Esther 1:9 kjv
Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.
Esther 1:9 nkjv
Queen Vashti also made a feast for the women in the royal palace which belonged to King Ahasuerus.
Esther 1:9 niv
Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.
Esther 1:9 esv
Queen Vashti also gave a feast for the women in the palace that belonged to King Ahasuerus.
Esther 1:9 nlt
At the same time, Queen Vashti gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.
Esther 1 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Est 1:3 | In the third year of his reign, he gave a feast... | Parallel to the king's earlier feast. |
| Est 1:12 | But Queen Vashti refused... | Sets up the conflict stemming from her autonomy. |
| Gen 2:18 | ...I will make him a helper fit for him. | Distinguishes roles, though not always separate. |
| Tit 2:3-5 | ...older women are to teach what is good... to love their husbands... | Women's sphere of influence and responsibility. |
| Prov 31:27 | She looks well to the ways of her household... | A wise woman manages her internal domain. |
| Song 6:8-9 | There are sixty queens and eighty concubines... but my dove, my perfect one, is unique. | Illustrates the number of women in a royal harem. |
| Neh 5:17 | ...one hundred and fifty men, besides those who came to us from the nations around us, were at my table. | Examples of large-scale feasts for specific groups. |
| Dan 5:1 | King Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords... | Another example of a grand, yet exclusive, royal feast. |
| Lk 10:40 | But Martha was distracted with much serving... | Women's roles in serving and hospitality. |
| 1 Cor 11:3 | ...the head of a wife is her husband... | Hierarchy within marriage/society. |
| Est 2:9 | ...He also moved her and her attendants to the best place in the harem. | Description of women's quarters in the palace. |
| Ps 45:9 | At your right hand stood the queen in gold of Ophir. | Portrayal of a queen's presence and status. |
| Eph 5:22-24 | Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. | General instruction on marital submission. |
| Ruth 3:11 | ...for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman. | Women of character held in public esteem. |
| Judg 21:19 | ...there is a feast of the Lord in Shiloh annually... | Biblical mention of an annual public feast. |
| Jn 2:1-2 | ...a wedding feast in Cana of Galilee... Jesus and his disciples were also invited. | Celebrations involve diverse groups. |
| Matt 25:10 | And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast... | Parable describing entrance to a feast. |
| Isa 25:6 | On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine... | Metaphorical feast for all nations. |
| Gen 3:16 | To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing... your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.” | Introduction of hierarchy/struggle in marriage. |
| Tit 2:4-5 | ...and train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home... | Prescribed roles and virtues for women. |
| Col 3:18 | Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. | Encourages proper relational order. |
| 1 Pet 3:1 | Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands... | Advice on marital conduct. |
| 1 Tim 2:9 | ...likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control... | Emphasizes modesty for women. |
Esther 1 verses
Esther 1 9 Meaning
Esther chapter 1 verse 9 details that Queen Vashti, mirroring King Ahasuerus' lavish banquet for men, also hosted her own separate feast for the women. This event took place within the royal palace grounds of King Ahasuerus. It underscores a prevailing custom of the Persian court where gender segregation was observed during large-scale celebrations, presenting Vashti as a powerful figure in her own sphere, parallel to the king.
Esther 1 9 Context
Esther 1:9 takes place within the broader context of King Ahasuerus's magnificent 180-day feast, followed by a seven-day special banquet for the nobility and citizens of Susa, celebrating his power and wealth. The King's grand display in the outer court is paralleled by Vashti's private celebration within the royal apartments. This verse introduces Vashti as a character with agency and her own sphere of influence within the strict royal court, setting the stage for the dramatic clash between royal authority and personal conviction that unfolds when the King later summons her. It reflects the structured life in ancient Persian royalty where separate gender gatherings were customary.
Esther 1 9 Word analysis
- Also (וְגַם, vəgam): "And also"; connects Vashti's action directly to the king's preceding actions, showing a parallel or concurrent event. It emphasizes that while the king had his grand male feast, the queen had her corresponding female gathering, indicating distinct social spheres.
