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Esther 1

Hebrew22 verses
How to read this: this is a word-for-word rendering straight from the original Hebrew, not a copyrighted translation — the top of each chip is the original word, the bottom is its plain-English sense. Faded chips mark words the Hebrew implies but wouldn't literally be spoken in English. Click any word for its full Strong's dictionary entry.
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1
וַיְהִ֖יand it wasבִּימֵ֣יin the days ofאֲחַשְׁוֵר֑וֹשׁAhasuerusה֣וּאthatאֲחַשְׁוֵר֗וֹשׁAhasuerusהַמֹּלֵךְ֙who reignedמֵהֹ֣דּוּfrom Indiaוְעַד־and toכּ֔וּשׁCushשֶׁ֛בַעsevenוְעֶשְׂרִ֥יםand twentyוּמֵאָ֖הand one hundredמְדִינָֽה׃provinces
2
בַּיָּמִ֖יםin the daysהָהֵ֑םthe thoseכְּשֶׁ֣בֶת׀when satהַמֶּ֣לֶךְthe kingאֲחַשְׁוֵר֗וֹשׁAhasuerusעַ֚לonכִּסֵּ֣אthe throne ofמַלְכוּת֔וֹroyalty hisאֲשֶׁ֖רwhichבְּשׁוּשַׁ֥ןwas in Susaהַבִּירָֽה׃the citadel
3
בִּשְׁנַ֤תin yearשָׁלוֹשׁ֙threeלְמָלְכ֔וֹof reigning hisעָשָׂ֣הhe madeמִשְׁתֶּ֔הa feastלְכָל־for allשָׂרָ֖יוofficials hisוַעֲבָדָ֑יוand servants hisחֵ֣יל׀the army ofפָּרַ֣סPersiaוּמָדַ֗יand Mediaהַֽפַּרְתְּמִ֛יםthe noblesוְשָׂרֵ֥יand the officials ofהַמְּדִינ֖וֹתthe provincesלְפָנָֽיו׃were to before him
4
בְּהַרְאֹת֗וֹwhen showed heאֶת־obj.עֹ֙שֶׁר֙the wealth ofכְּב֣וֹדthe splendor ofמַלְכוּת֔וֹkingdom hisוְאֶ֨ת־and obj.יְקָ֔רthe honor ofתִּפְאֶ֖רֶתthe glory ofגְּדוּלָּת֑וֹgreatness hisיָמִ֣יםdaysרַבִּ֔יםmanyשְׁמוֹנִ֥יםeightyוּמְאַ֖תand one hundredיֽוֹם׃days
5
וּבִמְל֣וֹאת׀and when were completedהַיָּמִ֣יםthe daysהָאֵ֗לֶּהthe theseעָשָׂ֣הhe madeהַמֶּ֡לֶךְthe kingלְכָל־for allהָעָ֣םthe peopleהַנִּמְצְאִים֩who were foundבְּשׁוּשַׁ֨ןin Susaהַבִּירָ֜הthe citadelלְמִגָּ֧דוֹלto from greatוְעַד־and untoקָטָ֛ןinsignificantמִשְׁתֶּ֖הa feastשִׁבְעַ֣תsevenיָמִ֑יםdaysבַּחֲצַ֕רin the court ofגִּנַּ֥תthe garden ofבִּיתַ֖ןthe palace ofהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃the king
6
ח֣וּר׀white materialכַּרְפַּ֣סcottonוּתְכֵ֗לֶתand violet materialאָחוּז֙was heldבְּחַבְלֵי־with cords ofב֣וּץfine linenוְאַרְגָּמָ֔ןand purpleעַל־onגְּלִ֥ילֵיrods ofכֶ֖סֶףsilverוְעַמּ֣וּדֵיand pillars ofשֵׁ֑שׁmarbleמִטּ֣וֹת׀couches ofזָהָ֣בgoldוָכֶ֗סֶףand silverעַ֛לonרִֽצְפַ֥תa pavement ofבַּהַט־porphyryוָשֵׁ֖שׁand marbleוְדַ֥רand mother-of-pearlוְסֹחָֽרֶת׃and paving stone
7
וְהַשְׁקוֹת֙and they gave to drinkבִּכְלֵ֣יin vessels ofזָהָ֔בgoldוְכֵלִ֖יםand vesselsמִכֵּלִ֣יםfrom vesselsשׁוֹנִ֑יםwere differingוְיֵ֥יןand wine ofמַלְכ֛וּתroyaltyרָ֖בwas muchכְּיַ֥דaccording to the hand ofהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃the king
8
וְהַשְּׁתִיָּ֥הand the drinkingכַדָּ֖תwas according to the lawאֵ֣יןthere notאֹנֵ֑סwas one who compelledכִּי־forכֵ֣ן׀thusיִסַּ֣דhe had appointedהַמֶּ֗לֶךְthe kingעַ֚לonכָּל־everyרַ֣בthe chief ofבֵּית֔וֹhouse hisלַעֲשׂ֖וֹתto doכִּרְצ֥וֹןaccording to the pleasure ofאִישׁ־manוָאִֽישׁ׃and man
9
גַּ֚םalsoוַשְׁתִּ֣יVashtiהַמַּלְכָּ֔הthe queenעָשְׂתָ֖הshe madeמִשְׁתֵּ֣הa feast ofנָשִׁ֑יםwomenבֵּ֚יתthe house ofהַמַּלְכ֔וּתthe royaltyאֲשֶׁ֖רwhichלַמֶּ֥לֶךְbelonged to the kingאֲחַשְׁוֵרֽוֹשׁ׃ סAhasuerus
10
בַּיּוֹם֙on the dayהַשְּׁבִיעִ֔יthe seventhכְּט֥וֹבwhen was goodלֵב־the heart ofהַמֶּ֖לֶךְthe kingבַּיָּ֑יִןby the wineאָמַ֡רhe saidלִ֠מְהוּמָןto Mehumanבִּזְּתָ֨אBizthaחַרְבוֹנָ֜אHarbonaבִּגְתָ֤אBigthaוַאֲבַגְתָא֙and Abagthaזֵתַ֣רZetharוְכַרְכַּ֔סand Carcasשִׁבְעַת֙the sevenהַסָּ֣רִיסִ֔יםthe eunuchsהַמְשָׁ֣רְתִ֔יםwho servedאֶת־withפְּנֵ֖יthe face ofהַמֶּ֥לֶךְthe kingאֲחַשְׁוֵרֽוֹשׁ׃Ahasuerus
11
לְ֠הָבִיאto bringאֶת־obj.וַשְׁתִּ֧יVashtiהַמַּלְכָּ֛הthe queenלִפְנֵ֥יto beforeהַמֶּ֖לֶךְthe kingבְּכֶ֣תֶרwith a crown ofמַלְכ֑וּתroyaltyלְהַרְא֨וֹתto showהָֽעַמִּ֤יםthe peoplesוְהַשָּׂרִים֙and the officialsאֶת־obj.יָפְיָ֔הּbeauty herכִּֽי־forטוֹבַ֥תwas good ofמַרְאֶ֖הappearanceהִֽיא׃she
12
וַתְּמָאֵ֞ןand she refusedהַמַּלְכָּ֣הthe queenוַשְׁתִּ֗יVashtiלָבוֹא֙to comeבִּדְבַ֣רat the word ofהַמֶּ֔לֶךְthe kingאֲשֶׁ֖רwhichבְּיַ֣דwas by the hand ofהַסָּרִיסִ֑יםthe eunuchsוַיִּקְצֹ֤ףand he was angryהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙the kingמְאֹ֔דexceedinglyוַחֲמָת֖וֹand rage hisבָּעֲרָ֥הit burnedבֽוֹ׃in the him
13
וַיֹּ֣אמֶרand he saidהַמֶּ֔לֶךְthe kingלַחֲכָמִ֖יםto the wise menיֹדְעֵ֣יwho knewהָֽעִתִּ֑יםof the timesכִּי־forכֵן֙was thusדְּבַ֣רthe manner ofהַמֶּ֔לֶךְthe kingלִפְנֵ֕יto beforeכָּל־allיֹדְעֵ֖יthose who knewדָּ֥תof lawוָדִֽין׃and judgment
14
וְהַקָּרֹ֣בand the ones closeאֵלָ֗יוto himכַּרְשְׁנָ֤אwere Carshenaשֵׁתָר֙Shetharאַדְמָ֣תָאAdmathaתַרְשִׁ֔ישׁTarshishמֶ֥רֶסMeresמַרְסְנָ֖אMarsenaמְמוּכָ֑ןMemucanשִׁבְעַ֞תthe sevenשָׂרֵ֣י׀the officials ofפָּרַ֣סPersiaוּמָדַ֗יand Mediaרֹאֵי֙who sawפְּנֵ֣יof the face ofהַמֶּ֔לֶךְthe kingהַיֹּשְׁבִ֥יםwho satרִאשֹׁנָ֖הforemostבַּמַּלְכֽוּת׃in the kingdom
15
כְּדָת֙according to the lawמַֽה־what?לַּעֲשׂ֔וֹתis to doבַּמַּלְכָּ֖הwith the queenוַשְׁתִּ֑יVashtiעַ֣ל׀onאֲשֶׁ֣רthatלֹֽא־notעָשְׂתָ֗הshe didאֶֽת־obj.מַאֲמַר֙the command ofהַמֶּ֣לֶךְthe kingאֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁAhasuerusבְּיַ֖דby the hand ofהַסָּרִיסִֽים׃ סthe eunuchs
16
