Esther 1:13 web — Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times, (for it was the king's custom to consult those who knew law and…

World English Bible

"Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times, (for it was the king's custom to consult those who knew law and judgment;"

— Esther 1:13, World English Bible

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Esther 1:13 in Other Translations

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Esther 1 — Context

10

On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcass, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,

11

to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the royal crown, to show the people and the princes her beauty; for she was beautiful.

12

But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by the eunuchs. Therefore the king was very angry, and his anger burned in him.

13

Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times, (for it was the king's custom to consult those who knew law and judgment;

14

and the next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king's face, and sat first in the kingdom),

15

"What shall we do to the queen Vashti according to law, because she has not done the bidding of the King Ahasuerus by the eunuchs?"

16

Memucan answered before the king and the princes, "Vashti the queen has not done wrong to just the king, but also to all the princes, and to all the people who are in all the provinces of the King Ahasuerus.

Esther 1:13 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Esther 1:13 say?
Esther 1:13 in the World English Bible reads: “Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times, (for it was the king's custom to consult those who knew law and judgment;”
Where is Esther 1:13 in the Bible?
Esther 1:13 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Esther, chapter 1, verse 13.
Who wrote Esther?
Esther is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Mordecai). It was written c. 460–400 BC.
What is the book of Esther about?
Esther tells how a Jewish orphan becomes queen of Persia and risks her life to save her people from genocide. Though God's name is never mentioned, his unseen providence is woven through every reversal — and the Jewish festival of Purim still celebrates the deliverance.
What are the major themes of Esther?
Esther explores themes including Providence, Courage, Deliverance, Identity, Reversal. These themes shape the meaning and context of Esther 1:13.
What translation should I read Esther 1:13 in?
Esther 1:13 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Esther 1:13?
Esther 1:13 reads (WEB): “Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times, (for it was the king's custom to consult those who knew law and judgment;” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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