What Does Esther 7:3 Mean in the King James?

Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:

Esther 7:3 · 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.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

Esther’s “life” is her ⁨נֶפֶשׁ⁩ (nefesh, living soul), and she places her own living self beside her people in one appeal.

THE MEANING

Your living self and your people stand together in the petition; neither is left unnamed. Favor is the opening in which a concrete request for life is spoken before the one with power to grant it.

THE ROOT

נַפְשִׁי

nafshi

GROWS FROM

נפשׁ

n-p-sh

A living self or person; life as the living being itself.

Esther asks for her ⁨נַפְשִׁי⁩ (nafshi, my living soul), not for an abstract idea of survival. The same word can name a living being, a person, or that person’s life, holding together meanings English often separates.

ALSO GROWS

nefesh chayyah: living soul; living being

נֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה

The phrase makes clear that nefesh names a living being, which illuminates Esther’s plea for her own life.

nafsho: his living self; his life

נַפְשׁוֹ

This form shows how the same word can refer to a particular person’s life, as Esther’s nafshi refers to her own.

חֵן

chen

GROWS FROM

חנן

ḥ-n-n

To show favor or act graciously toward someone.

“favour” in this verse is chen. The favor Esther names is ⁨חֵן⁩ (chen, favor), from ⁨חנן⁩ (chanan, to show favor). Favor here is the relational opening through which she can state plainly what is at stake: her life and her people’s.

ALSO GROWS

chanan: show favor; act graciously

חָנַן

This verb gives the action beneath chen: favor is something extended toward a person.

channun: gracious; one who shows favor

חַנּוּן

This related form describes the one who extends favor, echoing Esther’s appeal to the king.

תִּנָּתֶן

tinnāten

GROWS FROM

נתן

n-t-n

To give, set, or place.

The Hebrew verb is passive: Esther asks that her life be given to her. The root ⁨נתן⁩ (natan, to give, set, or place) makes the request concrete, and the parallel clause extends it to her people.

ALSO GROWS

natan: give; set; place

נָתַן

This is the active form of the root behind “be given,” naming the act Esther asks the king to perform.

mattanah: gift; something given

מַתָּנָה

This related noun carries the same root into the result of giving.

THE PATTERN

Favor opens access for threatened life to be named before the power that can answer.

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

Genesis 6:8 · KJVNoah finds ⁨חֵן⁩ (chen, favor) in a moment when life faces danger, as Esther names what is at stake in her appeal.

And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty:

Exodus 3:21 · KJVFavor is extended to a people under oppression and becomes part of their release.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:16 · KJVThe throne is approached for favor and help precisely when need is present.

THE THREAD

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

Genesis 6:8 · KJV

Esther’s “found favour in thy sight” echoes the same Hebrew ⁨חֵן⁩ (chen, favor) found in Noah’s “found grace in the eyes” of the LORD. In both, favor opens within a moment when life is at stake; Esther makes that opening a direct plea for her living self and her people.

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