Bigtha בִּגְתָא
Eunuch in King Ahasuerus' court
Who is Bigtha in the Bible?
Bigtha was one of seven eunuchs who served in the court of King Ahasuerus, the Persian ruler also known as Xerxes, as mentioned in Esther 1:10. During a royal banquet, Bigtha was among the eunuchs commanded by the intoxicated king to bring Queen Vashti before the assembled nobles so he could display her beauty. When Queen Vashti refused to obey the king's summons, her defiance set off a chain of events that led to her removal as queen and ultimately made way for Esther to become the new queen. Though Bigtha appears briefly in the biblical narrative, his mention illustrates the structure and dynamics of ancient Persian royal courts and serves as a minor but necessary element in the providential story of how Esther came to her position of influence.
Biography
Bigtha was one of the seven eunuchs who served in the court of King Ahasuerus, also known as Xerxes, the Persian ruler (Est. 1:10). Eunuchs were often employed in royal courts as trusted officials and servants due to their loyalty and inability to establish a rival dynasty. During a royal feast, when King Ahasuerus was in high spirits from drinking wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs, including Bigtha, to bring Queen Vashti before him wearing her royal crown. The king wanted to display her beauty to the people and nobles, but Queen Vashti refused to come (Est. 1:11-12). This refusal led to the king's anger and ultimately to Vashti's removal as queen, setting the stage for the rise of Esther. Bigtha's mention as one of the eunuchs highlights the opulence and power dynamics within the Persian court during the time of Esther.
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentEsther 1 verse
- Esther 1:10
"On the seventh day, when the king’s heart was merry with wine, he ordered the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas—"
Study Esther →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | בִּגְתָא |