Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “According to law, what must be done to Queen Vashti?” he asked. “She has not obeyed the command of King Xerxes that the eunuchs have taken to her.” New Living Translation “What must be done to Queen Vashti?” the king demanded. “What penalty does the law provide for a queen who refuses to obey the king’s orders, properly sent through his eunuchs?” English Standard Version “According to the law, what is to be done to Queen Vashti, because she has not performed the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?” Berean Standard Bible “According to law,” he asked, “what should be done with Queen Vashti, since she refused to obey the command of King Xerxes delivered by the eunuchs?” Berean Literal Bible “According to the law, what is to be done with Queen Vashti, upon that she did not perform the command of King Ahasuerus by the hand of the eunuchs?” King James Bible What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains? New King James Version “What shall we do to Queen Vashti, according to law, because she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus brought to her by the eunuchs?” New American Standard Bible “According to law, what is to be done with Queen Vashti, since she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?” NASB 1995 “According to law, what is to be done with Queen Vashti, because she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?” NASB 1977 “According to law, what is to be done with Queen Vashti, because she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?” Legacy Standard Bible “According to law, what is to be done with Queen Vashti, because she did not do the declaration of King Ahasuerus delivered by the hand of the eunuchs?” Amplified Bible [He said,] “According to the law, what is to be done with Queen Vashti because she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus which was conveyed by the eunuchs?” Berean Annotated Bible “According to law, he asked, “what should be done with Queen Vashti (beautiful), since she refused to obey the command of King Xerxes (I will be silent and poor) delivered by the eunuchs? Christian Standard Bible The king asked, “According to the law, what should be done with Queen Vashti, since she refused to obey King Ahasuerus’s command that was delivered by the eunuchs? ” Holman Christian Standard Bible The king asked, “According to the law, what should be done with Queen Vashti, since she refused to obey King Ahasuerus’s command that was delivered by the eunuchs?” American Standard Version What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not done the bidding of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains? Contemporary English Version The king said to them, "Queen Vashti refused to come to me when I sent my servants for her. What does the law say I should do about that?" English Revised Version What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not done the bidding of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains? GOD'S WORD® Translation "According to the royal decrees, what must we do with Queen Vashti since she did not obey King Xerxes' command, which the eunuchs delivered?" Good News Translation He said to these men, "I, King Xerxes, sent my servants to Queen Vashti with a command, and she refused to obey it! What does the law say that we should do with her?" International Standard Version The king inquired, "According to law, what should be done to Queen Vashti because she did not obey the order of King Ahasuerus that was delivered by the eunuchs?" NET Bible The king asked, "By law, what should be done to Queen Vashti in light of the fact that she has not obeyed the instructions of King Ahasuerus conveyed through the eunuchs?" New Heart English Bible "What shall we do to the queen Vashti according to law, because she has not done the bidding of the King Achshayarsh by the eunuchs?" Webster's Bible Translation What shall we do to the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains? Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bible“According to law,” he asked, “what should be done with Queen Vashti, since she refused to obey the command of King Xerxes delivered by the eunuchs?” World English Bible “What shall we do to Queen Vashti according to law, because she has not done the bidding of the King Ahasuerus by the eunuchs?” Literal Translations Literal Standard Version“According to law, what should [I] do with Queen Vashti, because that she has not done the saying of King Ahasuerus by the hand of the eunuchs?” Berean Literal Bible “According to the law, what is to be done with Queen Vashti, upon that she did not perform the command of King Ahasuerus by the hand of the eunuchs?” Young's Literal Translation 'According to law, what -- to do with queen Vashti, because that she hath not done the saying of the king Ahasuerus by the hand of the eunuchs?' Smith's Literal Translation According to the edict what to do against the queen Vashti, for that she did not the word of the king Ahasuerus by the hand of the eunuchs? Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleWhat sentence ought to pass upon Vasthi the queen, who had refused to obey the commandment of king Assuerus, which he had sent to her by the eunuchs? Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible and asked them, “What is to be done by law with Queen Vashti for disobeying the order of King Ahasuerus issued through the eunuchs?” New Revised Standard Version “According to the law, what is to be done to Queen Vashti because she has not performed the command of King Ahasuerus conveyed by the eunuchs?” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd he said, What shall we do to Queen Vashti, according to law, because she has not performed the command of King Akhshirash by the eunuchs? Peshitta Holy Bible Translated They said, “What ought to be done to Queen Vashti, because she has not done the word of King Akhashiresh who sent by the hand of the Eunuchs?” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, forasmuch as she hath not done the bidding of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?' Brenton Septuagint Translation and reported to him according to the laws how it was proper to do to queen Astin, because she had not done the things commanded of the king by the chamberlains. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Queen Vashti Deposed…14His closest advisors were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media who had personal access to the king and ranked highest in the kingdom. 15“According to law,” he asked, “what should be done with Queen Vashti, since she refused to obey the command of King Xerxes delivered by the eunuchs?” 16And in the presence of the king and his princes, Memucan replied, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king, but all the princes and the peoples in all the provinces of King Xerxes.… Cross References “According to law,” Daniel 6:8-9 Therefore, O king, establish the decree and sign the document so that it cannot be changed—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” / Therefore King Darius signed the written decree. Ezra 7:25-26 And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God, which you possess, are to appoint magistrates and judges to judge all the people west of the Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach these laws to anyone who does not know them. / If anyone does not keep the law of your God and the law of the king, let a strict judgment be executed against him, whether death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment. Deuteronomy 17:8-11 If a case is too difficult for you to judge, whether the controversy within your gates is regarding bloodshed, lawsuits, or assaults, you must go up to the place the LORD your God will choose. / You are to go to the Levitical priests and to the judge who presides at that time. Inquire of them, and they will give you a verdict in the case. / You must abide by the verdict they give you at the place the LORD will choose. Be careful to do everything they instruct you, … he asked, 1 Kings 12:6-8 Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How do you advise me to respond to these people?” he asked. / They replied, “If you will be a servant to these people and serve them this day, and if you will respond by speaking kind words to them, they will be your servants forever.” / But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders; instead, he consulted the young men who had grown up with him and served him. Proverbs 11:14 For lack of guidance, a nation falls, but with many counselors comes deliverance. James 1:5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. “what should be done with Queen Vashti, Esther 2:17 And the king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she found grace and favor in his sight more than all of the other virgins. So he placed the royal crown upon her head and made her queen in place of Vashti. 1 Kings 15:13 He also removed his grandmother Maacah from her position as queen mother because she had made a detestable Asherah pole. Asa chopped down the pole and burned it in the Kidron Valley. since she refused to obey the command of King Xerxes Exodus 1:17 The midwives, however, feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt had instructed; they let the boys live. Daniel 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. / If the God whom we serve exists, then He is able to deliver us from the blazing fiery furnace and from your hand, O king. / But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.” delivered by the eunuchs?” Daniel 1:3-4 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, the chief of his court officials, to bring in some Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— / young men without blemish, handsome, gifted in all wisdom, knowledgeable, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace—and to teach them the language and literature of the Chaldeans. Esther 2:3-4 and let the king appoint commissioners in each province of his kingdom to assemble all the beautiful young women into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch in charge of the women, and let them be given beauty treatments. / Then