the glory of his wealth and the multitude of his sons and all about how the king had made him great and how he had lifted him over the officials and administrators of the king.

and he boasted to them about how rich he was and about how many sons he had. {He} also {boasted} about how the king had promoted him many times and given him a position above all of his important officials and other administrators.

What did Haman recount to his family?

Then Haman recounted to them the glory of his wealth and the multitude of his sons and all about how the king had made him great and how he had lifted him over the officials and administrators of the king.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 5:12

And Haman said, “In addition, Esther the queen did not bring anyone with the king to the banquet that she had made except me. And also for tomorrow, I am called by her with the king.

Then Haman added, “And that is not all! I was the only one Queen Esther invited to come with the king to a banquet that she prepared {for us today}. And she has also invited only me {to attend another banquet} with the king tomorrow.”

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 5:13

But all of this is not equal for me to every time that I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the gate of the king.”

Then Haman said, “But I still cannot be happy as long as I keep seeing that Jew, Mordecai, sitting there at the king’s gate {and refusing to honor me}.”

What did Haman feel was more important to him than being invited to the banquets?

But all of this is not equal for me to every time that I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the gate of the king.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 5:14

And Zeresh his wife, with all of his friends, said to him, “Let them make a pole 50 cubits high. And in the morning speak to the king, and let them hang Mordecai on it. Then go with the king to the banquet joyful.” And the word was good before the face of Haman, and he made the pole.

So Haman’s wife Zeresh and his friends who were there suggested, “Have your servants set up a pole 25 meters high. Then tomorrow morning speak to the king and tell him that you want to hang Mordecai on it. Then {once you have executed Mordecai,} you can go to the banquet with the king in a good mood.” Haman thought that this was a good plan, so he {told his servants to} set up the pole.

What did Zeresh tell Haman to make? Why?

Let them make a tree fifty cubits high. And in the morning speak to the king, and let them hang Mordecai on it.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 6:1

That night the sleep of the king fled away. And he said to bring the book of records of the events of days, and they were being called out before the face of the king.

That night the king was unable to sleep. So he told {the young men who attended him} to bring in the royal chronicles. One {of the young men got the chronicles and} began to read them out loud to the king.

Why did the king command servants to bring the records of the events of his reign?

That night the sleep of the king fled away. And he said to bring the book of records of the events of days.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 6:2

And it was found written that Mordecai had told about Bigthana and Teresh, two of the eunuchs of the king who were from the guardians of the doorway, that they had sought to stretch out a hand against the king Ahasuerus.

The chronicles said that Bigthan and Teresh, two of the royal guardians who protected the doorway {to the king’s private quarters}, had planned to assassinate King Ahasuerus. The chronicles also said that Mordecai {had discovered their plot and} had let the king know about it. {By doing that, Mordecai saved the king’s life.}

What was found written in the book of records that was read to the king?

It was found written that Mordecai had reported that Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the door, had conspired to kill the King.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 6:3

And the king said, “What honor or greatness was done for Mordecai on account of this?” And the young men of the king who served him said, “Not a thing has been done with him.”

Then the king asked, “In what great way did I honor Mordecai for saving my life?” The young men who attended him replied, “No one did anything for him.”

What had been done to give honor or recognition to Mordecai for telling the king about Bigthana and Teresh?

Nothing had been done to give honor or recognition to Mordecai for telling the king about Bigthana and Teresh.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 6:4

And the king asked, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had come into the outer court of the house of the king to say to the king to hang Mordecai on the pole that he had prepared for him.

At that moment, Haman entered the outer courtyard of the king’s house. He had come to tell the king that he wanted to hang Mordecai on the pole that he had set up for Mordecai. The king {wanted to consult someone about the best way to honor Mordecai, so he} asked, “Who is out in the courtyard?”

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 6:5

And the young men of the king said to him, “Behold, Haman is standing in the courtyard.” And the king said, “Let him come.”

The young men replied, “O king, Haman is standing in the courtyard.” The king said, “Bring him in.”

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 6:6

And Haman came, and the king said to him, “What is one to do for the man in whose honor the king is delighted?” Then Haman said in his heart, “For whom would the king delight to do honor more than me?”

When Haman came in, the king asked him, “What should I do for the man whom I would really like to honor?” Haman thought to himself, “Certainly I am the person whom the king would like to honor more than anyone else!”

When the king asked Haman what should be done for the man whom the king takes pleasure in honoring, about whom did Haman think the king was talking?

Then Haman said in his heart, “For whom would the king delight to do honor more than me?”

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 6:7

And Haman said to the king, “For a man whom the king delights to honor:

Haman replied to the king, “If you really want to honor someone,

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 6:8

let them bring a garment of royalty with which the king has clothed himself, and a horse on which the king has ridden and which has been given a crown of royalty for its head.

tell your servants to bring one of your own royal robes that you have already worn yourself. Have them also bring a horse that you have already ridden yourself and put a royal crown on its head {to show that it belongs to you}.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 6:9

And give this garment and this horse into the hand of a man from the most noble officials of the king. And let them clothe the man whom the king delights to honor, and cause him to ride on the horse in the open square of the city, and proclaim before his face, ‘Thus shall it be done for the man whom the king delights to honor!’”

Then, {on your behalf,} have one of your most noble officials present the man with the robe and the horse. Have your servants clothe the man whom you really want to honor {with the robe}. Have them seat that man on the horse and then lead the horse through the public square of the city. Have them shout out {to everyone} in front of them, ‘The king is doing this because he really wants to honor this man!’”

Who would dress the man whom the king takes pleasure in honoring, and lead him on the horse through the city streets?

A man from the most noble officials of the king would do these things.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 6:10

And the king said to Haman, “Hurry, take the garment and the horse, according to how you have spoken, and do thus for Mordecai the Jew, the man who sits at the gate of the king. Do not allow a word to fall of all that you have spoken.”

The king {liked this plan, so he} replied to Haman, “Go quickly! Take the robe and the horse and do what you have just described for Mordecai the Jew. He {is one of my servants who} sits by the gate to the palace. Make sure that you do absolutely everything that you have said.”

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 6:11

And Haman took the garment and the horse, and he clothed Mordecai and caused him to ride in the open place of the city and called out before his face, “Thus shall it be done for the man whom the king delights to honor!”

So Haman {did what the king commanded. He} got the robe and the horse. He put the robe on Mordecai, seated him on the horse, and then led the horse through the public square of the city. As he did, he shouted out to everyone in front of him, “The king is doing this because he really wants to honor this man!”

Who dressed Mordecai and led him on the horse through the city streets?

So Haman took the garment and the horse, and he clothed Mordecai and paraded him in the open square of the city, and called out before his face, “Thus shall it be done for the man in whose honor the king is delighted!”

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 6:12

And Mordecai returned to the gate of the king, but Haman hurried to his house, mourning with a covering of head.

Then Mordecai went back to {his place at} the king’s gate. But Haman hurried to his house, covering {his} head {because he felt so} humiliated.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 6:13

And Haman recounted to Zeresh his wife and to all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and Zeresh his wife said to him, “If Mordecai, before whose face you have begun to fall, is from the seed of the Jews, then you will not prevail against him, but you will surely fall before his face.”

Haman {gathered} all his friends {together once again. He} told them and his wife Zeresh everything that had happened to him {that day. Some of his friends were also} his advisors{, and they} and his wife Zeresh told him, “Mordecai has begun to defeat you. Since he is one of the Jewish people, you will not win against him. Instead, he will certainly defeat you.”

About what did Haman’s wise men and his wife warn him?

If Mordecai, before whose face you have begun to fall, is from the seed of the Jews, then you will not prevail against him, but you will surely fall before his face.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 6:14

They were still speaking with him when the eunuchs of the king arrived. And they hurried to bring Haman to the banquet that Esther had made.

While they were still talking together, {some of} the royal guardians arrived to bring Haman quickly to the banquet that Esther {and her servants} had prepared.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 7:1

And the king came with Haman to drink with Esther the queen.

So the king and Haman went to the {second} banquet that Queen Esther {had arranged for them}.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 7:2

And the king said to Esther again on the second day during the banquet of wine, “What is your petition, Esther the queen? And let it be given to you. And what is your request? As much as half of the kingdom, and let it be done.”

At that second banquet, while they were drinking wine, the king asked Esther again, “Now please tell me what you really want, Queen Esther. {Tell me,} and I will do it for you. {I will give you} anything you ask for, no matter how great it is.”

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 7:3

And Esther the queen answered and said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, O king, and if it is good to the king, let my life be given to me at my petition and my people at my request.

