New American Standard Bible 1995
Esther 1:8
8The drinking was done according to the law, there was no compulsion, for so the king had given orders to each official of his household that he should do according to the desires of each person.
Esther 1:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man’s pleasure.
- New International Version (NIV)By the king’s command each guest was allowed to drink with no restrictions, for the king instructed all the wine stewards to serve each man what he wished.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And drinking was according to this edict: "There is no compulsion." For the king had given orders to all the staff of his palace to do as each man desired.
- New King James Version (NKJV)In accordance with the law, the drinking was not compulsory; for so the king had ordered all the officers of his household, that they should do according to each man’s pleasure.
Context of Esther 1:8
6There were hangings of fine white and violet linen held by cords of fine purple linen on silver rings and marble columns, and couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and precious stones. 7Drinks were served in golden vessels of various kinds, and the royal wine was plentiful according to the king’s bounty. The drinking was done according to the law, there was no compulsion, for so the king had given orders to each official of his household that he should do according to the desires of each person. 9Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the palace which belonged to King Ahasuerus. 10On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus,
Read all of Esther 1Esther 1:8 word by word
וְהַשְּׁתִיָּ֥ה כַדָּ֖ת אֵ֣ין אֹנֵ֑ס כִּי־כֵ֣ן׀ יִסַּ֣ד הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ עַ֚ל כָּל־רַ֣ב בֵּית֔וֹ לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת כִּרְצ֥וֹן אִישׁ־וָאִֽישׁ׃Read the interlinear
- The drinkingשְׁתִיָּהshethîyâh · drinkingH8360
- according to the lawדָּתdâth · lawH1881
- thereאַ֫יִן'ayin · nothingH369
- compulsionאָנַס'ânas · to compelH597
- for soכֵּןkên · soH3651
- the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- had givenיָסַדyâsad · to foundH3245
- to eachכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
- officialרַבrab · chiefH7227
- of his householdבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
- that he should doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- according to the desiresרָצוֹןrâtsôn râtsôn · acceptanceH7522
- of eachאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
Cross-references for Esther 1:8
- Jeremiah 35:8We have obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he commanded us, not to drink wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons or our daughters,
- Jeremiah 51:7Babylon has been a golden cup in the hand of the Lord, Intoxicating all the earth. The nations have drunk of her wine; Therefore the nations are going mad.
- Habakkuk 2:15“Woe to you who make your neighbors drink, Who mix in your venom even to make them drunk So as to look on their nakedness!
- John 2:8And He said to them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it to him.
Commentaries on Esther 1:8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8None did compel: for so the king had appointed - Every person drank what he pleased; he was not obliged to take more than he had reason to think would do him good. Among the Greeks, each guest was obliged to keep the round, or leave the company: hence the proverb , ; Drink or begone. To this Horace refers, but gives more license: - Pasco libatis dapibus; prout cuique libido est. Siccat inaequales calices conviva, solutus Legibus insanis: seu quis capit…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8According to the law - An exception to the ordinary practice of compulsory drinking had been made on this occasion by the king‘s order.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8no limit was placed on the drinking: Often, guests would drink only when the Persian king offered a toast (see Xenophon, Cyropaedia 8.8.18). At this banquet, people could drink freely.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 1:8
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
New American Standard Bible 1995 — © 1960–1995 The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
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