let the young woman who pleases the king become queen in place of Vashti.” This suggestion pleased the king, and he acted accordingly. Ezra 7:26 If anyone does not keep the law of your God and the law of the king, let a strict judgment be executed against him, whether death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment. Romans 13:1-2 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. / Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 1 Peter 2:13-14 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority, / or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. Proverbs 31:4-5 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink, / lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice. Treasury of Scripture What shall we do to the queen Vashti according to law, because she has not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains? What shall we do. Esther 6:6 So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself? Jump to Previous Ahasuerus Ahasu-E'rus Bidding Chamberlains Command Commandment Conveyed Delivered Eunuchs Forasmuch Hand Law Obey Obeyed Orders Performed Queen Servants Vashti XerxesJump to Next Ahasuerus Ahasu-E'rus Bidding Chamberlains Command Commandment Conveyed Delivered Eunuchs Forasmuch Hand Law Obey Obeyed Orders Performed Queen Servants Vashti XerxesEsther 1 1. Xerxes makes royal feasts.10. Vashti, sent for, refuses to come. 13. Xerxes, by the counsel of Memucan, puts away Vashti, and decrees men's sovereignty. According to law, In the Persian Empire, the law was considered unchangeable and was often used to maintain order and authority. The king's decrees were binding, and any disobedience was seen as a challenge to his rule. This reflects the broader biblical theme of the importance of law and order, as seen in Romans 13:1-2, where believers are instructed to submit to governing authorities. he asked, what should be done with Queen Vashti, since she refused to obey the command of King Xerxes delivered by the eunuchs? Persons / Places / Events 1. King Xerxes (Ahasuerus)The Persian king who reigned over 127 provinces from India to Cush. He is known for his opulent lifestyle and the grand feast he hosted, which sets the stage for the events in Esther. 2. Queen Vashti The queen who defied King Xerxes' command to appear before him and his guests, leading to a pivotal moment in the account of Esther. 3. The Eunuchs Servants of the king who were tasked with delivering his command to Queen Vashti. Their role highlights the communication and hierarchy within the Persian court. 4. The Law of the Persians and Medes The legal system that governed the empire, known for its unchangeable decrees. This context is crucial for understanding the gravity of Vashti's defiance. 5. The Royal Court The setting where the king and his advisors deliberate on the consequences of Vashti's actions, reflecting the political and social dynamics of the time. Teaching Points The Importance of Obedience and AuthorityThe account highlights the significance of obedience to authority, a theme that resonates throughout Scripture. It challenges us to consider our own responses to authority figures in our lives. The Role of Law and Justice The Persian legal system's rigidity serves as a reminder of the need for justice tempered with mercy, a balance that is perfectly embodied in God's character. Courage and Consequences Vashti's actions, whether seen as courageous or rebellious, remind us that our choices have consequences. We are called to weigh our decisions carefully, considering both earthly and divine laws. God's Sovereignty in Human Affairs Even in a pagan empire, God's hand is at work, setting the stage for Esther's rise. This encourages us to trust in God's sovereignty, even when circumstances seem unfavorable. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Esther 1:15?2. How does Esther 1:15 illustrate the importance of seeking wise counsel in leadership? 3. What can we learn from King Xerxes' response to Queen Vashti's disobedience? 4. How does Esther 1:15 connect with Proverbs' teachings on wisdom and decision-making? 5. In what ways can we apply the lessons from Esther 1:15 in our lives? 6. How does the king's inquiry in Esther 1:15 reflect on accountability in authority? 7. Why did King Xerxes consult experts in law and justice in Esther 1:15? 8. How does Esther 1:15 reflect the cultural norms of ancient Persia? 9. What does Esther 1:15 reveal about the role of women in the Persian Empire? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Esther 1? 11. What does 'For Such a Time as This' mean? 12. Could Queen Vashti's refusal (Esther 1:12) and subsequent banishment be supported by Persian royal court records or historical precedents? 13. How does Esther 2:15 align with other biblical traditions when it omits any mention of Jewish religious practice? 