Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, May 6th, 2025
the Third Week after Easter
Attention!
Tired of seeing ads while studying? Now you can enjoy an "Ads Free" version of the site for as little as 10¢ a day and support a great cause!
Click here to learn more!

Read the Bible

Contemporary English Version

Esther 1:3

During the third year of his rule, Xerxes gave a big dinner for all his officials and officers. The governors and leaders of the provinces were also invited, and even the commanders of the Persian and Median armies came.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Feasts;   Food;   Persia;   Shushan (Susa);   Thompson Chain Reference - Persia;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Diet of the Jews, the;   Medo-Persian Kingdom;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Chamberlain;   Feasts;   Shushan;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Media;   Persia;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Power;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Media;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Ahasuerus;   Esther;   Shethar;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Esther;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Joakim;   Nethinim;   Zaraias;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Medes, Media ;   Prince, Princess;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Ahasuerus;   Medes;   Vashti;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Ahasue'rus;   Meals;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Esther, Book of;   Medes;   Noble;   Persia;   Prince;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Ahasuerus;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Banquets;   Esdras, Books of;   Lilith;   Media;   Persia;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for June 6;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
He held a feast in the third year of his reign for all his officials and staff, the army of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the officials from the provinces.
Hebrew Names Version
in the third year of his reign, he made a feast to all his princes and his servants; the power of Paras and Madai, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him;
King James Version
In 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:
English Standard Version
in the third year of his reign he gave a feast for all his officials and servants. The army of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces were before him,
New Century Version
In the third year of his rule, he gave a banquet for all his important men and royal officers. The army leaders from the countries of Persia and Media and the important men from all Xerxes' empire were there.
New English Translation
in the third year of his reign he provided a banquet for all his officials and his servants. The army of Persia and Media was present, as well as the nobles and the officials of the provinces.
Amplified Bible
in the third year of his reign he held a banquet for all his officials and his attendants. The army officers of Persia and Media, the nobles and the officials of the provinces were there in his presence.
New American Standard Bible
in the third year of his reign he held a banquet for all his officials and attendants, the army officers of Persia and Media, the nobles and the officials of his provinces, in his presence.
World English Bible
in 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 princes of the provinces, being before him;
Geneva Bible (1587)
In the third yeere of his reigne, he made a feast vnto all his princes and his seruants, euen the power of Persia and Media, and to the captaines and gouernours of the prouinces which were before him,
Legacy Standard Bible
in the third year of his reign, he held a feast for all his princes and servants, the military officers of Persia and Media, the nobles and the princes of his provinces being in his presence,
Berean Standard Bible
In the third year of his reign, Xerxes held a feast for all his officials and servants. The military leaders of Persia and Media were there, along with the nobles and princes of the provinces.
Complete Jewish Bible
in the third year of his reign, that he gave a banquet for all his officials and courtiers. The army of Persia and Media, the nobles and the provincial officials were in attendance.
Darby Translation
in 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;
Easy-to-Read Version
In the third year of Xerxes' rule, he gave a party for his officers and leaders. The army leaders and important leaders from all of Persia and Media were there.
George Lamsa Translation
In the third year of his reign, he made a great feast for all his princes and his servants, the mighty men of Persia and Media and the kings nobles and the governors of the provinces being before him.
Good News Translation
In the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his officials and administrators. The armies of Persia and Media were present, as well as the governors and noblemen of the provinces.
Lexham English Bible
he gave a banquet in the third year of his reign for all his officials and servants. The army of Persia and Media and the nobles and officials of the provinces were in his presence
Literal Translation
in the third year of his reign, he made a banquet for all his rulers and his servants. The power of Persia and Media, the nobles and the rulers of the provinces, were before him,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
in the thirde yeare of his reigne, he made a feast vnto all his prynces and seruauntes, namely vnto the mightie men of Persia and Media, to the Debities and rulers of his countrees,
American Standard Version
in 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;
Bible in Basic English
In 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;
Bishop's Bible (1568)
In the third yere of his raigne, he made a feast vnto all his princes & seruauntes: and the mightie men of Persia and Media, the captaynes also and rulers of his countreys were before hym.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
in the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the army of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him;
King James Version (1611)
In the third yeere of his reigne, he made a feast vnto all his Princes, and his seruants, the power of Persia and Media, the Nobles and Princes of the prouinces being before him.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
in the third year of his reign, he made a feast to his friends, and the other nations, and to the nobles of the Persians and Medes, and the chief of the satraps.
English Revised Version
in 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:
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor in the thridde yeer of his empire he made a greet feeste to alle hise princes and children, the strongeste men of Persis, and to the noble men of Medeis, and to the prefectis of prouynces, bifor him silf,
Update Bible Version
in the third year of his reign, he made a feast to all his princes and his slaves; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him;
Webster's Bible Translation
In 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 princes of the provinces, [being] before him:
New King James Version
that in the third year of his reign he made a feast for all his officials and servants--the powers of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the princes of the provinces being before him--
New Living Translation
In the third year of his reign, he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials. He invited all the military officers of Persia and Media as well as the princes and nobles of the provinces.
New Life Bible
In the third year of his rule, he gave a special supper for all his princes and leaders. The army captains of Persia and Media, the important men and princes of the many parts of the country were there with him.
New Revised Standard
in the third year of his reign, he gave a banquet for all his officials and ministers. The army of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces were present,
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
in the third year of his reign, he made a banquet unto all his rulers, and his servants, - the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and the rulers being before him;
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now 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,
Revised Standard Version
in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his princes and servants, the army chiefs of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces being before him,
Young's Literal Translation
in 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 [are] before him,
New American Standard Bible (1995)
in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his princes and attendants, the army officers of Persia and Media, the nobles and the princes of his provinces being in his presence.

