Esther 6:1

Esther 6:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.
• New International Version (NIV)That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him.
• English Standard Version (ESV)On that night the king could not sleep. And he gave orders to bring the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, and they were read before the king.
• New King James Version (NKJV)That night the king could not sleep. So one was commanded to bring the book of the records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.

Context of Esther 6:1

That night the king had trouble sleeping, so he ordered an attendant to bring the book of the history of his reign so it could be read to him. 2In those records he discovered an account of how Mordecai had exposed the plot of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the eunuchs who guarded the door to the king’s private quarters. They had plotted to assassinate King Xerxes. 3“What reward or recognition did we ever give Mordecai for this?” the king asked. His attendants replied, “Nothing has been done for him.”

Esther 6:1 word by word

בַּלַּ֣יְלָה הַה֔וּא נָדְדָ֖ה שְׁנַ֣ת הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר לְהָבִ֞יא אֶת־סֵ֤פֶר הַזִּכְרֹנוֹת֙ דִּבְרֵ֣י הַיָּמִ֔ים וַיִּהְי֥וּ נִקְרָאִ֖ים לִפְנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• On that nightלַ֫יְלָהlayil lêyl layelâh · nightH3915
• could notנָדַדnâdad · to wanderH5074
• the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• sleepשֵׁנָהshênâh shênâ' · sleepH8142
• and he commandedאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• to bringבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): bringH935
• the bookסֵ֫פֶרsêpher siphrâh · scroll: bookH5612
• of recordsזִכָּרוֹןzikrôn · memorialH2146
• of the chroniclesיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• of the chroniclesדָּבָרdâbâr · word: deedH1697
• and they were readקָרָאqârâ' · to call: read outH7121
• beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440

Cross-references for Esther 6:1

• Esther 5:8If I have found favor with the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my request and do what I ask, please come with Haman tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for you. Then I will explain what this is all about.”
• Genesis 22:14Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the Lord will provide”). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”
• 1 Samuel 23:26Saul and David were now on opposite sides of a mountain. Just as Saul and his men began to close in on David and his men,
• Isaiah 41:17“When the poor and needy search for water and there is none, and their tongues are parched from thirst, then I, the Lord, will answer them. I, the God of Israel, will never abandon them.
• Romans 11:33Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!
• Daniel 2:1One night during the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had such disturbing dreams that he couldn’t sleep.
• Daniel 6:18Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting. He refused his usual entertainment and couldn’t sleep at all that night.
• Esther 2:23When an investigation was made and Mordecai’s story was found to be true, the two men were impaled on a sharpened pole. This was all recorded in The Book of the History of King Xerxes’ Reign.
• Malachi 3:16Then those who feared the Lord spoke with each other, and the Lord listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and always thought about the honor of his name.

Commentaries on Esther 6:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1On that night could not the king sleep - The Targum says the king had a dream, which was as follows: - "And the king saw one in the similitude of a man who spoke these words to him: Haman desireth to slay thee, and to make himself king in thy stead. Behold, he will come unto thee early in the morning, to ask from thee the man who rescued thee from death, that he may slay him: but say thou unto Haman, What shall be done for the man whose honor the king…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Providence recommends Mordecai to the king's favour. (1-3) Haman's counsel honours Mordecai. (4-11) Haman's friends tell him of his danger. (12-14) Verses 1-3 The providence of God rules over the smallest concerns of men. Not a sparrow falls to the ground without him. Trace the steps which Providence took towards the advancement of Mordecai. The king could not sleep when Providence had a design to serve, in keeping him awake. We read of no illness that…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1sleep escaped the king: God was protecting Esther and Mordecai. the Book of Records, the Chronicles: Ancient kings kept records of their rule.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-141. the king ... commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles--In Eastern courts, there are scribes or officers whose duty it is to keep a journal of every occurrence worthy of notice. A book of this kind, abounding with anecdotes, is full of interest. It has been a custom with Eastern kings, in all ages, frequently to cause the annals of the kingdom to be read to them. It is resorted to, not merely as a pastime to while away the tedium of an…Read the comment

Topics related to Esther 6:1

• Civil Service
• Insomnia
• King
• Mordecai

In the dictionaries

• Bigthan
• Chronicles, Books of
• Esther, Book of
• Persians
• Record
• Dress

Commentaries on Esther 6

• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings