Esther 1:16 - Forerunner Commentary

Esther 1:16

14 those closest to him being Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the ^aseven princes of Persia and Media, ^bwho had access to the king’s presence, and who¹ ranked highest in the kingdom):

15 “What shall we do to Queen Vashti, according to law, because she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus brought to her by the eunuchs?”

16 And Memucan answered before the king and the princes: “Queen Vashti has not only wronged the king, but also all the princes, and all the people who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.

17 For the queen’s behavior will become known to all women, so that they will ^adespise their husbands in their eyes, when they report, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought in before him, but she did not come.’

18 This very day the noble ladies of Persia and Media will say to all the king’s officials that they have heard of the behavior of the queen. Thus there will be excessive contempt and wrath.

19 If it pleases the king, let a royal¹ decree go out from him, and let it be recorded in the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it will ^anot be altered, that Vashti shall come no more before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she.

20 When the king’s decree which he will make is proclaimed throughout all his empire (for it is great), all wives will ^ahonor their husbands, both great and small.”

21 And the reply pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan.

22 Then he sent letters to all the king’s provinces, ^ato each province in its own script, and to every people in their own language, that each man should ^bbe master in his own house, and speak in the language of his own people.

Verse Comparison: Esther 1:16

<< Esther 1:15

Esther 1:17 >>

American Standard Version
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 peoples that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.

Amplified® Bible
And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen has not only done wrong to the king but also to all the princes and to all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.

Contemporary English Version
Then Memucan told the king and the officials: Your Majesty, Queen Vashti has not only embarrassed you, but she has insulted your officials and everyone else in all the provinces.

Darby English Version
Then said Memucan before the king and the princes, The queen Vashti has not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the peoples that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.

Good News Bible
Then Memucan declared to the king and his officials: "Queen Vashti has insulted not only the king but also his officials---in fact, every man in the empire!

King James Version
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.

New American Standard Bible
In the presence of the king and the princes, Memucan said, "Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king but {also} all the princes and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.

New International Version
Then Memucan replied in the presence of the king and the nobles, "Queen Vashti has done wrong, not only against the king but also against all the nobles and the peoples of all the provinces of King Xerxes.

New King James Version
And Memucan answered before the king and the princes: “Queen Vashti has not only wronged the king, but also all the princes, and all the people who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
In the presence of the king and the princes, Memucan said, " Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king but also all the princes and all the peoples who live in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.

Revised Standard Version
Then Memu'can said in presence of the king and the princes, "Not only to the king has Queen Vashti done wrong, but also to all the princes and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasu-e'rus.

Young's Literal Translation
And Memucan saith before the king and the heads, `Not against the king by himself hath Vashti the queen done perversely, but against all the heads, and against all the peoples that `are' in all provinces of the king Ahasuerus;

New English Translation
Memucan then replied to the king and the officials, “The wrong of Queen Vashti is not against the king alone, but against all the officials and all the people who are throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.

<< Esther 1:15

Esther 1:17 >>