Esther

Esther 2:8–14

8When the king’s command and edict had been proclaimed, many young women gathered at the citadel of Susa under the care of Hegai. Esther was also taken to the palace and placed under the care of Hegai, the custodian of the women. 9And the young woman pleased him and obtained his favor, so he quickly provided her with beauty treatments and the special diet. He assigned to her seven select maidservants from the palace and transferred her with them to the best place in the harem.

10Esther did not reveal her people or her lineage, because Mordecai had instructed her not to do so. 11And every day Mordecai would walk back and forth in front of the court of the harem to learn about Esther’s welfare and what was happening to her.

12In the twelve months before her turn to go to King Xerxes, the harem regulation required each young woman to receive beauty treatments with oil of myrrh for six months, and then with perfumes and cosmetics for another six months. 13When the young woman would go to the king, she was given whatever she requested to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace. 14She would go there in the evening, and in the morning she would return to a second haremb under the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch in charge of the concubines. She would not return to the king unless he delighted in her and summoned her by name.

Footnotes

  • b 2:14 Or to another part of the harem

Read all of Esther 2

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Esther 2:8

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Whenוַיְהִ֗יway·hîConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
the king’sהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
commandדְּבַר־də·ḇar-Noun - masculine singular constructH1697 speech, word
and edictוְדָת֔וֹwə·ḏā·ṯōwConjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singularH1881 decree, law, usage
had been proclaimedבְּהִשָּׁמַ֤עbə·hiš·šā·ma‘Preposition-b; Verb - Nifal - Infinitive constructH8085 hear
manyרַבּ֛וֹתrab·bō·wṯAdjective - feminine pluralH7227 much, many, great
young womenנְעָר֥וֹתnə·‘ā·rō·wṯNoun - feminine pluralH5291 girl, damsel
gatheredוּֽבְהִקָּבֵ֞ץū·ḇə·hiq·qā·ḇêṣConjunctive waw, Preposition-b; Verb - Nifal - Infinitive constructH6908 gather, collect
atאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
the citadelהַבִּירָ֖הhab·bî·rāhArticle; Noun - feminine singularH1002 castle, palace
of Susaשׁוּשַׁ֥ןšū·šanNoun - proper - masculine singularH7800 Susa
underאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
the careיַ֣דyaḏNoun - feminine singular constructH3027 hand
of Hegaiהֵגָ֑יhê·ḡāyNoun - proper - masculine singularH1896 Hege, Hegai
Estherאֶסְתֵּר֙’es·têrNoun - proper - feminine singularH635 Esther
was also takenוַתִּלָּקַ֤חwat·til·lā·qaḥConjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularH3947 take
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
the palaceבֵּ֣יתbêṯNoun - masculine singular constructH1004 house
and placed underאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
the careיַ֥דyaḏNoun - feminine singular constructH3027 hand
of Hegaiהֵגַ֖יhê·ḡayNoun - proper - masculine singularH1896 Hege, Hegai
the custodianשֹׁמֵ֥רšō·mêrVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH8104 keep, watch, preserve
of the womenהַנָּשִֽׁים׃han·nā·šîmArticle; Noun - feminine pluralH802 woman, wife, female

Esther 2:9

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
And the young womanהַנַּעֲרָ֣הhan·na·‘ă·rāhArticle; Noun - feminine singularH5291 girl, damsel
pleased himוַתִּיטַ֨בwat·tî·ṭaḇConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularH3190 be good, well, glad, pleasing
and obtainedוַתִּשָּׂ֣אwat·tiś·śāConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularH5375 lift, take, carry
hisלְפָנָיו֒lə·p̄ā·nāwPreposition-l; Noun - common plural construct; third person masculine singularH6440 face, before
favorחֶ֣סֶדḥe·seḏNoun - masculine singularH2617 goodness, kindness
so he quicklyוַ֠יְבַהֵלway·ḇa·hêlConjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH926 alarm, dismay
providedלָתֵ֣תlā·ṯêṯPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH5414 give, put, set
herלָ֔הּlāhPreposition; third person feminine singular
with beauty treatmentsתַּמְרוּקֶ֤יהָtam·rū·qe·hāNoun - masculine plural construct; third person feminine singularH8562 id.
and the special dietמָנוֹתֶ֙הָ֙mā·nō·w·ṯe·hāNoun - feminine plural construct; third person feminine singularH4490 part, portion
He assignedלָֽתֶת־lā·ṯeṯ-Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH5414 give, put, set
to herלָ֖הּlāhPreposition; third person feminine singular
sevenשֶׁ֣בַעše·ḇa‘Number - feminine singularH7651 seven
selectהָרְאֻי֥וֹתhā·rə·’u·yō·wṯArticle; Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine pluralH7200 see
maidservantsהַנְּעָר֔וֹתhan·nə·‘ā·rō·wṯArticle; Noun - feminine pluralH5291 girl, damsel
from the palaceמִבֵּ֣יתmib·bêṯPreposition-m; Noun - masculine singular constructH1004 house
and transferred herוַיְשַׁנֶּ֧הָway·šan·ne·hāConjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular; third person feminine singularH8138 change
with themנַעֲרוֹתֶ֛יהָna·‘ă·rō·w·ṯe·hāNoun - feminine plural construct; third person feminine singularH5291 girl, damsel
to the bestלְט֖וֹבlə·ṭō·wḇPreposition-l; Adjective - masculine singular constructH2896 pleasant, agreeable, good
placeבֵּ֥יתbêṯNoun - masculine singular constructH1004 house
in the haremהַנָּשִֽׁים׃han·nā·šîmArticle; Noun - feminine pluralH802 woman, wife, female

