Esther 1:19 kjv
If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.
Esther 1:19 nkjv
If it pleases the king, let a royal decree go out from him, and let it be recorded in the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it will not be altered, that Vashti shall come no more before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she.
Esther 1:19 niv
"Therefore, if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed, that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes. Also let the king give her royal position to someone else who is better than she.
Esther 1:19 esv
If it please the king, let a royal order go out from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes so that it may not be repealed, that Vashti is never again to come before King Ahasuerus. And let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she.
Esther 1:19 nlt
"So if it please the king, we suggest that you issue a written decree, a law of the Persians and Medes that cannot be revoked. It should order that Queen Vashti be forever banished from the presence of King Xerxes, and that the king should choose another queen more worthy than she.
Esther 1 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Dan 6:8 | Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document... | Persian law's unchangeable nature |
| Dan 6:12 | Then they came near and said to the king, "Did you not sign..." | Emphasis on immutable royal decrees |
| Dan 6:15 | The king perceived that the matter was from the Lord... | The permanency of Persian decrees |
| Esth 8:8 | What is written in the name of the king and sealed with the king's ring | Royal decree's authority & finality |
| Isa 40:8 | The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand | God's word's permanence vs. human laws |
| Matt 24:35 | Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. | Christ's words' ultimate authority & permanence |
| Ps 119:89 | Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. | God's decrees are eternally fixed |
| Rom 1:21 | For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God... | Disobedience and lack of reverence |
| 1 Sam 15:23 | For rebellion is as the sin of divination... | Disobedience leading to loss of position |
| 1 Sam 15:28 | Then Samuel said to him, "The Lord has torn the kingdom from you..." | Consequence of rebellion: removal of royalty |
| 2 Chron 26:19 | Uzziah became furious... Therefore the Lord struck Uzziah... | Loss of favor/position due to pride/disob. |
| Prov 16:33 | The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord. | Divine sovereignty in human affairs |
| Prov 21:1 | The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord... | God's unseen hand guiding kings' decisions |
| Phil 2:9-11 | Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name... | Exaltation for humble obedience (contrast) |
| Heb 4:12 | For the word of God is living and active... | Power of God's unchanging word |
| Titus 3:1 | Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities... | Biblical principle of submission to authority |
| 1 Pet 2:13-14 | Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution... | Submission to human governing authority |
| Eph 5:22-24 | Wives, submit to your own husbands... | General principle of wifely submission (cultural context matters) |
| Isa 55:11 | So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return... | God's commands are unalterable and effective |
| Deut 17:15 | You may indeed set a king over you whom the Lord your God chooses. | God's ultimate role in establishing rulers |
| Ezra 7:26 | Whoever will not obey the law of your God and the law of the king... | Enforcement of dual divine and human laws |
Esther 1 verses
Esther 1 19 Meaning
Esther 1:19 outlines the specific decree proposed by Memucan, one of the seven princes of Persia and Media, in response to Queen Vashti's disobedience. This verse decrees Vashti's permanent removal from her royal position and from the king's presence, ensuring she would never again serve as queen. Crucially, it dictates that this command be enshrined in the immutable laws of the Persian and Median empires, making it irreversible. Furthermore, it stipulates that her royal dignity be transferred to another woman deemed more suitable, setting the stage for a new queen.
Esther 1 19 Context
Esther chapter 1 introduces King Ahasuerus ( Xerxes I), ruler over 127 provinces, who holds a lavish banquet. During a later, more intimate banquet for his officials, Ahasuerus commands Queen Vashti to appear, displaying her beauty. Vashti defiantly refuses, sparking anger from the king and consternation among his seven princely advisors. This sets the immediate scene for Memucan's counsel in verse 16-19. His advice addresses not only Vashti's personal defiance but argues it will inspire widespread rebellion among women throughout the empire if left unaddressed. Verse 19 specifically details Memucan's recommended permanent solution: removing Vashti from her position and establishing a new queen through an unalterable royal decree. Historically, the Persian Empire, particularly under Ahasuerus (Xerxes I, 486-465 BC), was known for its vastness, autocratic rule, and, crucially, the immutability of its laws once enacted, as seen in other biblical books like Daniel. This emphasis on fixed laws underscores the finality of Vashti's judgment.
