Esther 6:1

Esther 6:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.
• New International Version (NIV)That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him.
• English Standard Version (ESV)On that night the king could not sleep. And he gave orders to bring the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, and they were read before the king.
• New King James Version (NKJV)That night the king could not sleep. So one was commanded to bring the book of the records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.

Context of Esther 6:1

That night the king could not sleep. He asked a servant to bring the kingdom's history book. He asked the servant to read the book to him. 2The history book included a report of how two of the king's eunuchs wanted to kill King Xerxes. Their names were Bigthana and Teresh. The report said that Mordecai had told the king about this. 3When the king heard this, he asked his servant, ‘When Mordecai saved my life, what great honour did we give to him?’ The king's servants replied, ‘We did not do anything for him.’

Esther 6:1 word by word

בַּלַּ֣יְלָה הַה֔וּא נָדְדָ֖ה שְׁנַ֣ת הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר לְהָבִ֞יא אֶת־סֵ֤פֶר הַזִּכְרֹנוֹת֙ דִּבְרֵ֣י הַיָּמִ֔ים וַיִּהְי֥וּ נִקְרָאִ֖ים לִפְנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• On that nightלַ֫יְלָהlayil lêyl layelâh · nightH3915
• could notנָדַדnâdad · to wanderH5074
• the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• sleepשֵׁנָהshênâh shênâ' · sleepH8142
• and he commandedאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• to bringבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): bringH935
• the bookסֵ֫פֶרsêpher siphrâh · scroll: bookH5612
• of recordsזִכָּרוֹןzikrôn · memorialH2146
• of the chroniclesיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• of the chroniclesדָּבָרdâbâr · word: deedH1697
• and they were readקָרָאqârâ' · to call: read outH7121
• beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440

Cross-references for Esther 6:1

• Esther 5:8If the king is pleased with me, and if you agree, please do what I ask. I would like the king and Haman to come again tomorrow. Come to another meal that I will prepare for you. Then I will tell you what I want, as you have asked me to do.’
• Genesis 22:14Abraham called that place ‘The Lord will give me what I need.’ People still say today, ‘On the mountain of the Lord, he will give us what we need.’
• 1 Samuel 23:26Saul and his men were going along one side of the mountain. David and his men were on the other side of the mountain. They were moving quickly to escape from Saul. Saul and his men were getting very near to David and his men. They would soon catch them.
• Isaiah 41:17Poor and helpless people look for water to drink, but there is none. They are so thirsty that their tongues are dry. But I, the Lord, will answer their prayers. I, the God of Israel, will not leave them alone.
• Romans 11:33Yes! God is very great! He has everything! He knows and he understands all things! Nobody can completely understand the things that he decides. Nobody can explain the ways in which he works.
• Daniel 2:1When Nebuchadnezzar had been king for two years, he had many dreams. He had trouble in his mind and he could not sleep.
• Daniel 6:18Then the king returned to his palace. He ate no food. Nobody brought anything to him to give him pleasure. He was unable to sleep.
• Esther 2:23The king sent his men to see if it was true. When he discovered that Mordecai had told the truth, he said that the two eunuchs must die. So his officers hanged them from a wooden tower until they were dead. They wrote about this event in the history book, while the king watched.
• Malachi 3:16Then the people who respected the Lord talked to each other. The Lord listened to what they said. While the Lord watched, someone wrote names on a scroll. Those were the names of the people who worshipped the Lord and respected the Lord's name. They wrote down their names so that people would remember them.

Commentaries on Esther 6:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1On that night could not the king sleep - The Targum says the king had a dream, which was as follows: - "And the king saw one in the similitude of a man who spoke these words to him: Haman desireth to slay thee, and to make himself king in thy stead. Behold, he will come unto thee early in the morning, to ask from thee the man who rescued thee from death, that he may slay him: but say thou unto Haman, What shall be done for the man whose honor the king…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Providence recommends Mordecai to the king's favour. (1-3) Haman's counsel honours Mordecai. (4-11) Haman's friends tell him of his danger. (12-14) Verses 1-3 The providence of God rules over the smallest concerns of men. Not a sparrow falls to the ground without him. Trace the steps which Providence took towards the advancement of Mordecai. The king could not sleep when Providence had a design to serve, in keeping him awake. We read of no illness that…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1sleep escaped the king: God was protecting Esther and Mordecai. the Book of Records, the Chronicles: Ancient kings kept records of their rule.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-141. the king ... commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles--In Eastern courts, there are scribes or officers whose duty it is to keep a journal of every occurrence worthy of notice. A book of this kind, abounding with anecdotes, is full of interest. It has been a custom with Eastern kings, in all ages, frequently to cause the annals of the kingdom to be read to them. It is resorted to, not merely as a pastime to while away the tedium of an…Read the comment

Topics related to Esther 6:1

• Civil Service
• Insomnia
• King
• Mordecai

In the dictionaries

• Bigthan
• Chronicles, Books of
• Esther, Book of
• Persians
• Record
• Dress

Commentaries on Esther 6

• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings