אֶסְתֵּר

Esther — Chapter 2

Read Esther Chapter 2 in Biblical Hebrew alongside the King James Version (KJV) — 23 verses. Original Hebrew text with vowel points (nikud) and full English translation.

אַחַ֣ר הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֗לֶּה כְּשֹׁ֣ךְ חֲמַ֣ת הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֑וֹשׁ זָכַ֤ר אֶת וַשְׁתִּי֙ וְאֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂ֔תָה וְאֵ֖ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִגְזַ֖ר עָלֶֽיהָ׃

KJVAfter these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.

After these things, when the anger of King Ahasuerus had abated, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what had been decreed against her.

וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ נַעֲרֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ מְשָׁרְתָ֖יו יְבַקְשׁ֣וּ לַמֶּ֑לֶךְ נְעָר֥וֹת בְּתוּל֖וֹת טוֹב֥וֹת מַרְאֶֽה׃

KJVThen said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:

Then the king's young men who attended him said: Let beautiful young virgins be sought out for the king.

וְיַפְקֵ֨ד הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ פְּקִידִים֮ בְּכָל מְדִינ֣וֹת מַלְכוּתוֹ֒ וְיִקְבְּצ֣וּ אֶת כָּל נַעֲרָ֣ה בְתוּלָ֣ה טוֹבַ֣ת מַרְאֶ֗ה אֶל שׁוּשַׁ֣ן הַבִּירָה֙ אֶל בֵּ֣ית הַנָּשִׁ֔ים אֶל יַ֥ד הֵגֶ֛א סְרִ֥יס הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ שֹׁמֵ֣ר הַנָּשִׁ֑ים וְנָת֣וֹן תַּמְרוּקֵיהֶֽן׃

KJVAnd let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them:

And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom to gather all the beautiful young virgins to Susa the citadel, to the harem, in custody of Hegai, the king's eunuch, who has charge of the women. Let their cosmetics be given them.

וְהַנַּעֲרָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר תִּיטַב֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ תִּמְלֹ֖ךְ תַּ֣חַת וַשְׁתִּ֑י וַיִּיטַ֤ב הַדָּבָר֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַיַּ֖עַשׂ כֵּֽן׃

KJVAnd let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.

And the young woman who pleases the king will be queen instead of Vashti. This pleased the king, and he did so.

אִ֣ישׁ יְהוּדִ֔י הָיָ֖ה בְּשׁוּשַׁ֣ן הַבִּירָ֑ה וּשְׁמ֣וֹ מָרְדֳּכַ֗י בֶּ֣ן יָאִ֣יר בֶּן שִׁמְעִ֣י בֶן קִ֡ישׁ אִ֣ישׁ יְמִינִֽי׃

KJVNow in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;

Now there was a Jew in Susa the citadel whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjaminite,

אֲשֶׁ֤ר הָגְלָה֙ מִיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔יִם עִ֚ם הַגֹּלָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָגְלְתָ֔ה עִ֖ם יְכָנְיָ֣ה מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֶגְלָ֔ה נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַ֖ר מֶ֥לֶךְ בָּבֶֽל׃

KJVWho had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.

who had been carried away from Jerusalem among the captives carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away.

וַיְהִ֨י אֹמֵ֜ן אֶת הֲדַסָּ֗ה הִ֤יא אֶסְתֵּר֙ בַּת דֹּד֔וֹ כִּ֛י אֵ֥ין לָ֖הּ אָ֣ב וָאֵ֑ם וְהַנַּעֲרָ֤ה יְפַת תֹּ֙אַר֙ וְטוֹבַ֣ת מַרְאֶ֔ה וּבְמ֛וֹת אָבִ֥יהָ וְאִמָּ֖הּ לְקָחָ֥הּ מָרְדֳּכַ֛י ל֖וֹ לְבַֽת׃

KJVAnd he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.

He was bringing up Hadassah, that is Esther, the daughter of his uncle, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman had a beautiful figure and was lovely to look at, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.

וַיְהִ֗י בְּהִשָּׁמַ֤ע דְּבַר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ וְדָת֔וֹ וּבְהִקָּבֵ֛ץ נְעָר֥וֹת רַבּ֖וֹת אֶל שׁוּשַׁ֣ן הַבִּירָ֑ה אֶל יַ֣ד הֵגָ֔י וַתִּלָּקַ֤ח אֶסְתֵּר֙ אֶל בֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֶל יַ֖ד הֵגַ֥י שֹׁמֵ֖ר הַנָּשִֽׁים׃

KJVSo it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.

So when the king's order and his edict were proclaimed, and when many young women were gathered in Susa the citadel in custody of Hegai, Esther also was taken into the king's palace and put in custody of Hegai, who had charge of the women.