Esther 1 19 Word analysis
- "If it please the king": (Hebrew: yitab al-hammeleḵ, lit. "if it is good in the eyes of the king"). This polite yet powerful phrasing acknowledges royal authority and frames the proposal as counsel for royal approval. It highlights the absolute power structure where decrees emanate solely from the monarch.
- "let a royal command go out from him": This refers to a binding decree. It signifies the initiation of an official and public directive directly from the king, making it irrefutable.
- "written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes": This is a critical legal and cultural detail. The laws of the Persian and Median empires were famously unchangeable once enacted (see Daniel 6:8, 12, 15). Inscribing this command into their foundational legal system ensured its permanence, far beyond a temporary whim or a specific king's reign. It reflects a legal system emphasizing consistency and the enduring nature of imperial edicts.
- "so that it cannot be revoked": (Hebrew: ve'lo ya'avor, lit. "and it shall not pass away" or "not be transgressed"). This emphasizes the immutability of the decree, reinforcing the characteristic of Persian law mentioned previously. It signifies that the decision would be irreversible and perpetual, having lasting implications beyond the immediate situation.
- "Vashti is never again to come before King Ahasuerus": This defines the core consequence of her defiance—a permanent banishment from the king's presence, signifying her complete removal from favor and status. Her refusal to appear when summoned resulted in this ultimate exclusion.
- "And let the king give her royal position": This indicates the transfer of queenship. "Royal position" (malḵuṯ or malkutha in Aramaic portions, here it is Hebrew malkutha meaning queenly dignity, regality, or royal domain) refers to her status, privileges, and office as queen.
- "to another who is better than she": This phrase introduces the justification for replacement. "Better" (Hebrew: tova mimeʾnna) implies more obedient, more suitable, more pleasing, or possessing qualities the king and his advisors deemed essential for a queen, particularly submissiveness and adherence to royal protocols. It also sets up the narrative for Esther's future rise, positioning her as fulfilling this "better" criterion.
Esther 1 19 Bonus section
The immutability of Persian laws, prominently featured here and in Daniel, served a dual purpose in their governance. It aimed to convey strength and stability, demonstrating that once a decision was made by the empire's supreme authority, it was absolute and inviolable. However, this same unchangeability could become a hindrance, as seen in the later predicament concerning Haman's decree (Esther 8). The emphasis on this legal feature underscores the human reliance on fixed rules, which stands in stark contrast to the flexibility and dynamic nature of divine providence that nevertheless operates within and often above such human constructs. It showcases that even in what appear to be human-driven events, the sovereign hand of God can direct outcomes for His greater purpose, as illustrated by Vashti's removal leading to Esther's elevation.
Esther 1 19 Commentary
Esther 1:19 is a pivotal verse, acting as the formal legislative consequence of Vashti's insubordination and the gateway to the eventual rise of Esther. Memucan's counsel, readily accepted by Ahasuerus, was strategically crafted. It went beyond merely punishing Vashti; it sought to establish a lasting legal precedent for the proper conduct of women across the vast empire. By making the decree an unalterable law of the Medes and Persians, the decision's permanency was ensured, reflecting a belief in fixed statutes as foundational to imperial stability. This human attempt at an irreversible law contrasts subtly with God's truly unchangeable and eternal decrees. The call for a queen "better than she" provides the providential opening for Esther, setting the stage for God's purposes to unfold, even through a seemingly arbitrary human decree fueled by royal anger and political ambition. This human legal process unwittingly paved the way for divine intervention in the lives of the Jewish people.