And as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king said to Esther, “What is your wish? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The king's extravagant offer, "even to the half of my kingdom," isn't just generosity; it's a strategic move. He makes this promise during the "banquet of wine," a time when Persians typically relaxed and drank more freely, suggesting Esther likely timed her request for this more pliable moment.
And as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king said to Esther, “What is your wish? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Having already granted Esther two requests during her lavish banquet, the king, now in a convivial mood during the wine portion of the feast, presses her again. This is the critical moment Esther has been building towards, a moment where the king's generosity and favor, fueled by the celebratory atmosphere, are at their peak, setting the stage for her urgent petition.
Why did the king bring up his generous offer specifically during the "banquet of wine"? It wasn't just a casual chat.
The text highlights that the king makes his incredible offer during the "banquet of wine." This wasn't necessarily a separate meal, but a specific part of the Persian feast. After the main meal, when food was cleared, the focus shifted to fruits, sweets, and crucially, wine. This was often a time when rulers felt more relaxed and generous. Esther, likely knowing these customs, strategically chose this moment. She had already carefully planned her approach, and timing this offer during a time of heightened cheerfulness and openness from the king would have increased the likelihood of his favorable response.
The king's offer is staggering – 'half my kingdom'! What does this extreme generosity reveal about his feelings for Esther?
The king's repeated offer, 'What is your wish? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled,' is not just hyperbole. It demonstrates a profound affection and trust he had developed for Esther. He had already shown favor by accepting her invitation when he didn't have to (Esther 5:4), but this offer elevates it significantly. It reveals that Esther had clearly captured his heart and gained his deep confidence. He was willing to give her almost anything, signaling the unique place she held in his life and court.
Understand the original words
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mishteh · Hebrew Noun
A formal meal or banquet, often associated with celebration, covenant-making, or, in this context, a social gathering for strategic purposes. Biblical feasts frequently serve as settings where major decisions or revelations occur.
she'elah · Hebrew Noun
A request or petition made to a superior; it carries the sense of a deep desire or need being brought before someone with the authority to grant it.
The Persian custom of a 'wine banquet' after the main meal created a relaxed, more open atmosphere, which Esther strategically used to reveal her royal petition and expose Haman's wicked plot.
c. 483 BC
Xerxes I begins his reign
Xerxes I inherited the vast Achaemenid Empire from his father, Darius the Great. His reign was marked by extensive building projects and a major military campaign against Greece.
c. 483 BC
Xerxes' great feast
Xerxes held a massive, extended feast in Susa to display his wealth and power. This is the event during which Vashti refused to appear, leading to her deposition.
c. 483 BC
Deposition of Queen Vashti
After Vashti's defiance, Xerxes removed her as queen. This act created a vacancy that would eventually be filled by Esther.
c. 482 BC
Esther chosen as queen
Following a search for a new queen, Esther, a Jewish orphan raised by Mordecai, was selected and brought to Xerxes' harem, hiding her ethnic identity.
c. 479 BC
Haman's rise to power
Haman the Agagite was promoted to a high position of authority by Xerxes, second only to the king. He demanded that everyone bow before him, which Mordecai refused.
c. 479 BC
Haman's plot against the Jews
Enraged by Mordecai's defiance, Haman secured Xerxes' decree to annihilate all Jews in the empire on a specific date. He then prepared a lavish banquet to celebrate his anticipated victory.
c. 479 BC— this verse
Esther's first banquet and royal offer
Esther courageously invited Xerxes and Haman to two banquets. At the second banquet, during the wine-drinking portion of the feast, Xerxes offered Esther anything she desired, up to half his kingdom.
This passage shows the king reiterating his generous offer of 'half my kingdom' when Esther finally reveals her petition, highlighting the consistent magnanimity and the high stakes of her request.
Proverbs 22:29The verse speaks of not standing before common men, but the king. Esther's position is extraordinary, and the king's lavish offer at the banquet underscores the immense power and privilege she has been granted.
Daniel 2:47-48King Nebuchadnezzar also makes an extravagant offer to Daniel to find and reveal the dream, promising him 'great honor' and 'gifts of every kind,' paralleling the king's vast power and willingness to reward.
1 Kings 3:5Here, God appears to Solomon in a dream and offers him, 'Ask what I shall give you.' This mirrors the king's open-ended, generous offer to Esther, emphasizing the theme of immense, divinely-influenced opportunities.
bensonEsther 5:6: "And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed."
Esther 5:6. The banquet of wine — So called, because it consisted not of meats, which probably the king had plentifully eaten before, but of fruits and wines; which banquets were very frequent among the Persians, after they had done eating; for they did not drink wine, but water, with their victual…
barnesEsther 5:6: "And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed."
The banquet of wine - After the meats were removed, it was customary in Persia to continue the banquet for a considerable time with fruits and wine. During this part of the feast, the king renewed his offer.
The king's extravagant offer, "even to the half of my kingdom," isn't just generosity; it's a strategic move. He makes this promise during the "banquet of wine," a time when Persians typically relaxed and drank more freely, suggesting Esther likely timed her request for this more pliable moment.
Having already granted Esther two requests during her lavish banquet, the king, now in a convivial mood during the wine portion of the feast, presses her again. This is the critical moment Esther has been building towards, a moment where the king's generosity and favor, fueled by the celebratory atmosphere, are at their peak, setting the stage for her urgent petition.
Having already granted Esther two requests during her lavish banquet, the king, now in a convivial mood during the wine portion of the feast, presses her again. This is the critical moment Esther has been building towards, a moment where the king's generosity and favor, fueled by the celebratory atmosphere, are at their peak, setting the stage for her urgent petition.
"And as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king said to Esther, “What is your wish? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.”" — The king's extravagant offer, "even to the half of my kingdom," isn't just generosity; it's a strategic move. He makes this promise during the "banquet of wine," a time when Persians typically relaxe…
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Last reviewed October 2026