Esther 4:1
When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;
Esther 4:1 in other translations
| BSB | When Mordecai learned of all that had happened, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the middle of the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. |
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| WEB | Now when Mordecai found out all that was done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the middle of the city, and wailed loudly and bitterly. |
| ASV | Now when Mordecai knew all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry; |
| YLT | And Mordecai hath known all that hath been done, and Mordecai rendeth his garments, and putteth on sackcloth and ashes, and goeth forth into the midst of the city and crieth--a cry loud and bitter, |
| DARBY | And when Mordecai knew all that was done, Mordecai rent his garments, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and bitter cry, |
| BBE | Now when Mordecai saw what was done, pulling off his robe, he put on haircloth, with dust on his head, and went out into the middle of the town, crying out with a loud and bitter cry. |
| Webster | When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry; |
What does Esther 4:1 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Esther 4:1-2
Es 4:1-14. Mordecai and the Jews Mourn.
1-2. When Mordecai perceived all that was done--Relying on the irrevocable nature of a Persian monarch's decree (Da 6:15), Hamman made it known as soon as the royal sanction had been obtained; and Mordecai was, doubtless, among the first to hear of it. On his own account, as well as on that of his countrymen, this astounding decree must have been indescribably distressing. The acts described in this passage are, according to the Oriental fashion, expressive of the most poignant sorrow; and his approach to the gate of the palace, under the impulse of irrepressible emotions, was to make an earnest though vain appeal to the royal mercy. Access, however, to the king's presence was, to a person in his disfigured state, impossible: "for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth." But he found means of conveying intelligence of the horrid plot to Queen Esther.Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Introduction
On hearing the king's decree to exterminate the Jews, Mordecai mourns, and clothes himself in sackcloth, Est 4:1, Est 4:2. The Jews are filled with consternation, Est 4:3. Esther, perceiving Mordecai in distress at the palace gate, sends her servant Hatach to inquire the reason, Est 4:4-6. Hatach returns with the information, and also the express desire of Mordecai that she should go instantly to the king, and make supplication in behalf of her people, Est 4:7-9. Esther excuses herself on the ground that she had not been called by the king for thirty days past; and that the law was such that any one approaching his presence, without express invitation, should be put to death, unless the king should, in peculiar clemency, stretch out to such persons the golden scepter, Est 4:10-12. Mordecai returns an answer, insisting on her compliance, Est 4:13, Est 4:14. She then orders Mordecai to gather all the Jews of Shushan, and fast for her success three days, night and day, and resolves to make the attempt, though at the risk of her life, Est 4:15-17. Verse 1 Mordecai rent his clothes - He gave every demonstration of the most poignant and oppressive grief. Nor did he hide this from the city; and the Greek says that he uttered these words aloud: Αιρεται εθνος μηδεν ηδικηκος, A people are going to be destroyed, who have done no evil!Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Esther 4:1-4
Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain
Esther 4:1 in the original Hebrew
Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Esther 4:1
- Daniel 9:3
And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
- Ezekiel 27:30-31
And shall cause their voice to be heard against thee, and shall cry bitterly, and shall cast up dust upon their heads, they shall wallow themselves in the ashes: And they shall make themselves utterly bald for thee, and gird them with sackcloth, and they shall weep for thee with bitterness of heart and bitter wailing.
- 2 Samuel 13:19
And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.
- 2 Samuel 1:11
Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:
- Job 42:6
Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
- Micah 1:8
Therefore I will wail and howl, I will go stripped and naked: I will make a wailing like the dragons, and mourning as the owls.
- Zephaniah 1:14
The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.
- Acts 14:14
Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,
- Revelation 18:17-19
For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.
- Job 1:20
Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
- Isaiah 22:4
Therefore said I, Look away from me; I will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me, because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people.
- Joshua 7:6
And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the Lord until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
4 Esther, understanding it, sends to Mordecai, who shews 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.
all that.
3:8-13
rent.
2Sa 1:11; Job 1:20; Jon 3:4-9; Ac 14:14
with ashes.
3; Jos 7:6; 2Sa 13:19; Job 2:8; 42:6; Isa 58:5; Eze 27:30; Da 9:3
Jon 3:6; Mt 11:21
and cried.Mordecai gave every demonstration of the most poignant grief. Nor did he hide this from the city; and the Greek says that he uttered these words aloud: [Airetai ethnos meden edikekos,] "A people is going to be destroyed who have done no evil."
Ge 27:34; Isa 15:4; 22:4; Eze 21:6; 27:31; Mic 1:8; Zep 1:14
Re 18:17-19
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- Esther 4:1
When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;
- Esther 4:2
And came even before the king’s gate: for none might enter into the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth.
Esther 4:1 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | LUEGO que supo Mardochêo todo lo que se había hecho, rasgó sus vestidos, y vistióse de saco y de ceniza, y fuése por medio de la ciudad clamando con grande y amargo clamor. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Et Mardochée sut tout ce qui s’était fait; et Mardochée déchira ses vêtements et se couvrit d’un sac et de cendre, et sortit au milieu de la ville et poussa un cri grand et amer. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Und als Mordokai alles erfuhr, was geschehen war, da zerriß Mordokai seine Kleider und legte Sacktuch an und Asche; und er ging hinaus in die Stadt und erhob ein lautes und bitterliches Geschrei. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Quæ cum audisset Mardochæus, scidit vestimenta sua, et indutus est sacco, spargens cinerem capiti: et in platea mediæ civitatis voce magna clamabat, ostendens amaritudinem animi sui, |