Esther 1:11 kjv
To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on.
Esther 1:11 nkjv
to bring Queen Vashti before the king, wearing her royal crown, in order to show her beauty to the people and the officials, for she was beautiful to behold.
Esther 1:11 niv
to bring before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at.
Esther 1:11 esv
to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal crown, in order to show the peoples and the princes her beauty, for she was lovely to look at.
Esther 1:11 nlt
to bring Queen Vashti to him with the royal crown on her head. He wanted the nobles and all the other men to gaze on her beauty, for she was a very beautiful woman.
Esther 1 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Esth 1:4 | he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor... | King's display of wealth and power, mirroring his display of Vashti. |
| Esth 1:10 | On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine... | King's state (drunk) preceding the command, showing folly from intoxication. |
| Esth 1:12 | But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command... | Vashti's pivotal act of disobedience immediately following this command. |
| Esth 2:7 | ...Hadassah, that is Esther, who was the daughter of his uncle...lovely | Esther's beauty, also noted, plays a role in her rise, in contrast to Vashti. |
| Prov 31:30 | Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. | Proverbial wisdom on the transience of physical beauty vs. character. |
| 1 Sam 16:7 | ...For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart. | Contrasts King Ahasuerus's focus on external beauty with God's perspective. |
| Gen 12:11 | When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, "I know that you are a beautiful woman..." | Beauty of women as a theme, though here leading to different outcomes. |
| Dan 4:30 | The king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built...by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?” | Example of a powerful king's pride and self-aggrandizement. |
| Prov 16:18 | Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. | Principle of pride leading to downfall, relevant to both King and Queen Vashti. |
| Prov 20:1 | Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise. | Warning against the intoxicating effects leading to unwise actions. |
| Isa 5:11 | Woe to those who rise early in the morning that they may run after strong drink... | Condemnation of revelry and excessive feasting that clouds judgment. |
| Rom 8:28 | And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. | God's providence in unforeseen events, even the king's folly for His purposes. |
| Lk 21:34 | "But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life..." | Caution against carnal indulgences, highlighting their impact on the heart. |
| Tit 2:1-5 | Admonition for women to be self-controlled and respectful... | Contrast of Vashti's forced public display with biblical modesty/decorum. |
| 1 Pet 3:3-4 | Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear—but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart... | Emphasizes inner spiritual beauty over outward physical display. |
| Mk 6:21-26 | King Herod at his birthday feast made a public display, leading to John the Baptist's beheading. | Another instance of a powerful king making rash decisions at a public feast. |
| Exo 33:18-20 | Moses asks to see God's glory, God says no one can see His face and live. | Contrast of human rulers showing their "glory" versus God's unapproachable glory. |
| Php 2:5-8 | Christ's humility, taking the form of a servant. | Jesus' example of humility contrasts with King Ahasuerus's self-exaltation. |
| Ecc 2:1-3 | Solomon recounts his pursuit of pleasure, including building, acquiring. | Vanity of human pursuits for pleasure and self-gratification. |
| Ecc 7:2 | It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting... | Contrast between places that offer sobriety versus indulgent feasting. |
Esther 1 verses
Esther 1 11 Meaning
King Ahasuerus commanded his seven chamberlains to present Queen Vashti before him. She was to appear adorned with her royal crown, with the express purpose of showcasing her remarkable beauty to all the gathered peoples and his high-ranking officials. This act was intended to highlight her striking attractiveness, which served as the underlying justification for the king's public display of his queen.
Esther 1 11 Context
Esther 1:11 is deeply embedded within the lavish setting of King Ahasuerus's banquet in Susa, a monumental display of his imperial power and wealth described earlier in the chapter. The king, likely in a state of advanced intoxication (Esth 1:10), conceives the idea of summoning Queen Vashti to parade her before his gathered guests. Vashti, concurrently hosting a separate feast for women (Esth 1:9), finds herself in a precarious position. The king's command, detailed in this verse, immediately precedes her pivotal act of defiance (Esth 1:12), setting the critical turning point of the book into motion.
Historically and culturally, Persian monarchs held absolute authority, and their pronouncements were binding law. Feasts like this served not merely for enjoyment but as a vivid demonstration of the king's dominion, opulence, and control. For a queen to be paraded before drunken officials was likely a significant breach of royal decorum and an act of extreme objectification, highlighting the king's capricious use of power. While not a direct biblical polemic, the narrative subtly contrasts this arbitrary human power with the hidden yet sovereign hand of God, which ultimately uses such worldly events for His purposes, even without His name being explicitly mentioned.
Esther 1 11 Word analysis
- word: "to bring" (לְהָבִיא֙ - lə·hā·ḇî)
- Transliteration: lə·hā·ḇî (Lamed + Hiphil Infinitive of "בוא", to come).
- Meaning: "to cause to come," "to usher in."
- Significance: This is a definitive command, not a request or an invitation. It underscores the king's absolute authority and expectation of instant, unreserved obedience from his subordinates, the seven eunuchs.
- word: "Vashti" (וַשְׁתִּי֙ - waš·tî)
- Significance: The queen, whose refusal in the subsequent verse precipitates the unfolding drama of the entire book. Her name's meaning is debated but possibly relates to "best woman" or "beautiful" in Old Persian.
- word: "the queen" (הַמַּלְכָּ֔ה - ham·mal·kāh)
- Transliteration: ham·mal·kāh (definite article "הַ" + "מַלְכָּה", queen).
- Meaning: "the queen."
- Significance: Identifies her supreme status among women in the kingdom. This elevates the significance of the command and, crucially, the public impact of her refusal.
- words-group: "before the king" (לִפְנֵ֤י הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ - lif·nê ham·me·leḵ)
- Transliteration: lif·nê ham·me·leḵ ("before the face of" + "the king").
- Significance: Designates the specific presence required—not just in the palace, but directly presented to Ahasuerus. This implies a formal presentation and indicates her public display for the monarch and his esteemed guests.
- words-group: "with the royal crown" (בְּכֶ֥תֶר מַלְכ֖וּת - bə·ḵe·ṯer mal·ḵūṯ)
- Transliteration: bə·ḵe·ṯer mal·ḵūṯ ("in/with crown of kingdom/royalty").
- Meaning: Adorned with her queenly diadem and full regal attire.
- Significance: This crucial detail signifies that she was to appear not merely as a beautiful woman, but as the Queen, complete with the symbols of her sovereign status. This enhances the splendor of the spectacle and directly links her beauty to the king's personal glory and dominion, further establishing her as a royal possession to be paraded. While some interpretations ponder a scantier appearance implied by the specific mention of only the crown, scholarly consensus suggests this indicates her fully regalia.
- word: "to show" (לְהַרְא֤וֹת - lə·har·’ō·wṯ)
- Transliteration: lə·har·’ō·wṯ (Hiphil Infinitive of "רָאָה", to see).
- Meaning: "to cause to see," "to display."
- Significance: This verb explicitly states the king's singular purpose: a public exhibition. Vashti was not being summoned for counsel or conversation, but for an overt demonstration for an audience.
- words-group: "the peoples and the princes" (הָעַמִּים֙ וְהַשָּׂרִ֔ים - hā·‘am·mîm wə·haś·śā·rîm)
- Transliteration: hā·‘am·mîm wə·haś·śā·rîm ("the peoples/nations" + "and the officials/princes").
- Significance: Identifies the intended audience. "The peoples" likely refers to subjects from across the vast empire who were present, while "the princes" denotes the highest echelons of society and government. The king desired to impress the breadth of his dominion with his prize.
- words-group: "her beauty" (אֶת־ יָפְיָ֑הּ - ’eṯ yā·fə·yāh)
- Transliteration: ’eṯ yā·fə·yāh (direct object marker + "יֹפִי", beauty + pronominal suffix).
- Meaning: Her loveliness, physical attractiveness.
- Significance: The singular focus of the entire command. This highlights the objectification of Vashti, reducing her identity and queenly stature to merely an aesthetic quality for display and the king's self-glorification.
- words-group: "for she was fair to look on" (כִּֽי־ טוֹבַ֥ת מַרְאֶֽה - kî ṭō·waṯ mar·’eh)
- Transliteration: kî ṭō·waṯ mar·’eh ("for good of appearance").
- Meaning: Because she was pleasing in her appearance; she was beautiful.
- Significance: This provides the king's rationale for his demand. Her stunning physical appeal was the sole motivation for parading her, further emphasizing the superficial and boastful nature of the king's character and the event. It foreshadows the contrasting narrative of Esther's beauty later in the book, where character eventually takes precedence.
Esther 1 11 Bonus section
- King's Arrogance: This command serves as a stark illustration of the king's immense, unchecked power, where his personal desire becomes absolute law. It's an example of how power, coupled with indulgence, can lead to arrogant and disrespectful behavior towards others.
- Foreboding Element: The objectification of Vashti for display sets a somber tone regarding the vulnerable position of women, even those in royal status, within a despotic empire. It hints at the instability and lack of true respect beneath the facade of lavishness, foreshadowing dangers faced by other characters, including Esther later.
- Providential Setup: While a seemingly arbitrary and morally questionable demand, Vashti's response directly led to her removal and Esther's ascendance, a crucial link in the chain of God's unseen deliverance of His people from Haman's plot. This illustrates how God can utilize human actions, even those rooted in pride or foolishness, to accomplish His ultimate will.
Esther 1 11 Commentary
Esther 1:11 encapsulates King Ahasuerus's self-indulgent nature, revealing a monarch driven by the need for ostentatious display rather than wisdom or genuine affection. Under the influence of wine, the king's command to parade Queen Vashti "with the royal crown" signifies more than a mere whim; it underscores his desire to publicly flaunt his most precious "possession" – his exquisitely beautiful queen. Her intrinsic worth as a person is entirely disregarded, subsumed by his desire to enhance his own prestige before an assembly of global dignitaries. This moment, fueled by hubris and intoxication, vividly illustrates the potential for human folly within positions of absolute power. The specific mention of her crown emphasizes that she was to be shown as his queen, thereby magnifying his status through her beauty. Vashti's eventual refusal to submit to this humiliating demand acts as a catalyst, inadvertently paving the way for God's divine, albeit unseen, intervention to raise Esther and protect His people. The verse therefore establishes the crucial premise for the book's providential narrative.