Esther
Esther 1:10–15
10On the seventh day, when the king’s heart was merry with wine, he ordered the seven eunuchs who served him — Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas — 11to bring Queen Vashti before him, wearing her royal crown, to display her beauty to the people and officials. For she was beautiful to behold.
12Queen Vashti, however, refused to come at the king’s command brought by his eunuchs. And the king became furious, and his anger burned within him.
13Then the king consulted the wise men who knew the times, for it was customary for him to confer with the experts in law and justice. 14His closest advisors were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media who had personal access to the king and ranked highest in the kingdom.
15“According to law,” he asked, “what should be done with Queen Vashti, since she refused to obey the command of King Xerxes delivered by the eunuchs?”
Word by word
Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.
Esther 1:10
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| On the seventh | הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י | haš·šə·ḇî·‘î | Article; Number - ordinal masculine singular | H7637 seventh |
| day | בַּיּוֹם֙ | bay·yō·wm | Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular | H3117 day |
| when the king’s | הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ | ham·me·leḵ | Article; Noun - masculine singular | H4428 king |
| heart | לֵב־ | lêḇ- | Noun - masculine singular construct | H3820 inner man, mind, will, heart |
| was merry | כְּט֥וֹב | kə·ṭō·wḇ | Preposition-k; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | H2895 pleasing, good |
| with wine | בַּיָּ֑יִן | bay·yā·yin | Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular | H3196 wine |
| he ordered | אָמַ֡ר | ’ā·mar | Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | H559 utter, say |
| the seven | שִׁבְעַת֙ | šiḇ·‘aṯ | Number - masculine singular construct | H7651 seven |
| eunuchs | הַסָּ֣רִיסִ֔ים | has·sā·rî·sîm | Article; Noun - masculine plural | H5631 eunuch |
| who served | הַמְשָׁ֣רְתִ֔ים | ham·šā·rə·ṯîm | Article; Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural | H8334 minister, serve |
| him | אֲחַשְׁוֵרֽוֹשׁ׃ | ’ă·ḥaš·wê·rō·wōš | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H325 Ahasuerus |
| Mehuman | לִ֠מְהוּמָן | lim·hū·mān | Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular | H4104 Mehuman |
| Biztha | בִּזְּתָ֨א | biz·zə·ṯā | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H968 Biztha |
| Harbona | חַרְבוֹנָ֜א | ḥar·ḇō·w·nā | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H2726 Charbona, Charbonah |
| Bigtha | בִּגְתָ֤א | biḡ·ṯā | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H903 Bigtha |
| Abagtha | וַאֲבַגְתָא֙ | wa·’ă·ḇaḡ·ṯā | Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular | H5 Abagtha |
| Zethar | זֵתַ֣ר | zê·ṯar | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H2242 Zethar |
| and Carkas | וְכַרְכַּ֔ס | wə·ḵar·kas | Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular | H3752 Karkas |
Esther 1:11
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| to bring | לְ֠הָבִיא | lə·hā·ḇî | Preposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | H935 come in, come, go in, go |
| Queen | הַמַּלְכָּ֛ה | ham·mal·kāh | Article; Noun - feminine singular | H4436 queen |
| Vashti | וַשְׁתִּ֧י | waš·tî | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H2060 Vashti |
| before | לִפְנֵ֥י | lip̄·nê | Preposition-l; Noun - common plural construct | H6440 face, before |
| him | הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ | ham·me·leḵ | Article; Noun - masculine singular | H4428 king |
| her royal | מַלְכ֑וּת | mal·ḵūṯ | Noun - feminine singular | H4438 royalty, royal power, reign, kingdom |
| crown | בְּכֶ֣תֶר | bə·ḵe·ṯer | Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct | H3804 crown |
