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:
• 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—
• New Living Translation (NLT)In the third year of his reign, he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials. He invited all the military officers of Persia and Media as well as the princes and nobles of the provinces.

Context of Esther 1:3

1This is what happened during the time of Xerxes, the Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush: 2At that time King Xerxes reigned from his royal throne in the citadel of Susa, 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. 4For a full 180 days he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty. 5When these days were over, the king gave a banquet, lasting seven days, in the enclosed garden of the king’s palace, for all the people from the least to the greatest who were in the citadel of Susa.

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 2:18And the king gave a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his nobles and officials. He proclaimed a holiday throughout the provinces and distributed gifts with royal liberality.
• Genesis 40:20Now the third day was Pharaoh’s birthday, and he gave a feast for all his officials. He lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker in the presence of his officials:
• 1 Kings 3:15Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream. He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then he gave a feast for all his court.
• Daniel 5:1King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them.
• Mark 6:21Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.
• Esther 1:14and were closest to the king—Karshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memukan, the seven nobles of Persia and Media who had special access to the king and were highest in the kingdom.
• Ezra 1:2“This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: “ ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah.
• Isaiah 21:2A dire vision has been shown to me: The traitor betrays, the looter takes loot. Elam, attack! Media, lay siege! I will bring to an end all the groaning she caused.
• Jeremiah 51:11“Sharpen the arrows, take up the shields! The Lord has stirred up the kings of the Medes, because his purpose is to destroy Babylon. The Lord will take vengeance, vengeance for his temple.
• Daniel 5:28Peres : Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”
• Daniel 8:20The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia.
• Daniel 3:2He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up.
• Daniel 6:1It pleased Darius 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