Then Queen Esther replied, “If you are pleased with me, O king, I hope you will be willing to do what I ask. Please allow me to live, and please save my people. That is what I am asking for.

What did Esther ask from King Ahasuerus?

Let my life be given to me at my petition, and my people at my request.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 7:4

For we have been sold, I and my people, for annihilation, for slaughter, and for destruction. Now if we had been sold as slaves and female servants, I would have kept silent, because the distress would not have been equal to a burden of the king.”

{I am appealing to you} because someone has turned my people and me over {to our enemies}, and they are going to destroy us completely. If someone had sold the men and {even} the women to be slaves, I would not have said anything about that to you, because that would not have been important enough to bother you, the king, with that.”

What did Esther say she would have done if her people had only been sold into slavery?

Now if we had been sold as slaves and female servants, I would have kept silent.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 7:5

And the king Ahasuerus spoke and said to Esther the queen, “Who is he, this man? Where is this man, he whose heart is full to do thus?”

Then King Ahasuerus responded to Queen Esther, “Who has done this? Where is the man who has dared to do such a thing?”

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 7:6

Esther answered, “A man, an adversary, and an enemy—this evil Haman!” Then Haman was terrified from before the face of the king and the queen.

Esther responded, “The man who is our bitter enemy is this evil man Haman!” This made Haman terrified to be in the presence of the king and the queen.

Who did Esther describe as an “adversary” and “enemy”?

A man, an adversary, and an enemy is this evil Haman!

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 7:7

And the king rose up in his rage from the banquet of wine to the garden of the palace. But Haman remained in order to seek for his life from Esther the queen, for he saw that evil was determined against him by the king.

The king became so angry that he got up and left the banquet of wine. He went {outside} into the palace garden {to decide what to do}. But Haman stayed {inside} to beg Queen Esther to save his life because he recognized that the king wanted to execute him.

What did Haman do when the king got up in a rage from the banquet of wine?

Haman remained in order to beg for his life from Esther the queen.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 7:8

Now when the king returned from the garden of the palace to the house of the banquet of wine, Haman was fallen on the couch on which Esther was. And the king said, “Is it also to subdue the queen with me in the house?” The word was going out from the mouth of the king when they covered the face of Haman.

{As he was pleading for his life,} Haman knelt down very close to Esther as she was {reclining} on a {banqueting} couch. When the king returned from the palace garden to the room where they had been drinking wine, {he saw this}. The king exclaimed, “He is even trying to rape the queen in my presence and in my own house!” As soon as the king said this, {some of his servants} covered Haman’s face {as a sign that he would be executed}.

After Haman fell on the couch where Esther was, what did the king think Haman was doing?

The king thought Haman was trying to subdue the queen with me. This means that he thought Haman was trying to rape her.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 7:9

And Harbona, one from the eunuchs before the face of the king, said, “Also, behold, the pole that Haman made for Mordecai, who spoke good for the king, is standing at the house of Haman 50 cubits high.” And the king said, “Hang him on it.”

Then Harbona, who was one of the guardians who served the king personally, said, “O king! Haman has also set up a pole twenty-five meters high at his house because he wants to hang Mordecai on it. But Mordecai saved your life.” The king said, “Hang Haman on it!”

Where did the king say to hang Haman?

The king said to hang Haman on the tree that Haman made for Mordecai, which was standing at the house of Haman 50 cubits high.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 7:10

And they hanged Haman on the pole that he had prepared for Mordecai, and the rage of the king subsided.

So they hung Haman on the pole that he had set up for Mordecai. Then the king stopped being so angry.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 8:1

On that day, the king Ahasuerus gave to Esther the queen the house of Haman, the adversary of the Jews. And Mordecai came before the face of the king because Esther told what he was to her.

That same day, King Ahasuerus gave Queen Esther all the property that had belonged to Haman. He had been the enemy of the Jews. Esther told the king that Mordecai was {her cousin and that he had been like a father} to her. When he learned that, {the king summoned} Mordecai to come to him.

Why did Mordecai begin to serve before the king?

And Mordecai came before the face of the king, because Esther told what he was to her.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 8:2

And the king removed his signet ring, which he had caused to pass from Haman, and he gave it to Mordecai. And Esther placed Mordecai over the house of Haman.

