Esther 1:13

Esther 1:13 in other versions

• King James Version (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:
• New International Version (NIV)Since it was customary for the king to consult experts in matters of law and justice, he spoke with the wise men who understood the times
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then the king said to the wise men who knew the times (for this was the king's procedure toward all who were versed in law and judgment,
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then the king said to the wise men who understood the times (for this was the king’s manner toward all who knew law and justice,

Context of Esther 1:13

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. Then 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?”

Esther 1:13 word by word

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לַחֲכָמִ֖ים יֹדְעֵ֣י הָֽעִתִּ֑ים כִּי־כֵן֙ דְּבַ֣ר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לִפְנֵ֕י כָּל־יֹדְעֵ֖י דָּ֥ת וָדִֽין׃Read the interlinear

• Then the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• consultedאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• the wise menחָכָםchâkâm · wiseH2450
• who knewיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• the timesעֵת‛êth · timeH6256
• for it wasכִּיkîy · forH3588
• customaryכֵּןkên · soH3651
• to conferדָּבָרdâbâr · ChroniclesH1697
• withפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• withכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
• in lawדָּתdâth · lawH1881
• and justiceדִּיןdîyn dûn · judgmentH1779

Cross-references for Esther 1:13

• Jeremiah 10:7Who would not fear You, O King of nations? This is Your due. For among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like You.
• 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,
• Daniel 4:6So I issued a decree that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me.
• 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 clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”
• Matthew 2:1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem,
• 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.
• Matthew 16:3and 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.

Commentaries on Esther 1:13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13To the wise men - Probably the lawyers.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13Wise 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 … ”Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-22Verses 10-22 Ahasuerus's feast ended in heaviness, by his own folly. Seasons of peculiar festivity often end in vexation. Superiors should be careful not to command what may reasonably be disobeyed. But when wine is in, men's reason departs from them. He that had rule over 127 provinces, had no rule over his own spirit. But whether the passion or the policy of the king was served by this decree, God's providence made way for Esther to the crown, and…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13The king did not react immediately. He consulted his wise advisers, as he usually did. He checked with Persian legal experts to see what could be done about his disobedient wife (Esther 1:15).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 13-1913-19. Then the king said to the wise men--These were probably the magi, without whose advice as to the proper time of doing a thing the Persian kings never did take any step whatever; and the persons named in Es 1:14 were the "seven counsellors" (compare Ezr 7:14) who formed the state ministry. 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…Read the comment

Topics related to Esther 1:13

• Babylon
• Chamberlain
• Divorce
• Family
• Husband
• Persia
• Queen
• Vashti
• Wife
• Women

In the dictionaries

• Wise men
• Shushan
• Esther, Book of

Commentaries on Esther 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings