Esther 2 אֶסְתֵּר פרק ב׳

Masoretic Text, word by word with English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Esther 2 in the interlinear reader for transliteration, roots and notes.

1. 1

   אַחַרafterהַדְּבָרִיםthe wordsהָאֵלֶּהtheseכְּשֹׁךְwhen subsidedחֲמַתthe wrath ofהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁAhasuerusזָכַרrememberedאֶת־וַשְׁתִּיVashtiוְאֵתandאֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂתָהwhich she had preparedוְאֵתandאֲשֶׁר־נִגְזַרwhich was decreedעָלֶיהָ׃upon it

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

2. 2

   וַיֹּאמְרוּand they saidנַעֲרֵי־הַמֶּלֶךְthe young men of the kingמְשָׁרְתָיוhis servantsיְבַקְשׁוּseekלַמֶּלֶךְthe kingנְעָרוֹתyoung womenבְּתוּלוֹתvirginsטוֹבוֹתgoodמַרְאֶה׃appearance

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

3. 3

   וְיַפְקֵדand let him appointהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingפְּקִידִיםwere overseersבְּכׇל־מְדִינוֹתin all the provinces ofמַלְכוּתוֹhis kingdomוְיִקְבְּצוּand let them gatherאֶת־כׇּל־נַעֲרָה־בְתוּלָהall a young woman a virginטוֹבַתthe welfare ofמַרְאֶהappearanceאֶל־שׁוּשַׁןto Shushanהַבִּירָהthe citadelאֶל־בֵּיתto the house ofהַנָּשִׁיםthe womenאֶל־יַדto the hand ofהֵגֶאHegaiסְרִיסan official ofהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingשֹׁמֵרwho keepsהַנָּשִׁיםthe womenוְנָתוֹןand givenתַּמְרֻקֵיהֶן׃their purifications

   And 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:

4. 4

   וְהַנַּעֲרָהand the young womanאֲשֶׁרwhichתִּיטַבshe will be goodבְּעֵינֵיin the eyes ofהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingתִּמְלֹךְwill you reignתַּחַתunderוַשְׁתִּיVashtiוַיִּיטַבand it was goodהַדָּבָרthe thingבְּעֵינֵיin the eyes ofהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingוַיַּעַשׂand he didכֵּן׃thus

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

5. 5

   אִישׁa manיְהוּדִיJewהָיָהwasבְּשׁוּשַׁןin Shushanהַבִּירָהthe citadelוּשְׁמוֹand his nameמׇרְדֳּכַיMordecaiבֶּןson ofיָאִירJairבֶּן־שִׁמְעִיson of Shimeiבֶּן־קִישׁson of Kishאִישׁa manיְמִינִי׃a Benjamite

   Now 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;

6. 6

   אֲשֶׁרwhichהׇגְלָהhe was carried awayמִירוּשָׁלַיִםfrom Jerusalemעִם־הַגֹּלָהwith the exileאֲשֶׁרwhichהׇגְלְתָהit has been taken into exileעִםwithיְכׇנְיָהJeconiahמֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָהking of Judahאֲשֶׁרwhichהֶגְלָהhe had taken into exileנְבוּכַדְנֶצַּרNebuchadnezzarמֶלֶךְthe king ofבָּבֶל׃Babylon

   Who 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.

7. 7

   וַיְהִיand it came to passאֹמֵןraisingאֶת־הֲדַסָּהHadassahהִיאsheאֶסְתֵּרEstherבַּת־דֹּדוֹdaughter of his uncleכִּיbecauseאֵיןthere is noלָהּto herאָבfatherוָאֵםand a motherוְהַנַּעֲרָהand the young womanיְפַת־תֹּאַרfair of formוְטוֹבַתand the welfare ofמַרְאֶהappearanceוּבְמוֹתand at the death ofאָבִיהָher fatherוְאִמָּהּand her motherלְקָחָהּhe has taken herמׇרְדֳּכַיMordecaiלוֹto himלְבַת׃to the daughter of

   And 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.

8. 8

   וַיְהִיand it came to passבְּהִשָּׁמַעwhen were heardדְּבַר־הַמֶּלֶךְword of the kingוְדָתוֹand his ordersוּבְהִקָּבֵץand when were gatheredנְעָרוֹתyoung womenרַבּוֹתmanyאֶל־שׁוּשַׁןto Shushanהַבִּירָהthe citadelאֶל־יַדto the hand ofהֵגָיHegaiוַתִּלָּקַחand she was takenאֶסְתֵּרEstherאֶל־בֵּיתto the house ofהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingאֶל־יַדto the hand ofהֵגַיHegaiשֹׁמֵרwho keepsהַנָּשִׁים׃the women

   So 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.

9. 9

   וַתִּיטַבand she was goodהַנַּעֲרָהthe young womanבְעֵינָיוin his eyesוַתִּשָּׂאand she lifted upחֶסֶדmercyלְפָנָיוbefore himוַיְבַהֵלand he hastenedאֶת־תַּמְרוּקֶיהָher rubbingsוְאֶת־מָנוֹתֶהָand her portionsלָתֵתto giveלָהּto herוְאֵתandשֶׁבַעsevenהַנְּעָרוֹתthe servant girlsהָרְאֻיוֹתthe chosenלָתֶת־לָהּto give to herמִבֵּיתfrom the house ofהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingוַיְשַׁנֶּהָand he moved herוְאֶת־נַעֲרוֹתֶיהָand her servant girlsלְטוֹבfor goodבֵּיתthe house ofהַנָּשִׁים׃the women

   And 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.

