Esther 1:3

Esther 1:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him:
• New International Version (NIV)and in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials. The military leaders of Persia and Media, the princes, and the nobles of the provinces were present.
• English Standard Version (ESV)in 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,
• New King James Version (NKJV)that in the third year of his reign he made a feast for all his officials and servants—the powers of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the princes of the provinces being before him—

Context of Esther 1:3

1In the days of Xerxes the following events took place. This was the same Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces from India to Sudan. 2At the time when King Xerxes sat on the royal throne in the fortress of Susa, he held a banquet in the third year of his reign. The banquet was for all his officials and advisers, that is, the military officers of the Persians and Medes, the nobles and officials of the provinces who had access to him. 4He showed them the enormous wealth of his kingdom and the costly splendor of his greatness for many days, 180 to be exact. 5When those days were over, the king held a banquet lasting seven days. This banquet was held in the enclosed garden of the king’s palace for all people in the fortress of Susa, whatever their rank.

Esther 1:3 word by word

בִּשְׁנַ֤ת שָׁלוֹשׁ֙ לְמָלְכ֔וֹ עָשָׂ֣ה מִשְׁתֶּ֔ה לְכָל־שָׂרָ֖יו וַעֲבָדָ֑יו חֵ֣יל׀ פָּרַ֣ס וּמָדַ֗י הַֽפַּרְתְּמִ֛ים וְשָׂרֵ֥י הַמְּדִינ֖וֹת לְפָנָֽיו׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• In the thirdשָׁלֹשׁshâlôsh shâlôsh shelôshâh shelôshâh · threeH7969
• yearשָׁנָהshâneh shânâh · yearH8141
• of his reignמָלַךְmâlak · to reignH4427
• he madeעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: offerH6213
• a feastמִשְׁתֶּהmishteh · feastH4960
• unto all his princesשַׂרώar · rulerH8269
• and his servantsעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• the powerחַ֫יִלchayil · armyH2428
• of Persiaפָּרַסpâras · PersiaH6539
• and Mediaמָדַיmâday · MediaH4074
• the noblesפַּרְתְּמִיםpartam · nobleH6579
• of the provincesמְדִינָהmedîynâh · provinceH4082
• beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440

Cross-references for Esther 1:3

• Esther 2:18Then the king held a great banquet for Esther. He invited all his officials and his advisers. He also declared that day a holiday in the provinces, and he handed out gifts from his royal generosity.
• Genesis 40:20Two days later, on his birthday, Pharaoh had a special dinner prepared for all his servants. Of all his servants he gave special attention to the chief cupbearer and the chief baker.
• 1 Kings 3:15Solomon woke up and realized it had been a dream. He went to Jerusalem and stood in front of the ark of the Lord’s promise. He sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings and held a banquet for all his officials.
• Daniel 5:1King Belshazzar threw a large banquet for 1,000 nobles and drank wine with them.
• Mark 6:21An opportunity finally came on Herod’s birthday. Herod gave a dinner for his top officials, army officers, and the most important people of Galilee.
• Esther 1:14from 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,
• Ezra 1:2This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: The Lord God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the world. Then he ordered me to build a temple for him in Jerusalem (which is in Judah).
• Isaiah 21:2I was shown a harsh vision. The traitor betrays. The destroyer destroys. Go to war, Elam! Surround them, Media! I will put an end to all the groaning.
• Jeremiah 51:11Sharpen the arrows; fill the quivers. The Lord will stir up the spirit of the kings of the Medes because his plan is to destroy Babylon. The Lord will avenge his temple.
• Daniel 5:28Divided—your kingdom will be divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”
• Daniel 8:20“The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kingdoms of Media and Persia.
• Daniel 3:2King Nebuchadnezzar sent messengers to assemble the satraps, governors, mayors, military advisers, treasurers, judges, officers, and all the other provincial officials to dedicate the statue he had set up.
• Daniel 6:1Darius decided it would be good to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom.

Commentaries on Esther 1:3

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3In the third year - In this year, 483 B.C., Xerxes assembled the governors of provinces at Susa, in connection with his contemplated expedition against Greece. The nobles - literally, “the first men.” The Hebrew word used is one adopted from the Persian.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. made a feast unto all his princes and his servants--Banquets on so grand a scale, and extending over so great a period, have been frequently provided by the luxurious monarchs of Eastern countries, both in ancient and modern times. The early portion of this festive season, however, seems to have been dedicated to amusement, particularly an exhibition of the magnificence and treasures of the court, and it was closed by a special feast of seven days'…Read the comment

Topics related to Esther 1:3

• Feasts
• Food
• Persia
• Shushan (Susa)

In the dictionaries

• Media
• Persia
• Shushan
• Agagite
• Esther, Book of
• Noble; Nobles; Nobleman
• Ahasuerus
• Meals

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