Esther 2:4
in Esther 2Then let the young woman who pleases the king become queen in place of Vashti.” This suggestion pleased the king, and he acted accordingly.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
and let the maiden that pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.
KJV
And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.
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This verse in Esther 2
Commentary
5 notes on this verseThe worldly philosophers drive out an old passion by instilling a new one; they hammer out one nail by hammering in another. It was on this principle that the seven princes of Persia acted toward Ahasuerus, for they subdued his regret for Vashti by inducing him to love other maidens. But whereas they cured one fault by another fault and one sin by another sin, we must overcome our faults by learning to love the opposite virtues. "Depart from evil," says the psalmist, "and do good; seek peace and pursue it."
This site's exposition
he remembered Vashti, and what she had done
on Esther 2:1-4
The king’s anger cools and memory returns: he remembers Vashti, what she had done, and what was decreed against her, the first hint that a law meant to settle the matter has not settled the king’s own heart. His servants answer with a policy rather than a wife, gathering fair young virgins into the house of the women under Hege’s custody, empire-scale machinery built to fill one throne. Adam Clarke and Wesley both note the practical cruelty beneath the courtly language, a search that treats a queen as a vacancy to be filled by competition.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church2 voices
When, therefore, Judea had been repulsed from its relationship with the king, various nations—and the various inhabitants of particular nations from the various parts of the world—were brought in to receive a share in the royal grandeur through the holy preachers, who were ministers of …
After Judea had been expelled from the royal marriage, different peoples and different individuals from each nation from different parts of the world were led to the royal congregation by the holy preachers who were ministers of the evangelical word. They were given into the …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti,....
The words behind it
14 Hebrew wordsEvery 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.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְהַֽנַּעֲרָ֗ה | vehanaarah | and the young woman | H5291 → | 63 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֤ר | ʾasher | who | H834 → | 5497 times |
| תִּיטַב֙ | titav | she will be good | H3190 → | 117 times |
| בְּעֵינֵ֣י | beeinei | in [the] eyes of | H5869 → | 887 times |
| הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ | hamelekh | the king | H4428 → | 2525 times |
| תִּמְלֹ֖ךְ | timlokh | she will reign | H4427 → | 348 times |
| תַּ֣חַת | tachat | in place of | H8478 → | |
| וַשְׁתִּ֑י | vashti | Vashti | H2060 → | 10 times |
| וַיִּיטַ֧ב | vaiyitav | and it was good | H3190 → | 117 times |
| הַדָּבָ֛ר | hadavar | the word | H1697 → | 1440 times |
| בְּעֵינֵ֥י | beeinei | in [the] eyes of | H5869 → | 887 times |
| הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ | hamelekh | the king | H4428 → | 2525 times |
| וַיַּ֥עַשׂ | vaiyaas | and he did | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| כֵּֽן׃ ס | ken | thus | H3651 → | 771 times |
וְהַֽנַּעֲרָ֗הand the young woman
vehanaarahH5291 →63 times
אֲשֶׁ֤רwho
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
תִּיטַב֙she will be good
titavH3190 →117 times
בְּעֵינֵ֣יin [the] eyes of
beeineiH5869 →887 times
הַמֶּ֔לֶךְthe king
hamelekhH4428 →2525 times
תִּמְלֹ֖ךְshe will reign
timlokhH4427 →348 times
תַּ֣חַתin place of
tachatH8478 →
וַשְׁתִּ֑יVashti
vashtiH2060 →10 times
וַיִּיטַ֧בand it was good
vaiyitavH3190 →117 times
הַדָּבָ֛רthe word
hadavarH1697 →1440 times
בְּעֵינֵ֥יin [the] eyes of
beeineiH5869 →887 times
הַמֶּ֖לֶךְthe king
hamelekhH4428 →2525 times
וַיַּ֥עַשׂand he did
vaiyaasH6213 →2628 times
כֵּֽן׃ סthus
kenH3651 →771 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach 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
Matthew 22:14For many are called, but few are chosen.”
it leads to
- 2 Peter 1:10
Therefore, brothers, strive to make your calling and election sure. For if you practice these things you will never stumble,
- Luke 13:23–24
“Lord,” someone asked Him, “will only a few people be saved?” Jesus answered,
- Revelation 17:14
They will make war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will triumph over them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and He will be accompanied by His called and chosen…
- Matthew 7:13–14
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
- Matthew 20:16
So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
- 2 Peter 1:10
Through
Matthew 20:16So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
it leads to
- Matthew 19:30
But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.
- Mark 10:31
But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”
- Matthew 22:14
For many are called, but few are chosen.”
- Matthew 19:30
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Esther
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Jerome, LETTER 125.14; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Rabanus Maurus, Commentary on Esther and Rabanus Maurus, EXPLANATION ON THE BOOK OF ESTHER 3.