וַיֹּ֣אמֶרand he saidמְמוּכָ֗ןMemucanלִפְנֵ֤יto beforeהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙the kingוְהַשָּׂרִ֔יםand the officialsלֹ֤אnotעַל־onהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙the kingלְבַדּ֔וֹto only himעָוְתָ֖הshe did wrongוַשְׁתִּ֣יVashtiהַמַּלְכָּ֑הthe queenכִּ֤יforעַל־onכָּל־allהַשָּׂרִים֙the officialsוְעַל־and onכָּל־allהָ֣עַמִּ֔יםthe peoplesאֲשֶׁ֕רwhichבְּכָל־are in allמְדִינ֖וֹתthe provinces ofהַמֶּ֥לֶךְthe kingאֲחַשְׁוֵרֽוֹשׁ׃Ahasuerus
17
כִּֽי־forיֵצֵ֤אit will go forthדְבַר־the matter ofהַמַּלְכָּה֙the queenעַל־toכָּל־allהַנָּשִׁ֔יםthe womenלְהַבְז֥וֹתto make despicableבַּעְלֵיהֶ֖ןhusbands theirבְּעֵינֵיהֶ֑ןin view theirבְּאָמְרָ֗םbecause will say theyהַמֶּ֣לֶךְthe kingאֲחַשְׁוֵר֡וֹשׁAhasuerusאָמַ֞רhe saidלְהָבִ֨יאto bringאֶת־obj.וַשְׁתִּ֧יVashtiהַמַּלְכָּ֛הthe queenלְפָנָ֖יוto before himוְלֹא־and notבָֽאָה׃she came
18
וְֽהַיּ֨וֹםand the dayהַזֶּ֜הthe thisתֹּאמַ֣רְנָה׀they will sayשָׂר֣וֹתthe noble ladies ofפָּֽרַס־Persiaוּמָדַ֗יand Mediaאֲשֶׁ֤רwhoשָֽׁמְעוּ֙they have heardאֶת־obj.דְּבַ֣רthe matter ofהַמַּלְכָּ֔הthe queenלְכֹ֖לto allשָׂרֵ֣יthe officials ofהַמֶּ֑לֶךְthe kingוּכְדַ֖יand will be as enough ofבִּזָּי֥וֹןcontemptוָקָֽצֶף׃and anger
19
אִם־ifעַל־is onהַמֶּ֣לֶךְthe kingט֗וֹבgoodיֵצֵ֤אlet it go forthדְבַר־a word ofמַלְכוּת֙royaltyמִלְּפָנָ֔יוfrom to before himוְיִכָּתֵ֛בand let it be writtenבְּדָתֵ֥יin the laws ofפָֽרַס־Persiaוּמָדַ֖יand Mediaוְלֹ֣אand notיַעֲב֑וֹרit will pass awayאֲשֶׁ֨רthatלֹֽא־notתָב֜וֹאshe will comeוַשְׁתִּ֗יVashtiלִפְנֵי֙to beforeהַמֶּ֣לֶךְthe kingאֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁAhasuerusוּמַלְכוּתָהּ֙and queenhood herיִתֵּ֣ןlet him giveהַמֶּ֔לֶךְthe kingלִרְעוּתָ֖הּto fellow woman herהַטּוֹבָ֥הthe goodמִמֶּֽנָּה׃more than she
20
וְנִשְׁמַע֩and it will be heardפִּתְגָ֨םthe decree ofהַמֶּ֤לֶךְthe kingאֲשֶֽׁר־whichיַעֲשֶׂה֙he will makeבְּכָל־in allמַלְכוּת֔וֹkingdom hisכִּ֥יforרַבָּ֖הis greatהִ֑יאitוְכָל־and allהַנָּשִׁ֗יםthe womenיִתְּנ֤וּthey will giveיְקָר֙honorלְבַעְלֵיהֶ֔ןto husbands theirלְמִגָּד֖וֹלto from greatוְעַד־and untoקָטָֽן׃insignificant
21
וַיִּיטַב֙and it was goodהַדָּבָ֔רthe wordבְּעֵינֵ֥יin the eyes ofהַמֶּ֖לֶךְthe kingוְהַשָּׂרִ֑יםand the officialsוַיַּ֥עַשׂand he didהַמֶּ֖לֶךְthe kingכִּדְבַ֥רaccording to the word ofמְמוּכָֽן׃Memucan
22
וַיִּשְׁלַ֤חand he sent outסְפָרִים֙documentsאֶל־toכָּל־allמְדִינ֣וֹתthe provinces ofהַמֶּ֔לֶךְthe kingאֶל־toמְדִינָ֤הprovinceוּמְדִינָה֙and provinceכִּכְתָבָ֔הּaccording to writing itsוְאֶל־and toעַ֥םpeopleוָעָ֖םand peopleכִּלְשׁוֹנ֑וֹaccording to language itsלִהְי֤וֹתto beכָּל־everyאִישׁ֙manשֹׂרֵ֣רrulerבְּבֵית֔וֹin own household hisוּמְדַבֵּ֖רand speakingכִּלְשׁ֥וֹןaccording to the language ofעַמּֽוֹ׃ פpeople his

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