Berean Interlinear
Esther
Chapter 1
This is what happened in the days of Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces from India to Cush.
’ă·ḥaš·wê·rō·wōš
. . .
. . .
ham·mō·lêḵ
who reigned over
who reigned over
še·ḇa‘
127
127
wə·‘eś·rîm
. . .
. . .
ū·mê·’āh
. . .
. . .
mə·ḏî·nāh
provinces
provinces
mê·hōd·dū
from India
from India
wə·‘aḏ-
to
to
kūš
Cush .
Cush .
way·hî
This is what happened
This is what happened
bî·mê
in the days
in the days
’ă·ḥaš·wê·rō·wōš
of Xerxes ,
of Xerxes ,
hū
. . .
. . .
In those days King Xerxes sat on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa.
hā·hêm
In those
In those
bay·yā·mîm
days
days
ham·me·leḵ
King
King
’ă·ḥaš·wê·rō·wōš
Xerxes
Xerxes
kə·še·ḇeṯ
sat
sat
‘al
on
on
mal·ḵū·ṯōw
his royal
his royal
’ă·šer
-
-
kis·sê
throne
throne
hab·bî·rāh
in the citadel
in the citadel
bə·šū·šan
of Susa .
of Susa .
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.
šā·lō·wōš
In the third
In the third
biš·naṯ
year
year
lə·mā·lə·ḵōw
of his reign ,
of his reign ,
‘ā·śāh
[Xerxes] held
[Xerxes] held
miš·teh
a feast
a feast
lə·ḵāl
for all
for all
śā·rāw
his officials
his officials
wa·‘ă·ḇā·ḏāw
and servants .
and servants .
ḥêl
The military leaders
The military leaders
pā·ras
of Persia
of Persia
ū·mā·ḏay
and Media
and Media
lə·p̄ā·nāw
[were there] ,
[were there] ,
hap·par·tə·mîm
along with the nobles
along with the nobles
wə·śā·rê
and princes
and princes
ham·mə·ḏî·nō·wṯ
of the provinces .
of the provinces .
And for a full 180 days he displayed the glorious riches of his kingdom and the magnificent splendor of his greatness.
rab·bîm
And for a full
And for a full
šə·mō·w·nîm
180
180
ū·mə·’aṯ
. . .
. . .
yō·wm
. . .
. . .
yā·mîm
days
days
bə·har·’ō·ṯōw
he displayed
he displayed
’eṯ-
-
-
kə·ḇō·wḏ
the glorious
the glorious
‘ō·šer
riches
riches
mal·ḵū·ṯōw
of his kingdom
of his kingdom
wə·’eṯ-
and
and
tip̄·’e·reṯ
the magnificent
the magnificent
yə·qār
splendor
splendor
gə·ḏūl·lā·ṯōw
of his greatness .
of his greatness .
At the end of this time, in the garden court of the royal palace, the king held a seven-day feast for all the people in the citadel of Susa, from the least to the greatest.
ū·ḇim·lō·wṯ
At the end
At the end
hā·’êl·leh
of this
of this
hay·yā·mîm
time ,
time ,
gin·naṯ
in the garden
in the garden
ba·ḥă·ṣar
court
court
ham·me·leḵ
of the royal
of the royal
bî·ṯan
palace ,
palace ,
ham·me·leḵ
the king
the king
‘ā·śāh
held
held
šiḇ·‘aṯ
a seven-day
a seven-day
yā·mîm
. . .
. . .
miš·teh
feast
feast
lə·ḵāl
for all
for all
hā·‘ām
the people
the people
han·nim·ṣə·’îm
-
-
hab·bî·rāh
in the citadel
in the citadel
bə·šū·šan
of Susa ,
of Susa ,
qā·ṭān
from the least
from the least
wə·‘aḏ-
to
to
lə·mig·gā·ḏō·wl
the greatest .
the greatest .
Hangings of white and blue linen were fastened with cords of fine white and purple material to silver rings on the marble pillars. Gold and silver couches were arranged on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other costly stones.
ḥūr
[Hangings of] white
[Hangings of] white
ū·ṯə·ḵê·leṯ
and blue
and blue
kar·pas
linen
linen
’ā·ḥūz
were fastened
were fastened
bə·ḥaḇ·lê-
with cords
with cords
ḇūṣ
of fine white
of fine white
wə·’ar·gā·mān
and purple [material]
and purple [material]
‘al-
to
to
ḵe·sep̄
silver
silver
gə·lî·lê
rings
rings
šêš
on the marble
on the marble
wə·‘am·mū·ḏê
pillars .
pillars .
zā·hāḇ
Gold
Gold
wā·ḵe·sep̄
and silver
and silver
miṭ·ṭō·wṯ
couches
couches
‘al
were arranged
were arranged
riṣ·p̄aṯ
on a mosaic pavement
on a mosaic pavement
ba·haṭ-
of porphyry ,
of porphyry ,
wā·šêš
marble ,
marble ,
wə·ḏar
mother-of-pearl ,
mother-of-pearl ,
wə·sō·ḥā·reṯ
and other costly stones .
and other costly stones .
Beverages were served in an array of goblets of gold, each with a different design, and the royal wine flowed freely, according to the king’s bounty.
wə·haš·qō·wṯ
Beverages were served
Beverages were served
biḵ·lê
in an array of goblets
in an array of goblets
zā·hāḇ
of gold ,
of gold ,
wə·ḵê·lîm
each
each
mik·kê·lîm
. . .
. . .
šō·w·nîm
with a different design ,
with a different design ,
mal·ḵūṯ
and the royal
and the royal
wə·yên
wine
wine
rāḇ
flowed freely ,
flowed freely ,
ham·me·leḵ
according to the king’s
according to the king’s
kə·yaḏ
bounty .
bounty .
By order of the king, no limit was placed on the drinking, and every official of his household was to serve each man whatever he desired.
ḵad·dāṯ
By
By
yis·saḏ
order
order
ham·me·leḵ
of the king ,
of the king ,
’ên
no
no
’ō·nês
limit was placed
limit was placed
kî-
ḵên
wə·haš·šə·ṯî·yāh
on the drinking ,
on the drinking ,
‘al
. . .
. . .
kāl-
and every
and every
raḇ
official
official
bê·ṯōw
of his household
of his household
la·‘ă·śō·wṯ
was to serve
was to serve
’îš-
each
each
wā·’îš
man
man
kir·ṣō·wn
whatever he desired .
whatever he desired .
Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.
ham·mal·kāh
Queen
Queen
waš·tî
Vashti
Vashti
gam
also
also
‘ā·śə·ṯāh
gave
gave
miš·têh
a banquet
a banquet
nā·šîm
for the women
for the women
ham·mal·ḵūṯ
in the royal
in the royal
bêṯ
palace
palace
’ă·šer
-
-
lam·me·leḵ
of King
of King
’ă·ḥaš·wê·rō·wōš
Xerxes .
Xerxes .
On the seventh day, when the king’s heart was merry with wine, he ordered the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas—
haš·šə·ḇî·‘î
On the seventh
On the seventh
bay·yō·wm
day ,
day ,
ham·me·leḵ
when the king’s
when the king’s
lêḇ-
heart
heart
kə·ṭō·wḇ
was merry
was merry
bay·yā·yin
with wine ,
with wine ,
’ā·mar
he ordered
he ordered
šiḇ·‘aṯ
the seven
the seven
has·sā·rî·sîm
eunuchs
eunuchs
ham·šā·rə·ṯîm
who served
who served
’eṯ-
. . .
. . .
pə·nê
. . .
. . .
ham·me·leḵ
. . .
. . .
’ă·ḥaš·wê·rō·wōš
him —
him —
lim·hū·mān
Mehuman ,
Mehuman ,
biz·zə·ṯā
Biztha ,
Biztha ,
ḥar·ḇō·w·nā
Harbona ,
Harbona ,
biḡ·ṯā
Bigtha ,
Bigtha ,
wa·’ă·ḇaḡ·ṯā
Abagtha ,
Abagtha ,
zê·ṯar
Zethar ,
Zethar ,
wə·ḵar·kas
and Carkas —
and Carkas —
to bring Queen Vashti before him, wearing her royal crown, to display her beauty to the people and officials. For she was beautiful to behold.
lə·hā·ḇî
to bring
to bring
’eṯ-
-
-
ham·mal·kāh
Queen
Queen
waš·tî
Vashti
Vashti
lip̄·nê
before
before
ham·me·leḵ
him ,
him ,
mal·ḵūṯ
[wearing] her royal
[wearing] her royal
bə·ḵe·ṯer
crown ,
crown ,
lə·har·’ō·wṯ
to display
to display
yā·p̄ə·yāh
her beauty
her beauty
hā·‘am·mîm
to the people
to the people
wə·haś·śā·rîm
and officials .
and officials .
’eṯ-
-
-
kî-
For
For
hî
she [was]
she [was]
ṭō·w·ḇaṯ
beautiful
beautiful
mar·’eh
to behold .
to behold .
Queen Vashti, however, refused to come at the king’s command brought by his eunuchs. And the king became furious, and his anger burned within him.
ham·mal·kāh
Queen
Queen
waš·tî
Vashti, however ,
Vashti, however ,
wat·tə·mā·’ên
refused
refused
lā·ḇō·w
to come
to come
ham·me·leḵ
at the king’s
at the king’s
biḏ·ḇar
command
command
’ă·šer
-
-
bə·yaḏ
[brought] by
[brought] by
has·sā·rî·sîm
[his] eunuchs .
[his] eunuchs .
ham·me·leḵ
And the king
And the king
way·yiq·ṣōp̄
became furious
became furious
mə·’ōḏ
. . . ,
. . . ,
wa·ḥă·mā·ṯōw
and his anger
and his anger
bā·‘ă·rāh
burned
burned
ḇōw
within him .
within him .
Then the king consulted the wise men who knew the times, for it was customary for him to confer with the experts in law and justice.
ham·me·leḵ
Then the king
Then the king
way·yō·mer
consulted
consulted
la·ḥă·ḵā·mîm
the wise men
the wise men
yō·ḏə·‘ê
who knew
who knew
hā·‘it·tîm
the times ,
the times ,
kî-
for it was
for it was
ḵên
customary
customary
ham·me·leḵ
for him
for him
də·ḇar
to confer
to confer
lip̄·nê
with
with
kāl-
. . .
. . .
yō·ḏə·‘ê
the experts
the experts
dāṯ
in law
in law
wā·ḏîn
and justice .
and justice .
His closest advisors were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media who had personal access to the king and ranked highest in the kingdom.
wə·haq·qā·rōḇ
His closest advisors [were]
His closest advisors [were]
ʾē·lå̄w
kar·šə·nā
Carshena ,
Carshena ,
šê·ṯār
Shethar ,
Shethar ,
’aḏ·mā·ṯā
Admatha ,
Admatha ,
ṯar·šîš
Tarshish ,
Tarshish ,
me·res
Meres ,
Meres ,
mar·sə·nā
Marsena ,
Marsena ,
mə·mū·ḵān
and Memucan ,
and Memucan ,
šiḇ·‘aṯ
the seven
the seven
śā·rê
princes
princes
pā·ras
of Persia
of Persia
ū·mā·ḏay
and Media
and Media
rō·’ê
who had personal access to
who had personal access to
pə·nê
. . .
. . .
ham·me·leḵ
the king
the king
hay·yō·šə·ḇîm
[and] ranked
[and] ranked
ri·šō·nāh
highest
highest
bam·mal·ḵūṯ
in the kingdom .
in the kingdom .
“According to law,” he asked, “what should be done with Queen Vashti, since she refused to obey the command of King Xerxes delivered by the eunuchs?”
kə·ḏāṯ
“ According to law , ”
“ According to law , ”
mah-
he asked, “what
he asked, “what
la·‘ă·śō·wṯ
should be done
should be done
bam·mal·kāh
with Queen
with Queen
waš·tî
Vashti ,
Vashti ,
‘al
since
since
’ă·šer
-
-
lō-
she refused to obey
she refused to obey
‘ā·śə·ṯāh
. . .
. . .
’eṯ-
-
-
ma·’ă·mar
the command
the command
ham·me·leḵ
of King
of King
’ă·ḥaš·wê·rō·wōš
Xerxes
Xerxes
bə·yaḏ
delivered by
delivered by
has·sā·rî·sîm
the eunuchs ? ”
the eunuchs ? ”
And in the presence of the king and his princes, Memucan replied, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king, but all the princes and the peoples in all the provinces of King Xerxes.
lip̄·nê
And in the presence
And in the presence
ham·me·leḵ
of the king
of the king
wə·haś·śā·rîm
and his princes ,
and his princes ,
mū·mə·ḵå̄n
Memucan
Memucan
way·yō·mer
replied ,
replied ,
ham·mal·kāh
“ Queen
“ Queen
waš·tî
Vashti
Vashti
‘ā·wə·ṯāh
has wronged
has wronged
lō
not
not
‘al-
. . .
. . .
lə·ḇad·dōw
only
only
ham·me·leḵ
the king ,
the king ,
kî
but
but
‘al-
. . .
. . .
kāl-
all
all
haś·śā·rîm
the princes
the princes
wə·‘al-
. . .
. . .
hā·‘am·mîm
and the peoples
and the peoples
’ă·šer
-
-
bə·ḵāl
-
-
kāl-
in all
in all
mə·ḏî·nō·wṯ
the provinces
the provinces
ham·me·leḵ
of King
of King
’ă·ḥaš·wê·rō·wōš
Xerxes .
Xerxes .
For the conduct of the queen will become known to all women, causing them to despise their husbands and say, ‘King Xerxes ordered Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she did not come.’
yê·ṣê
will become known
will become known
‘al-
to
to
kāl-
all
all
han·nā·šîm
women ,
women ,
lə·haḇ·zō·wṯ
causing them to despise
causing them to despise
bə·‘ê·nê·hen
. . .
. . .
ba‘·lê·hen
their husbands
their husbands
bə·’ā·mə·rām
and say ,
and say ,
ham·me·leḵ
‘ King
‘ King
’ă·ḥaš·wê·rō·wōš
Xerxes
Xerxes
’ā·mar
ordered
ordered
ham·mal·kāh
Queen
Queen
waš·tî
Vashti
Vashti
lə·hā·ḇî
to be brought
to be brought
’eṯ-
-
-
lə·p̄ā·nāw
before him ,
before him ,
wə·lō-
but she did not
but she did not
ḇā·’āh
come . ’
come . ’
kî-
For
For
ḏə·ḇar-
the conduct
the conduct
ham·mal·kāh
of the queen
of the queen
This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard about the queen’s conduct will say the same thing to all the king’s officials, resulting in much contempt and wrath.
haz·zeh
This
This
wə·hay·yō·wm
very day
very day
śā·rō·wṯ
the noble women
the noble women
pā·ras-
of Persia
of Persia
ū·mā·ḏay
and Media
and Media
’ă·šer
who
who
šā·mə·‘ū
have heard
have heard
’eṯ-
about
about
ham·mal·kāh
the queen’s
the queen’s
də·ḇar
conduct
conduct
tō·mar·nāh
will say
will say
lə·ḵōl
the same thing to all
the same thing to all
ham·me·leḵ
the king’s
the king’s
śā·rê
officials ,
officials ,
ū·ḵə·ḏay
resulting in much
resulting in much
biz·zā·yō·wn
contempt
contempt
wā·qā·ṣep̄
and wrath .
and wrath .
