Esther 2:17

2:17 And the king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she met with his loving approval ¹  more than all the other young women. ²  So he placed the royal high turban on her head and appointed her queen ³  in place of Vashti.

Esther 5:2

5:2 When the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she met with his approval. ⁴  The king extended to Esther the gold scepter that was in his hand, and Esther approached and touched the end of the scepter.

Esther 5:8

5:8 If I have found favor in the king’s sight and if the king is inclined ⁵  to grant my request and perform my petition, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet that I will prepare for them. At that time ⁶  I will do as the king wishes. ⁷ 

Esther 7:3

7:3 Queen Esther replied, “If I have met with your approval, ⁸  O king, and if the king is so inclined, grant me my life as my request, and my people as my petition.

Esther 2:15

2:15 When it became the turn of Esther daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai (who had raised her as if she were his own daughter ⁹ ) to go to the king, she did not request anything except what Hegai the king’s eunuch, who was overseer of the women, had recommended. Yet Esther met with the approval of all who saw her.

Esther 8:5

8:5 She said, “If the king is so inclined and if I have met with his approval and if the matter is agreeable to the king and if I am attractive to him, let an edict be written rescinding those recorded intentions of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, ¹⁰  which he wrote in order to destroy the Jews who are throughout all the king’s provinces.

[2:17]  ¹ tn Heb “grace and loyal love.” The expression is probably a hendiadys.

[2:17]  ² tc The LXX does not include the words “more than all the other young women.”

[2:17]  ³ tn Heb “caused her to rule.”

[5:2]  ⁴ tn Heb “she obtained grace in his eyes”; NASB “she obtained favor in his sight”; NIV “he was pleased with her”; NLT “he welcomed her.”

[5:8]  ⁷ tn Heb “if upon the king it is good.” Cf. the similar expression in v. 4, which also occurs in 7:3; 8:5; 9:13.

[5:8]  ⁸ tn Heb “and tomorrow” (so NASB); NAB, NRSV “and then.”

[5:8]  ⁹ tn Heb “I will do according to the word of the king,” i.e., answer the question that he has posed. Cf. NCV “Then I will answer your question about what I want.”

[7:3]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “If I have found grace in your eyes” (so also in 8:5); TEV “If it please Your Majesty.”

[2:15]  ¹³ tn Heb “who had taken her to him as a daughter”; NRSV “who had adopted her as his own daughter.”

[8:5]  ¹⁶ tc The LXX does not include the expression “the Agagite.”