וַתִּיטַ֨ב הַנַּעֲרָ֤ה בְעֵינָיו֙ וַתִּשָּׂ֣א חֶ֔סֶד לְפָנָ֖יו וַיְבַהֵ֣ל אֶת תַּמְרוּקֶ֑יהָ וְאֶת מָנוֹתֶ֗הָ לָתֵ֤ת לָהּ֙ וְאֵ֣ת שֶׁ֣בַע הַנְּעָר֔וֹת הָרְאֻיֹת֙ לָתֵ֣ת לָ֔הּ מִבֵּ֖ית הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיְשַׁנֶּ֛הָ וְאֶת נַעֲרֹתֶ֖יהָ לְט֥וֹב בֵּ֖ית הַנָּשִֽׁים׃

KJVAnd the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.

And the young woman pleased him and won his favor. And he quickly provided her with her cosmetics and her portion of food, and with seven chosen young women from the king's palace, and advanced her and her young women to the best place in the harem.

לֹֽא הִגִּ֣ידָה אֶסְתֵּ֗ר אֶת עַמָּ֛הּ וְאֶת מוֹלַדְתָּ֖הּ כִּ֣י מָרְדֳּכַ֔י צִוָּ֥ה עָלֶ֖יהָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹ֖א תַגִּֽיד׃

KJVEsther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it.

Esther had not made known her people or kindred, for Mordecai had commanded her not to make it known.

וּבְכָל יוֹם֙ וָי֔וֹם מָרְדֳּכַ֣י מִתְהַלֵּ֔ךְ לִפְנֵ֖י חֲצַ֣ר בֵּ֣ית הַנָּשִׁ֑ים לָדַ֕עַת אֶת שְׁל֥וֹם אֶסְתֵּ֖ר וּמַה יֵּעָשֶׂ֥ה בָּֽהּ׃

KJVAnd Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.

And every day Mordecai walked in front of the court of the harem to learn how Esther was and what was happening to her.

וּבְהַגִּ֣יעַ תֹּ֣ר נַֽעֲרָ֣ה וְנַעֲרָה֮ לָב֣וֹא אֶל הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֑וֹשׁ מִקֵּ֗ץ הֱי֤וֹת לָהּ֙ כְּדָ֣ת הַנָּשִׁ֔ים שְׁנֵ֥ים עָשָׂ֖ר חֹ֑דֶשׁ כִּ֣י כֵ֣ן יִמְלְא֣וּ יְמֵ֣י מְרוּקֵיהֶ֡ן שִׁשָּׁה֩ חֳדָשִׁ֨ים בְּשֶׁ֜מֶן הַמֹּ֗ר וְשִׁשָּׁ֤ה חֳדָשִׁים֙ בַּבְּשָׂמִ֔ים וּבְתַמְרוּקֵ֖י הַנָּשִֽׁים׃

KJVNow when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;)

Now when the turn came for each young woman to go in to King Ahasuerus, after being twelve months under the regulations for the women—since this was the regular period of their beautifying, six months with oil of myrrh and six months with spices and ointments for women—

וּבָזֶ֕ה הַנַּעֲרָ֖ה בָּאָ֣ה אֶל הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ אֵ֣ת כָּל אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֹּאמַ֣ר יִנָּ֣תֵן לָ֡הּ לָב֞וֹא עִמָּ֛הּ מִבֵּ֥ית הַנָּשִׁ֖ים עַד בֵּ֥ית הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

KJVThen thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house.

when the young woman went in to the king in this way, she was given whatever she desired to take with her from the harem to the king's palace.

בָּעֶ֣רֶב הִ֣יא בָאָ֡ה וּבַבֹּ֣קֶר הִ֣יא שָׁבָ֡ה אֶל בֵּ֣ית הַנָּשִׁ֣ים שֵׁנִ֡י אֶל יַד֩ שַֽׁעַשְׁגַז֙ סְרִ֣יס הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ שֹׁמֵ֖ר הַפִּילַגְשִׁ֑ים לֹ֤א תָב֣וֹא עוֹד֙ אֶל הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כִּ֣י אִם חָפֵ֣ץ בָּ֡הּ הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ וְנִקְרְאָ֖ה בְּשֵֽׁם׃

KJVIn the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.

In the evening she would go in, and in the morning she would return to the second harem in custody of Shaashgaz, the king's eunuch, who was in charge of the concubines. She would not go in to the king again, unless the king delighted in her and she was summoned by name.

וּבְהַגִּ֣יעַ תֹּ֣ר אֶסְתֵּ֣ר בַּת אֲבִיחַ֡יִל דֹּד֣ מָרְדֳּכַ֡י אֲשֶׁ֣ר לָקַ֣ח ל֣וֹ לְבַ֡ת לָב֞וֹא אֶל הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ לֹ֤א בִקְשָׁה֙ דָּבָ֔ר כִּ֗י אִם אֶת אֲשֶׁ֤ר יֹאמַר֙ הֵגַ֣י סְרִ֣יס הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ שֹׁמֵ֖ר הַנָּשִׁ֑ים וַתְּהִ֤י אֶסְתֵּר֙ נֹשֵׂ֣את חֵ֔ן בְּעֵינֵ֖י כָּל רֹאֶ֥יהָ׃

KJVNow when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.