- Vashti (וַשְׁתִּי, Vashti): The name itself may mean "beautiful" or "best." She is identified by name, distinguishing her from generic "queens." Her specific mention highlights her significant role and independent action in this initial setup.
- the queen (הַמַּלְכָּה, hamalkeha): Explicitly states her royal status and authority, mirroring the king's title and authority within her designated sphere. She holds a position of power and prestige, a partner to the king in name, though culturally subject to him.
- made a feast (עָשְׂתָה מִשְׁתֶּה, ʻastah mishteh): "Made a drinking party" or "hosted a banquet." This is the same term used for the king's feast (mishteh), implying similar extravagance and celebration, but tailored for her guests. It signifies a public display of her authority and hospitality within the palace.
- for the women (לַנָּשִׁים, lannashim): Explicitly defines the attendees. This indicates the widespread practice of gender segregation in ancient Near Eastern royal courts, likely for reasons of decorum, social custom, or protection of women. It contrasts sharply with the king's male-only gathering, underscoring different social protocols for each gender.
- in the royal house (בֵּית הַמַּלְכוּת, beit hamalkhut): Refers to a specific part of the palace – the king's palace or royal residence – distinct from the palace garden or drinking hall where the king hosted his larger feast. This implies a more private and secure section for the queen and her female attendees, often called the harem.
- which belonged to King Ahasuerus (אֲשֶׁר לַמֶּלֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ, asher lammelek Ahashwerosh): Reinforces the king's ultimate ownership and dominion over all palace grounds, even the queen's domain. Despite Vashti's apparent autonomy in hosting her feast, the entire setting ultimately falls under the king's authority.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Also Vashti the queen made a feast": This phrase establishes Vashti's initiative and royal standing. Her action runs parallel to the king's, emphasizing a degree of independent, yet concurrent, activity and responsibility within the royal household. It hints at her status as more than a mere subordinate, possessing the authority to organize such a significant event.
- "for the women in the royal house": This group highlights the specific nature and location of her feast. It emphasizes the gender-segregated social practices of the time and locale, common in royal courts, ensuring propriety and adherence to cultural norms. The "royal house" implies a more inner, private section of the palace complex dedicated to royal women.
- "which belonged to King Ahasuerus": This final qualifier underscores the ultimate power structure. Despite Vashti's separate sphere, her entire domain, including the location of her feast, remains under the absolute dominion of King Ahasuerus, foreshadowing the inevitable conflict over authority that will arise in subsequent verses.
Esther 1 9 Bonus section
- The parallel feasts establish symmetry in the royal court, showcasing not only the king's immense wealth and power but also the distinct yet important role of the queen. This structured environment emphasizes the separate, but equally opulent, worlds of male and female royalty.
- The detail of Vashti hosting her own feast serves to demonstrate her independence and influence, making her subsequent defiance of the king's command more significant. It's not a nameless queen, but one with established presence.
- The practice of separate feasting groups aligns with broader ancient Near Eastern customs concerning modesty, honor, and social propriety, where men and women often gathered in distinct spaces. This was not necessarily a sign of suppression but rather a cultural norm to maintain order and dignity in grand social settings.
Esther 1 9 Commentary
Esther 1:9 concisely introduces Queen Vashti, presenting her as a figure of royal standing who conducts her own parallel feast. This seemingly simple verse is rich in cultural insight, demonstrating the ancient Persian court's practice of gender segregation in celebrations. Vashti's initiative in hosting a "feast" for "the women" underscores her regal status and specific duties within the palace, mirroring the king's lavish male banquet. Her chosen location, "in the royal house," implies a more intimate and guarded space, characteristic of women's quarters or harems in ancient Near Eastern palaces, designed for their safety and seclusion. This setup, where two separate but concurrent royal feasts unfold, subtly highlights the structured order of the Persian Empire but also plants the seed for the coming power struggle. It sets the stage by affirming Vashti's authority within her sphere, which soon directly collides with King Ahasuerus's absolute decree.