Esther 1:13

Complete Jewish Bible

As was the king's custom, he consulted sages well-versed in matters of law and justice.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
The king consulted the wise men who understood the times, for it was his normal procedure to confer with experts in law and justice.

Hebrew Names Version
Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times, (for so was the king's manner toward all who knew law and judgment;

King James Version
Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment:

English Standard Version
Then the king said to the wise men who knew the times (for this was the king's procedure toward all who were versed in law and judgment,

New Century Version
It was a custom for the king to ask advice from experts about law and order. So King Xerxes spoke with the wise men who would know the right thing to do.

New English Translation
The king then inquired of the wise men who were discerners of the times—for it was the royal custom to confer with all those who were proficient in laws and legalities.

Amplified Bible
Then the king spoke to the wise men who understood the times [asking for their advice]—for it was the custom of the king to speak before all those who were familiar with law and legal matters—

New American Standard Bible
Then the king said to the wise men who understood the times—for it was the custom of the king to speak this way before all who knew Persian law and justice

World English Bible
Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times, (for so was the king's manner toward all who knew law and judgment;

Geneva Bible (1587)
Then the King said to the wise men, that knew the times (for so was the Kings maner towards all that knew the law and the iudgement:

Legacy Standard Bible
Then the king said to the wise men who knew the times—for it was the custom of the king thus to speak before all who knew law and justice

Berean Standard Bible
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.

Contemporary English Version
The king called in the seven highest officials of Persia and Media. They were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan. These men were very wise and understood all the laws and customs of the country, and the king always asked them what they thought about such matters.

Darby Translation
And the king said to the wise men who knew the times (for so was the king's business [conducted] before all that knew law and judgment;

Easy-to-Read Version
It was the custom for the king to ask the advice of the experts about the law and punishments. So King Xerxes spoke with the wise men who understood the laws. They were very close to the king. Their names were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan. They were the seven most important officials of Persia and Media. They had special privileges to see the king. They were the highest officials in the kingdom.

George Lamsa Translation
Then the king spoke to the wise men who knew the times (for this was the kings custom, he discussed matters in the presence of all who knew law and judgment).

Good News Translation
Now it was the king's custom to ask for expert opinion on questions of law and order, so he called for his advisers, who would know what should be done.

Lexham English Bible
And the king said to the wise men, the ones who know the times—for it was the procedure of the king before all those who knew law and rights;

Literal Translation
And the king said to the wise men who knew the times (for so was the king's manner toward all who knew law and judgment;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And the kynge spake to ye wyse men that had vnderstondinge in the ordinaunces of the londe (for the kinges matters must be hadled before all soch as haue knowlege of the lawe and iudgment:

American Standard Version
Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times (for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment;

Bible in Basic English
And the king said to the wise men, who had knowledge of the times, (for this was the king's way with all who were expert in law and in the giving of decisions:

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And the king spake to the wyse men which knewe the times (for so was the kinges maner towardes all that knewe the lawe and the iudgementes:

JPS Old Testament (1917)
Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times--for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment;

King James Version (1611)
Then the king saide to the wise men, which knew the times (for so was the Kings maner towards all that knew law, and iudgement:

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And he said to his friends, Thus hast Astin spoken: pronounce therefore upon this case law and judgment.

English Revised Version
Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment;

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
whiche bi the `kyngis custom weren euere with hym, and he dide alle thingis bi the counsel of hem, kunnynge the lawis and ritis of grettere men;

Update Bible Version
Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times, (for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment;

Webster's Bible Translation
Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times, (for so [was] the king's manner towards all that knew law and judgment:

New King James Version
Then the king said to the wise men who understood the times (for this was the king's manner toward all who knew law and justice,

New Living Translation
He immediately consulted with his wise advisers, who knew all the Persian laws and customs, for he always asked their advice.

New Life Bible
Then the king spoke to the wise men who understood the times. For it was the king's way to speak with all who knew law and what was right and fair.

New Revised Standard
Then the king consulted the sages who knew the laws (for this was the king's procedure toward all who were versed in law and custom,

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then said the king unto the wise men having knowledge of the times, - for, so, was the manner of the king before all having knowledge of law and judgment;

Douay-Rheims Bible
Asked the wise men, who according to the custom of the kings, were always near his person, and all he did was by their counsel, who knew the laws, and judgments of their forefathers:

Revised Standard Version
Then the king said to the wise men who knew the times--for this was the king's procedure toward all who were versed in law and judgment,

Young's Literal Translation
And the king saith to wise men, knowing the times -- for so [is] the word of the king before all knowing law and judgment,

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then the king said to the wise men who understood the times—for it was the custom of the king so to speak before all who knew law and justice

Contextual Overview

¹⁰ On the seventh day, when the king was in high spirits from the wine, he ordered Mehuman, Bizta, Harvona, Bigta, Avagta, Zetar and Karkas, the seven officers who attended him, ¹¹ to bring Queen Vashti before the king with the royal crown, in order to show the people and the officials her beauty, for she was indeed a good-looking woman. ¹² But Queen Vashti refused to come at the order of the king, which he had sent through his officers. This enraged the king — his anger blazed inside him. ¹³ As was the king's custom, he consulted sages well-versed in matters of law and justice. ¹⁴ With him were Karshna, Shetar, Admata, Tarshish, Meres, Marsna and Memukhan, the seven vice-regents of Persia and Media, who were part of the king's inner circle and were the most important officials in the kingdom. ¹⁵ [The king asked the sages,] "According to the law, what should we do to Queen Vashti, since she didn't obey the order of King Achashverosh conveyed by the officers?" ¹⁶ Memukhan presented the king and vice-regents this answer: "Vashti the queen has wronged not only the king, but also all the officials and all the peoples in all the provinces of King Achashverosh; ¹⁷ because this act of the queen's will become known to all the women, who will then start showing disrespect toward their own husbands; they will say, ‘King Achashverosh ordered Vashti the queen to be brought before him, but she wouldn't come.' ¹⁸ Moreover, the noble ladies of Persia and Media who hear of the queen's conduct will mention it to all the king's officials, which will bring about no end of disrespect and discord. ¹⁹ If it pleases his majesty, let him issue a royal decree — and let it be written as one of the laws of the Persians and Medes, which are irrevocable — that Vashti is never again to be admitted into the presence of King Achashverosh, and that the king give her royal position to someone better than she.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the wise: Jeremiah 10:7, Daniel 2:2, Daniel 2:12, Daniel 2:27, Daniel 4:6, Daniel 4:7, Daniel 5:7, Matthew 2:1

knew: 1 Chronicles 12:32, Matthew 16:3

Reciprocal: Daniel 2:21 - he changeth

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then the king said to the wise men that knew the times,.... Astrologers, as Aben Ezra, that knew the fit time for doing anything; or that had knowledge of ancient times, historians, well read in history, and knew things that had happened similar to this:

for so was the king's manner towards all that knew law and judgment; it was customary with him in any case of difficulty to have the opinion and advice of those that were expert in the law, and well understood right and wrong. These are called by Herodotus t the king's judges.

t Thalia, sive, l. 3. c. 14, 31. so in Aelian. Var. Hist. l. 1. c. 34.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Wise men ... - Not “astrologers,” who were unknown in Persia; but rather men of practical wisdom, who knew the facts and customs of former times.

For so was the king’s manner - Some render it: “for so was the king’s business laid before all that knew law ...”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 13. To the wise men — Probably the lawyers.