{When the king sentenced Haman to death,} the king took back from Haman the ring that had the king’s official seal on it {and the king was wearing it again.} The king now took the ring off and gave it to Mordecai, {to show that Mordecai would have the power to act with the king’s authority.} Esther also put Mordecai in charge of all the property that had belonged to Haman.

Why was Mordecai in charge of Haman’s estate?

And Esther placed Mordecai over the house of Haman.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 8:3

And Esther repeated her action, and she spoke before the face of the king. She fell before the face of his feet and wept and implored favor from him to take away the evil of Haman the Agagite and his plot that he had plotted against the Jews.

Then Esther came to speak to the king again. {To show him how desperately she was pleading,} Esther knelt down and put her face right on top of his feet. She cried as she begged him to stop the terrible plan of Haman the Agagite to destroy the Jews.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 8:4

And the king held out to Esther the scepter of gold, so Esther rose up and stood before the face of the king.

The king held out his golden scepter toward Esther, so she got up {off the floor} and stood facing the king.

What did the king do so that Esther could arise and stand before him?

And the king held out to Esther the scepter of gold, so Esther rose up and stood before the face of the king.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 8:5

And she said, “If it is good to the king, and if I have found favor before his face, and the word is proper before the face of the king, and I am good in his eyes, let it be written to bring back the letters, the plot of Haman, the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the provinces of the king.

Then Esther said, “Your majesty, if you think that it is the right thing to do, and if you are pleased with me, please write a new letter revoking the letters that Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, sent out. His letters said to destroy all the Jews everywhere in your empire.

What letters had Haman written?

Haman had written letters to destroy the Jews who were in all of the provinces of the king.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 8:6

For how could I bear to see the evil that my people would find? And how could I bear seeing the destruction of my kindred?”

{I am asking this} because I cannot bear to see the terrible thing that is about to happen to my people. They are my kindred. I cannot bear to see people destroy them.”

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 8:7

And the king Ahasuerus said to Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, “Behold, I have given the house of Haman to Esther, and they have hanged him on the pole on account of this, that he stretched out his hand against the Jews.

King Ahasuerus replied to Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, “As you know, I have given to Esther all the property that belonged to Haman, and I had my servants hang Haman on a wooden pole because he wanted to kill all the Jews.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 8:8

So, in the name of the king, you write for the Jews as is good in your eyes, and seal it with the signet ring of the king. For there is none to take back a writing that has been written in the name of the king and has been sealed with the signet ring of the king.”

{You also know that} no one can revoke a letter that has my name and my official seal on it, {such as the letter that Haman wrote}. So this is what you should do. Write {a new letter} to help the Jews, as you think best. {I give you permission to} put my name on it and to seal {the letter} with the ring that has my official seal on it.”

Why did Esther need to write another decree for the Jews in the name of the king?

Esther needed to write another decree because there was none to take back a writing that had been written in the name of the king and had been sealed with the signet ring of the king.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 8:9

And the scribes of the king were called at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third of it. And according to all that Mordecai commanded, it was written to the Jews, and to the satraps, and the governors and officials of the provinces that were from India even as far as Ethiopia: 127 provinces, province by province according to its writing, and people by people according to its tongue, and to the Jews according to their writing and according to their tongue.

So the king sent for his scribes. {They came and} they wrote a letter saying everything that Mordecai told them {to write}. {They wrote this letter} on the twenty-third day of the third month, the month of Sivan, {in the twelfth year that Ahasuerus reigned as king of Persia}. The letter addressed the Jews {in the empire}, but they also sent {copies of the letter} to the royal officials, and to the governors and leaders in each province. The empire {of Ahasuerus} had 127 provinces, extending all the way from India {in the east} to Ethiopia {in the west}. The scribes wrote to {people in} every province using its own alphabet and to each people group in its own language. They wrote {especially} to the Jews, in their alphabet and in their own language.

When were the king’s scribes called?

So the scribes of the king were called at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third of it.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 8:10

And he wrote in the name of the king Ahasuerus, and he sealed with the signet ring of the king. And he sent letters (by the hand of runners on horses, riders of the royal pack horses, sons of the mares)

Mordecai signed {each copy of the letter} with the name of King Ahasuerus, and he sealed {each one} with the ring that had the king’s official seal on it. Couriers on horseback delivered the letters. They rode fast horses that were only for the king’s service. These horses were born in the king’s own stables.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 8:11

that the king gave to the Jews who were in every city, city by city: to gather and to stand for their life, to annihilate, and to slaughter, and to destroy any strength of a people or province that would attack them, children and women, and plunder their spoil;

{Each copy of the letter said} that the king permits the Jews throughout the empire to join together and to fight to protect themselves. {The king’s letter} also {permits them} to completely destroy any group of armed men from any people or province who would attack them. {The letter} also {permits them} to kill the women and children {of those who would attack them}, and to take the possessions of the people {whom they kill}.

