Esther 1:11
What does Esther 1:11 mean?
A plain-English look at Esther 1:11 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Esther 1:11 means
The king commands Vashti to come before him wearing the crown royal, to show her beauty to the peoples and princes, because she is lovely. The order treats her as a spectacle to enhance the king’s prestige before a vast audience. While the text does not detail motives beyond beauty display, it implies a public unveiling amid revelry. Such a summons puts Vashti at the intersection of political theater and personal dignity. The crown signifies her status, but the purpose reduces her to an object of admiration for others. The moment exposes how pomp can compromise prudence, pressing individuals into roles meant to glorify the monarch.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to show the peoples and the princes her beauty; for she was fair to look on.
KJV
King James Version · 1611To 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to show the peoples and the princes her beauty; for she was fair to look on.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949That Vashti the queen was to come before him, crowned with her crown, and let the people and the captains see her: for she was very beautiful.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862to bring in Vashti the queen before the king, with a royal crown, to shew the peoples and the heads her beauty, for she <FI>is<Fi> of good appearance,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752To bring in queen Vasthi before the king, with the crown set upon her head, to shew her beauty to all the people and the princes: for she was exceeding beautiful.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the royal crown to shew the peoples and the princes her beauty; for she was of beautiful countenance.
Context
This verse discloses the heart of the king’s request, clarifying why the chamberlains were sent. The command is tied directly to public honor: before peoples and princes. Immediately following, Vashti’s refusal will break expected protocol and ignite the crisis. The narrative’s careful description of the setting—opulence, wine, and hierarchy—enables the reader to feel the weight of the coming defiance and the king’s volatile reaction.
v.10On 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 ministered in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,
v.11This passage
v.12But 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.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Esther 6:8
let royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and on the head of which a crown royal is set:
- 2 Samuel 14:25
Now in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.
- Proverbs 16:9
A man’s heart deviseth his way; But Jehovah directeth his steps.
- Mark 6:21
And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, and the high captains, and the chief men of Galilee;
- Proverbs 23:29
Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? Who hath complaining? who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes?
- Proverbs 31:30
Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain; Buta woman that feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.