Esther 1:15 Meaning and Explanation
“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?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The king asks his advisers what the law requires be done with the disobedient queen.
What Does Esther 1:15 Mean?
The question is framed as a legal one, what shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law. The king will not simply lash out; he wants his anger dressed in the robes of justice. In Persia, the unalterable law gives cover to royal whim, and here it will be made to serve a bruised pride.
Notice how quickly a single refusal becomes a precedent requiring judgment. The advisers are asked not whether Vashti was wronged but how to punish her. The machinery of law, which ought to protect, is bent toward the powerful. The same irreversible Persian law will later threaten the Jews and, by a turn of providence, also save them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Esther 1:15
What does Esther 1:15 mean?
The king asks his advisers what the law requires be done with the disobedient queen.