Esther
Esther 1:3–8
3In the third year of his reign, Xerxes held a feast for all his officials and servants. The military leaders of Persia and Media were there, along with the nobles and princes of the provinces. 4And for a full 180 days he displayed the glorious riches of his kingdom and the magnificent splendor of his greatness.
5At the end of this time, in the garden court of the royal palace, the king held a seven-day feast for all the people in the citadel of Susa, from the least to the greatest. 6Hangings of white and blue linen were fastened with cords of fine white and purple material to silver rings on the marble pillars. Gold and silver couches were arranged on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other costly stones.
7Beverages were served in an array of goblets of gold, each with a different design, and the royal wine flowed freely, according to the king’s bounty. 8By order of the king, no limit was placed on the drinking, and every official of his household was to serve each man whatever he desired.
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 1:3
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In the third | שָׁלוֹשׁ֙ | šā·lō·wōš | Number - feminine singular | H7969 a three, triad |
| year | בִּשְׁנַ֤ת | biš·naṯ | Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct | H8141 year |
| of his reign | לְמָלְכ֔וֹ | lə·mā·lə·ḵōw | Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; third person masculine singular | H4427 be or become king, or queen, reign |
| held | עָשָׂ֣ה | ‘ā·śāh | Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | H6213 do, make |
| a feast | מִשְׁתֶּ֔ה | miš·teh | Noun - masculine singular | H4960 feast |
| for all | לְכָל־ | lə·ḵāl | Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct | H3605 the whole, all |
| his officials | שָׂרָ֖יו | śā·rāw | Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular | H8269 chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince |
| and servants | וַעֲבָדָ֑יו | wa·‘ă·ḇā·ḏāw | Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular | H5650 slave, servant |
| The military leaders | חֵ֣יל׀ | ḥêl | Noun - masculine singular construct | H2428 strength, efficiency, wealth, army |
| 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 |
| along with the nobles | הַֽפַּרְתְּמִ֛ים | hap·par·tə·mîm | Article; Noun - masculine plural | H6579 grandee |
| and princes | וְשָׂרֵ֥י | wə·śā·rê | Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural construct | H8269 chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince |
| of the provinces | הַמְּדִינ֖וֹת | ham·mə·ḏî·nō·wṯ | Article; Noun - feminine plural | H4082 province |
Esther 1:4
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| And for a full | רַבִּ֔ים | rab·bîm | Adjective - masculine plural | H7227 much, many, great |
| 180 | שְׁמוֹנִ֥ים | šə·mō·w·nîm | Number - common plural | H8084 an eighty |
| days | יָמִ֣ים | yā·mîm | Noun - masculine plural | H3117 day |
| he displayed | בְּהַרְאֹת֗וֹ | bə·har·’ō·ṯōw | Preposition-b; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct; third person masculine singular | H7200 see |
| the glorious | כְּב֣וֹד | kə·ḇō·wḏ | Noun - masculine singular construct | H3519 abundance, honour, glory |
| riches | עֹ֙שֶׁר֙ | ‘ō·šer | Noun - masculine singular construct | H6239 be or become rich |
| of his kingdom | מַלְכוּת֔וֹ | mal·ḵū·ṯōw | Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular | H4438 royalty, royal power, reign, kingdom |
| and | וְאֶ֨ת־ | wə·’eṯ- | Conjunctive waw; Direct object marker | H853 mark of the accusative |
| the magnificent | תִּפְאֶ֖רֶת | tip̄·’e·reṯ | Noun - feminine singular construct | H8597 beauty, glory |
