Esther 1:17
What does Esther 1:17 mean?
A plain-English look at Esther 1:17 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Esther 1:17 means
Memucan predicts that the queen’s deed will become known to all women, prompting them to despise their husbands when they hear that Vashti refused the king’s summons. He foresees a contagion of disrespect spreading from court to household. Whether or not the fear is proportionate, the counsel treats public example as powerful. In his view, if the highest lady in the land can say no, the authority of husbands will be mocked. Thus the argument appeals to stability: stop the story from rewriting norms. The verse shows how reports and reputations can shape behavior far beyond the initial actors.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For this deed of the queen will come abroad unto all women, to make their husbands contemptible in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For this deed of the queen will come abroad unto all women, to make their husbands contemptible in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For news of what the queen has done will come to the ears of all women, and they will no longer give respect to their husbands when it is said to them, King Ahasuerus gave orders for Vashti the queen to come before him and she came not.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for go forth doth the word of the queen unto all the women, to render their husbands contemptible in their eyes, in their saying, The king Ahasuerus said to bring in Vashti the queen before him, and she did not come;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For this deed of the queen will go abroad to all women, so that they will despise their husbands, and will say: King Assuerus commanded that queen Vasthi should come in to him, and she would not.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For the act of the queen will come abroad to all women, so as to render their husbands contemptible in their eyes, when they shall say, The king Ahasuerus commanded the queen Vashti to be brought in before him, and she came not!
Context
Continuing his argument, Memucan moves from general offense to a specific social effect: women across the kingdom will imitate Vashti’s defiance. This builds urgency for decisive action. The next verse carries the concern into the circles of the nobility, predicting immediate consequences among the princesses of Persia and Media. The stage is being set for a policy that is preventive and exemplary, intended to contain what is seen as a brewing crisis of authority.
v.16And 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.
v.17This passage
v.18And this day will the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard of the deed of the queen say the like unto all the king’s princes. So will there arise much contempt and wrath.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ephesians 5:33
Nevertheless do ye also severally love each one his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she fear her husband.
- 2 Samuel 6:16
And it was so, as the ark of Jehovah came into the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out at the window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before Jehovah; and she despised him in her heart.