14. Esther 7:7 - Why would King Ahasuerus suddenly abandon the feast in anger without prior indications of Haman's treachery in earlier records of Persian court life? What Does Esther 1:15 Mean According to law• Xerxes frames the issue inside the boundaries of established Persian statute, showing that even an absolute monarch wants his judgment to appear just, not arbitrary (Esther 1:19). • Scripture often highlights the stability—and sometimes rigidity—of royal decrees (Daniel 6:8–12). • By appealing to law first, the narrative underscores the biblical theme that lawful order preserves society (Romans 13:1–2), even when the ruler himself is pagan. he asked • The king turns to his advisers for counsel, modeling the principle that wise leaders seek input (Proverbs 11:14). • Yet his inquiry also reveals the limits of human wisdom; throughout Esther God’s unseen sovereignty overrules earthly deliberations (Proverbs 21:1). what should be done • A direct question about consequences: in Scripture, actions yield results (Galatians 6:7). • Xerxes wants a clear, decisive course—mirroring the urgency found when Darius sought a solution for Daniel (Daniel 6:14–15). • The story prepares us for the irrevocable edict that will elevate Esther later (Esther 2:1). with Queen Vashti • Naming Vashti personalizes the offense; she is not merely a subject but the queen who publicly opposed her husband (Esther 1:9–12). • Her unique status heightens the stakes, similar to how Michal challenged David’s dignity (2 Samuel 6:16–23). since she refused to obey • Refusal equals open rebellion; Scripture equates rebellion with serious sin (1 Samuel 15:23). • The narrative contrasts human pride with submissive obedience, foreshadowing Esther’s own humble courage (Esther 4:16). • Rejection of rightful authority disrupts order, a principle echoed in Numbers 12 when Miriam and Aaron resisted Moses. the command of King Xerxes • Royal commands in Persia carried ultimate weight; violation threatened the entire chain of command (Ecclesiastes 8:2–4). • In biblical history, kingship implies delegated authority under God; even pagan rulers serve His purposes (Isaiah 45:1–7). • This incident exposes Xerxes’ vulnerability—his power is only as strong as public respect for his word. delivered by the eunuchs • The eunuchs were trusted palace officials; Vashti’s refusal humiliates them too, making the breach more public (Esther 1:10–12). • Messengers often symbolize accountability: when Saul spared Agag, Samuel confronted him; here the eunuchs carry back Vashti’s defiance. • By highlighting the intermediaries, the text stresses that disobedience echoes through every level of authority (Luke 10:16). summary Esther 1:15 records a pivotal moment where Xerxes, appealing to the irrevocable “law of the Persians and Medes,” seeks counsel on how to deal with Queen Vashti’s blatant refusal of his royal command. Each phrase spotlights a key principle: the necessity of lawful order, the value and limits of human counsel, the inevitability of consequences, the gravity of rebellion—especially by those in high position—and the far-reaching impact of disobedience on the entire governance structure. In the unfolding drama, God remains silently sovereign, using even a pagan king’s legalistic concern for order to set the stage for Esther’s rise and Israel’s deliverance. Verse 15. - What shall we do to queen Vashti according to law? Literally, "According to law, what is there to do to queen Vashti?" Law is given the prominent place, as though the king would say, Let us put aside feeling, and simply consider what the law is. If a queen disobeys the king openly in the face of his court, what, according to law, is to be done to her?Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew “According to law,”כְּדָת֙ (kə·ḏāṯ) Preposition-k | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 1881: A royal edict, statute he asked, “what מַֽה־ (mah-) Interrogative Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what should be done לַּעֲשׂ֔וֹת (la·‘ă·śō·wṯ) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 6213: To do, make with Queen בַּמַּלְכָּ֖ה (bam·mal·kāh) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 4436: Queen -- a queen Vashti, וַשְׁתִּ֑י (waš·tî) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 2060: Vashti -- queen of Pers since עַ֣ל ׀ (‘al) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against she refused to obey לֹֽא־ (lō-) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no the command מַאֲמַר֙ (ma·’ă·mar) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3982: Something, said, an edict of King הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4428: A king Xerxes אֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ (’ă·ḥaš·wê·rō·wōš) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 325: Ahasuerus -- king of Persia delivered by בְּיַ֖ד (bə·yaḏ) Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 3027: A hand the eunuchs?” הַסָּרִיסִֽים׃ (has·sā·rî·sîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 5631: A eunuch, valet, a minister of state Links Esther 1:15 NIVEsther 1:15 NLT Esther 1:15 ESV Esther 1:15 NASB Esther 1:15 KJV Esther 1:15 BibleApps.com Esther 1:15 Biblia Paralela Esther 1:15 Chinese Bible Esther 1:15 French Bible Esther 1:15 Catholic Bible OT History: Esther 1:15 What shall we do to the queen (Est Esth. 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