King James Version

What Does Esther 1:19 Mean?

Esther 1:19 in the King James Version says “If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians a... — study this verse from Esther chapter 1 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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. If it: Heb. If it be good with the king unto: Heb. unto her companion from him: Heb. from before him be not: Heb. pass not away

Esther 1:19 · KJV


Context

17

For 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.

18

Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king's princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath.

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. If it: Heb. If it be good with the king unto: Heb. unto her companion from him: Heb. from before him be not: Heb. pass not away

20

And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small.

21

And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan: pleased: Heb. was good in the eyes of the king


Commentary

KJV Study 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.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural 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.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does law's immutability create both order and injustice, and what does this teach about legalistic systems?
  2. What does God's use of Vashti's unjust punishment to position Esther teach about His comprehensive sovereignty?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 27 words
אִם1 of 27
H518

used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not

עַל2 of 27
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ3 of 27

and let the king

H4428

a king

ט֗וֹב4 of 27

If it please

H2895

to be (transitively, do or make) good (or well) in the widest sense

יֵצֵ֤א5 of 27

let there go

H3318

to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim

דְבַר6 of 27

commandment

H1697

a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause

וּמַלְכוּתָהּ֙7 of 27

a royal

H4438

a rule; concretely, a dominion

לִפְנֵי֙8 of 27

from him

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

וְיִכָּתֵ֛ב9 of 27

and let it be written

H3789

to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe)

בְּדָתֵ֥י10 of 27

among the laws

H1881

a royal edict or statute

פָֽרַס11 of 27

of the Persians

H6539

paras (i.e., persia), an eastern country, including its inhabitants

וּמָדַ֖י12 of 27

and the Medes

H4074

madai, a country of central asia

וְלֹ֣א13 of 27
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

יַֽעֲב֑וֹר14 of 27

that it be not altered

H5674

to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in

אֲשֶׁ֨ר15 of 27
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

לֹֽא16 of 27
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

תָב֜וֹא17 of 27

come

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

וַשְׁתִּ֗י18 of 27

That Vashti

H2060

vashti, the queen of xerxes

לִפְנֵי֙19 of 27

from him

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ20 of 27

and let the king

H4428

a king

אֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ21 of 27

Ahasuerus

H325

achashverosh (i.e., ahasuerus or artaxerxes, but in this case xerxes), the title (rather than name) of a persian king

וּמַלְכוּתָהּ֙22 of 27

a royal

H4438

a rule; concretely, a dominion

יִתֵּ֣ן23 of 27

give

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ24 of 27

and let the king

H4428

a king

לִרְעוּתָ֖הּ25 of 27

unto another

H7468

a female associate; generally an additional one

הַטּוֹבָ֥ה26 of 27

that is better

H2896

good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good

מִמֶּֽנָּה׃27 of 27
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Esther. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Esther 1:19 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Esther 1:19 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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