Esther 1:3
What does Esther 1:3 mean?
A plain-English look at Esther 1:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Esther 1:3 means
In the third year of his reign, Ahasuerus hosts a grand feast for his princes, servants, and the power-brokers of Persia and Media. The gathering of nobles and provincial leaders suggests a strategic display of strength, loyalty-building, and perhaps planning for future ventures. Such a feast would bind the empire’s elites to the throne, reminding them who holds the resources and honor they desire. The verse portrays the king as a master of spectacle and patronage, using abundance to secure influence. It also hints that what happens at court affects all provinces, since their rulers stand before him, receiving both favor and expectations.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000in the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him;
KJV
King James Version · 1611In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901in the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him;
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949In the third year of his rule he gave a feast to all his captains and his servants; and the captains of the army of Persia and Media, the great men and the rulers of the divisions of his kingdom, were present before him;
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862in the third year of his reign, he hath made a banquet to all his heads and his servants; of the force of Persia and Media, the chiefs and heads of the provinces <FI>are<Fi> before him,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Now in the third year of his reign he made a great feast for all the princes, and for his servants, for the most mighty of the Persians, and the nobles of the Medes, and the governors of the provinces in his sight,
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890in the third year of his reign, he made a feast to all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and the princes of the provinces being before him;
Context
Having set the place and authority of Ahasuerus, the story now marks a specific time—the third year—and introduces a lengthy feast for the empire’s leaders. This launches a two-stage celebration: first for the elite, then for the general populace. The next verse will describe how long and lavish this display is, showing that the feast is more than hospitality; it is a political statement. The splendor becomes the backdrop for the moral and relational crisis that erupts later in the chapter.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Daniel 8:20
The ram which thou sawest, that had the two horns, they are the kings of Media and Persia.
- Isaiah 21:2
A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous man dealeth treacherously, and the destroyer destroyeth. Go up, O Elam; besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease.
- Jeremiah 51:11
Make sharp the arrows; hold firm the shields: Jehovah hath stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes; because his purpose is against Babylon, to destroy it: for it is the vengeance of Jehovah, the vengeance of his temple.
- Esther 1:14
and 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),
- Genesis 40:20
And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and the head of the chief baker among his servants.
- 1 Kings 3:15
And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream: and he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, and offered up burnt-offerings, and offered peace-offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.