Bible fact · Direct biblical statement
Esther risked her life for her people
Queen Esther went to the king without being called, risking death, to plead for her people. Esther 4:14–16Esther 5:1–2
Discover why
Anyone who went to the king unsummoned could be put to death unless he held out his golden sceptre. Esther asked the Jews to fast for three days and said "If I perish, I perish." Esther 4:11Esther 4:15–16
The king held out the sceptre. Esther revealed Haman's plot, and a new decree allowed the Jews to defend themselves. Esther 5:1–2Esther 7:3–6Esther 8:11
Read the passage
Esther 4:14–16 WEB
14For if you remain silent now, then relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Who knows if you haven’t come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” 15Then Esther asked them to answer Mordecai, 16“Go, gather together all the Jews who are present in Susa, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day. I and my maidens will also fast the same way. Then I will go in to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish.”
Esther 5:1–2 WEB
1Now on the third day, Esther put on her royal clothing and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, next to the king’s house. The king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, next to the entrance of the house. 2When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight; and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther came near and touched the top of the scepter.
Test yourself
For children
Queen Esther was brave. She went to the king without being invited, which was dangerous, to save her people.