Esther 1:12

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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.

Complete Jewish Bible:

But Queen Vashti refused to come at the order of the king, which he had sent through his officers. This enraged the king - his anger blazed inside him.

Berean Standard Bible:

Queen Vashti, however, refused to come at the king’s command brought by his eunuchs. And the king became furious, and his anger burned within him.

American Standard Version:

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

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

But the queen^{H4436} Vashti^{H2060} refused^{H3985} to come^{H935} at the king's^{H4428} commandment^{H1697} by^{H3027} his chamberlains^{H5631}: therefore was the king^{H4428} very^{H3966} wroth^{H7107}, and his anger^{H2534} burned^{H1197} in him.

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Commentary for Esther 1:12

Esther 1:12 is set within the context of the Achaemenid Persian Empire, during the reign of King Ahasuerus, traditionally identified as Xerxes I (reigned 486–465 BCE). The narrative unfolds at a lavish banquet hosted by the king, which is attended by nobles and officials from across the empire. The verse captures a pivotal moment where the king summons his queen, Vashti, to display her beauty before the guests, but she refuses to comply with this command.

The themes present in this verse include the exercise of royal authority and the expectations of obedience, as well as the tension between personal autonomy and societal norms. Queen Vashti's refusal to obey the king's summons is an act of defiance, which challenges the king's honor and authority in a profound way. Her actions are set against the backdrop of a highly patriarchal society where women had limited agency and their roles were largely ornamental and subservient to men.

The king's reaction to Vashti's disobedience is intense anger, indicating the gravity of her refusal in the eyes of the king and his court. This moment sets in motion a series of events that will eventually lead to Vashti's dethronement and the selection of a new queen, Esther, who becomes the central figure in the ensuing narrative of the Book of Esther. Vashti's story serves as a prelude to the themes of courage, divine providence, and the reversal of fortunes that characterize the rest of the book.

Historically, the verse reflects the customs and hierarchies of the Persian court, where royal decrees were expected to be obeyed without question. Vashti's refusal is a rare instance in the biblical narrative where a woman's disobedience is highlighted, and it provides a glimpse into the complex dynamics of gender and power in the ancient world. The consequences of her actions would resonate not only within the palace but throughout the empire, as the king's advisors fear that her example might embolden other women to disobey their husbands.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H4436
   There are 34 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מַלְכָּה
   Transliteration: malkâh
   Pronunciation: mal-kaw'
   Description: feminine of מֶלֶךְ; a queen; queen.
   
2. Strong's Number: H2060
   There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: וַשְׁתִּי
   Transliteration: Vashtîy
   Pronunciation: vash-tee'
   Description: of Persian origin; Vashti, the queen of Xerxes; Vashti. z
   
3. Strong's Number: H3985
   There are 39 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מָאֵן
   Transliteration: mâʼên
   Pronunciation: maw-ane'
   Description: a primitive root; to refuse; refuse, [idiom] utterly.
   
4. Strong's Number: H935
   There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בּוֹא
   Transliteration: bôwʼ
   Pronunciation: bo
   Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
   
5. Strong's Number: H4428
   There are 1922 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֶלֶךְ
   Transliteration: melek
   Pronunciation: meh'-lek
   Description: from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal.
   
6. Strong's Number: H1697
   There are 1290 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָּבָר
   Transliteration: dâbâr
   Pronunciation: daw-baw'
   Description: from דָבַר; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause; act, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dearth, decree, deed, [idiom] disease, due, duty, effect, [phrase] eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-) ness, [phrase] glory, [phrase] harm, hurt, [phrase] iniquity, [phrase] judgment, language, [phrase] lying, manner, matter, message, (no) thing, oracle, [idiom] ought, [idiom] parts, [phrase] pertaining, [phrase] please, portion, [phrase] power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, [idiom] (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, [phrase] sign, [phrase] so, some (uncleanness), somewhat to say, [phrase] song, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, task, [phrase] that, [idiom] there done, thing (concerning), thought, [phrase] thus, tidings, what(-soever), [phrase] wherewith, which, word, work.
   
7. Strong's Number: H3027
   There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָד
   Transliteration: yâd
   Pronunciation: yawd
   Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.
   
8. Strong's Number: H5631
   There are 42 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: סָרִיס
   Transliteration: çârîyç
   Pronunciation: saw-reece'
   Description: or סָרִס; from an unused root meaning to castrate; a eunuch; by implication, valet (especially of the female apartments), and thus, a minister of state; chamberlain, eunuch, officer. Compare רַב־סָרִיס.
   
9. Strong's Number: H3966
   There are 278 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מְאֹד
   Transliteration: mᵉʼôd
   Pronunciation: meh-ode'
   Description: from the same as אוּד; properly, vehemence, i.e. (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or superlative; especially when repeated); diligently, especially, exceeding(-ly), far, fast, good, great(-ly), [idiom] louder and louder, might(-ily, -y), (so) much, quickly, (so) sore, utterly, very ([phrase] much, sore), well.
   
10. Strong's Number: H7107
    There are 32 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: קָצַף
    Transliteration: qâtsaph
    Pronunciation: kaw-tsaf'
    Description: a primitive root; to crack off, i.e. (figuratively) burst out in rage; (be) anger(-ry), displease, fret self, (provoke to) wrath (come), be wroth.
    
11. Strong's Number: H2534
    There are 117 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: חֵמָה
    Transliteration: chêmâh
    Pronunciation: khay-maw'
    Description: or (Daniel 11:44) חֵמָא; from יָחַם; heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever); anger, bottles, hot displeasure, furious(-ly, -ry), heat, indignation, poison, rage, wrath(-ful). See חֶמְאָה.
    
12. Strong's Number: H1197
    There are 90 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בָּעַר
    Transliteration: bâʻar
    Pronunciation: baw-ar'
    Description: a primitive root; also as denominative from בַּעַר; to kindle, i.e. consume (by fire or by eating); to be(-come) brutish; be brutish, bring (put, take) away, burn, (cause to) eat (up), feed, heat, kindle, set (on fire), waste.