Esther 1 אֶסְתֵּר פרק א׳

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Esther 1 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

1. 1

   וַיְהִיvay/HIand it came to passבִּימֵיbi/MEin the days ofאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁA/chash/ve/ROSHAhasuerusהוּאhuthat isאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁA/chash/ve/ROSHAhasuerusהַמֹּלֵךְham/mo/LEKHwho reignedמֵהֹדּוּme/HOD/dufrom Indiaוְעַד־כּוּשׁve/AD-kusheven to CushשֶׁבַעSHE/vasevenוְעֶשְׂרִיםve/es/RIMand twentyוּמֵאָהu/me/Aand a hundredמְדִינָה׃me/di/NAprovinces

   Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)

2. 2

   בַּיָּמִיםbay/ya/MIMin the daysהָהֵםha/HEMthoseכְּשֶׁבֶתke/SHE/vetwhen satהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁA/chash/ve/ROSHAhasuerusעַלalonכִּסֵּאkis/SEthe throne ofמַלְכוּתוֹmal/khu/TOhis kingdomאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhichבְּשׁוּשַׁןbe/Shu/SHANin Shushanהַבִּירָה׃hab/bi/RAthe citadel

   That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,

3. 3

   בִּשְׁנַתbish/NATin the yearשָׁלוֹשׁsha/LOSHthreeלְמׇלְכוֹle/mol/KHOof his reignעָשָׂהa/SAhe madeמִשְׁתֶּהmish/TEa feastלְכׇל־שָׂרָיוle/KHOL-sa/RAYVfor all his princesוַעֲבָדָיוva/a/va/DAYVand his servantsחֵילchelthe power ofפָּרַסPa/RASPersiaוּמָדַיu/Ma/DAYand Mediaהַפַּרְתְּמִיםhap/par/te/MIMthe noblesוְשָׂרֵיve/sa/REand the princes ofהַמְּדִינוֹתham/me/di/NOTthe provincesלְפָנָיו׃le/fa/NAYVbefore him

   In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him:

4. 4

   בְּהַרְאֹתוֹbe/har/o/TOwhen he showedאֶת־עֹשֶׁרet-O/sherthe riches ofכְּבוֹדke/VODthe glory ofמַלְכוּתוֹmal/khu/TOhis kingdomוְאֶת־יְקָרve/ET-ye/KARand the honor ofתִּפְאֶרֶתtif/E/retthe splendor ofגְּדוּלָּתוֹge/dul/la/TOhis greatnessיָמִיםya/MIMdaysרַבִּיםrab/BIMmanyשְׁמוֹנִיםshe/mo/NIMeightyוּמְאַתu/me/ATand a hundredיוֹם׃yomdays

   When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days.

5. 5

   וּבִמְלוֹאתu/vim/LOTand when were fulfilledהַיָּמִיםhay/ya/MIMthe daysהָאֵלֶּהha/EL/letheseעָשָׂהa/SAmadeהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingלְכׇל־הָעָםle/KHOL-ha/AMfor all the peopleהַנִּמְצְאִיםhan/nim/tse/IMthat were presentבְּשׁוּשַׁןbe/Shu/SHANin Shushanהַבִּירָהhab/bi/RAthe citadelלְמִגָּדוֹלle/mig/ga/DOLfrom greatוְעַד־קָטָןve/AD-ka/TANeven to smallמִשְׁתֶּהmish/TEa feastשִׁבְעַתshiv/ATsevenיָמִיםya/MIMdaysבַּחֲצַרba/cha/TSARin the court ofגִּנַּתgin/NATthe garden ofבִּיתַןbi/TANthe palace ofהַמֶּלֶךְ׃ham/ME/lekhthe king

   And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace;

6. 6

   חוּרchurwhiteכַּרְפַּסkar/PAScottonוּתְכֵלֶתu/te/KHE/letand blueאָחוּזa/CHUZfastenedבְּחַבְלֵי־בוּץbe/chav/LE-vutswith cords of fine linenוְאַרְגָּמָןve/ar/ga/MANand purpleעַל־גְּלִילֵיal-ge/LI/leto rings ofכֶסֶףKHE/sefsilverוְעַמּוּדֵיve/am/MU/deand pillars ofשֵׁשׁsheshmarbleמִטּוֹתmit/TOTcouches ofזָהָבza/HAVgoldוָכֶסֶףva/KHE/sefand silverעַלaluponרִצְפַתrits/FATa pavement ofבַּהַט־וָשֵׁשׁba/HAT-va/SHESHporphyry and marbleוְדַרve/DARand mother of pearlוְסֹחָרֶת׃ve/so/CHA/retand paving stone

   Where were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black, marble.

