Bible Strands
Esther 5:3
“What is it, Queen Esther?” the king inquired. “What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given to you.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The king addresses Queen Esther immediately after extending his gold scepter and observing her approach in the court.
The words — מַה (mah) translates literally as "what," and בַּקָּשָׁתֵךְ (baqashatekh) means "your request."
The thread — The king’s offer to grant up to half the kingdom echoes Herod’s oath in Mark 6:23 and reappears at the second banquet in Esther 7:2 and the first in Esther 5:6.
Why it lands — The text records the king’s unconditional promise to fulfill any petition, even up to half his kingdom. This structure forces a concrete answer to a life-or-death situation, requiring immediate clarity rather than evasion.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.
Cross-references
- Mark 6:23 And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom!”
- Esther 7:2 and as they drank their wine on that second day, the king asked once more, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given to you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be fulfilled.”
- Esther 5:6 And as they drank their wine, the king said to Esther, “What is your petition? It will be given to you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be fulfilled.”
- Esther 9:12 who said to Queen Esther, “In the citadel of Susa the Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men, including Haman’s ten sons. What have they done in the rest of the royal provinces? Now what is your petition? It will be given to you. And what further do you request? It will be fulfilled.”
- 1 Kings 3:5 One night at Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “Ask, and I will give it to you!”
- Matthew 20:20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and knelt down to make a request of Him.
- 1 Kings 2:20 “I have just one small request of you,” she said. “Do not deny me.” “Make your request, my mother,” the king replied, “for I will not deny you.”
- Luke 18:41 “What do you want Me to do for you?” “Lord,” he said, “let me see again.”