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Esther 1:6

in Esther 1

Hangings 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.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

There were hangings of white cloth, of green, and of blue, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the couches were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and white, and yellow, and black marble.

KJV

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.

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This verse in Esther 1

Commentary

8 notes on this verse
Where were white, green, and blue hangings,.... Or curtains of fine linen, as the Targum, which were of these several colours; the first letter of the word for "white" is larger than usual, to denote the exceeding whiteness of them. The next word is "carpas", which Ben Melech observes is a dyed colour, said to be green.

This site's exposition

unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small

on Esther 1:5-8

Seven more days follow for everyone in Shushan, small and great together, and the court of the garden is furnished in marble, gold and hangings the text lingers over color by color. The drinking was according to the law, none did compel, a Persian custom the king made into a statute so that even pleasure at his own table ran by decree. Every detail argues the same point before the story even begins: in this court, law reaches into rooms where no law is needed, and Vashti’s coming test is only the first of many.

The record, by era

The Medieval Church3 voices

A commentator

Rabanus Maurus

EXPLANATION ON THE BOOK OF ESTHER 1 · Written before 856.

proposed

Even though from the historical point of view it simply appears to show the abundance of riches and the luxury of delights of a powerful king, … according to the holier mystery of our most powerful king, namely, Our Lord Christ, this preparation of a …

A commentator

Rabanus Maurus

Commentary on Esther · Written before 856.

proposed

"So in the third year of his rule, King Ahasuerus held a grand feast for all his officials and young men, the famous heroes of Persia and Media, and the chiefs of the provinces in his presence, so that he could show off the wealth …

A commentator

Rabanus Maurus

Commentary on Esther · Written before 856.

proposed

Though these preparations for so rich a feast seem intended to portray in concrete terms the parade of wealth and the abundance of delights possessed by a powerful king, it is actually a very sanctified allegory which symbolizes the magnitude of spiritual riches, and the …

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

Yet the Chaldee paraphrase says that the vessels of the sanctuary were used in this feast, to the great grief of the pious Jews. It was not like Herod's feast, which reserved a prophet's head for the last dish. Two things which are laudable we may gather from the account here given of this feast:-- 1.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

White, green, and blue hangings - It was customary, on such occasions, not only to hang the place about with elegant curtains of the above colors, as Dr. Shaw and others have remarked, but also to have a canopy of rich stuffs suspended on cords from side to side of the place in which they feasted. And such courts were ordinarily paved with different coloured marbles, or with tiles painted, as above specified. And this was the origin of the Musive or Mosaic work, well known among the Asiatics, and borrowed from them by the Greeks and the Romans.
1 more voice on this verse

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Rather, “where was an awning of fine white cotton and violet.” White and blue (or violet) were the royal colors in Persia. Such awnings as are here described were very suitable to the pillared halls and porches of a Persian summer-palace, and especially to the situation of that of Susa. The beds - Rather, “couches” or “sofas,” on which the guests reclined at meals. A pavement ... - See the margin. It is generally agreed that the four substances named are stones; but to identify the stones, or even their colors, is difficult.

The words behind it

21 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

9 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Amos 6:4You lie on beds inlaid with ivory, and lounge upon your couches. You dine on lambs from the flock and calves from the stall.6 worksEsther 8:15Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal garments of blue and white, with a large gold crown and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced.6 worksEsther 7:8Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining. The king exclaimed, “Would he actually assault the queen while I am in the palace?” As soon as the words had left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.5 worksEzekiel 23:41You sat on a couch of luxury with a table spread before it, on which you had set My incense and My oil,5 worksAmos 2:8They lie down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge. And in the house of their God, they drink wine obtained through fines.2 worksExodus 26:32Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood, overlaid with gold and standing on four silver bases.2 works
The other 3 cross-references, with their words ▾
Exodus 26:36–37For the entrance to the tent, you are to make a curtain embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen.1 worksExodus 26:31–32Make a veil of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen, with cherubim skillfully worked into it.1 worksExodus 26:1“You are to construct the tabernacle itself with ten curtains of finely spun linen, each with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and cherubim skillfully worked into them.1 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Amos 2:8

    They lie down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge. And in the house of their God, they drink wine obtained through fines.

    it leads to

    • Deuteronomy 24:12–17

      If he is a poor man, you must not go to sleep with the security in your possession;

    • Exodus 22:26–27

      If you take your neighbor’s cloak as collateral, return it to him by sunset,

    • Amos 6:6

      You drink wine by the bowlful and anoint yourselves with the finest oils, but you fail to grieve over the ruin of Joseph.

  • Through

    Amos 6:4

    You lie on beds inlaid with ivory, and lounge upon your couches. You dine on lambs from the flock and calves from the stall.

    it leads to

    • Amos 3:12

      This is what the LORD says: “As the shepherd snatches from the mouth of the lion two legs or a piece of an ear, so the Israelites dwelling in Samaria will be rescued having…

  • Through

    Esther 7:8

    Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining. The king exclaimed, “Would he actually assault the queen while I…

    it leads to

    • Esther 6:12

      Then Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered in grief.

  • Through

    Ezekiel 23:41

    You sat on a couch of luxury with a table spread before it, on which you had set My incense and My oil,

    it leads to

    • Isaiah 65:11

      But you who forsake the LORD, who forget My holy mountain, who set a table for Fortune and fill bowls of mixed wine for Destiny,

    • Ezekiel 44:16

      They alone shall enter My sanctuary and draw near to My table to minister before Me. They will keep My charge.

    • Jeremiah 44:17

      Instead, we will do everything we vowed to do: We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and offer drink offerings to her, just as we, our fathers, our kings, and our officials…

Where this verse is studied

About Esther

Queen Vashti Refuses to Obey Ahasuerus' Command — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
Queen Vashti Refuses to Obey Ahasuerus' Command — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
Esther: the study guide →Read Esther 1 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Rabanus Maurus, EXPLANATION ON THE BOOK OF ESTHER 1 and Rabanus Maurus, Commentary on Esther.

Read on in Esther 1 →