God’s Word Translation
Esther 1:4
4He showed them the enormous wealth of his kingdom and the costly splendor of his greatness for many days, 180 to be exact.
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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)while he showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp of his greatness for many days, 180 days.
- 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.
Context of Esther 1:4
2At the time when King Xerxes sat on the royal throne in the fortress of Susa, 3he 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. He 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. 6The garden had white and violet linen curtains. These curtains were attached to silver rods and marble pillars by cords made of white and purple fine linen. Gold and silver couches were on a mosaic pavement of purple rock, white marble, pearl-like stone, and black marble.
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 39:2Hezekiah was so happy with them that he showed the messengers his warehouse: the silver, gold, balsam, fine olive oil, his entire armory, and everything in his treasury. Hezekiah showed them everything in his palace and every corner of his kingdom.
- Ezekiel 28:5Because of your great skill in trading, you’ve made yourself very wealthy. You have become arrogant because of your wealth.
- Daniel 4:30The king thought, “Look how great Babylon is! I built the royal palace by my own impressive power and for my glorious honor.”
- Psalms 76:1God is known in Judah. His name is great in Israel.
- Psalms 145:5I will think about the glorious honor of your majesty and the miraculous things you have done.
- Daniel 2:37“Your Majesty, you are the greatest king. The God of heaven has given you a kingdom. He has given you power, strength, and honor.
- Daniel 7:9I watched until thrones were set up and the Ancient One, who has lived for endless years, sat down. His clothes were as white as snow and the hair on his head was like pure wool. His throne was fiery flames, and its wheels were burning fire.
- Matthew 4:8Once more the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms in the world and their glory.
- Matthew 6:13Don’t allow us to be tempted. Instead, rescue us from the evil one.
- Romans 9:23Can’t God also reveal the riches of his glory to people who are objects of his mercy and who he had already prepared for glory?
- Ephesians 1:18Then you will have deeper insight. You will know the confidence that he calls you to have and the glorious wealth that God’s people will inherit.
- Colossians 1:27God wanted his people throughout the world to know the glorious riches of this mystery—which is Christ living in you, giving you the hope of glory.
- Revelation 4:11“Our Lord and God, you deserve to receive glory, honor, and power because you created everything. Everything came into existence and was created because of your will.”
- 1 Chronicles 29:11Greatness, power, splendor, glory, and majesty are yours, Lord, because everything in heaven and on earth is yours. The kingdom is yours, Lord, and you are honored as head of all things.
- Job 40:10Then dress yourself in majesty and dignity. Clothe yourself in splendor and glory.
- Psalms 21:5Because of your victory his glory is great. You place splendor and majesty 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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