Esther 2:18 kjv
Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king.
Esther 2:18 nkjv
Then the king made a great feast, the Feast of Esther, for all his officials and servants; and he proclaimed a holiday in the provinces and gave gifts according to the generosity of a king.
Esther 2:18 niv
And the king gave a great banquet, Esther's banquet, for all his nobles and officials. He proclaimed a holiday throughout the provinces and distributed gifts with royal liberality.
Esther 2:18 esv
Then the king gave a great feast for all his officials and servants; it was Esther's feast. He also granted a remission of taxes to the provinces and gave gifts with royal generosity.
Esther 2:18 nlt
To celebrate the occasion, he gave a great banquet in Esther's honor for all his nobles and officials, declaring a public holiday for the provinces and giving generous gifts to everyone.
Esther 2 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 21:3-4 | "For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head. He asked life of thee..." | God's blessing and kingship. |
| Prov 29:2 | "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn." | The king's rule affects his people. |
| Ecc 8:4 | "Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?" | The authority of royal decree. |
| Dan 5:1 | "Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords..." | Example of a great royal feast. |
| Gen 40:20 | "And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants..." | Another example of a king's feast for officials. |
| Luk 14:13 | "But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:" | The general concept of holding feasts. |
| Isa 61:1 | "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me...to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;" | Concept of 'release' or liberation. |
| Rom 13:1 | "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God..." | Authority is divinely established. |
| Phil 4:19 | "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." | God's abundant supply and giving. |
| Mal 3:10 | "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse...and I will open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." | God's immense generosity and provision. |
| Matt 25:15 | "And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to every man according to his several ability..." | Giving according to capacity or standing. |
| Psa 75:6-7 | "For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west...But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another." | God's sovereignty in raising leaders. |
| Prov 16:14-15 | "The wrath of a king is as messengers of death...In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain." | King's favor brings life and blessing. |
| Psa 110:2-3 | "The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies...Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power..." | Kingly rule and willing subjects. |
| Neh 1:11 | "O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man." | God granting favor in the eyes of rulers. |
| Esth 1:3 | "That in the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants..." | Parallel to Ahasuerus's earlier feast. |
| 1 Kin 3:13 | "And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour..." | Divine gifts and blessings. |
| 1 Chr 29:12 | "Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all..." | God as the ultimate source of wealth and power. |
| Ezra 7:27-28 | "Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart..." | God's providence in rulers' decisions. |
| Isa 45:1 | "Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him..." | God using earthly kings for His purposes. |
| Deut 15:1-2 | "At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release. And this is the manner of the release..." | Concept of a general release/remission. |
| Acts 7:10 | "And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt..." | Divine favor for elevation to power. |
| Psa 45:9 | "Kings' daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir." | Queen's elevated status and adornment. |
Esther 2 verses
Esther 2 18 Meaning
Esther 2:18 describes King Ahasuerus’s official inauguration of Esther as queen. This involved a lavish and public celebration, marked by a grand feast attended by his high-ranking officials and servants, named specifically as "Esther's feast." In an act of royal munificence, he also decreed a widespread "release" or remission throughout his vast empire's provinces and bestowed generous gifts, all befitting his kingly stature and boundless resources. This verse solidifies Esther’s position and highlights the king's character through a display of imperial power and generosity.
Esther 2 18 Context
Esther 2:18 occurs within the narrative of Esther's ascension to queen, following her selection from numerous young women in King Ahasuerus's vast empire. The preceding verses (2:16-17) describe her being brought to the king and him loving her above all other virgins, leading him to place the royal crown on her head. This verse thus details the grand public event, "Esther's feast," that marked her official enthronement as queen. This celebration not only recognized Esther's new position but also served as a typical demonstration of Ahasuerus's immense wealth and authority within the opulent and hierarchical Persian court. Historically, feasts and public acts of generosity were customary for monarchs on significant occasions like coronations, showcasing their power and benevolence to secure loyalty across their widespread domains. Though God is not explicitly mentioned by name in the Book of Esther, this royal action is understood within the broader biblical context as part of His unfolding providential plan for His people.
Esther 2 18 Word analysis
- "And the king": Refers to Ahasuerus, emphasizing his absolute authority and agency in this grand event.