Contextual Overview

1King Xerxes of Persia lived in his capital city of Susa and ruled one hundred twenty-seven provinces from India to Ethiopia. 3 During the third year of his rule, Xerxes gave a big dinner for all his officials and officers. The governors and leaders of the provinces were also invited, and even the commanders of the Persian and Median armies came. 4 For one hundred eighty days he showed off his wealth and spent a lot of money to impress his guests with the greatness of his kingdom. 5 King Xerxes soon gave another dinner and invited everyone in the city of Susa, no matter who they were. The eating and drinking lasted seven days in the beautiful palace gardens. 6 The area was decorated with blue and white cotton curtains tied back with purple linen cords that ran through silver rings fastened to marble columns. Couches of gold and silver rested on pavement that had all kinds of designs made from costly bright-colored stones and marble and mother-of-pearl. 7 The guests drank from gold cups, and each cup had a different design. The king was generous 8 and said to them, "Drink all you want!" Then he told his servants, "Keep their cups full." 9 While the men were enjoying themselves, Queen Vashti gave the women a big dinner inside the royal palace.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

am 3542, bc 462

he made: Esther 2:18, Genesis 40:20, 1 Kings 3:15, Daniel 5:1, Mark 6:21

of Persia: Esther 1:14, Ezra 1:2, Isaiah 21:2, Jeremiah 51:11, Daniel 5:28, Daniel 8:20

the nobles: Daniel 3:2, Daniel 3:3, Daniel 6:1, Daniel 6:6, Daniel 6:7

Reciprocal: Genesis 21:8 - feast 1 Samuel 25:36 - a feast 2 Samuel 3:20 - David Ezra 2:1 - the children Esther 3:7 - in the twelfth Jeremiah 51:28 - the kings Daniel 8:3 - one Luke 7:25 - are in 1 John 2:16 - and the pride

Cross-References

Job 36:30
And when God sends lightning, it can be seen at the bottom of the sea.
Job 38:19
Where is the home of light, and where does darkness live?
Psalms 33:6
The Lord made the heavens and everything in them by his word.
Psalms 33:9
As soon as he spoke the world was created; at his command, the earth was formed.
Psalms 97:11
If you obey and do right, a light will show you the way and fill you with happiness.
Psalms 104:2
and surrounded by light. You spread out the sky like a tent,
Psalms 118:27
The Lord is our God, and he has given us light! Start the celebration! March with palm branches all the way to the altar.
Psalms 148:5
Let all things praise the name of the Lord , because they were created at his command.
Isaiah 45:7
I create light and darkness, happiness and sorrow. I, the Lord , do all of this.
Isaiah 60:19
You won't need the light of the sun or the moon. I, the Lord your God, will be your eternal light and bring you honor.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

In the third year of his reign he made a feast unto all his princes, and his servants,.... The nobles and officers in his court; on what account this was cannot be said with certainty, whether the first day of it was his birthday, or the day of his coming to the throne, on which day Xerxes used to make a feast annually, as Herodotus relates f:

the power of Persia and Media; the mighty men therein, the potentates thereof; or the "army", the principal officers of it:

the nobles and princes of the provinces being with him. The first word Aben Ezra declares his ignorance of, whether it is Hebrew or Persian; Jarchi interprets it governors; and the persons intended by both seem to be the deputy governors of the one hundred and twenty seven provinces who were present at this feast. Xerxes, having reduced Egypt, meditated a war with Greece, to which he was pressed by Mardonius, a relation of his; upon which he summoned the chief men of his kingdom, to have their advice about it g, which perhaps was taken at this time; for it was in the third year of his reign he resolved upon the war, and began to make preparations for it; and it was usual, at banquets and feasts, that the Persians debated their most important affairs h.

f lb. (Herodot.) Calliope, sive, l. 9. c. 109. g Ib. l. 7. c. 8. h lb. Clio, sive, l. 1. c. 133.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

In the third year - In this year, 483 B.C., Xerxes assembled the governors of provinces at Susa, in connection with his contemplated expedition against Greece.

The nobles - literally, “the first men.” The Hebrew word used is one adopted from the Persian.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile