Esther 4:14 Meaning of for Such a Time as This

Esther 4:14
“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

Explanation and Commentary of Esther 4:14

One thing that is certain, God will have his way and accomplish his purposes. It is mysterious that he not only allows us to participate in bringing about his will but that we can disobey and somehow this is also part of his will. God may very well have said to Adam, “relief and deliverance will come from another place,” having in mind his Son, Jesus Christ, who was planned to be the lamb slain since the foundation of the world (Rev 3:8) even before Adam had ever sinned.

Esther had been sovereignly put in place by the God of her people for the very purpose of thwarting Haman’s evil plan to eradicate the Jews. The very real problem facing Esther was that there was an official decree that if she approached the king uninvited, it would be his prerogative to have her executed for the presumption, or he could incline the scepter as a sign that she was forgiven the impertinence and welcome to approach.

Esther was understandably reluctant but could not argue with her cousin, Mordecai, who spoke the words of 4:14. A proper understanding of God would suggest that Mordecai was correct. The question would be whether Esther would be able to trust the character of God, would she have true faith. By God’s grace she chose right, saying that she would go through it and play her assigned role, and if she should perish, “then she would perish” (Ester 4:16).

Breaking Down the Key Parts of Esther 4:14

#1 “For if you remain silent at this time,”
Christians and all people on the side of good in the world will likely face the same dilemma, even if not so severe as the one facing Esther and the Jews. Though a conflict may not be a life or death matter, any conflict can be a trial, especially when one faces possible rejection as ostracism of some kind for standing on the side of God. The question is whether we will speak up when called upon, or will we “remain silent.”

#2 “Relief and deliverance for the Jews will arrive from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish.”
God will always accomplish his purposes one way or another. Even our disobedience won’t ultimately stop him. But Mordecai’s warning to Esther was that she would have no part in the glory if she did not submit to God’s plan for her, and not only that, in his estimation, their whole family would perish, including her, if she allowed this to take place with no attempt at intervention. At the end of time, God will be victorious, but many will not stand with him. They will rather stand with his vanquished enemies, having, like satan, foolishly opposed him, whether out of unbelief or cowardice.

#3 “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
We should always assume that God has a plan for any situation in which we find ourselves, but there will be specific challenges in our lives where the fact will be obvious, but fear will also be a factor. Walk with God and abide Christ, so that when your moment comes, you will be found faithful.

Expert Overview of Esther

Biblical Translations of Esther 4:14

NIV
For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?

NLT
If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?

ESV
For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

KJV
For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

NKJV
For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?