- "made a great feast": Hebrew: עָשָׂה מִשְׁתֶּה גָּדוֹל (asah mishteh gadol). This phrase denotes an elaborate, extensive, and public celebration. In the Persian context, such feasts were monumental displays of wealth, power, and political unity, affirming the monarch's supreme status, similar to the initial feast described in Esther chapter 1.
- "unto all his princes and his servants": This indicates the widespread and inclusive nature of the feast, not merely for close associates but encompassing the highest officials and important personnel of the royal court. It underscores the public recognition of Esther's queenship.
- "even Esther's feast": Hebrew: מִשְׁתֵּה אֶסְתֵּר (mishteh Ester). By specifically naming the feast after Esther, the king solidified her unique and privileged position as queen, making this banquet distinct from general royal entertainments and marking it as a personal tribute to her enthronement. This elevates her status significantly and ensures wide recognition of her queenship.
- "and he made release": Hebrew: הֲנָחָה עָשָׂה (hanakhah asah). This means "made a remission," "gave a rest," or "granted a cessation." It often refers to a period of relief from taxes, debt, or compulsory labor/service. It could also imply an amnesty for prisoners or a general public holiday. Such acts were typical of monarchs marking major auspicious occasions, aiming to demonstrate generosity, alleviate burdens, and thereby garner popular goodwill throughout the empire.
- "to the provinces": This highlights the extensive reach of the king's decree, affecting the vast territories under Persian rule. It demonstrates the widespread impact of his benevolence connected to Esther's ascension.
- "and gave gifts": Hebrew: מַתָּנוֹת נָתַן (mattanoṭ natan). This signifies the direct bestowal of presents or material benefactions. These gifts, likely valuable items or grants, were a further tangible display of the king's immense wealth and magnanimity, used to secure loyalty and demonstrate his sovereign power.
- "according to the state of the king": Hebrew: כְּיַד הַמֶּלֶךְ (k'yad hammelech), literally "according to the hand of the king." This idiom emphasizes the grand scale, lavishness, and unlimited generosity of the gifts and the remission. It means the extent of his actions was limited only by his kingly capacity, wealth, and desire, signifying an extraordinary measure of bounty consistent with a powerful and absolute monarch.
- "The king made a great feast... even Esther's feast": This phrase grouping emphasizes that Esther's enthronement was not a quiet, private affair but a momentous public declaration, reinforced by customary imperial display. The feast underscored the king's full acceptance and endorsement of Esther as his queen, crucial for her future role.
- "He made release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king": This collection of actions showcases the king's imperial reach and his strategic use of benevolence. By issuing a 'release' and distributing 'gifts' throughout his vast realm, he ensured that Esther's ascension was associated with widespread positive benefits for the common populace, thereby enhancing both his and her image and authority throughout the empire.
Esther 2 18 Bonus section
The complete absence of the Divine Name throughout the book of Esther accentuates the concept of divine providence working behind the scenes. Esther 2:18, despite being filled with secular grandeur and human decisions, reflects this indirect yet powerful work of God, placing Esther in a strategic position to protect her people from Haman's later schemes. This specific "Esther's feast" directly contrasts with the events leading to Vashti's removal in chapter 1, showcasing that while the king's character remains consistent (prone to lavish feasts and public displays), the outcomes for those elevated (Esther vs. Vashti) are vastly different, orchestrated by an unseen Hand. The practice of "release" or amnesty during coronations was also a historical tradition in many ancient empires, signifying a "new era" or royal grace.
Esther 2 18 Commentary
Esther 2:18 portrays King Ahasuerus's ceremonial sealing of Esther's position as queen. It exemplifies the imperial traditions of the ancient Near East, where major royal events like coronations were accompanied by grand public feasts and acts of widespread generosity. By naming the celebration "Esther's feast," the king solidified her unique place, setting her apart and formally inaugurating her rule. The accompanying acts of "release" and "giving gifts" to the provinces were not mere frivolities but calculated political maneuvers to showcase the king's boundless wealth and authority, cultivating goodwill and loyalty across his sprawling empire. This demonstrates that Esther's rise was not just by divine favour, but publicly affirmed by human authority. While the Bible does not explicitly name God in the book of Esther, the orchestration of these events implicitly points to His sovereign hand at work, positioning Esther precisely where she needed to be for the ultimate deliverance of her people. The king’s lavishness serves to amplify the significance of Esther's unique position.