Rashi
Jewish
1040–1105
“the princesses of Persia and Media, etc. will say this word to all the princes; this is an ellipsis. and much contempt and wrath And in this matter, there is much contempt and wrath.”
The interpretation timeline
Esth 1:18
How this passage has been read — the sources, oldest to newest.
From the early Church Fathers to now.
1 Jewish · 1 Reformed · 1 Methodist · 1 Catholic
Esth 1:18 · Douay-Rheims
“And by this example all the wives of the princes of the Persians and the Medes will slight the commandments of their husbands: wherefore the king’s indignation is just.”
Scholastic
c. 1100 – 1500
1105
A.D.
666 years pass — nothing from this stretch is hosted yet
Post-Reformation
c. 1650 – 1900
1771
A.D.
John Gill
Reformed
1697–1771
“Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto the king's princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen,.... From henceforward they will give a like answer to their husbands, when they lay their commands upon them, as Vashti has to the king; they will tell them to their faces they will not obey their orders: thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath; there will be in wives a general contempt of their husbands, which will cause discord and strife, quarrels, wrath and anger; contempt on one part, wrath on the other, and contention between both.”
1832
A.D.
Adam Clarke
Methodist
1762–1832
“The ladies of Persia - שרות saroth, the princesses; but the meaning is very well expressed by our term ladies.”
1849
A.D.
George Leo Haydock
Catholic
1774–1849
“Wives. Greek turannides , “princesses, or female tyrants.” — Slight. Septuagint, “dare to slight their husbands. Wherefore if,” &c. (Haydock) — Just. Hebrew, “enough of contempt and indignation.” This may be referred either to the king or to the women’s husbands. The example will prove a source of continual quarrels. (Calmet) — Brentius approves the decision of this parasite; though St. Ambrose, &c., think that the queen was justified by the laws, which the king had no right to infringe, to gratify his drunken humour, ver. 10. Luther would also wrest this text in favour of adultery, p.ii. Divort. p. 177. (Worthington)”
Modern · 1953 →
The in-app commentary runs from the Fathers to the early-modern record, then stops — that's where the public-domain sources end, not where the reading does. For the modern reading, follow the sources directly.