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 in front of the king, wearing her royal crown. He wanted to show the people, especially the officials, her beauty, because she was very attractive. 12But Queen Vashti refused the king’s command that the eunuchs delivered to her. As a result, the king became very angry, and his rage burned inside him. Now, the king usually asked for advice from all the experts in royal decrees and decisions, 14from those closest to him—Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan. These seven officials of the Persians and Medes had access to the king and held the highest rank in the kingdom. The king asked these wise men who knew the times, 15“According to the royal decrees, what must we do with Queen Vashti since she did not obey King Xerxes’ command, which the eunuchs delivered?”

Esther 1:13 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• to the wise menחָכָםchâkâm · wiseH2450
• which knewיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• the timesעֵת‛êth · timeH6256
• mannerדָּבָרdâbâr · ChroniclesH1697
• towardפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• lawדָּתdâth · lawH1881
• and judgmentדִּיןdîyn dûn · judgmentH1779

Cross-references for Esther 1:13

• Jeremiah 10:7Everyone fears you, O King of the Nations. This is what you deserve. No one is like you among all the wise people in the nations or in all their kingdoms.
• Daniel 2:2The king sent for the magicians, psychics, sorcerers, and astrologers so that they could tell him what he had dreamed. So they came to the king.
• Daniel 4:6So I ordered all the wise advisers in Babylon to be brought to me to tell me the dream’s meaning.
• Daniel 5:7The king screamed for the psychics, astrologers, and fortunetellers to be brought to him. He told these wise advisers of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing and tells me its meaning will be dressed in purple, wear a gold chain on his neck, and become the third-highest ruler in the kingdom.”
• Matthew 2:1Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea when Herod was king. After Jesus’ birth wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem.
• 1 Chronicles 12:32From Issachar’s descendants there were 200 leaders who understood the times and knew what Israel should do. Their relatives were under their command.
• Matthew 16:3And in the morning you say that there will be a storm today because the sky is red and overcast. You can forecast the weather by judging the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret 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