English Standard Version
Esther 1:4
4while he showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp of his greatness for many days, 180 days.
Esther 1:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days.
- New International Version (NIV)For a full 180 days he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty.
- New King James Version (NKJV)when he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the splendor of his excellent majesty for many days, one hundred and eighty days in all.
- New Living Translation (NLT)The celebration lasted 180 days—a tremendous display of the opulent wealth of his empire and the pomp and splendor of his majesty.
Context of Esther 1:4
2in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in Susa, the citadel, 3in the third year of his reign he gave a feast for all his officials and servants. The army of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces were before him, while he showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp of his greatness for many days, 180 days. 5And when these days were completed, the king gave for all the people present in Susa the citadel, both great and small, a feast lasting for seven days in the court of the garden of the king's palace. 6There were white cotton curtains and violet hangings fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rods and marble pillars, and also couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and precious stones.
Read all of Esther 1Esther 1:4 word by word
בְּהַרְאֹת֗וֹ אֶת־עֹ֙שֶׁר֙ כְּב֣וֹד מַלְכוּת֔וֹ וְאֶ֨ת־יְקָ֔ר תִּפְאֶ֖רֶת גְּדוּלָּת֑וֹ יָמִ֣ים רַבִּ֔ים שְׁמוֹנִ֥ים וּמְאַ֖ת יֽוֹם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- When he shewedרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- the richesעֹ֫שֶׁר‛ôsher · richesH6239
- of his gloriousכָּבוֹדkâbôd kâbôd · gloryH3519
- kingdomמַלְכוּתmalkûth malkûth malkûyâh · royaltyH4438
- and the honourיְקָרyeqâr · preciousnessH3366
- of his excellentתִּפְאָרָהtiph'ârâh tiph'ereth · beautyH8597
- majestyגְּדוּלָּהgedûlâh gedûllâh gedûllâh · greatnessH1420
- manyרַבrab · manyH7227
- daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- an hundredמֵאָהmê'âh mê'yâh · hundredH3967
- and fourscoreשְׁמֹנִיםshemônîym shemônîym · eightyH8084
Cross-references for Esther 1:4
- Isaiah 39:2And Hezekiah welcomed them gladly. And he showed them his treasure house, the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious oil, his whole armory, all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his house or in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them.
- Ezekiel 28:5by your great wisdom in your trade you have increased your wealth, and your heart has become proud in your wealth—
- Daniel 4:30and the king answered and said, "Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?"
- Psalms 76:1In Judah God is known; his name is great in Israel.
- Psalms 145:5On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
- Daniel 2:37You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory,
- Daniel 7:9"As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire.
- Matthew 4:8Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
- Matthew 6:13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
- Romans 9:23in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—
- Ephesians 1:18having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
- Colossians 1:27To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
- Revelation 4:11"Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."
- 1 Chronicles 29:11Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.
- Job 40:10"Adorn yourself with majesty and dignity; clothe yourself with glory and splendor.
- Psalms 21:5His glory is great through your salvation; splendor and majesty you bestow on him.
Commentaries on Esther 1:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4The riches of his glorious kingdom - Luxury was the characteristic of the Eastern monarchs, and particularly of the Persians. In their feasts, which were superb and of long continuance, they made a general exhibition of their wealth, grandeur, etc., and received the highest encomiums from their poets and flatterers. Their ostentation on such occasions passed into a proverb: hence Horace: - Persicos odi, puer, apparatus: Displicent nexae philyra coronae…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4for a full 180 days: Officials likely took turns attending various events during this six-month period. This allowed them to maintain the nation’s military and infrastructure. This grand display of pomp and splendor aimed to impress others with the king’s greatness. It also shows Xerxes’ pride.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-22Commentary by Robert Jamieson 1. Ahasuerus--It is now generally agreed among learned men that the Ahasuerus mentioned in this episode is the Xerxes who figures in Grecian history.Read the comment
Topics related to Esther 1:4
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries