Esther 1:19
If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.
Original Language Analysis
אִם
H518
אִם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
1 of 27
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
2 of 27
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
ט֗וֹב
If it please
H2895
ט֗וֹב
If it please
Strong's:
H2895
Word #:
4 of 27
to be (transitively, do or make) good (or well) in the widest sense
יֵצֵ֤א
let there go
H3318
יֵצֵ֤א
let there go
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
5 of 27
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
דְבַר
commandment
H1697
דְבַר
commandment
Strong's:
H1697
Word #:
6 of 27
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
לִפְנֵי֙
from him
H6440
לִפְנֵי֙
from him
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
8 of 27
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
וְיִכָּתֵ֛ב
and let it be written
H3789
וְיִכָּתֵ֛ב
and let it be written
Strong's:
H3789
Word #:
9 of 27
to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe)
פָֽרַס
of the Persians
H6539
פָֽרַס
of the Persians
Strong's:
H6539
Word #:
11 of 27
paras (i.e., persia), an eastern country, including its inhabitants
וְלֹ֣א
H3808
וְלֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
13 of 27
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יַֽעֲב֑וֹר
that it be not altered
H5674
יַֽעֲב֑וֹר
that it be not altered
Strong's:
H5674
Word #:
14 of 27
to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
15 of 27
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
לֹֽא
H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
16 of 27
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
לִפְנֵי֙
from him
H6440
לִפְנֵי֙
from him
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
19 of 27
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
אֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ
Ahasuerus
H325
אֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ
Ahasuerus
Strong's:
H325
Word #:
21 of 27
achashverosh (i.e., ahasuerus or artaxerxes, but in this case xerxes), the title (rather than name) of a persian king
יִתֵּ֣ן
give
H5414
יִתֵּ֣ן
give
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
23 of 27
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
לִרְעוּתָ֖הּ
unto another
H7468
לִרְעוּתָ֖הּ
unto another
Strong's:
H7468
Word #:
25 of 27
a female associate; generally an additional one
Cross References
Esther 8:8Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.1 Samuel 15:28And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou.Esther 8:5And said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king's provinces:1 Kings 3:28And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.Daniel 6:17And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.Esther 3:9If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries.
Historical Context
Persian legal immutability created both stability and inflexibility. Once laws were officially decreed and sealed, not even the king could change them—creating problems when circumstances changed (as Esther 8 demonstrates when Haman's decree couldn't be revoked). Memucan's proposal made Vashti's banishment permanent and created legal mandate for finding new queen. The phrase 'better than she' might mean more beautiful or more obedient—either way, it justified replacement and intensified humiliation. This unjust sentence against Vashti for maintaining dignity became the providential mechanism bringing Esther to the throne.
Questions for Reflection
- How does law's immutability create both order and injustice, and what does this teach about legalistic systems?
- What does God's use of Vashti's unjust punishment to position Esther teach about His comprehensive sovereignty?
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Analysis & Commentary
The proposed decree: 'If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she'. Memucan proposes permanent, irrevocable decree banishing Vashti and replacing her with another queen. The phrase 'that it be not altered' reflects Persian law's immutability (Daniel 6:8, 12)—once written into law, even the king couldn't reverse it. The statement that replacement would be 'better than she' added insult to punishment. This harsh, permanent sentence for refusing degrading command demonstrates the injustice, yet God's providence uses it to position Esther.