So if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree, and let it be recorded in the laws of Persia and Media so that it cannot be repealed, that Vashti shall never again enter the presence of King Xerxes, and that her royal position shall be given to a woman better than she.
’im-
So if
So if
‘al-
. . .
. . .
ṭō·wḇ
it pleases
it pleases
ham·me·leḵ
the king
the king
mil·lə·p̄ā·nāw
. . . ,
. . . ,
yê·ṣê
let him issue
let him issue
mal·ḵūṯ
a royal
a royal
ḏə·ḇar-
decree ,
decree ,
wə·yik·kā·ṯêḇ
and let it be recorded
and let it be recorded
bə·ḏā·ṯê
in the laws
in the laws
p̄ā·ras-
of Persia
of Persia
ū·mā·ḏay
and Media
and Media
wə·lō
so that it cannot
so that it cannot
ya·‘ă·ḇō·wr
be repealed ,
be repealed ,
’ă·šer
that
that
waš·tî
Vashti
Vashti
lō-
shall never again
shall never again
ṯā·ḇō·w
enter
enter
lip̄·nê
the presence
the presence
ham·me·leḵ
of King
of King
’ă·ḥaš·wê·rō·wōš
Xerxes ,
Xerxes ,
ū·mal·ḵū·ṯāh
and that her royal position
and that her royal position
yit·tên
shall be given
shall be given
ham·me·leḵ
. . .
. . .
lir·‘ū·ṯāh
to a woman
to a woman
haṭ·ṭō·w·ḇāh
better
better
mim·men·nāh
than she .
than she .
The edict the king issues will be heard throughout his vast kingdom—and so all women, from the least to the greatest, will honor their husbands.”
piṯ·ḡām
The edict
The edict
ham·me·leḵ
the king
the king
’ă·šer-
-
-
ya·‘ă·śeh
issues
issues
wə·niš·ma‘
will be heard
will be heard
bə·ḵāl
throughout
throughout
rab·bāh
his vast
his vast
hî
. . .
. . .
mal·ḵū·ṯōw
kingdom —
kingdom —
kî
and so
and so
wə·ḵāl
all
all
han·nā·šîm
women ,
women ,
qā·ṭān
from the least
from the least
wə·‘aḏ-
to
to
lə·mig·gā·ḏō·wl
the greatest ,
the greatest ,
yit·tə·nū
will honor
will honor
yə·qār
. . .
. . .
lə·ḇa‘·lê·hen
their husbands . ”
their husbands . ”
The king and his princes were pleased with this counsel; so the king did as Memucan advised.
ham·me·leḵ
The king
The king
wə·haś·śā·rîm
and his princes
and his princes
way·yî·ṭaḇ
were pleased
were pleased
bə·‘ê·nê
. . .
. . .
had·dā·ḇār
with this counsel ;
with this counsel ;
ham·me·leḵ
so the king
so the king
way·ya·‘aś
did
did
mə·mū·ḵān
as Memucan
as Memucan
kiḏ·ḇar
had advised .
had advised .
He sent letters to all the provinces of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language, proclaiming that every man should be master of his own household.
way·yiš·laḥ
He sent
He sent
sə·p̄ā·rîm
letters
letters
’el-
to
to
kāl-
all
all
mə·ḏî·nō·wṯ
the provinces
the provinces
ham·me·leḵ
of the kingdom ,
of the kingdom ,
’el-
to
to
mə·ḏî·nāh
each province
each province
ū·mə·ḏî·nāh
. . .
. . .
kiḵ·ṯā·ḇāh
in its own script
in its own script
wə·’el-
and to
and to
‘am
each people
each people
wā·‘ām
. . .
. . .
kil·šō·w·nōw
in their own language ,
in their own language ,
ū·mə·ḏab·bêr
proclaiming
proclaiming
kil·šō·wn
-
-
‘am·mōw
-
-
kāl-
that every
that every
’îš
man
man
lih·yō·wṯ
should be
should be
śō·rêr
master
master
bə·ḇê·ṯōw
of his own household .
of his own household .