Esther 1:19 Meaning and Explanation
“If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Memucan proposes an irrevocable decree banishing Vashti and giving her royal position to another.
What Does Esther 1:19 Mean?
Memucan's remedy is permanent and public: an irrevocable law of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, banishing Vashti forever and granting her place to another. By making it unchangeable, he ensures the king cannot relent in a calmer hour, when the wine has worn off and regret might soften him.
The detail that such laws cannot be altered is woven through the book and becomes its great engine of suspense. The same inflexibility that disposes of Vashti will later threaten every Jew, since Haman's decree of death cannot simply be revoked. What seems here a tool of male authority will become, by providence, the very trap that ensnares evil.
Frequently Asked Questions About Esther 1:19
What does Esther 1:19 mean?
Memucan proposes an irrevocable decree banishing Vashti and giving her royal position to another.