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Esther 1:8

6 Hangings of white and blue linen were fastened with cords of fine white and purple material to silver rings on the marble pillars. Gold and silver couches were arranged on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other costly stones.

7 Beverages were served in an array of goblets of gold, each with a different design, and the royal wine flowed freely, according to the king’s bounty.

By order of the king, no limit was placed on the drinking, and every official of his household was to serve each man whatever he desired.

9 Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.

10 On the seventh day, when the king’s heart was merry with wine, he ordered the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas—

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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
By order of the king, no limit was placed on the drinking, and every official of his household was to serve each man whatever he desired.
KJV
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.
WEB
In accordance with the law, the drinking was not compulsory; for so the king had instructed all the officials of his house, that they should do according to every man’s pleasure.
ASV
And the drinking was according to the law; none could compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man`s pleasure.
DARBY
And the drinking was, according to commandment, without constraint; for so the king had appointed to all the magnates of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.
BLB
And the drinking [was] according to the law—there is no compulsion—for so the king had established upon every overseer of his house, to do according to the pleasure of man by man.
ÅB
Og for drikningen gjaldt den forskrift at ingen skulle nødes; for kongen hadde befalt alle sine hushovmestere å la enhver få så meget han selv ønsket.
OTB
Etter kongens befaling var det ingen tvang i drikkingen, for han hadde instruert alle forvalterne å servere hver mann det han ønsket.
B1930
Og for drikningen gjaldt den forskrift at ingen skulde nødes; for kongen hadde befalt alle sine hushovmestere å la enhver få så meget han selv ønsket.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Habakkuk 2:15–16

    Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors, pouring it from the wineskin until they are drunk, in order to gaze at their nakedness!

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  • Jeremiah 51:7

    Babylon was a gold cup in the hand of the LORD, making the whole earth drunk. The nations drank her wine; therefore the nations have gone mad.

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  • Jeremiah 35:8

    And we have obeyed the voice of our forefather Jonadab son of Rechab in all he commanded us. So we have not drunk wine all our lives—neither we nor our wives nor our sons and daughters.

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