Verse

Esther 4:16 — Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and…

“Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.”
Esther 4:16 · KJV

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The verses around Esther 4:16.

14For 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?

15Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,

16Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

17So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.

Read the full chapter of Esther 4 →

Verse explanation

Esther decides to risk her own life by going in unsummoned, but first asks that all the Jews of Shushan fast for three days along with her and her maidens. Her closing line, “if I perish, I perish,” sums up the wager she is making.

From the Esther 4 study in Bible in Stories.

Esther 4:16 in other versions

The same verse in the 4 Bible versions we have on the site.

  • KJV · King James

    Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

    Read the chapter in this version →
  • ARC · Almeida 1911Português

    Vae, ajunta a todos os judeos que se acharem em Susan, e jejuae por mim, e não comaes nem bebaes por tres dias, nem de dia nem de noite, e eu e as minhas moças tambem assim jejuaremos: e assim entrarei a ter com o rei, ainda que não é segundo a lei; e, perecendo, pereça.

    Read the chapter in this version →
  • BLIVRE · Bíblia LivrePortuguês

    Vai, e junta a todos os judeus que se acham em Susã, e jejuai por mim, e não comais nem bebais durante três dias, nem de noite nem de dia; eu e minhas virgens também assim jejuaremos; e assim virei ao rei, ainda que não seja segundo à lei; e se eu perecer, perecerei.

    Read the chapter in this version →
  • VBL · Versión Biblia LibreEspañol

    Haz que todos los judíos de Susa se reúnan y ayunen por mí. No coman ni beban nada durante tres días y tres noches. Yo y mis doncellas también ayunaremos. Después iré a ver al rey, aunque sea contra la ley, y si muero, que muera”.

    Read the chapter in this version →

In other languages: Português (Ester 4:16) · Español (Ester 4:16)

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