Esther 2:10

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Estherאֶסְתֵּ֔ר’es·têrNoun - proper - feminine singularH635 Esther
did notלֹא־lō-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
revealהִגִּ֣ידָהhig·gî·ḏāhVerb - Hifil - Perfect - third person feminine singularH5046 be conspicuous
her peopleעַמָּ֖הּ‘am·māhNoun - masculine singular construct; third person feminine singularH5971 people
orוְאֶת־wə·’eṯ-Conjunctive waw; Direct object markerH853 mark of the accusative
her lineageמֽוֹלַדְתָּ֑הּmō·w·laḏ·tāhNoun - feminine singular construct; third person feminine singularH4138 nativity, lineage, native country
becauseכִּ֧יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
Mordecaiמָרְדֳּכַ֛יmā·rə·do·ḵayNoun - proper - masculine singularH4782 Mordecai
had instructedצִוָּ֥הṣiw·wāhVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularH6680 lay charge (upon), give charge (to), charge, command, order
herעָלֶ֖יהָ‘ā·le·hāPreposition; third person feminine singularH5921 height
notלֹא־lō-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
to do soתַגִּֽיד׃ṯag·gîḏVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person feminine singularH5046 be conspicuous

Esther 2:11

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
And every dayוּבְכָל־ū·ḇə·ḵālConjunctive waw, Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
Mordecaiמָרְדֳּכַי֙mā·rə·do·ḵayNoun - proper - masculine singularH4782 Mordecai
would walk back and forthמִתְהַלֵּ֔ךְmiṯ·hal·lêḵVerb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singularH1980 go, come, walk
in frontלִפְנֵ֖יlip̄·nêPreposition-l; Noun - common plural constructH6440 face, before
of the courtחֲצַ֣רḥă·ṣarNoun - common singular constructH2691 enclosure, court
of the haremבֵּית־bêṯ-Noun - masculine singular constructH1004 house
to learnלָדַ֙עַת֙lā·ḏa·‘aṯPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH3045 know
aboutאֶת־’eṯ-Direct object markerH853 mark of the accusative
Esther’sאֶסְתֵּ֔ר’es·têrNoun - proper - feminine singularH635 Esther
welfareשְׁל֣וֹםšə·lō·wmNoun - masculine singular constructH7965 completeness, soundness, welfare, peace
and whatוּמַה־ū·mah-Conjunctive waw; InterrogativeH4100 what? how? aught
was happeningיֵּעָשֶׂ֖הyê·‘ā·śehVerb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH6213 do, make
to herבָּֽהּ׃bāhPreposition; third person feminine singular

Esther 2:12

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
In the twelveשְׁנֵ֣יםšə·nêmNumber - mdH8147 two
monthsחֹ֔דֶשׁḥō·ḏešNoun - masculine singularH2320 (newness), new moon, month
beforeנַעֲרָ֨הna·‘ă·rāhNoun - feminine singularH5291 girl, damsel
turnתֹּר֩tōrNoun - masculine singular constructH8447 plait, turn
to goלָב֣וֹא׀lā·ḇō·wPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH935 come in, come, go in, go
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
Kingהַמֶּ֣לֶךְham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
Xerxesאֲחַשְׁוֵר֗וֹשׁ’ă·ḥaš·wê·rō·wōšNoun - proper - masculine singularH325 Ahasuerus
the haremהַנָּשִׁים֙han·nā·šîmArticle; Noun - feminine pluralH802 woman, wife, female
regulation requiredכְּדָ֤תkə·ḏāṯPreposition-k; Noun - feminine singular constructH1881 decree, law, usage
each young womanהַנָּשִֽׁים׃han·nā·šîmArticle; Noun - feminine pluralH802 woman, wife, female
to receive beauty treatmentsמְרוּקֵיהֶ֑ןmə·rū·qê·henNoun - masculine plural construct; third person feminine pluralH4795 a scraping, rubbing
with oilבְּשֶׁ֣מֶןbə·še·menPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular constructH8081 fat, oil
of myrrhהַמֹּ֔רham·mōrArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4753 myrrh
for sixשִׁשָּׁ֤הšiš·šāhNumber - masculine singularH8337 six
monthsחֳדָשִׁים֙ḥo·ḏā·šîmNoun - masculine pluralH2320 (newness), new moon, month
and then with perfumesבַּבְּשָׂמִ֔יםbab·bə·śā·mîmPreposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine pluralH1314 spice, balsam, balsam-tree
and cosmeticsוּבְתַמְרוּקֵ֖יū·ḇə·ṯam·rū·qêConjunctive waw, Preposition-b; Noun - masculine plural constructH8562 id.
for another sixוְשִׁשָּׁ֤הwə·šiš·šāhConjunctive waw; Number - masculine singularH8337 six
monthsחֳדָשִׁים֙ḥo·ḏā·šîmNoun - masculine pluralH2320 (newness), new moon, month

