Esther 1:14
What does Esther 1:14 mean?
A plain-English look at Esther 1:14 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Esther 1:14 means
The seven princes—Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan—are identified as the highest officials who see the king’s face and sit first in the kingdom. Their proximity to the monarch and priority in the court rank them as gatekeepers of imperial policy. Naming them gives gravity to what follows; this is not a hasty decision by a few lesser officials. The verse underscores the structured hierarchy of Persia, where select counselors hold sway in matters of law and custom. Among them, Memucan will emerge as the voice shaping the response, demonstrating the influence a single counselor can wield.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and the next unto him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king’s face, and sat first in the kingdom),
KJV
King James Version · 1611And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king’s face, and which sat the first in the kingdom;)
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and the next unto him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king’s face, and sat first in the kingdom),
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And second only to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven rulers of Persia and Media, who were friends of the king, and had the first places in the kingdom:)
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and he who is near unto him <FI>is<Fi> Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, Memucan, seven heads of Persia and Media seeing the face of the king, who are sitting first in the kingdom--
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752(Now the chief and nearest him were, Charsena, and Sethar, and Admatha, and Tharsis, and Mares, and Marsana, and Mamuchan, seven princes of the Persians and of the Medes, who saw the face of the king, and were used to sit first after him:)
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and the next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, [and] Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king's face, and who sat first in the kingdom),
Context
Having acknowledged the king’s turn to legal advisors, the text now lists the elite princes who share closest access to royal counsel. This grounds the forthcoming decision in recognized authority. The scene is ready for the king’s formal question about Vashti’s offense. With the stage set among the highest ranks, the chapter will show how a personal slight is transformed into an empire-wide decree, beginning with the query about lawful consequences for disobedience.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Kings 25:19
and out of the city he took an officer that was set over the men of war; and five men of them that saw the king’s face, who were found in the city; and the scribe, the captain of the host, who mustered the people of the land; and threescore men of the people of the land, that were found in the city.
- Matthew 18:10
See that ye despise not one of these little ones: for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.
- Revelation 22:4
and they shall see his face; and his name shall be on their foreheads.
- Ezra 7:14
Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king and his seven counsellors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thy hand,