7. 7

   וְהַשְׁקוֹתve/hash/KOTand they gave drinkבִּכְלֵיbikh/LEin vessels ofזָהָבza/HAVgoldוְכֵלִיםve/khe/LIMand vesselsמִכֵּלִיםmik/ke/LIMfrom vesselsשׁוֹנִיםsho/NIMdiverseוְיֵיןve/YENand wine ofמַלְכוּתmal/KHUTroyalרָבravin abundanceכְּיַדke/YADaccording to the bounty ofהַמֶּלֶךְ׃ham/ME/lekhthe king

   And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king.

8. 8

   וְהַשְּׁתִיָּהve/hash/she/tiy/YAand the drinkingכַדָּתkhad/DATwas according to the lawאֵיןennoneאֹנֵסo/NEScompellingכִּי־כֵןki-khenfor soיִסַּדyis/SADhad appointedהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingעַלaltoכׇּל־רַבkol-ravevery officer ofבֵּיתוֹbe/TOhis houseלַעֲשׂוֹתla/a/SOTto doכִּרְצוֹןkir/TSONaccording to the pleasure ofאִישׁ־וָאִישׁ׃ish-va/ISHevery man

   And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.

9. 9

   גַּםgamalsoוַשְׁתִּיVash/TIVashtiהַמַּלְכָּהham/mal/KAthe queenעָשְׂתָהa/se/TAdidמִשְׁתֵּהmish/TEa feast forנָשִׁיםna/SHIMthe womenבֵּיתbetin the houseהַמַּלְכוּתham/mal/KHUTroyalאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhichלַמֶּלֶךְlam/ME/lekhbelonged to the kingאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ׃A/chash/ve/ROSHAhasuerus

   Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.

10. 10

    בַּיּוֹםbay/YOMin the dayהַשְּׁבִיעִיhash/she/vi/Ithe seventhכְּטוֹבke/TOVwhen was merryלֵב־הַמֶּלֶךְlev-ham/ME/lekhthe heart of the kingבַּיָּיִןbay/YA/yinwith wineאָמַרa/MARsaidלִמְהוּמָןLim/hu/MANto MehumanבִּזְּתָאBiz/ze/TABizthaחַרְבוֹנָאChar/vo/NAHarbonaבִּגְתָאBig/TABigthaוַאֲבַגְתָאva/A/vag/TAand AbagthaזֵתַרZe/TARZetharוְכַרְכַּסve/Khar/KASand Carcasשִׁבְעַתshiv/ATsevenהַסָּרִיסִיםhas/sa/ri/SIMthe court officialsהַמְשָׁרְתִיםham/sha/re/TIMwho servedאֶת־פְּנֵיet-pe/NEin the presence ofהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ׃A/chash/ve/ROSHAhasuerus

    On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,

11. 11

    לְהָבִיאle/ha/VIto bringאֶת־וַשְׁתִּיet-Vash/TIVashtiהַמַּלְכָּהham/mal/KAthe queenלִפְנֵיlif/NEbeforeהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingבְּכֶתֶרbe/KHE/terwith the crownמַלְכוּתmal/KHUTroyalלְהַרְאוֹתle/har/OTto showהָעַמִּיםha/am/MIMthe peoplesוְהַשָּׂרִיםve/has/sa/RIMand the princesאֶת־יׇפְיָהּet-yof/YAher beautyכִּי־טוֹבַתki-to/VATfor fair ofמַרְאֶהmar/Eappearanceהִיא׃hishe was

    To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on.

