Esther אֶסְתֵּר
Jewish queen of Persia; saved her people from genocide.
Biography
Esther, born Hadassah, was a Jewish woman who became the queen of Persia during the reign of King Ahasuerus (Xerxes I). She was an orphan raised by her cousin Mordecai (Est.2.7). Esther was chosen to be queen after Ahasuerus deposed Queen Vashti (Est.2.17). When Haman, a high-ranking official, plotted to exterminate the Jews, Esther risked her life by approaching the king uninvited to expose Haman's plot (Esther 4-5). As a result, Haman was hanged, and the Jews were given the right to defend themselves, leading to their deliverance (Esther 7-8). Esther and Mordecai instituted the Feast of Purim to commemorate this event (Est.9.29-32). Her story exemplifies courage, faith, and God's providence in protecting His people.
Family
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentEsther 5 verses
- Esther 2:7
"He brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter; for she had neither father nor mother. The maiden was fair and beautiful; and when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his own daughter."
Study Esther → - Esther 2:8
"So, when the king’s commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together to the citadel of Susa, to the custody of Hegai, Esther was taken into the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women."
Study Esther → - Esther 2:10
"Esther had not made known her people nor her relatives, because Mordecai had instructed her that she should not make it known."
Study Esther → - Esther 2:11
"Mordecai walked every day in front of the court of the women’s house, to find out how Esther was doing, and what would become of her."
Study Esther → - Esther 2:15
"Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, came to go in to the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s eunuch, the keeper of the women, advised. Esther obtained favor in the sight of all those who..."
Study Esther →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | אֶסְתֵּר | H0635 |
| Named | Hebrew | הֲדַסָּה | H1919 |
Encyclopedia Article
ISBE 1915 (Public Domain) Esther
was brought up at Susa by her cousin Mordecai, who seems to have held a position among the lower officials of the royal palace. Vashti, Xerxes' former queen, was divorced; and the most beautiful virgins from all the provinces of the empire were brought to the palace of Susa that the king might select her successor. The choice fell upon the Jewish maiden. Soon after her accession a great crisis occurred in the history of the Jews. The entire people was threatened with destruction. The name of Esther is forever bound up with the record of their deliverance. By a course of action which gives her a distinguished place among the women of the Bible, the great enemy of the Jews was destroyed, and her people were delivered. Nothing more is known of her than is recorded in the book which Jewish gratitude has made to bear her name.
Change of Name
The change in the queen's name from Hadassah hadacah, "a myrtle," to Esther, "a star," may possibly indicate the style of beauty for which the Persian queen was famous. The narrative displays her as a woman of clear judgment, of magnificent self- control, and capable of the noblest self-sacrifice.
See ESTHER, BOOK OF.
John Urquhart
1. The Canonicity of Esther 2. Its Authorship 3. Its Date 4. Its Contents 5. The Greek Additions 6. The Attacks upon the Book 7. Some of the Objections 8. Confirmations of