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 before the king with her royal turban in order to display her beauty to the people and the officials, for she was beautiful. 12But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s order delivered by the eunuchs. So the king became very angry, and his wrath burned within him. Then the king said to the wise men who understood the times--for it was the custom of the king to speak this way before all who knew Persian law and justice 14and were close to him, namely, Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven officials of Persia and Media who had access to the king’s presence and sat in the first place in the kingdom-- 15“According to law, what is to be done with Queen Vashti, since she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?”

Esther 1:13 word by word

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

• Then the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• the wiseחָכָםchâkâm · wiseH2450
• who understoodיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• the timesעֵת‛êth · timeH6256
• for it was the customדָּבָרdâbâr · ChroniclesH1697
• thisכֵּןkên · rightH3651
• beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• allכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
• lawדָּתdâth · lawH1881
• and justiceדִּיןdîyn dûn · judgmentH1779

Cross-references for Esther 1:13

• Jeremiah 10:7Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? For it is Your due! For among all the wise men of the nations And in all their kingdoms, There is none like You.
• Daniel 2:2Then the king gave orders to call in the soothsayer priests, the conjurers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king.
• Daniel 4:6So I gave orders to bring into my presence all the wise men of Babylon, so that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.
• Daniel 5:7The king called aloud to bring in the sorcerers, the Chaldeans, and the diviners. The king began speaking and said to the wise men of Babylon, “Anyone who can read this inscription and explain its interpretation to me shall be clothed with purple and have a necklace of gold around his neck, and have authority as third ruler in the kingdom.”
• Matthew 2:1Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
• 1 Chronicles 12:32From the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their kinsmen were at their command.
• Matthew 16:3And in the morning, ‘There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but are you unable to discern 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