Esther 1:3

1 This is what happened in the days of Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces from India to Cush.

2 In those days King Xerxes sat on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa.

In the third year of his reign, Xerxes held a feast for all his officials and servants. The military leaders of Persia and Media were there, along with the nobles and princes of the provinces.

4 And for a full 180 days he displayed the glorious riches of his kingdom and the magnificent splendor of his greatness.

5 At the end of this time, in the garden court of the royal palace, the king held a seven-day feast for all the people in the citadel of Susa, from the least to the greatest.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
In the third year of his reign, Xerxes held a feast for all his officials and servants. The military leaders of Persia and Media were there, along with the nobles and princes of the provinces.
KJV
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:
WEB
in the third year of his reign, he made a feast for all his princes and his servants; the army of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces being before him.
ASV
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;
DARBY
in the third year of his reign, he made a feast to all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and the princes of the provinces being before him;
BLB
in the third year of his reigning, he made a feast for all his officials and his servants; the strength of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the officials of the provinces [were] before his face
ÅB
i hans regjerings tredje år hendte det at han gjorde et gjestebud for alle sine fyrster og tjenere; Persias og Medias hærførere og hans fornemste menn og landskapenes fyrster var samlet hos ham.
OTB
i det tredje året av hans regjeringstid, holdt han et gjestebud for alle sine embetsmenn og tjenere, militærlederne i Persia og Media, adelsmennene og fyrstene av provinsene som var til stede.
B1930
i hans regjerings tredje år hendte det at han gjorde et gjestebud for alle sine fyrster og tjenere; Persias og Medias hærførere og hans fornemste menn og landskapenes fyrster var samlet hos ham.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Mark 6:21

    On Herod’s birthday, her opportunity arose. Herod held a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.

    Read in context
  • Esther 2:18

    Then the king held a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his officials and servants. He proclaimed a tax holiday in the provinces and gave gifts worthy of the king’s bounty.

    Read in context
  • Daniel 5:1

    Later, King Belshazzar held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, and he drank wine with them.

    Read in context
  • 1 Kings 3:15

    Then Solomon awoke, and indeed it had been a dream. So he returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then he held a feast for all his servants.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 21:2

    A dire vision is declared to me: “The traitor still betrays, and the destroyer still destroys. Go up, O Elam! Lay siege, O Media! I will put an end to all her groaning.”

    Read in context
  • Genesis 40:20

    On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he held a feast for all his officials, and in their presence he lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 51:11

    Sharpen the arrows! Fill the quivers! The LORD has aroused the spirit of the kings of the Medes, because His plan is aimed at Babylon to destroy her, for it is the vengeance of the LORD— vengeance for His temple.

    Read in context
  • Daniel 6:6–7

    So the administrators and satraps went together to the king and said, “O King Darius, may you live forever!

    Read in context