Esther 1 אֶסְתֵּר פרק א׳

Masoretic Text, word by word with English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Esther 1 in the interlinear reader for transliteration, roots and notes.

1. 1

   וַיְהִיand it came to passבִּימֵיin the days ofאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁAhasuerusהוּאheאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁAhasuerusהַמֹּלֵךְthe one who reignedמֵהֹדּוּfrom Indiaוְעַד־כּוּשׁand unto Ethiopiaשֶׁבַעsevenוְעֶשְׂרִיםand twentyוּמֵאָהand one hundredמְדִינָה׃provinces

   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

   בַּיָּמִיםin the daysהָהֵםthoseכְּשֶׁבֶתwhen satהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁAhasuerusעַלuponכִּסֵּאthroneמַלְכוּתוֹhis kingdomאֲשֶׁרwhichבְּשׁוּשַׁןin Shushanהַבִּירָה׃the citadel

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

3. 3

   בִּשְׁנַתin the year ofשָׁלוֹשׁthreeלְמׇלְכוֹof his reigningעָשָׂהhe didמִשְׁתֶּהfeastלְכׇל־שָׂרָיוto all his commandersוַעֲבָדָיוand his servantsחֵילthe army ofפָּרַסPersiaוּמָדַיand Mediaהַפַּרְתְּמִיםthe noblesוְשָׂרֵיand captains ofהַמְּדִינוֹתthe provincesלְפָנָיו׃before 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

   בְּהַרְאֹתוֹwhen he showedאֶת־עֹשֶׁרrichesכְּבוֹדthe glory ofמַלְכוּתוֹhis kingdomוְאֶת־יְקָרand the honor ofתִּפְאֶרֶתthe beauty ofגְּדוּלָּתוֹhis greatnessיָמִיםdaysרַבִּיםmanyשְׁמוֹנִיםeightyוּמְאַתand one hundredיוֹם׃day

   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

   וּבִמְלוֹאתand when were completedהַיָּמִיםthe daysהָאֵלֶּהtheseעָשָׂהdidהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingלְכׇל־הָעָםto all the peopleהַנִּמְצְאִיםthose who were foundבְּשׁוּשַׁןin Shushanהַבִּירָהthe citadelלְמִגָּדוֹלfrom greatוְעַד־קָטָןdown to the leastמִשְׁתֶּהfeastשִׁבְעַתsevenיָמִיםdaysבַּחֲצַרin the courtyard ofגִּנַּתthe garden ofבִּיתַןthe palace ofהַמֶּלֶךְ׃the 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

   חוּרwhite linenכַּרְפַּסcottonוּתְכֵלֶתand violet stuffאָחוּזknitבְּחַבְלֵי־בוּץwith the bands of fine linenוְאַרְגָּמָןand purpleעַל־גְּלִילֵיupon rods ofכֶסֶףsilverוְעַמּוּדֵיand the pillars ofשֵׁשׁmarbleמִטּוֹתcouches ofזָהָבgoldוָכֶסֶףand with silverעַלuponרִצְפַתa pavement ofבַּהַט־וָשֵׁשׁporphyry and marbleוְדַרand mother of pearlוְסֹחָרֶת׃and 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

   וְהַשְׁקוֹתand they gave to drinkבִּכְלֵיwith vessels ofזָהָבgoldוְכֵלִיםand utensilsמִכֵּלִיםfrom vesselsשׁוֹנִיםdiversוְיֵיןand wine ofמַלְכוּתroyalרָבmuchכְּיַדaccording to the hand ofהַמֶּלֶךְ׃the 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

   וְהַשְּׁתִיָּהand the drinkingכַדָּתwas according to the lawאֵיןthere is noאֹנֵסwas one who compelledכִּי־כֵןbecause thusיִסַּדhad appointedהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingעַלuponכׇּל־רַבall greatבֵּיתוֹhis houseלַעֲשׂוֹתto doכִּרְצוֹןaccording to the desires ofאִישׁ־וָאִישׁ׃man of and 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

   גַּםalsoוַשְׁתִּיVashtiהַמַּלְכָּהthe queenעָשְׂתָהdidמִשְׁתֵּהa feast ofנָשִׁיםwomenבֵּיתthe house ofהַמַּלְכוּתthe kingdomאֲשֶׁרwhichלַמֶּלֶךְthe kingאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ׃Ahasuerus

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

10. 10

    בַּיּוֹםin the dayהַשְּׁבִיעִיthe seventhכְּטוֹבlike goodלֵב־הַמֶּלֶךְheart the kingבַּיָּיִןby the wineאָמַרsaidלִמְהוּמָןto MehumanבִּזְּתָאBizthaחַרְבוֹנָאHarbonaבִּגְתָאBigthaוַאֲבַגְתָאand AbagthaזֵתַרZetharוְכַרְכַּסand Carcasשִׁבְעַתsevenהַסָּרִיסִיםthe court officialsהַמְשָׁרְתִיםwho servedאֶת־פְּנֵיface ofהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ׃Ahasuerus

    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

    לְהָבִיאto bring aboutאֶת־וַשְׁתִּיVashtiהַמַּלְכָּהthe queenלִפְנֵיbeforeהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingבְּכֶתֶרwith a crown ofמַלְכוּתroyalלְהַרְאוֹתto showהָעַמִּיםthe peopleוְהַשָּׂרִיםand the princesאֶת־יׇפְיָהּher beautyכִּי־טוֹבַתbecause the welfare ofמַרְאֶהappearanceהִיא׃it is

    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

    וַתְּמָאֵןand she refusedהַמַּלְכָּהthe queenוַשְׁתִּיVashtiלָבוֹאto comeבִּדְבַרat the commandment ofהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingאֲשֶׁרwhichבְּיַדin the hand ofהַסָּרִיסִיםthe court officialsוַיִּקְצֹףand was furiousהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingמְאֹדexceedinglyוַחֲמָתוֹand his rageבָּעֲרָהit burnedבוֹ׃in 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

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingלַחֲכָמִיםthe wise menיֹדְעֵיknowingהָעִתִּיםthe timesכִּי־כֵןbecause thusדְּבַרthe word ofהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingלִפְנֵיbeforeכׇּל־יֹדְעֵיall knowingדָּתlawוָדִין׃and 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

    וְהַקָּרֹבand the ones closeאֵלָיוto himכַּרְשְׁנָאCarshenaשֵׁתָרShetharאַדְמָתָאAdmathaתַרְשִׁישׁTarshishמֶרֶסMeresמַרְסְנָאMarsenaמְמוּכָןMemucanשִׁבְעַתsevenשָׂרֵיcaptains ofפָּרַסPersiaוּמָדַיand Mediaרֹאֵיwho sawפְּנֵיface ofהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingהַיֹּשְׁבִיםthe inhabitantsרִאשֹׁנָהfirstבַּמַּלְכוּת׃into 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

    כְּדָתaccording to the lawמַה־לַּעֲשׂוֹתwhat to doבַּמַּלְכָּהwith the queenוַשְׁתִּיVashtiעַלuponאֲשֶׁרwhichלֹא־עָשְׂתָהnot didאֶת־מַאֲמַרthe command ofהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁAhasuerusבְּיַדin the hand ofהַסָּרִיסִים׃the 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

    וַיֹּאמֶרand said[מְמוּכָן]Memucanלִפְנֵיbeforeהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingוְהַשָּׂרִיםand the princesלֹאnotעַל־הַמֶּלֶךְupon the kingלְבַדּוֹaloneעָוְתָהshe did wrongוַשְׁתִּיVashtiהַמַּלְכָּהthe queenכִּיbecauseעַל־כׇּל־הַשָּׂרִיםupon all the princesוְעַל־כׇּל־הָעַמִּיםand upon all the peopleאֲשֶׁרwhichבְּכׇל־מְדִינוֹתin all the provinces ofהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ׃Ahasuerus

    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־יֵצֵאbecause he go forthדְבַר־הַמַּלְכָּהthe deed of the queenעַל־כׇּל־הַנָּשִׁיםupon all the womenלְהַבְזוֹתto make despicableבַּעְלֵיהֶןtheir husbandsבְּעֵינֵיהֶןin their viewבְּאׇמְרָםwhen saidהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁAhasuerusאָמַרsaidלְהָבִיאto bring aboutאֶת־וַשְׁתִּיVashtiהַמַּלְכָּהthe queenלְפָנָיוbefore himוְלֹא־בָאָה׃and not entered into

    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

    וְהַיּוֹםand the dayהַזֶּהthisתֹּאמַרְנָהshall sayשָׂרוֹתnoble ladiesפָּרַס־וּמָדַיPersia and Mediaאֲשֶׁרwhichשָׁמְעוּthey heardאֶת־דְּבַרword ofהַמַּלְכָּהthe queenלְכֹלfor allשָׂרֵיcaptains ofהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingוּכְדַיand as enough ofבִּזָּיוֹןcontemptוָקָצֶף׃and anger

    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־הַמֶּלֶךְif upon the kingטוֹבgoodיֵצֵאhe go forthדְבַר־מַלְכוּתa royal commandmentמִלְּפָנָיוfrom before himוְיִכָּתֵבand let it be writtenבְּדָתֵיin the laws ofפָרַס־וּמָדַיPersia and Mediaוְלֹאand notיַעֲבוֹרit will pass awayאֲשֶׁרwhichלֹא־תָבוֹאthere shall not comeוַשְׁתִּיVashtiלִפְנֵיbeforeהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁAhasuerusוּמַלְכוּתָהּand her queenhoodיִתֵּןshall giveהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingלִרְעוּתָהּto her fellow womanהַטּוֹבָהthe goodמִמֶּנָּה׃from it

    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

    וְנִשְׁמַעand it will be heardפִּתְגָםdecreeהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingאֲשֶׁר־יַעֲשֶׂהthat he shall makeבְּכׇל־מַלְכוּתוֹin all his kingdomכִּיbecauseרַבָּהmuchהִיאit isוְכׇל־הַנָּשִׁיםand all the womenיִתְּנוּthey should impartיְקָרthe honor ofלְבַעְלֵיהֶןto their husbandsלְמִגָּדוֹלfrom greatוְעַד־קָטָן׃down to the least

    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

    וַיִּיטַבand it was goodהַדָּבָרthe wordבְּעֵינֵיin the eyes ofהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingוְהַשָּׂרִיםand the princesוַיַּעַשׂand didהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingכִּדְבַרaccording to the word ofמְמוּכָן׃Memucan

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

22. 22

    וַיִּשְׁלַחand sentסְפָרִיםrecordsאֶל־כׇּל־מְדִינוֹתto all the provinces ofהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingאֶל־מְדִינָהto provincesוּמְדִינָהand provinceכִּכְתָבָהּaccording to its writingוְאֶל־עַםand peopleוָעָםand peopleכִּלְשׁוֹנוֹaccording to its languageלִהְיוֹתto beכׇּל־אִישׁevery manשֹׂרֵרrulerבְּבֵיתוֹin his houseוּמְדַבֵּרand speakingכִּלְשׁוֹןaccording to the language ofעַמּוֹ׃his 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.