Esther 2:5-11
New American Standard Bible
5 There was a Jew at the citadel in Susa whose name was (A)Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjaminite, 6 (B)who had been taken from Jerusalem with the exiles who had been deported with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had deported. 7 He was the guardian to Hadassah, that is (C)Esther, his uncle’s daughter, for she had no father or mother. Now the young woman was beautiful of form and [a]face, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.
Esther Finds Favor
8 So it came about, when the command and decree of the king were heard and (D)many young ladies were gathered to the citadel of Susa into the [b]custody of (E)Hegai, that Esther was taken to the king’s [c]palace into the custody of Hegai, who was in charge of the women. 9 Now the young lady pleased him and found favor with him. So he quickly provided her with her (F)cosmetics and [d]food, gave her seven choice female attendants from the king’s palace, and transferred her and her attendants to the best place in the harem. 10 (G)Esther did not reveal her people or her kindred, because Mordecai had instructed her that she was not to reveal them. 11 And every day Mordecai walked back and forth in front of the courtyard of the harem to learn how Esther was and what was happening to her.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Esther 2:7 Lit good of appearance
- Esther 2:8 Lit hand
- Esther 2:8 Lit house
- Esther 2:9 Lit portions
Esther 2:5-11
New King James Version
5 In [a]Shushan the [b]citadel there was a certain Jew whose name was Mordecai the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of (A)Kish, a Benjamite. 6 (B)Kish[c] had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives who had been captured with [d]Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. 7 And Mordecai had brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, (C)his uncle’s daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman was lovely and beautiful. When her father and mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.
8 So it was, when the king’s command and decree were heard, and when many young women were (D)gathered at [e]Shushan the [f]citadel, under the custody of Hegai, that Esther also was taken to the king’s palace, into the care of Hegai the custodian of the women. 9 Now the young woman pleased him, and she obtained his favor; so he readily gave (E)beauty preparations to her, besides [g]her allowance. Then seven choice maidservants were provided for her from the king’s palace, and he moved her and her maidservants to the best place in the house of the women.
10 (F)Esther had not [h]revealed her people or family, for Mordecai had charged her not to reveal it. 11 And every day Mordecai paced in front of the court of the women’s quarters, to learn of Esther’s welfare and what was happening to her.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Esther 2:5 Or Susa
- Esther 2:5 palace
- Esther 2:6 Lit. Who
- Esther 2:6 Jehoiachin, 2 Kin. 24:6
- Esther 2:8 Or Susa
- Esther 2:8 palace
- Esther 2:9 Lit. her portions
- Esther 2:10 Revealed the identity of
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
