What Does Esther 4:15 Mean in the King James?

Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,

Esther 4:15 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

The Hebrew pictures Esther’s “answer” as something brought back: a reply is a word traveling toward the one who sent it.

THE MEANING

A response is not only content; it is movement back toward the one who has reached you. The answer is still undisclosed here, but its shape is already visible: a word returns through Esther.

THE ROOT

לְהָשִׁיב

ləhāshîb

GROWS FROM

שׁוּב

Turn back; return.

“return / answer” in this verse is ləhāshîb. The Hebrew verb carries the motion of bringing back beneath the sense of answering. A reply travels back through the speaker toward the person whose words reached them.

ALSO GROWS

yeshovev: He restores; turns back.

יְשׁוֹבֵב

In Psalm 23:3, the same root underlies “restoreth”; what has wandered is brought back toward wholeness.

meshûbah: Backsliding; turning away.

מְשׁוּבָה

The same root can name a turn away, so returning carries the possibility of reversing that distance.

THE PATTERN

A return can carry a word back to its source, restore what has wandered, or turn a person back toward relationship.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Psalm 23:3 · KJVThe root translated “restoreth” comes from shuv: the soul is pictured as brought back.

Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever.

Jeremiah 3:12 · KJVThe same Hebrew root behind Esther’s “return” names Israel’s return toward the LORD, answering the word “backsliding” from that root family.

But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Luke 22:32 · KJVThe Greek verb behind “converted” pictures being turned back, extending the pattern into the New Testament.

THE THREAD

So David’s young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings.

1 Samuel 25:12 · KJV

There the messengers turn back and bring David the words they received, making explicit the return path compressed into Esther’s verb. Esther’s verse likewise places an answer in motion toward the one who sent the message.

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