Esther 1 KJV
1 Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)
2 That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,
3 In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him:
4 When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days.
5 And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace;
6 Where were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black, marble.
Esther 1 (Old Testament)
7 And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king.
8 And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.
9 Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.
10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,
11 To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on.
12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.
Est.1 (Old Testament)
13 Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment:
14 And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king's face, and which sat the first in the kingdom;)
15 What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?
16 And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.
17 For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.
18 Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king's princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath.
19 If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.
20 And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small.
21 And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:
22 For he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that it should be published according to the language of every people.
| Hebrew Word + Transliteration | Verse + Snippet | Meaning | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| מִשְׁתֶּה — mishteh | Verse 3 — “he made a feast…” | “Banquet,” drinking feast. | Mishteh (“banquet”) points to a royal drinking-celebration (“feast”). The word reflects Persian court culture emphasizing excess. The term reveals the narrative’s political stage. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament (1884) |
| כָּבוֹד — kavod | Verse 4 — “the riches of his glorious kingdom…” | “Glory,” honor. | Kavod (“glory”) conveys weighty splendor (“honor/glory”). Persian monarchy projected power through opulence. The term heightens contrast with God’s hidden providence. — C. F. Keil, Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary (1866) |
| פַּרְתְּמִים — partemim | Verse 3 — “…the princes of Persia…” | “Nobles,” high officials. | Partemim (“nobles”) refers to elite Persian administrators (“princes”). Their presence underscores political gravity. The term shows the multinational empire structure. — Emil G. Hirsch, Jewish Encyclopedia (1901) |
| שֵׁשׁ — shesh | Verse 6 — “white linen…” | “Fine linen.” | Shesh (“fine linen”) denotes luxury fabric (“linen”). Hebrew uses it for temple and royal settings. The term accentuates extravagant atmosphere. — James Strong, Hebrew Dictionary of the Bible (1890) |
| דַּת — dat | Verse 8 — “…according to the law…” | “Law,” decree. | Dat (“law/decree”) is Persian legal terminology (“law”). It introduces the book’s theme of political edicts. The term reveals inflexibility of imperial rule. — S. R. Driver, Introduction to the Literature of the Old Testament (1891) |
| מַלְכוּת — malkhut | Verse 7 — “…royal wine…” | “Kingship,” royal domain. | Malkhut (“kingdom”) signifies authority (“royal”). The narrative depicts human sovereignty in contrast to divine sovereignty. The term frames the book’s political tension. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary (1884) |
| יֹפִי — yofi | Verse 11 — “to show the people her beauty…” | “Beauty,” splendor. | Yofi (“beauty”) highlights external loveliness (“beauty”). Vashti’s refusal contrasts value of dignity. The term introduces themes of appearance vs. character. — C. F. Keil, Commentary on Esther (1875) |
| קָצַף — qatsaf | Verse 12 — “the king was wroth.” | “Be angry,” furious. | Qatsaf (“to be enraged”) indicates explosive anger (“wrath”). The king’s reaction leads to irreversible decree. The term exposes flawed human rule. — Hermann Strack, Old Testament Studies (1907) |
| גְּזֵרָה — gezerah | Verse 20 — “the king’s decree…” | “Decree,” edict. | Gezerah (“decree”) means a binding royal decision (“edict”). Esther shows decree-driven narrative action. The term emphasizes political determinism overturned by God. — J. W. Rothstein, Hebrew Philology Essays (1898) |
| בַּיִת — bayit | Verse 12 — “…to the king’s house.” | “House,” domain. | Bayit (“house”) includes palace and dynasty (“household”). It indicates institutional authority. The term helps establish narrative geography. — James Hastings, Dictionary of the Bible (1898) |
ESTHER 1: God turns situations for our good.
Memory verse: Esther 1:12 But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.
Queen Vashti and her husband King Ahasuerus are two important figures in the Old Testament book of Esther. Although they are only briefly mentioned, their actions have important implications for the rest of the story.
Queen Vashti was known for her beauty and grace, and she was often admired by those around her. However, in the midst of a lavish banquet hosted by King Ahasuerus, Vashti refused to come when she was summoned by the king. This act of disobedience resulted in her being banished from the king's presence and replaced as queen.
Although, some see Vashti's refusal to obey her husband as an act of rebellion, and on the other hand, others see King Ahasuerus’s reaction to Vashti's disobedience as harsh and unfair. It is crucial to be aware that everything that happened at the time was so that God's intentions for Esther to become queen can come to pass. This applies to a believer’s life today too. As God's children, some circumstances occur in our world that the Lord has specifically planned to guide us into His will for our lives (Romans 8:28). This is why it is good to align oneself with God’s dealings at every point in time.
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