Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

Then the king held out the golden sceptre towards Esther,.... As a token that she had not incurred his displeasure by coming into his presence without leave, and that she was admitted to speak and make her request; see Esther 5:3

so Esther arose and stood before the king; she rose from the ground on which she lay prostrate, and stood upon her feet, in an humble manner, to make her speech, and present her petition to the king.

Geneva Study Bible

(d) Read (Esther 5:2).

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther — in token that her request was accepted, and that she needed no longer to maintain the humble attitude of a suppliant.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

Esther 8:4 Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,

Ver. 4. Then the king held out the golden sceptre] It appeareth by this, that she once more put her life in her hand; hazarding it for her people’s safety (as Arsinoe interposed her own body between her children and the murderers sent to slay them), and so performing her promise made to Mordecai, Esther 4:16. God’s children are all such as will not lie, Isaiah 63:8; if they swear to their hurt, yet they dare not change, Psalms 15:4, dare not say and unsay, 2 Corinthians 1:18-19. Of many promises it may be said, as Tertullian doth to the peacock, that they are all in changeable colours; as often changed as moved. Holy Esther was none such; no more was that blessed martyr of Jesus Christ, Mr Hawkes, when in the flames remembering his promise to certain friends (to give them a sign whether the rage of the pain were tolerable), be reached up his hands burning on a light fire, and clapped them over his head three times together, to the great astonishment of the beholders, but especially to them who understood the matter.

So Esther arose, and stood before the king] Experience had bred confidence. They likewise that humble themselves under the mighty hand of God shall be exalted in due time, 1 Peter 5:6. And as the lower the ebb the higher will be the tide; so the lower we descend in humiliation, the higher shall we ascend in exaltation.

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary

(4) Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,

It is delightful to see how the Lord directed the mind of the king. But oh! what is it to the tenderness of our glorious King, who everlastingly holds forth the sceptre of his grace to all his petitioners!

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

The king held out the golden sceptre; in token that he accepted her person and petition, and that she should stand upon her feet.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

4.Held out the golden sceptre — We understand that the queen first came and fell weeping before the king, but said nothing until he held out the sceptre. Then she arose, and stood before him, and made the request of which a mere summary is given in the preceding verse. The language of her address is given in the two following verses.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged

Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,

Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther - in token that her request was accepted, and that she needed no longer to maintain the humble attitude of a suppliant.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(4) The king held out the golden sceptre.—See Note on Esther 4:11.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

held out

4:11; 5:2