When the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his own daughter, to go in to the king, she asked for nothing except what Hegai the king's eunuch, who had charge of the women, advised. Now Esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her.

וַתִּלָּקַ֤ח אֶסְתֵּר֙ אֶל הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ אֶל בֵּ֣ית מַלְכוּת֔וֹ בַּחֹ֥דֶשׁ הָֽעֲשִׂירִ֖י הוּא חֹ֥דֶשׁ טֵבֵ֑ת בִּשְׁנַ֥ת שֶׁ֖בַע לְמַלְכוּתֽוֹ׃

KJVSo Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

And Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, into his royal palace, in the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

וַיֶּאֱהַ֨ב הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אֶת אֶסְתֵּ֗ר מִכָּל הַנָּשִׁ֔ים וַתִּשָּׂ֥א חֵ֛ן וָחֶ֖סֶד לְפָנָ֣יו מִכָּל הַבְּתוּל֑וֹת וַיָּ֤שֶׂם כֶּֽתֶר מַלְכוּת֙ בְּרֹאשָׁ֔הּ וַיַּמְלִיכֶ֖הָ תַּ֥חַת וַשְׁתִּֽי׃

KJVAnd the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.

The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she won grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.

וַיַּ֥עַשׂ הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ מִשְׁתֶּ֥ה גָד֖וֹל לְכָל שָׂרָ֣יו וַעֲבָדָ֑יו אֵ֚ת מִשְׁתֵּ֣ה אֶסְתֵּ֔ר וַהֲנָחָה֙ לַמְּדִינ֣וֹת עָשָׂ֔ה וַיִּתֵּ֥ן מַשְׂאֵ֖ת כְּיַ֥ד הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

KJVThen the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king.

Then the king gave a great feast for all his officials and servants; it was Esther's feast. He also granted a remission of taxes to the provinces and gave gifts with royal generosity.

וּבְהִקָּבֵ֥ץ בְּתוּל֖וֹת שֵׁנִ֑ית וּמָרְדֳּכַ֖י יֹשֵׁ֥ב בְּשַֽׁעַר הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

KJVAnd when virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate.

Now when the virgins were gathered together the second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate.

אֵ֣ין אֶסְתֵּ֗ר מַגֶּ֤דֶת מוֹלַדְתָּהּ֙ וְאֶת עַמָּ֔הּ כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה עָלֶ֖יהָ מָרְדֳּכָ֑י וְאֶת מַאֲמַ֤ר מָרְדֳּכַי֙ אֶסְתֵּ֣ר עֹשָׂ֔ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר הָיְתָ֥ה בְאָמְנָ֖ה אִתּֽוֹ׃

KJVEsther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.

Esther had not made known her kindred or her people, as Mordecai had commanded her, for Esther obeyed Mordecai just as when she was brought up by him.

בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔ם וּמָרְדֳּכַ֖י יֹשֵׁ֣ב בְּשַֽׁעַר הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ קָצַ֞ף בִּגְתָ֣ן וָתֶ֗רֶשׁ שְׁנֵי סָרִיסֵ֣י הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ מִשֹּׁמְרֵ֣י הַסַּ֡ף וַיְבַקְשׁוּ֙ לִשְׁלֹ֣חַ יָ֔ד בַּמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרֽוֹשׁ׃

KJVIn those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.

In those days, as Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, became angry and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.

וַיִּוָּדַ֣ע הַדָּבָ֔ר לְמָרְדֳּכַ֖י וַיַּגֵּ֣ד לְאֶסְתֵּ֣ר הַמַּלְכָּ֑ה וַתֹּ֨אמֶר אֶסְתֵּ֤ר לַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ בְּשֵׁ֣ם מָרְדֳּכָ֔י׃

KJVAnd the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name.

And the matter became known to Mordecai, and he told it to Queen Esther, and Esther told the king in the name of Mordecai.

וַיְבֻקַּ֥שׁ הַדָּבָ֖ר וַיִּמָּצֵ֑א וַיִּתָּלוּ֙ שְׁנֵיהֶ֔ם עַל עֵ֖ץ וַיִּכָּתֵ֛ב בְּסֵ֥פֶר דִּבְרֵ֛י הַיָּמִ֖ים לִפְנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

KJVAnd when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.

When the matter was investigated and found to be so, the two men were both hanged on the gallows. And it was recorded in the book of the chronicles in the presence of the king.