Esther 1:8
New International Version
By the king’s command each guest was allowed to drink with no restrictions, for the king instructed all the wine stewards to serve each man what he wished.

New Living Translation
By edict of the king, no limits were placed on the drinking, for the king had instructed all his palace officials to serve each man as much as he wanted.

English Standard Version
And drinking was according to this edict: “There is no compulsion.” For the king had given orders to all the staff of his palace to do as each man desired.

Berean Standard Bible
By order of the king, no limit was placed on the drinking, and every official of his household was to serve each man whatever he desired.

King James Bible
And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.

New King James Version
In accordance with the law, the drinking was not compulsory; for so the king had ordered all the officers of his household, that they should do according to each man’s pleasure.

New American Standard Bible
But the drinking was done according to the royal law; there was no compulsion, for so the king had given orders to each official of his household, that he was to do as each person pleased.

NASB 1995
The drinking was done according to the law, there was no compulsion, for so the king had given orders to each official of his household that he should do according to the desires of each person.

NASB 1977
And the drinking was done according to the law, there was no compulsion, for so the king had given orders to each official of his household that he should do according to the desires of each person.

Legacy Standard Bible
And the drinking was done according to the law; there was no compulsion, for so the king had established it for each official of his household—that he should do according to what pleased each person.

Amplified Bible
The drinking was carried on in accordance with the law; no one was compelled [to drink], for the king had directed each official of his household to comply with each guest’s wishes.

Christian Standard Bible
The drinking was according to royal decree: “There are no restrictions.” The king had ordered every wine steward in his household to serve whatever each person wanted.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and no restraint was placed on the drinking. The king had ordered every wine steward in his household to serve as much as each person wanted.

American Standard Version
And the drinking was according to the law; none could compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And the drinking was by the law and there was none who compelled, because thus the King commanded all the Great ones in his house, that they would do the pleasure of every person.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And this banquet was not according to the appointed law; but so the king would have it: and he charged the stewards to perform his will and that of the company.

Contemporary English Version
and said to them, "Drink all you want!" Then he told his servants, "Keep their cups full."

Douay-Rheims Bible
Neither was there any one to compel them to drink that were not willing, but as the king had appointed, who set over every table one of his nobles, that every man might take what he would.

English Revised Version
And the drinking was according to the law; none could compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The drinking followed this rule: Drink as you please. (The king had ordered all the waiters in his palace to let everyone do as he pleased.)

Good News Translation
There were no limits on the drinks; the king had given orders to the palace servants that everyone could have as much as they wanted.

International Standard Version
According to the king's decree the drinking was not compulsory because the king instructed every steward in his house to serve each individual what he desired.

JPS Tanakh 1917
And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel; for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.

Literal Standard Version
And the drinking [is] according to law, none is pressing, for so the king has appointed for every chief one of his house, to do according to the pleasure of man and man.

Majority Standard Bible
By order of the king, no limit was placed on the drinking, and every official of his household was to serve each man whatever he desired.

New American Bible
By ordinance of the king the drinking was unstinted, for he had instructed all the stewards of his household to comply with the good pleasure of everyone.

NET Bible
There were no restrictions on the drinking, for the king had instructed all of his supervisors that they should do as everyone so desired.

New Revised Standard Version
Drinking was by flagons, without restraint; for the king had given orders to all the officials of his palace to do as each one desired.

New Heart English Bible
In accordance with the law, the drinking was not compulsory; for so the king had instructed all the officials of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the drinking was according to the law; none constrained: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.

World English Bible
In accordance with the law, the drinking was not compulsory; for so the king had instructed all the officials of his house, that they should do according to every man’s pleasure.

Young's Literal Translation
And the drinking is according to law, none is pressing, for so hath the king appointed for every chief one of his house, to do according to the pleasure of man and man.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Xerxes' Royal Feast
7Beverages were served in an array of goblets of gold, each with a different design, and the royal wine flowed freely, according to the king’s bounty. 8By order of the king, no limit was placed on the drinking, and every official of his household was to serve each man whatever he desired.

Cross References
Esther 1:7
Beverages were served in an array of goblets of gold, each with a different design, and the royal wine flowed freely, according to the king's bounty.

Esther 1:9
Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.


Treasury of Scripture

And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.

none did compel.

Jeremiah 35:8
Thus have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father in all that he hath charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, nor our daughters;

Jeremiah 51:7
Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD'S hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.

Habakkuk 2:15,16
Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness! …

the officers.

John 2:8
And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.

Jump to Previous
Accordance Allowed Appointed Chief Command Commandment Compel Compelled Compulsion Constrained Constraint Desired Desires Drink Drinking Forced Guest House Household Instructed Keeping King's Law Magnates Officers Official Officials Orders Palace Pleasing Pleasure Pressing Servants Serve Stewards Way Wine Wished
Jump to Next
Accordance Allowed Appointed Chief Command Commandment Compel Compelled Compulsion Constrained Constraint Desired Desires Drink Drinking Forced Guest House Household Instructed Keeping King's Law Magnates Officers Official Officials Orders Palace Pleasing Pleasure Pressing Servants Serve Stewards Way Wine Wished
Esther 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.














(8) Law.--Rather ordinance or decree, that is, specially put forth for this occasion. What this means is shown by what follows, namely, that the king had issued special orders to allow all to do as they pleased in the matter of drinking, instead of as usual compelling them to drink. This degrading habit is the more noticeable because the Persians were at first a nation of exceptionally temperate habits.

Verse 8. - The drinking was according to the law. Rather, "according to edict" - the edict being the express order given by the king to all the officers of his household. It is implied that the usual custom was different - that the foolish practice prevailed of compelling men to drink. That the Persians were hard drinkers, and frequently drank to excess, is stated by Herodotus (1:133) and Xenophon ('Cyrop.,' 8:8, § 11).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
By
כַדָּ֖ת (ḵad·dāṯ)
Preposition-k, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1881: A royal edict, statute

order
יִסַּ֣ד (yis·saḏ)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3245: To set, to found, to sit down together, settle, consult

of the king,
הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

no
אֵ֣ין (’ên)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

limit
אֹנֵ֑ס (’ō·nês)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 597: To compel, constrain

was placed on the drinking,
וְהַשְּׁתִיָּ֥ה (wə·haš·šə·ṯî·yāh)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8360: A drinking

and every
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

wine steward
רַ֣ב (raḇ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7227: Much, many, great

was to serve
לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת (la·‘ă·śō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6213: To do, make

each
אִישׁ־ (’îš-)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

man
וָאִֽישׁ׃ (wā·’îš)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

whatever he desired.
כִּרְצ֥וֹן (kir·ṣō·wn)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7522: Goodwill, favor, acceptance, will


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OT History: Esther 1:8 In accordance with the law the drinking (Est Esth. Es)
Esther 1:7
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