Esther 2:13

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Whenוּבָזֶ֕הū·ḇā·zehConjunctive waw, Preposition-b; Pronoun - masculine singularH2088 this, that
the young womanהַֽנַּעֲרָ֖הhan·na·‘ă·rāhArticle; Noun - feminine singularH5291 girl, damsel
would goבָּאָ֣הbā·’āhVerb - Qal - Participle - feminine singularH935 come in, come, go in, go
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
the kingהַמֶּ֑לֶךְham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
she was givenיִנָּ֤תֵֽןyin·nā·ṯênVerb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH5414 give, put, set
whateverכָּל־kāl-Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
she requestedתֹּאמַ֜רtō·marVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularH559 utter, say
to takeלָב֣וֹאlā·ḇō·wPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH935 come in, come, go in, go
with herעִמָּ֔הּ‘im·māhPreposition; third person feminine singularH5973 with
from the haremמִבֵּ֥יתmib·bêṯPreposition-m; Noun - masculine singular constructH1004 house
toעַד־‘aḏ-PrepositionH5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
the king’sהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
palaceבֵּ֥יתbêṯNoun - masculine singular constructH1004 house

Esther 2:14

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Sheהִ֣יאhîPronoun - third person feminine singularH1931 he, she
would goבָאָ֗הḇā·’āhVerb - Qal - Participle - feminine singularH935 come in, come, go in, go
in the eveningבָּעֶ֣רֶב׀bā·‘e·reḇPreposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singularH6153 (sun)set, evening
and in the morningוּ֠בַבֹּקֶרū·ḇab·bō·qerConjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singularH1242 morning
sheהִ֣יאhîPronoun - third person feminine singularH1931 he, she
would returnשָׁבָ֞הšā·ḇāhVerb - Qal - Participle - feminine singularH7725 turn back, return
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
a secondשֵׁנִ֔יšê·nîNumber - ordinal masculine singularH8145 second
haremבֵּ֤יתbêṯNoun - masculine singular constructH1004 house
underאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
the careיַ֧דyaḏNoun - feminine singular constructH3027 hand
of Shaashgazשַֽׁעֲשְׁגַ֛זša·‘ăš·ḡazNoun - proper - masculine singularH8190 Shaashgaz
the king’sהַמֶּ֖לֶךְham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
eunuchסְרִ֥יסsə·rîsNoun - masculine singular constructH5631 eunuch
in charge ofשֹׁמֵ֣רšō·mêrVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH8104 keep, watch, preserve
the concubinesהַפִּֽילַגְשִׁ֑יםhap·pî·laḡ·šîmArticle; Noun - feminine pluralH6370 concubine
She would notלֹא־lō-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
returnתָב֥וֹאṯā·ḇō·wVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularH935 come in, come, go in, go
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
unlessכִּ֣יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
heהַמֶּ֖לֶךְham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
delightedחָפֵ֥ץḥā·p̄êṣVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH2654 delight in
in herבָּ֛הּbāhPreposition; third person feminine singular
and summoned herוְנִקְרְאָ֥הwə·niq·rə·’āhConjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singularH7121 call, proclaim, read
by nameבְשֵֽׁם׃ḇə·šêmPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singularH8034 name

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Esther 2:8 Esther 2:3

Esther 2:9 Proverbs 16:7 · Genesis 39:21 · Esther 2:12 · Esther 2:3 · Daniel 1:9 · Ezra 7:6 · Acts 7:10 · Psalm 106:46 · 1 Kings 8:50

Esther 2:10 Esther 2:20 · Matthew 10:16 · Esther 3:8 · Ephesians 6:1 · Esther 4:13–14 · Esther 2:7 · Esther 7:4

Esther 2:11 1 Samuel 17:18 · Genesis 37:14 · Acts 15:36

Esther 2:12 1 Thessalonians 4:4–5 · Proverbs 7:17 · Isaiah 57:9

Esther 2:14 Esther 4:11

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.