Esther 1:8

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 Living Translation (NLT)By edict of the king, no limits were placed on the drinking, for the king had instructed all his palace officials to serve each man as much as he wanted.

Context of Esther 1:8

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. 7And they served drinks in golden vessels, each vessel being different from the other, with royal wine in abundance, according to the generosity of the king. 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. 9Queen Vashti also made a feast for the women in the royal 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 Carcas, seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus,

Esther 1:8 word by word

וְהַשְּׁתִיָּ֥ה כַדָּ֖ת אֵ֣ין אֹנֵ֑ס כִּי־כֵ֣ן׀ יִסַּ֣ד הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ עַ֚ל כָּל־רַ֣ב בֵּית֔וֹ לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת כִּרְצ֥וֹן אִישׁ־וָאִֽישׁ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And the drinkingשְׁתִיָּהshethîyâh · drinkingH8360
• according to the lawדָּתdâth · lawH1881
• none did compelאָנַס'ânas · to compelH597
• for so the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• had appointedיָסַדyâsad · to foundH3245
• to all the officersרַבrab · chiefH7227
• of his houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
• that they should doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• according to every man’sאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• pleasureרָצוֹןrâtsôn râtsôn · acceptanceH7522

Cross-references for Esther 1:8

• Jeremiah 35:8Thus we have obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, or our daughters,
• Jeremiah 51:7Babylon was a golden cup in the Lord’s hand, That made all the earth drunk. The nations drank her wine; Therefore the nations are deranged.
• Habakkuk 2:15“Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor, Pressing him to your bottle, Even to make him drunk, That you may look on his nakedness!
• John 2:8And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it.

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

• Abstinence, Total
• Feasts
• Temperance
• Wine

In the dictionaries

• Shushan
• Agagite
• Compel
• Esther, Book of
• Pleasure
• Marble

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