Esther 1:13
in Esther 1Then 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.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times (for so was the king’s manner toward all that knew law and judgment;
KJV
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:
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This verse in Esther 1
Commentary
8 notes on this verseThe advice which King Ahasuerus asks of his seven sages who were, according to royal custom always by his side, concerning the insolent Vashti—as well as the sentence he orders them to pass concerning her—undoubtedly signifies the sentence our Savior passes against the arrogance of …
This site's exposition
the king consulted the wise men
on Esther 1:13-15
The king takes his anger to his counsellors. He consults "the wise men who knew the times," and the seven princes who "ranked highest in the kingdom". Wesley notes that the court referred even an offense in the king's household to men learned in law.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
But let us hear what Scripture has to say about the stubbornness of Vashti, that most foolish of queens: "So the king was angered, and enflamed by his excessive rage he questioned his wise men, who were always at his side according to royal custom; …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Then the king said to the wise men that knew the times,.... Astrologers, as Aben Ezra, that knew the fit time for doing anything; or that had knowledge of ancient times, historians, well read in history, and knew things that had happened similar to this: for so was the king's manner towards all that knew law and judgment; it was customary with him in any case of difficulty to have the opinion and advice of those that were expert in the law, and well understood right and wrong.
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. Which of the kings of Persia this Ahasuerus was the learned are not agreed.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — scripture-overlap:88%@v8-10
How does this Heathen prince shame many, that are called Christians, who think they do not make their friends welcome, unless they make them drunk, and under pretense of sending the health round, send the sin round, and death with it! Women - While the king entertained the men. For this was the common custom of the Persians, that men and women did not feast together.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Wise men ... - Not “astrologers,” who were unknown in Persia; but rather men of practical wisdom, who knew the facts and customs of former times. For so was the king’s manner - Some render it: “for so was the king’s business laid before all that knew law ...”
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
The combined wisdom of all, it seems, was enlisted to consult with the king what course should be taken after so unprecedented an occurrence as Vashti's disobedience of the royal summons. It is scarcely possible for us to imagine the astonishment produced by such a refusal in a country and a court where the will of the sovereign was absolute.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
For the king would thus place matters. For such was the king’s custom in every judgment, to present the matter “before all who were versed in procedural and legal concerns.” 27 The Midrash states that Achashveirosh originally sought the advice of the Sages and asked them to judge Vashti.
2 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
Queen Vashti refused. Our Rabbis said because leprosy broke out on her, 24 Ibid. Vashti did not refuse out of modesty. She was as lewd as her husband and would have attended had she not broken out with leprosy.
Most intimately associated with him. To present his affairs before them were the following: Carshena, Shesar, etc.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 1 further source is cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיֹּ֣אמֶר | vaiyomer | and he said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ | hamelekh | the king | H4428 → | 2525 times |
| לַחֲכָמִ֖ים | lachakhamim | to <the> wise men | H2450 → | |
| יֹדְעֵ֣י | yodeei | [who] knew | H3045 → | 945 times |
| הָֽעִתִּ֑ים | haitim | <of> the times | H6256 → | 296 times |
| כִּי־ | ki- | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| כֵן֙ | khen | [was] thus | H3651 → | 771 times |
| דְּבַ֣ר | devar | [the] manner of | H1697 → | 1440 times |
| הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ | hamelekh | the king | H4428 → | 2525 times |
| לִפְנֵ֕י | lifnei | <to> before | H6440 → | 2123 times |
| כָּל־ | kol- | all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| יֹדְעֵ֖י | yodeei | [those who] knew | H3045 → | 945 times |
| דָּ֥ת | dat | <of> law | H1881 → | 22 times |
| וָדִֽין׃ | vadin | and judgment | H1779 → |
וַיֹּ֣אמֶרand he said
vaiyomerH559 →5305 times
הַמֶּ֔לֶךְthe king
hamelekhH4428 →2525 times
לַחֲכָמִ֖יםto <the> wise men
lachakhamimH2450 →
יֹדְעֵ֣י[who] knew
yodeeiH3045 →945 times
הָֽעִתִּ֑ים<of> the times
haitimH6256 →296 times
כִּי־for
ki-H3588 →4482 times
כֵן֙[was] thus
khenH3651 →771 times
דְּבַ֣ר[the] manner of
devarH1697 →1440 times
הַמֶּ֔לֶךְthe king
hamelekhH4428 →2525 times
לִפְנֵ֕י<to> before
lifneiH6440 →2123 times
כָּל־all
kol-H3605 →5413 times
יֹדְעֵ֖י[those who] knew
yodeeiH3045 →945 times
דָּ֥ת<of> law
datH1881 →22 times
וָדִֽין׃and judgment
vadinH1779 →
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
1 Chronicles 12:32From Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do: 200 chiefs with all their kinsmen at their command.
it leads to
- Ephesians 5:17
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
- Luke 12:56–57
You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and sky. Why don’t you know how to interpret the present time?
- Proverbs 14:8
The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools deceives them.
- Isaiah 33:6
He will be the sure foundation for your times, a storehouse of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the LORD is Zion’s treasure.
- Matthew 16:3
and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but not the signs of the times.
- Ephesians 5:17
Through
Daniel 5:7The king called out for the enchanters, astrologers, and diviners to be brought in, and he said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this inscription and tells me its interpretation will be…
it leads to
- Daniel 5:16
But I have heard about you, that you are able to give interpretations and solve difficult problems. Therefore, if you can read this inscription and give me its interpretation, you will be clothed in…
- Daniel 5:29
Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel in purple, placed a gold chain around his neck, and proclaimed him the third highest ruler in the kingdom.
- Daniel 5:16
Through
Daniel 2:2So the king gave orders to summon the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers to explain his dreams. When they came and stood before the king,
it leads to
- Daniel 1:20
In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom.
- Daniel 1:20
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies5
On this verse
About Esther
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Keil, The Books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Rabanus Maurus, EXPLANATION ON THE BOOK OF ESTHER 2 and Rabanus Maurus, Commentary on Esther.