What Does Esther 7:2 Mean in the King James?
And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom.
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 verse pairs asking with seeking, then places both beneath a promise wide enough to reach half a kingdom.
THE MEANING
Here, a real need is invited into words: you are asked what you ask and what you seek, with a promise that it may be granted and done. The offer reaches as far as half a kingdom, giving the request room to be spoken at full scale.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie that a request must be modest to be welcome loses its hold here: the invitation reaches “even to the half of the kingdom.”
THE ROOT
שְׁאֵלָתֵךְ
she'elatekha
GROWS FROM
שאל
sha'al
to ask, inquire, or request
“Petition” is an asking made into a matter brought forward. The verse pairs it with “request,” a word from a root meaning “to seek,” holding both the voiced question and the reaching toward what is wanted.
ALSO GROWS
sha'al: The verb form of asking.
שָׁאַל
The noun “petition” grows from this same action: Esther’s petition is literally an asking.
she'elah: A question or petition.
שְׁאֵלָה
This noun names the matter that is brought forward when someone asks.
בַּקָּשָׁתֵךְ
baqqashatekha
GROWS FROM
בקש
baqash
to seek or search for
The Hebrew word translated “request” carries the sense of seeking. Beside “petition,” it shows desire both spoken aloud and directed toward what is sought.
ALSO GROWS
biqqesh: To seek or ask for something.
בִּקֵּשׁ
The verb makes the movement inside the queen’s “request” visible: it is a seeking.
mevaqesh: A seeker, someone looking for something.
מְבַקֵּשׁ
This related form shows the same root can name the one who reaches toward what is wanted.
THE PATTERN
A need becomes answerable when it is invited into a clear request.
In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.THE THREAD
For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:Esther’s “petition” and Hannah’s “petition” share the Hebrew root שאל (sha’al), “to ask.” Hannah’s line makes the connection audible: a petition is an asking carried into an answer.
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