Esther 1:18 kjv
Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king's princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath.
Esther 1:18 nkjv
This very day the noble ladies of Persia and Media will say to all the king's officials that they have heard of the behavior of the queen. Thus there will be excessive contempt and wrath.
Esther 1:18 niv
This very day the Persian and Median women of the nobility who have heard about the queen's conduct will respond to all the king's nobles in the same way. There will be no end of disrespect and discord.
Esther 1:18 esv
This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen's behavior will say the same to all the king's officials, and there will be contempt and wrath in plenty.
Esther 1:18 nlt
Before this day is out, the wives of all the king's nobles throughout Persia and Media will hear what the queen did and will start treating their husbands the same way. There will be no end to their contempt and anger.
Esther 1 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 21:9 | Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, Than with a brawling woman in a wide house. | Contentious woman |
| Prov 25:24 | Better to dwell in the corner of a housetop, Than with a brawling woman and a contentious house. | Better to avoid strife |
| Prov 27:15 | A continual dripping on a very rainy day And a contentious woman are alike; | The difficulty of living with a quarrelsome wife |
| Eph 5:22 | Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. | Call for wives' submission |
| Col 3:18 | Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. | Encourages marital harmony |
| 1 Pet 3:1 | Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, | Wives' exemplary conduct |
| 1 Pet 3:5-6 | For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands... Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord... | Sarah's example of submission |
| Tit 2:5 | ...to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. | Practical living for women |
| Rom 13:1-2 | Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God... Whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God... | Submission to authorities |
| Eccl 8:2-4 | I advise you to keep the king’s commandment... Do not be hasty to depart from his presence. Do not take your stand on an evil thing... For wherever the word of a king is, there is power. | Respect for royal decrees |
| Prov 22:3 | A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, But the simple pass on and are punished. | Foreseeing consequences |
| Deut 17:12 | The man who acts presumptuously, by not heeding the priest who stands to minister there... or the judge, that man shall die. So you shall put away the evil from Israel. | Punishment for disrespect of authority |
| Josh 22:20 | Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? | Individual sin affecting community |
| Judg 17:6 | In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. | Societal disorder without strong leadership |
| Ps 76:10 | Surely the wrath of man shall praise You; With the remainder of wrath You shall gird Yourself. | God's control even over human anger |
| Matt 5:21-22 | You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder...’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment... | Anger leading to judgment |
| Jas 1:19-20 | So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. | Warning against wrath |
| Gen 3:16 | To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow... Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you.” | Consequence of the Fall: marital hierarchy |
| 1 Cor 11:3 | But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. | Order of authority in God's creation |
| Heb 13:17 | Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account... | Obedience to leaders |
Esther 1 verses
Esther 1 18 Meaning
Esther 1:18 conveys a perceived societal crisis rooted in Queen Vashti's defiance. Memucan, a royal official, warns King Ahasuerus that if Vashti's public disobedience goes unpunished, it will become a dangerous precedent. The ladies of Persia and Media, hearing of her act, would then similarly disrespect their own husbands, including the king's officials, leading to widespread "contempt and wrath" within households across the empire. It highlights a fear of insubordination cascading through society and undermining patriarchal order.
Esther 1 18 Context
Esther chapter 1 opens with King Ahasuerus displaying his vast wealth and power through a magnificent feast for his officials and people, lasting 180 days, culminating in a seven-day banquet. During this final phase, the king, inflamed by wine, commands Queen Vashti to appear before him to display her beauty. Vashti refuses, a defiant act against royal decree and expected custom. This refusal throws the court into consternation, as it's viewed not merely as a personal slight but as an affront to royal authority with far-reaching societal implications. Verse 18 is part of Memucan’s advice to the king and his wise men. Memucan argues that Vashti’s public insubordination could empower women across the empire to likewise despise their husbands, thus destabilizing family order and, by extension, the state. The verse therefore justifies severe punishment for Vashti not out of vengeance, but out of a perceived necessity to uphold the social fabric of the Persian empire, particularly regarding the patriarchal household structure that was fundamental to their societal view.
Esther 1 18 Word analysis
- And today: Connects the proposed consequence directly to the ongoing crisis. The urgency is emphasized by "today," indicating immediate concern for the fallout.
- the ladies: Heb. haśśārôt (הַשָּׂרוֹת) - literally "the princesses" or "noblewomen." These are not ordinary women but those of high social standing, wives of officials, who possess influence and set examples for others. Their potential rebellion is seen as particularly damaging.
