Esther 4:2
New International Version
But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it.

New Living Translation
He went as far as the gate of the palace, for no one was allowed to enter the palace gate while wearing clothes of mourning.

English Standard Version
He went up to the entrance of the king’s gate, for no one was allowed to enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth.

Berean Standard Bible
But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because the law prohibited anyone wearing sackcloth from entering that gate.

King James Bible
And came even before the king's gate: for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.

New King James Version
He went as far as the front of the king’s gate, for no one might enter the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth.

New American Standard Bible
And he came as far as the king’s gate, for no one was to enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth.

NASB 1995
He went as far as the king’s gate, for no one was to enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth.

NASB 1977
And he went as far as the king’s gate, for no one was to enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth.

Legacy Standard Bible
And he went as far as the king’s gate, for no one was to enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth.

Amplified Bible
He went [only] as far as the king’s gate, because no one was to enter the king’s gate dressed in sackcloth.

Christian Standard Bible
He went only as far as the King’s Gate, since the law prohibited anyone wearing sackcloth from entering the King’s Gate.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He only went as far as the King’s Gate, since the law prohibited anyone wearing sackcloth from entering the King’s Gate.

American Standard Version
and he came even before the king's gate: for none might enter within the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And he came unto the gate of the King, and there was no law that a man may wear sackcloth and may come to the door of the King.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he came to the king's gate, and stood; for it was not lawful for him to enter into the palace, wearing sackcloth and ashes.

Contemporary English Version
But he could go only as far as the palace gate, because no one wearing sackcloth was allowed inside the palace.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he came lamenting in this manner even to the gate of the palace: for no one clothed with sackcloth might enter the king's court.

English Revised Version
and he came even before the king's gate: for none might enter within the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He even went right up to the king's gate. (No one could enter it wearing sackcloth.)

Good News Translation
until he came to the entrance of the palace. He did not go in because no one wearing sackcloth was allowed inside.

International Standard Version
He came as far as the front of the king's gate, because no one was allowed to enter the king's gate clothed in sackcloth.

JPS Tanakh 1917
and he came even before the king's gate; for none might enter within the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.

Literal Standard Version
and he comes to the front of the gate of the king, but none is to come to the gate of the king with a sackcloth-garment.

Majority Standard Bible
But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because the law prohibited anyone wearing sackcloth from entering that gate.

New American Bible
till he came before the royal gate, which no one clothed in sackcloth might enter.

NET Bible
But he went no further than the king's gate, for no one was permitted to enter the king's gate clothed in sackcloth.

New Revised Standard Version
he went up to the entrance of the king’s gate, for no one might enter the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth.

New Heart English Bible
He came even before the King's Gate, for no one is allowed inside the King's Gate clothed with sackcloth.

Webster's Bible Translation
And came even before the king's gate: for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.

World English Bible
He came even before the king’s gate, for no one is allowed inside the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth.

Young's Literal Translation
and he cometh in unto the front of the gate of the king, but none is to come in unto the gate of the king with a sackcloth-garment.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Mordecai Appeals to Esther
1When Mordecai learned of all that had happened, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the middle of the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. 2But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because the law prohibited anyone wearing sackcloth from entering that gate. 3In every province to which the king’s command and edict came, there was great mourning among the Jews. They fasted, wept, and lamented, and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.…

Cross References
Esther 4:1
When Mordecai learned of all that had happened, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the middle of the city, wailing loudly and bitterly.

Esther 4:3
In every province to which the king's command and edict came, there was great mourning among the Jews. They fasted, wept, and lamented, and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.


Treasury of Scripture

And came even before the king's gate: for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.

Jump to Previous
Allowed Clothed Door Doorway Enter Entrance Far Front Gate Inside King's Sackcloth Within
Jump to Next
Allowed Clothed Door Doorway Enter Entrance Far Front Gate Inside King's Sackcloth Within
Esther 4
1. The great mourning of Mordecai and the Jews.
4. Esther, understanding it, sends to Mordecai,
7. who shows the cause, and advises her to undertake the suit.
10. She, excusing herself, is threatened by Mordecai.
15. She, appointing a fast, undertakes the suit.














(2) None might enter . . .--That nothing sad or ill-omened might meet the monarch's gaze, as though by shutting his eyes, as it were, to the presence of sorrow, or sickness, or death, he might suppose that he was successfully evading them.

Verse 2. - And came even before the king's gate. After some aimless wandering Mordecai as returned toward the palace, either his proper place, or with some incipient notion of obtaining Esther's help. He was not allowed, however, to pass the outer gate on account of his garb of woe, and he remained outside (see ver. 6).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But he went only
וַיָּב֕וֹא (way·yā·ḇō·w)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

as
עַ֖ד (‘aḏ)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

far as the King’s
הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

Gate,
שַֽׁעַר־ (ša·‘ar-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8179: An opening, door, gate

because
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the law prohibited
אֵ֥ין (’ên)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

anyone wearing
בִּלְב֥וּשׁ (bil·ḇūš)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3830: A garment, clothing, raiment

sackcloth
שָֽׂק׃ (śāq)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8242: A mesh, coarse loose cloth, sacking, a bag

from entering
לָב֛וֹא (lā·ḇō·w)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

[that]
הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

gate.
שַׁ֥עַר (ša·‘ar)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8179: An opening, door, gate


Links
Esther 4:2 NIV
Esther 4:2 NLT
Esther 4:2 ESV
Esther 4:2 NASB
Esther 4:2 KJV

Esther 4:2 BibleApps.com
Esther 4:2 Biblia Paralela
Esther 4:2 Chinese Bible
Esther 4:2 French Bible
Esther 4:2 Catholic Bible

OT History: Esther 4:2 He came even before the king's gate (Est Esth. Es)
Esther 4:1
Top of Page
Top of Page