| to display | לְהַרְא֨וֹת | lə·har·’ō·wṯ | Preposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | H7200 see |
| her beauty | יָפְיָ֔הּ | yā·p̄ə·yāh | Noun - masculine singular construct; third person feminine singular | H3308 beauty |
| to the people | הָֽעַמִּ֤ים | hā·‘am·mîm | Article; Noun - masculine plural | H5971 people |
| and officials | וְהַשָּׂרִים֙ | wə·haś·śā·rîm | Conjunctive waw, Article; Noun - masculine plural | H8269 chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince |
| For | כִּֽי־ | kî- | Conjunction | H3588 burning, branding |
| she | הִֽיא׃ | hî | Pronoun - third person feminine singular | H1931 he, she |
| beautiful | טוֹבַ֥ת | ṭō·w·ḇaṯ | Adjective - feminine singular construct | H2896 pleasant, agreeable, good |
| to behold | מַרְאֶ֖ה | mar·’eh | Noun - masculine singular | H4758 sight, appearance, vision |
Esther 1:12
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queen | הַמַּלְכָּ֣ה | ham·mal·kāh | Article; Noun - feminine singular | H4436 queen |
| Vashti | וַשְׁתִּ֗י | waš·tî | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H2060 Vashti |
| however | וַשְׁתִּ֗י | waš·tî | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H2060 Vashti |
| refused | וַתְּמָאֵ֞ן | wat·tə·mā·’ên | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | H3985 refuse |
| to come | לָבוֹא֙ | lā·ḇō·w | Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | H935 come in, come, go in, go |
| at the king’s | הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ | ham·me·leḵ | Article; Noun - masculine singular | H4428 king |
| command | בִּדְבַ֣ר | biḏ·ḇar | Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct | H1697 speech, word |
| by | בְּיַ֣ד | bə·yaḏ | Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct | H3027 hand |
| eunuchs | הַסָּרִיסִ֑ים | has·sā·rî·sîm | Article; Noun - masculine plural | H5631 eunuch |
| And the king | הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ | ham·me·leḵ | Article; Noun - masculine singular | H4428 king |
| became furious | וַיִּקְצֹ֤ף | way·yiq·ṣōp̄ | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H7107 be wroth |
| and his anger | וַחֲמָת֖וֹ | wa·ḥă·mā·ṯōw | Conjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular | H2534 heat, rage |
| burned | בָּעֲרָ֥ה | bā·‘ă·rāh | Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular | H1197 burn, consume |
| within him | בֽוֹ׃ | ḇōw | Preposition; third person masculine singular |
Esther 1:13
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Then the king | הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ | ham·me·leḵ | Article; Noun - masculine singular | H4428 king |
| consulted | וַיֹּ֣אמֶר | way·yō·mer | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | H559 utter, say |
| the wise men | לַחֲכָמִ֖ים | la·ḥă·ḵā·mîm | Preposition-l, Article; Adjective - masculine plural | H2450 wise |
| who knew | יֹדְעֵ֣י | yō·ḏə·‘ê | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | H3045 know |
| the times | הָֽעִתִּ֑ים | hā·‘it·tîm | Article; Noun - common plural | H6256 time |
| for it was | כִּי־ | kî- | Conjunction | H3588 burning, branding |
| customary | כֵן֙ | ḵên | Adverb | H3651 right, veritable, honest |
| for him | הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ | ham·me·leḵ | Article; Noun - masculine singular | H4428 king |
| to confer | דְּבַ֣ר | də·ḇar | Noun - masculine singular construct | H1697 speech, word |
| with | לִפְנֵ֕י | lip̄·nê | Preposition-l; Noun - common plural construct | H6440 face, before |
| the experts | יֹדְעֵ֖י | yō·ḏə·‘ê | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | H3045 know |
| in law | דָּ֥ת | dāṯ | Noun - feminine singular | H1881 decree, law, usage |
| and justice | וָדִֽין׃ | wā·ḏîn | Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular | H1779 judgment |
Esther 1:14
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| His closest advisors | וְהַקָּרֹ֣ב | wə·haq·qā·rōḇ | Conjunctive waw, Article; Adjective - masculine singular | H7138 near |
| Carshena | כַּרְשְׁנָ֤א | kar·šə·nā | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H3771 Karshena |
| Shethar | שֵׁתָר֙ | šê·ṯār | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H8369 Shethar |
| Admatha | אַדְמָ֣תָא | ’aḏ·mā·ṯā | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H133 Admatha |
| Tarshish | תַרְשִׁ֔ישׁ | ṯar·šîš | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H8659 Tarshish |
| Meres | מֶ֥רֶס | me·res | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H4825 Meres |
| Marsena | מַרְסְנָ֖א | mar·sə·nā | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H4826 Marsena |
| and Memucan | מְמוּכָ֑ן | mə·mū·ḵān | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H4462 Memucan, Momucan |
| the seven | שִׁבְעַ֞ת | šiḇ·‘aṯ | Number - masculine singular construct | H7651 seven |
| princes | שָׂרֵ֣י׀ | śā·rê | Noun - masculine plural construct | H8269 chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince |
| of Persia | פָּרַ֣ס | pā·ras | Noun - proper - feminine singular | H6539 Persia |
| and Media | וּמָדַ֗י | ū·mā·ḏay | Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - feminine singular | H4074 Medes, Media |
| who had personal access to | רֹאֵי֙ | rō·’ê | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | H7200 see |
| the king | הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ | ham·me·leḵ | Article; Noun - masculine singular | H4428 king |
| ranked | הַיֹּשְׁבִ֥ים | hay·yō·šə·ḇîm | Article; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural | H3427 sit, remain, dwell |
| highest | רִאשֹׁנָ֖ה | ri·šō·nāh | Adjective - feminine singular | H7223 former, first, chief |
| in the kingdom | בַּמַּלְכֽוּת׃ | bam·mal·ḵūṯ | Preposition-b, Article; Noun - feminine singular | H4438 royalty, royal power, reign, kingdom |
Esther 1:15
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| According to law | כְּדָת֙ | kə·ḏāṯ | Preposition-k; Noun - feminine singular | H1881 decree, law, usage |
| he asked | מַֽה־ | mah- | Interrogative | H4100 what? how? aught |
| what | מַֽה־ | mah- | Interrogative | H4100 what? how? aught |
| should be done | לַּעֲשׂ֔וֹת | la·‘ă·śō·wṯ | Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | H6213 do, make |
| with Queen | בַּמַּלְכָּ֖ה | bam·mal·kāh | Preposition-b, Article; Noun - feminine singular | H4436 queen |
| Vashti | וַשְׁתִּ֑י | waš·tî | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H2060 Vashti |
| since | עַ֣ל׀ | ‘al | Preposition | H5921 height |
| she refused to obey | לֹֽא־ | lō- | Adverb - Negative particle | H3808 not |
| the command | מַאֲמַר֙ | ma·’ă·mar | Noun - masculine singular construct | H3982 word, command |
| of King | הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ | ham·me·leḵ | Article; Noun - masculine singular | H4428 king |
| Xerxes | אֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ | ’ă·ḥaš·wê·rō·wōš | Noun - proper - masculine singular | H325 Ahasuerus |
| delivered by | בְּיַ֖ד | bə·yaḏ | Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct | H3027 hand |
| the eunuchs | הַסָּרִיסִֽים׃ס | has·sā·rî·sîm | Article; Noun - masculine plural | H5631 eunuch |
Cross-references
Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.
Esther 1:10 Esther 7:9 · Judges 16:25 · Proverbs 20:1 · Ecclesiastes 7:2–4 · 2 Samuel 13:28 · Ephesians 5:18–19 · Daniel 1:18–19 · Genesis 43:34
Esther 1:11 Proverbs 31:30 · Mark 6:21–22 · Proverbs 16:9 · 1 Samuel 25:3 · Esther 6:8 · 2 Samuel 14:25 · Esther 2:17 · Proverbs 23:29–33
Esther 1:12 Proverbs 19:12 · Proverbs 20:2 · 1 Peter 3:1
Esther 1:13 1 Chronicles 12:32 · Daniel 2:2 · Jeremiah 10:7 · Daniel 2:12 · Daniel 5:7 · Matthew 16:3
Esther 1:14 2 Kings 25:19 · Ezra 7:14 · Matthew 18:10
Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.
Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.