12. 12

    וַתְּמָאֵןvat/te/ma/ENand she refusedהַמַּלְכָּהham/mal/KAthe queenוַשְׁתִּיVash/TIVashtiלָבוֹאla/VOto comeבִּדְבַרbid/VARat the word ofהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhich wasבְּיַדbe/YADby the hand ofהַסָּרִיסִיםhas/sa/ri/SIMthe court officialsוַיִּקְצֹףvay/yik/TSOFand was furiousהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingמְאֹדme/ODexceedinglyוַחֲמָתוֹva/cha/ma/TOand his angerבָּעֲרָהba/a/RAburnedבוֹ׃voin him

    But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.

13. 13

    וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingלַחֲכָמִיםla/cha/kha/MIMto the wise menיֹדְעֵיyod/Ewho knewהָעִתִּיםha/it/TIMthe timesכִּי־כֵןki-khenfor so wasדְּבַרde/VARthe manner ofהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingלִפְנֵיlif/NEbeforeכׇּל־יֹדְעֵיkol-yod/Eall that knewדָּתdatlawוָדִין׃va/DINand judgment

    Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment:

14. 14

    וְהַקָּרֹבve/hak/ka/ROVand the nextאֵלָיוe/LAYVto himכַּרְשְׁנָאKar/she/NACarshenaשֵׁתָרShe/TARShetharאַדְמָתָאAd/MA/taAdmathaתַרְשִׁישׁTar/SHISHTarshishמֶרֶסME/resMeresמַרְסְנָאMar/se/NAMarsenaמְמוּכָןMe/mu/KHANMemucanשִׁבְעַתshiv/ATsevenשָׂרֵיsa/REprinces ofפָּרַסPa/RASPersiaוּמָדַיu/Ma/DAYand Mediaרֹאֵיro/Ewho sawפְּנֵיpe/NEthe face ofהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingהַיֹּשְׁבִיםhay/yosh/VIMwho satרִאשֹׁנָהri/sho/NAfirstבַּמַּלְכוּת׃bam/mal/KHUTin the kingdom

    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;)

15. 15

    כְּדָתke/DATaccording to the lawמַה־לַּעֲשׂוֹתma-la/a/SOTwhat shall be doneבַּמַּלְכָּהbam/mal/KAto the queenוַשְׁתִּיVash/TIVashtiעַלalbecauseאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthatלֹא־עָשְׂתָהlo-a/se/TAshe has not doneאֶת־מַאֲמַרet-ma/a/MARthe command ofהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁA/chash/ve/ROSHAhasuerusבְּיַדbe/YADby the hand ofהַסָּרִיסִים׃has/sa/ri/SIMthe court officials

    What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?

16. 16

    וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand said[מְמוּכָן]Me/mu/KHANMemucanלִפְנֵיlif/NEbeforeהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingוְהַשָּׂרִיםve/has/sa/RIMand the princesלֹאlonotעַל־הַמֶּלֶךְal-ham/ME/lekhagainst the kingלְבַדּוֹle/vad/DOaloneעָוְתָהa/ve/TAhas done wrongוַשְׁתִּיVash/TIVashtiהַמַּלְכָּהham/mal/KAthe queenכִּיkibutעַל־כׇּל־הַשָּׂרִיםal-kol-has/sa/RIMagainst all the princesוְעַל־כׇּל־הָעַמִּיםve/AL-kol-ha/am/MIMand against all the peoplesאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthat areבְּכׇל־מְדִינוֹתbe/KHOL-me/di/NOTin all the provinces ofהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ׃A/chash/ve/ROSHAhasuerus

    And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.

17. 17

    כִּי־יֵצֵאki-ye/TSEfor shall go forthדְבַר־הַמַּלְכָּהde/VAR-ham/mal/KAthe deed of the queenעַל־כׇּל־הַנָּשִׁיםal-kol-han/na/SHIMto all the womenלְהַבְזוֹתle/hav/ZOTto make despicableבַּעְלֵיהֶןba/le/HENtheir husbandsבְּעֵינֵיהֶןbe/e/ne/HENin their eyesבְּאׇמְרָםbe/om/RAMwhen they sayהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁA/chash/ve/ROSHAhasuerusאָמַרa/MARcommandedלְהָבִיאle/ha/VIto bringאֶת־וַשְׁתִּיet-Vash/TIVashtiהַמַּלְכָּהham/mal/KAthe queenלְפָנָיוle/fa/NAYVbefore himוְלֹא־בָאָה׃ve/LO-va/Abut she came not

    For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.