What did the king give the Jews permission to do?

The king gave the Jews in every city the legal right to gather together and defend their lives, to annihilate and to slaughter and to destroy any group of a people or province that would attack them including their women and children and women, and to plunder their spoil.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 8:12

on one day in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth of month 12, which is the month of Adar.

{The letter permitted all the Jews} in every province throughout the empire {to do this} on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, {in that same year}.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 8:13

A copy of the writing was to be given as a law in every province by province, being uncovered for all the peoples, and for the Jews to be prepared for that day to take revenge from their enemies.

{The letter told the officials} in every single province to display copies of the letter where everyone could see them so that people would know that the king had commanded this, and so that the Jews would be ready to fight back against their enemies when the day came.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 8:14

The runners, the riders of the royal pack horses, went out hastened and hurried by the word of the king. And the law was given in Susa the citadel.

The king commanded the couriers to deliver the letters as quickly as possible. {He sent them out} on his own fast horses. The king’s officials also proclaimed the new law {and displayed copies of the letter} in the capital city of Susa.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 8:15

And Mordecai went out from before the face of the king in a garment of royalty of blue and white, with a great crown of gold and a robe of fine linen and purple, and the city of Susa cheered and rejoiced.

The king gave Mordecai {special things to wear to show that he was now his most important official. He gave him} a blue and white royal garment, a large golden crown, and a purple robe made of fine linen. Mordecai put these on and left the palace. {When} the people of Susa {saw him, they} shouted joyfully.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 8:16

For the Jews there was light and joy and rejoicing and honor.

The Jews in Susa were very happy, and other people honored them.

(There are no questions for this verse)

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 8:17

In every province by province and in every city by city, any place where the word of the king and his law came, there was joy and rejoicing for the Jews, a feast and a good day. And many from the peoples of the land became Jews because dread of the Jews had fallen upon them.

In every single province and in every single city, wherever {the couriers} brought the letter announcing the king’s decree, the Jews rejoiced greatly and had big celebrations. Many people from other groups in the empire became very afraid of the Jews, so they became Jews themselves.

Why did many from among the variety of peoples of the land become Jews?

Many from the peoples of the land became Jews because dread of the Jews had fallen upon them.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 10:1

And the king Ahasuerus set a tribute on the land and the islands of the sea.

Then King Ahasuerus imposed a tax {on everyone} throughout his empire, even {on those living} on the islands of the sea.

Where did King Ahasuerus impose a tax?

Then the king Ahasuerus set a tribute on the land and the islands of the sea.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 10:2

And all the deeds of his power and his might, with the full account of the greatness of Mordecai to which the king had made him great, are they not written in the book of the events of days for the kings of Media and Persia?

{The king’s scribes} made a record in the royal chronicles of Media and Persia of all the great things that King Ahasuerus accomplished because he was so powerful. {They} also {wrote} there in a complete way the great {things that} Mordecai {did} because the king had promoted him to a very important position.

Where were all the achievements of King Ahasuerus’ power and might written?

All the deeds of his power and his might, with the full account of the greatness of Mordecai to which the king had made him great, are written in the book of the events of days for the kings of Media and Persia.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions :: Esther 10:3

For Mordecai the Jew was second to the king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and favored by the multitude of his brothers, seeking good for his people and speaking peace to all its seed.

Mordecai the Jew was able to do so much because he was the most powerful person in the empire after King Ahasuerus. He was also a leader among his own people. All of his fellow Jews respected him. He worked {hard} to make sure that the Jews would always prosper.

What was the rank of Mordecai the Jew?

Mordecai the Jew was second to the King Ahasuerus.

Why was Mordecai great among the Jews and popular with his many Jewish brothers?

For Mordecai the Jew was second to the King Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and favored by the multitude of his brothers, seeking good for his people and speaking peace to all its seed.

unfoldingWord® Translation Questions

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