And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.
Parallel translations
- WEB and let the maiden who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” The thing pleased the king, and he did so.
- BSB Then let the young woman who pleases the king become queen in place of Vashti.” This suggestion pleased the king, and he acted accordingly.
- NKJV Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” This thing pleased the king, and he did so.
- NASB Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen in place of Vashti.” And the suggestion pleased the king, and he did accordingly.
- NLT After that, the young woman who most pleases the king will be made queen instead of Vashti.” This advice was very appealing to the king, so he put the plan into effect.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The one who pleases the king will become queen, and the plan is approved. The contest that will crown Esther is set.
Overview
The king readily adopts the proposal, and the search becomes official policy. The outcome will rest on the king's pleasure, an uncertain and worldly standard. Yet behind the apparent randomness of royal preference, God is at work to grant favor to Esther, fulfilling His purpose to preserve His people through her.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Matt 14:6But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.
- Matt 20:16So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
- Esth 1:21And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:
- Matt 22:14For many are called, but few are chosen.
- 2 Sam 17:4And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.
- Esth 3:9–10If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries.
- 2 Sam 13:4–6And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king’s son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.
- 2 Sam 16:21–23And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father’s concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Though God is never named, his hidden hand preserves the people from whom the Messiah will come — a deliverance 'for such a time as this' that anticipates the open deliverance of Christ.
How Esther 2:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.