Esther 4 in the early church
12 passages quote, allude to, or echo Esther 4, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.
Esther 4:11
“All the royal officials and the people of the king’s provinces know that one law applies to every man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned—that he be put to death. Only if the king extends the gold scepter may that person live. But I have not been summoned to appear before the king for the past thirty days.”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Esth 4:11–16 | Part 2, chapter 38 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage | allusion, high confidence | ca. 445-450 |
Esther 4:16
“Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day, and I and my maidens will fast as you do. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish!”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Esth 4:16 | 1 Clement 55.6 · Clement of Rome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 95–97 (range ca. 70–100) |
| Esth 4:16 | Miscellanies 4.19.119 · Clement of Alexandria | allusion, high confidence | ca. 198–203 |
| Esth 4:16 | On Prayer 13.2 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 233–234 |
| Esth 4:16 | Demonstration 3.10 · Aphrahat | allusion, high confidence | 337-345 |
| Esth 4:16 | Question 120, section 4 · Ambrosiaster | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–384 |
| Esth 4:16 | Apostolic Constitutions 5.20.16 · Anonymous | allusion, high confidence | ca. 380 |
| Esth 4:16 | On the Duties of the Clergy 3.21 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 386–390 |
| Esth 4:16 | On Elijah and Fasting 30 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 387-390 |
| Esth 4:16 | Tractates on Matthew 15.2 · Chromatius of Aquileia | allusion, high confidence | ca. 388–407 |
| Esth 4:16 | Poem 26, lines 67–98 · Paulinus of Nola | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 393–431 |
| Esth 4:16 | On Grace and Free Will 21 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 426 |