New King James Version
Esther 1:4
4when 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.
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 Living Translation (NLT)The celebration lasted 180 days—a tremendous display of the opulent wealth of his empire and the pomp and splendor of his majesty.
Context of Esther 1:4
2in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the citadel, 3that 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— 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. 5And when these days were completed, the king made a feast lasting seven days for all the people who were present in Shushan the citadel, from great to small, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace. 6There were white and blue linen curtains fastened with cords of fine linen and purple on silver rods and marble pillars; and the couches were of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of alabaster, turquoise, and white 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 39:2And Hezekiah was pleased with them, and showed them the house of his treasures—the silver and gold, the spices and precious ointment, and all his armory—all that was found among his treasures. There was nothing in his house or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them.
- Ezekiel 28:5By your great wisdom in trade you have increased your riches, And your heart is lifted up because of your riches),”
- Daniel 4:30The king spoke, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?”
- Psalms 76:1In Judah God is known; His name is great in Israel.
- Psalms 145:5I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, And on Your wondrous works.
- Daniel 2:37You, O king, are a king of kings. For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory;
- Daniel 7:9“I watched till thrones were put in place, And the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, Its wheels a burning fire;
- Matthew 4:8Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
- Matthew 6:13And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
- Romans 9:23and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory,
- Ephesians 1:18the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
- Colossians 1:27To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
- Revelation 4:11“You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”
- 1 Chronicles 29:11Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, And You are exalted as head over all.
- Job 40:10Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor, And array yourself with glory and beauty.
- Psalms 21:5His glory is great in Your salvation; Honor and majesty You have placed upon 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries