Esther 1:14 kjv
And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king's face, and which sat the first in the kingdom;)
Esther 1:14 nkjv
those closest to him being Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who had access to the king's presence, and who ranked highest in the kingdom):
Esther 1:14 niv
and 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.
Esther 1:14 esv
the men next to him being Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king's face, and sat first in the kingdom):
Esther 1:14 nlt
The names of these men were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan ? seven nobles of Persia and Media. They met with the king regularly and held the highest positions in the empire.
Esther 1 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 41:41-43 | Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I herewith put you in charge of the whole land...” | Joseph elevated to a high position, close to king. |
| Deut 17:18-19 | He is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law... | King is subject to God's law, contrasting with unchecked human power. |
| 1 Sam 10:26 | Saul went home to Gibeah, and with him went valiant men whose hearts God... | Valorous men supporting a king, but guided by God. |
| 1 Kgs 12:6-8 | Rehoboam consulted the elders... but he rejected the advice... | Kings seeking and sometimes rejecting counsel, highlighting its importance. |
| 2 Sam 16:23 | Ahithophel's advice in those days was like one consulting the word of God. | Counselors held in high esteem for wisdom. |
| 2 Kgs 25:19 | The king's officer who had charge of the men of war, and five men... | Examples of various high-ranking officials in the royal court. |
| 2 Chr 20:5 | Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly... | Kings or leaders standing before or addressing assembled important people. |
| Ezra 7:14 | For you are sent by the king and his seven counselors... | Echoes the 'seven counselors' structure, affirming its reality in Persia. |
| Prov 11:14 | For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisors. | Emphasizes the necessity of multiple advisors for successful governance. |
| Prov 15:22 | Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisors they succeed. | Reaffirms the need for collective wisdom from multiple counselors. |
| Prov 16:12 | Kings detest wrongdoing, for a throne is established through righteousness. | Wise counsel should promote righteousness and stability of the throne. |
| Prov 20:18 | Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war. | Deliberation and wise counsel are crucial for major decisions like war. |
| Prov 21:1 | The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord... | God's ultimate sovereignty over kings and their decisions, despite advisors. |
| Prov 22:29 | Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings... | Competence can lead to proximity and service to rulers. |
| Dan 2:48 | Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts... | Example of a person gaining great influence and high rank in a kingdom. |
| Dan 3:2 | The satraps, prefects, governors, advisors, treasurers, judges, officers... | Listing of various powerful officials within an empire. |
| Dan 6:1-2 | Darius decided to appoint 120 satraps... and over them three supervisors. | Illustrates the structured administration of ancient empires. |
| Eccl 8:2-3 | Obey the king’s command, for he holds a sacred oath to God. Do not be hasty | Counselors and subjects are bound by their positions relative to the king. |
| Matt 18:10 | See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that | Parallel concept of "seeing the face" as a sign of privileged access (angels before God). |
| Lk 14:7-11 | When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor... | Jesus' teaching on humility, contrasting with human desire for "sitting first." |
| Acts 23:24 | ...provide mounts for Paul so that you can take him safely to Felix... | Illustrates a governor (Felix) having a chief commander among his officials. |
| Rom 13:1 | Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority | All authority, including kings and their advisors, ultimately established by God. |
| Eph 6:12 | For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers... | Behind earthly authorities, there are spiritual forces at play. |
| Rev 21:24 | The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring.. | All earthly power, including kings, will ultimately acknowledge God's rule. |
Esther 1 verses
Esther 1 14 Meaning
Esther 1:14 introduces a critical group of seven high-ranking officials and close advisors to King Ahasuerus. These men held immense power and influence, specifically described as "the seven princes of Persia and Media." Their positions allowed them direct access to the king, as indicated by their privilege of "seeing the king's face," and their preeminent status was shown by them "sitting the first in the kingdom." This verse highlights the bureaucratic structure and key figures in the Persian court at a pivotal moment, leading into the decision regarding Queen Vashti.