| splendor | יְקָ֔ר | yə·qār | Noun - masculine singular construct | H3366 preciousness, price, honour |
| of his greatness | גְּדוּלָּת֑וֹ | gə·ḏūl·lā·ṯōw | Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular | H1420 greatness |
Esther 1:5
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| At the end | וּבִמְל֣וֹאת׀ | ū·ḇim·lō·wṯ | Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | H4390 be full, fill |
| of this | הָאֵ֗לֶּה | hā·’êl·leh | Article; Pronoun - common plural | H428 these |
| time | הַיָּמִ֣ים | hay·yā·mîm | Article; Noun - masculine plural | H3117 day |
| in the garden | גִּנַּ֥ת | gin·naṯ | Noun - feminine singular construct | H1594 garden |
| court | בַּחֲצַ֕ר | ba·ḥă·ṣar | Preposition-b; Noun - common singular construct | H2691 enclosure, court |
| of the royal | הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ | ham·me·leḵ | Article; Noun - masculine singular | H4428 king |
| palace | בִּיתַ֖ן | bî·ṯan | Noun - masculine singular construct | H1055 house, palace |
| the king | הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ | ham·me·leḵ | Article; Noun - masculine singular | H4428 king |
| held | עָשָׂ֣ה | ‘ā·śāh | Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | H6213 do, make |
| a seven-day | שִׁבְעַ֣ת | šiḇ·‘aṯ | Number - masculine singular construct | H7651 seven |
| feast | מִשְׁתֶּ֖ה | miš·teh | Noun - masculine singular | H4960 feast |
| for all | לְכָל־ | lə·ḵāl | Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct | H3605 the whole, all |
| the people | הָעָ֣ם | hā·‘ām | Article; Noun - masculine singular | H5971 people |
| in the citadel | הַבִּירָ֜ה | hab·bî·rāh | Article; Noun - feminine singular | H1002 castle, palace |
| of Susa | בְּשׁוּשַׁ֨ן | bə·šū·šan | Preposition-b; Noun - proper - masculine singular | H7800 Susa |
| from the least | קָטָ֛ן | qā·ṭān | Adjective - masculine singular | H6996 small, young, unimportant |
| to | וְעַד־ | wə·‘aḏ- | Conjunctive waw; Preposition | H5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while |
| the greatest | לְמִגָּ֧דוֹל | lə·mig·gā·ḏō·wl | Preposition-l, Preposition-m; Adjective - masculine singular | H1419 great |
Esther 1:6
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| white | ח֣וּר׀ | ḥūr | Noun - masculine singular | H2353 white stuff |
| and blue | וּתְכֵ֗לֶת | ū·ṯə·ḵê·leṯ | Conjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singular | H8504 violet |
| linen | כַּרְפַּ֣ס | kar·pas | Noun - masculine singular | H3768 cotton (or fine linen) |
| were fastened | אָחוּז֙ | ’ā·ḥūz | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular | H270 grasp, take hold, take possession |
| with cords | בְּחַבְלֵי־ | bə·ḥaḇ·lê- | Preposition-b; Noun - masculine plural construct | H2256 cord, territory, band |
| of fine white | ב֣וּץ | ḇūṣ | Noun - masculine singular | H948 byssus |
| and purple | וְאַרְגָּמָ֔ן | wə·’ar·gā·mān | Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular | H713 purple, red-purple, i.e. purple thread & cloth |
| to | עַל־ | ‘al- | Preposition | H5921 height |
| silver | כֶ֖סֶף | ḵe·sep̄ | Noun - masculine singular | H3701 silver, money |
| rings | גְּלִ֥ילֵי | gə·lî·lê | Noun - masculine plural construct | H1550 turning, folding |
| on the marble | שֵׁ֑שׁ | šêš | Noun - masculine singular | H8336 id. |
| pillars | וְעַמּ֣וּדֵי | wə·‘am·mū·ḏê | Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural construct | H5982 pillar, column |
| Gold | זָהָ֣ב | zā·hāḇ | Noun - masculine singular | H2091 gold |
| and silver | וָכֶ֗סֶף | wā·ḵe·sep̄ | Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular | H3701 silver, money |
| couches | מִטּ֣וֹת׀ | miṭ·ṭō·wṯ | Noun - feminine plural construct | H4296 couch, bed |
| were arranged | עַ֛ל | ‘al | Preposition | H5921 height |
| on a mosaic pavement | רִֽצְפַ֥ת | riṣ·p̄aṯ | Noun - feminine singular construct | H7531 pavement |
| of porphyry | בַּהַט־ | ba·haṭ- | Noun - masculine singular | H923 porphyry |
| marble | וָשֵׁ֖שׁ | wā·šêš | Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular | H8336 id. |
| mother-of-pearl | וְדַ֥ר | wə·ḏar | Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular | H1858 pearl ? mother of pearl ? |
| and other costly stones | וְסֹחָֽרֶת׃ | wə·sō·ḥā·reṯ | Conjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singular | H5508 tile |
Esther 1:7
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beverages were served | וְהַשְׁקוֹת֙ | wə·haš·qō·wṯ | Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | H8248 quaff, irrigate, furnish a potion to |
| in an array of goblets | בִּכְלֵ֣י | biḵ·lê | Preposition-b; Noun - masculine plural construct | H3627 article, utensil, vessel |
| of gold | זָהָ֔ב | zā·hāḇ | Noun - masculine singular | H2091 gold |
| each | וְכֵלִ֖ים | wə·ḵê·lîm | Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural | H3627 article, utensil, vessel |
| with a different design | שׁוֹנִ֑ים | šō·w·nîm | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural | H8138 change |
| and the royal | מַלְכ֛וּת | mal·ḵūṯ | Noun - feminine singular | H4438 royalty, royal power, reign, kingdom |
| wine | וְיֵ֥ין | wə·yên | Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct | H3196 wine |
| flowed freely | רָ֖ב | rāḇ | Adjective - masculine singular | H7227 much, many, great |
| according to the king’s | הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ | ham·me·leḵ | Article; Noun - masculine singular | H4428 king |
| bounty | כְּיַ֥ד | kə·yaḏ | Preposition-k; Noun - feminine singular construct | H3027 hand |
Esther 1:8
| English | Hebrew | Sounds like | Grammar | Word study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| By | כַדָּ֖ת | ḵad·dāṯ | Preposition-k, Article; Noun - feminine singular | H1881 decree, law, usage |
| order | יִסַּ֣ד | yis·saḏ | Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular | H3245 establish, found, fix |
| of the king | הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ | ham·me·leḵ | Article; Noun - masculine singular | H4428 king |
| no | אֵ֣ין | ’ên | Adverb | H369 nothing, nought |
| limit was placed | אֹנֵ֑ס | ’ō·nês | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular | H597 compel, constrain |
| on the drinking | וְהַשְּׁתִיָּ֥ה | wə·haš·šə·ṯî·yāh | Conjunctive waw, Article; Noun - feminine singular | H8360 drinking |
| and every | כָּל־ | kāl- | Noun - masculine singular construct | H3605 the whole, all |
| official | רַ֣ב | raḇ | Noun - masculine singular construct | H7227 much, many, great |
| of his household | בֵּית֔וֹ | bê·ṯōw | Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular | H1004 house |
| was to serve | לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת | la·‘ă·śō·wṯ | Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | H6213 do, make |
| each | אִישׁ־ | ’îš- | Noun - masculine singular | H376 man |
| man | וָאִֽישׁ׃ | wā·’îš | Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular | H376 man |
| whatever he desired | כִּרְצ֥וֹן | kir·ṣō·wn | Preposition-k; Noun - masculine singular construct | H7522 goodwill, favour, acceptance, will |
Cross-references
Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.
Esther 1:3 Mark 6:21 · Esther 2:18 · Daniel 5:1 · 1 Kings 3:15 · Jeremiah 51:11 · Isaiah 21:2 · Genesis 40:20
Esther 1:4 Job 40:10
Esther 1:5 Esther 7:7–8 · 2 Chronicles 30:21–25
Esther 1:6 Amos 6:4 · Ezekiel 23:41
Esther 1:7 Daniel 5:2–4 · 1 Kings 10:21 · Esther 2:18 · 2 Chronicles 9:20
Esther 1:8 Habakkuk 2:15–16 · Jeremiah 51:7
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.