18. 18

    וְהַיּוֹםve/hay/YOMand this dayהַזֶּהhaz/ZEthis sameתֹּאמַרְנָהto/MAR/nashall sayשָׂרוֹתsa/ROTthe ladies ofפָּרַס־וּמָדַיPa/RAS-u/ma/DAYPersia and Mediaאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhoשָׁמְעוּsha/me/Uhave heardאֶת־דְּבַרet-de/VARthe deed ofהַמַּלְכָּהham/mal/KAthe queenלְכֹלle/KHOLto allשָׂרֵיsa/REthe princes ofהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingוּכְדַיu/khe/DAYand enoughבִּזָּיוֹןbiz/za/YONcontemptוָקָצֶף׃va/KA/tsefand wrath

    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.

19. 19

    אִם־עַל־הַמֶּלֶךְim-al-ham/ME/lekhif to the kingטוֹבtovgoodיֵצֵאye/TSElet go forthדְבַר־מַלְכוּתde/VAR-mal/KHUTa royal commandmentמִלְּפָנָיוmil/le/fa/NAYVfrom before himוְיִכָּתֵבve/yik/ka/TEVand let it be writtenבְּדָתֵיbe/da/TEamong the laws ofפָרַס־וּמָדַיFa/RAS-u/ma/DAYPersia and Mediaוְלֹאve/LOthat notיַעֲבוֹרya/a/VORit pass awayאֲשֶׁרa/SHERthatלֹא־תָבוֹאlo-ta/VOcome no moreוַשְׁתִּיVash/TIVashtiלִפְנֵיlif/NEbeforeהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁA/chash/ve/ROSHAhasuerusוּמַלְכוּתָהּu/mal/khu/TAand her royal estateיִתֵּןyit/TENlet giveהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingלִרְעוּתָהּlir/u/TAto her companionהַטּוֹבָהhat/to/VAthat is betterמִמֶּנָּה׃mim/MEN/nathan she

    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.

20. 20

    וְנִשְׁמַעve/nish/MAand when shall be publishedפִּתְגָםpit/GAMthe decree ofהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingאֲשֶׁר־יַעֲשֶׂהa/SHER-ya/a/SEthat he shall makeבְּכׇל־מַלְכוּתוֹbe/KHOL-mal/khu/TOin all his kingdomכִּיkiforרַבָּהrab/BAgreatהִיאhiit isוְכׇל־הַנָּשִׁיםve/KHOL-han/na/SHIMand all the womenיִתְּנוּyit/te/NUshall giveיְקָרye/KARhonorלְבַעְלֵיהֶןle/va/le/HENto their husbandsלְמִגָּדוֹלle/mig/ga/DOLfrom greatוְעַד־קָטָן׃ve/AD-ka/TANeven to small

    And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small.

21. 21

    וַיִּיטַבvay/yi/TAVand pleasedהַדָּבָרhad/da/VARthe thingבְּעֵינֵיbe/e/NEin the eyes ofהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingוְהַשָּׂרִיםve/has/sa/RIMand the princesוַיַּעַשׂvay/YA/asand didהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingכִּדְבַרkid/VARaccording to the word ofמְמוּכָן׃Me/mu/KHANMemucan

    And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:

22. 22

    וַיִּשְׁלַחvay/yish/LACHand sentסְפָרִיםse/fa/RIMlettersאֶל־כׇּל־מְדִינוֹתel-kol-me/di/NOTto all the provinces ofהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingאֶל־מְדִינָהel-me/di/NAto provinceוּמְדִינָהu/me/di/NAand provinceכִּכְתָבָהּkikh/ta/VAaccording to its writingוְאֶל־עַםve/EL-amand to peopleוָעָםva/AMand peopleכִּלְשׁוֹנוֹkil/sho/NOaccording to its languageלִהְיוֹתlih/YOTthat should beכׇּל־אִישׁkol-ishevery manשֹׂרֵרso/RERrulingבְּבֵיתוֹbe/ve/TOin his houseוּמְדַבֵּרu/me/dab/BERand speakכִּלְשׁוֹןkil/SHONaccording to the language ofעַמּוֹ׃am/MOhis people

    For he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that it should be published according to the language of every people.