Esther 1 14 Context
Esther chapter 1 sets the lavish scene for King Ahasuerus's grand feast, which lasted 180 days, culminating in a 7-day feast for the nobles and officials in Susa, the citadel. The feast displayed the king's immense wealth, glory, and the power of his empire. In the midst of this extravagance, King Ahasuerus, perhaps influenced by wine, commands Queen Vashti to appear before him, adorned with her royal crown, to display her beauty to the assembled officials. Queen Vashti's defiant refusal becomes the central conflict. Verse 14 specifically introduces the king's inner circle of trusted advisors, who are strategically placed to offer counsel immediately after Vashti's unprecedented disobedience. Their names and titles emphasize their unique privilege and supreme authority in the kingdom, establishing them as key players in the unfolding drama of Vashti's removal and the subsequent search for a new queen.
Esther 1 14 Word analysis
- and the next unto him: This phrase functions as a connective, smoothly transitioning from the initial description of the grand feast and royal guests to the specific listing of the king's most intimate and powerful advisors. It subtly suggests their immediate availability and proximity to the king.
- Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan: These are Persian names. Their enumeration lends authenticity and historical detail to the narrative, emphasizing a specific, well-defined group within the vast royal administration. The listing of their names indicates the structured bureaucracy of the Persian Empire and perhaps even a form of direct access to the king, similar to modern cabinet members.
- the seven princes: (Hebrew: śārîm, שָׂרִים) Refers to high-ranking officials, leaders, or chief men. "Seven" here denotes a specific, probably official, number of inner circle advisors. This numerical emphasis is a recurring literary device in ancient Near Eastern and Biblical contexts, often symbolizing completeness or perfection, highlighting the authoritative nature of this council.
- of Persia and Media: Signifies the dual nature of the empire, with Media being the historically earlier kingdom subsumed by Persia but still maintaining distinct recognition. This phrasing underscores the vast geographical and political dominion of Ahasuerus and indicates the scope of influence these princes held.
- which saw the king's face: (Hebrew: rōʾê pĕnê ham-melek, רֹאֵי פְּנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ). This is an idiomatic expression for direct access to the monarch, a privilege granted only to the most trusted and influential officials. It indicates profound favor, intimacy, and a close relationship with the king, signifying their powerful position as direct recipients of royal commands and confidantes. This contrasts sharply with the general populace who could not approach the king unsummoned, under penalty of death.
- and which sat the first in the kingdom: (Hebrew: yōšĕbîm riʾšōnah bam-malkût, יוֹשְׁבִים רִאשֹׁנָה בַּמַּלְכוּת). This phrase conveys supreme rank and pre-eminence among all other officials. They held the highest seating arrangement at royal councils, indicating their unmatched status and priority in governmental affairs and decision-making. Their "first" position implied unparalleled authority and influence, making them the ultimate human arbiters of the king's will.
Esther 1 14 Bonus section
The consistent use of "seven" throughout Esther 1 (seven days of feast, seven eunuchs, seven princes) suggests not only literary artistry but also a deep understanding of Persian court protocols, which scholars have noted sometimes included a body of seven chief advisors. This structure finds parallels in other historical records concerning the Persian Empire (e.g., Ezra 7:14 mentions "seven counselors" of the king). The prominent mention of these particular individuals immediately before the decision concerning Vashti foreshadows their direct involvement and the weight their collective opinion carried, culminating in Memucan's pivotal speech in the next verse. The detail here also reinforces the narrative's grounding in real-world administrative power structures, making the subsequent unfolding of divine providence through human means all the more profound. These high-ranking positions were not mere formalities; they dictated significant policies and influenced the very trajectory of the vast Persian Empire, though ultimately subject to God's higher decree.
Esther 1 14 Commentary
Esther 1:14 offers a glimpse into the meticulously structured hierarchy of the Persian Empire under Ahasuerus. By explicitly naming the seven princes and detailing their dual privileges of direct access ("saw the king's face") and paramount authority ("sat the first in the kingdom"), the verse establishes the context for their influential counsel that will immediately follow regarding Queen Vashti. This detailed administrative note sets up the powerful human agency at play in the court's decisions, implicitly contrasting it with God's hidden providential work. The names listed, though not recurring figures except for Memucan, serve to particularize the narrative, anchoring the events in a historical and bureaucratic reality. This underscores how grand imperial power relied heavily on a trusted, close-knit advisory council, highlighting the critical role that specific individuals within these systems played in shaping royal decrees and, ultimately, the fate of the kingdom and its people. It reveals that even an absolute monarch was reliant on and influenced by the wisdom, or folly, of his inner circle.