- of Persia and Media: Refers to the two dominant parts of the Achaemenid Persian Empire. This highlights the vastness of the empire and implies the widespread impact of Vashti's perceived transgression. It speaks to the scale of Memucan's fear – a kingdom-wide marital breakdown.
- who have heard: Emphasizes the oral culture and the speed with which news, especially scandalous news, would travel throughout the empire, setting precedents. Information travels quickly, and with it, example.
- of the queen's behavior: Heb. dǝḇar ha-malkāh (דְּבַר הַמַּלְכָּה) - "the word/thing of the queen." This refers to her defiant act of refusing the king's command. It encompasses not just a physical act but the communication of her refusal. In a patriarchal society, such an act was profoundly challenging to male authority.
- will say the same: Heb. yo'marnāh kāzō’t (תֹּאמַרְנָה כָּזֹאת) - literally "they will say thus." It conveys the idea of imitation, mirroring Vashti's defiance towards their own husbands. This implies a domino effect of rebellion.
- to all the king's officials: The intended target of this secondary "rebellion." These officials are the men of power and influence throughout the empire, whose domestic harmony is perceived to be threatened. Their standing in society relies partly on their household's order.
- Thus there will be: Presents the logical, inevitable outcome of this proposed scenario, stressing the cause-and-effect relationship between Vashti's action (if unaddressed) and widespread societal turmoil.
- an excess of contempt: Heb. bizāyôn wāqeṣeph (בִּזְיוֹן וָקֶצֶף) - literally "disgrace and wrath/fury." Bizayon implies ignominy, scorn, or humiliation experienced by husbands from their wives. This disgrace threatens their authority and honor, critical values in ancient Near Eastern societies.
- and wrath: The accompanying consequence, representing the husbands' response to this perceived humiliation and insubordination from their wives. This could manifest in anger, disputes, and potential domestic violence or legal action within households.
Words-group analysis:
- "ladies of Persia and Media": This phrase underlines the vast geographical reach and the social status of the women involved. It elevates the issue from a local court problem to an empire-wide threat to social order. Their elite status meant their actions would carry greater weight as examples.
- "heard of the queen's behavior, will say the same": This directly links the transmission of news to the replication of the undesirable behavior. It suggests a contagion of disrespect, flowing from the imperial capital to the farthest corners of the empire's elite households. This phrase highlights the profound impact of public example, particularly from those in positions of power or influence.
- "an excess of contempt and wrath": This specific coupling points to the dire outcome. "Contempt" represents the perceived erosion of a husband's authority and honor, emanating from the wife. "Wrath" is the husbands' reactive anger and indignation, signifying pervasive domestic strife and societal unrest. The phrase speaks to the profound breakdown of order that Memucan feared.
Esther 1 18 Bonus section
The emphasis on the "ladies" or "noblewomen" of the empire underscores the significance of exemplary behavior, particularly among the elite. Their conduct was perceived to set the tone for broader society. This perspective suggests that maintaining public order and royal authority began with regulating the most prominent households. The exaggerated claim of "excess of contempt and wrath" may also serve as a literary device to satirize the men's vulnerability and self-serving fear. While appearing to safeguard societal norms, the pronouncement regarding Vashti also served to reinforce the men's control and authority, ensuring a male-dominated power structure remained unquestioned. This decision to remove Vashti for disobedience inadvertently paved the way for Esther, highlighting how human choices driven by worldly motives can align, even unwittingly, with God's sovereign plan for His people.
Esther 1 18 Commentary
Esther 1:18 is a pivotal verse within Memucan's argument, articulating the socio-cultural fears underlying the court's swift judgment of Vashti. It’s less about a true societal crisis and more about rhetorical exaggeration used to ensure severe action against Vashti. The "ladies of Persia and Media" are portrayed as impressionable imitators, and the fear of a kingdom-wide "contempt and wrath" highlights the anxiety surrounding female autonomy in a rigidly patriarchal society. This passage reveals the value placed on marital hierarchy and female submission within ancient Persian culture. For a court consumed by order and hierarchy, any perceived challenge, especially from a queen, was a monumental threat to established norms. Biblically, this underscores the constant tension between earthly power structures and divine will, often revealed subtly throughout Esther's narrative, where God’s providence orchestrates events behind human political machinations. The swift, fear-driven reaction of the Persian court sets the stage for God's larger plan to install Esther and protect His people. The verse highlights human preoccupation with control and order, which often ironically paves the way for divine purposes.