10. 10

    לֹא־הִגִּידָהnot she toldאֶסְתֵּרEstherאֶת־עַמָּהּits peopleוְאֶת־מוֹלַדְתָּהּand her kindredכִּיforמׇרְדֳּכַיMordecaiצִוָּהcommandedעָלֶיהָupon itאֲשֶׁרwhichלֹא־תַגִּיד׃not she will tell

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

11. 11

    וּבְכׇל־יוֹםand in all dayוָיוֹםand dayמׇרְדֳּכַיMordecaiמִתְהַלֵּךְwalkingלִפְנֵיbeforeחֲצַרthe courtyard ofבֵּית־הַנָּשִׁיםhouse of the womenלָדַעַתto knowאֶת־שְׁלוֹםthe welfare ofאֶסְתֵּרEstherוּמַה־יֵּעָשֶׂהyea and what will it be doneבָּהּ׃in it

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

12. 12

    וּבְהַגִּיעַand when arrivedתֹּרthe turn ofנַעֲרָהa young womanוְנַעֲרָהand maidenלָבוֹאto comeאֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְunto the kingאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁAhasuerusמִקֵּץafterהֱיוֹתhaveלָהּto herכְּדָתaccording to the lawהַנָּשִׁיםthe womenשְׁנֵים־עָשָׂרtwelveחֹדֶשׁa month ofכִּיbecauseכֵּןthusיִמְלְאוּthey were completedיְמֵיthe days ofמְרוּקֵיהֶןtheir rubbingsשִׁשָּׁהsixחֳדָשִׁיםmonthsבְּשֶׁמֶןwith oilהַמֹּרthe myrrhוְשִׁשָּׁהand sixחֳדָשִׁיםmonthsבַּבְּשָׂמִיםwith the balsam oilוּבְתַמְרוּקֵיand with the rubbings ofהַנָּשִׁים׃the women

    Now 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;)

13. 13

    וּבָזֶהand in thisהַנַּעֲרָהthe young womanבָּאָהcomesאֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְunto the kingאֵת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁרall thatתֹּאמַרshe saysיִנָּתֵןgiven be shallלָהּto herלָבוֹאto comeעִמָּהּwith herמִבֵּיתfrom the house ofהַנָּשִׁיםthe womenעַד־בֵּיתuntil house ofהַמֶּלֶךְ׃the king

    Then 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.

14. 14

    בָּעֶרֶבin the eveningהִיאit isבָאָהentered intoוּבַבֹּקֶרand in the morningהִיאit isשָׁבָהshe returnedאֶל־בֵּיתto the house ofהַנָּשִׁיםthe womenשֵׁנִיsecondאֶל־יַדto the hand ofשַׁעַשְׁגַזShaashgazסְרִיסan official ofהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingשֹׁמֵרwho keepsהַפִּילַגְשִׁיםthe concubinesלֹא־תָבוֹאthere shall not comeעוֹדany moreאֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְunto the kingכִּיbecauseאִם־חָפֵץif desireבָּהּin itהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingוְנִקְרְאָהand she was summonedבְשֵׁם׃in the name of

    In 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.

15. 15

    וּבְהַגִּיעַand when arrivedתֹּר־אֶסְתֵּרthe turn of Estherבַּת־אֲבִיחַיִלdaughter of Abihailדֹּדthe uncle ofמׇרְדֳּכַיMordecaiאֲשֶׁרwhichלָקַח־לוֹtook himלְבַתto the daughter ofלָבוֹאto comeאֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְunto the kingלֹאnotבִקְשָׁהshe requestedדָּבָרa wordכִּיforאִםifאֶת־אֲשֶׁרthat whichיֹאמַרhe saysהֵגַיHegaiסְרִיס־הַמֶּלֶךְan official of the kingשֹׁמֵרwho keepsהַנָּשִׁיםthe womenוַתְּהִיand wasאֶסְתֵּרEstherנֹשֵׂאתbearingחֵןfavorבְּעֵינֵיin the eyes ofכׇּל־רֹאֶיהָ׃all her those who saw

    Now 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.

16. 16

    וַתִּלָּקַחand she was takenאֶסְתֵּרEstherאֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְunto the kingאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁAhasuerusאֶל־בֵּיתto the house ofמַלְכוּתוֹhis kingdomבַּחֹדֶשׁin the monthהָעֲשִׂירִיthe tenthהוּא־חֹדֶשׁit is a month ofטֵבֵתTebethבִּשְׁנַת־שֶׁבַעin the year of sevenלְמַלְכוּתוֹ׃for his royalty

    So 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.

17. 17

    וַיֶּאֱהַבand lovedהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingאֶת־אֶסְתֵּרEstherמִכׇּל־הַנָּשִׁיםfrom all the womenוַתִּשָּׂא־חֵןand she obtained favorוָחֶסֶדand mercyלְפָנָיוbefore himמִכׇּל־הַבְּתוּלוֹתfrom all the virginsוַיָּשֶׂםand he setכֶּתֶר־מַלְכוּתa crown of the reign ofבְּרֹאשָׁהּon her headוַיַּמְלִיכֶהָand he made queen herתַּחַתunderוַשְׁתִּי׃Vashti

    And 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.

18. 18

    וַיַּעַשׂand madeהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingמִשְׁתֶּהfeastגָדוֹלgreatלְכׇל־שָׂרָיוto all his commandersוַעֲבָדָיוand his servantsאֵת־מִשְׁתֵּהa feast ofאֶסְתֵּרEstherוַהֲנָחָהand a holidayלַמְּדִינוֹתfor the provincesעָשָׂהhe didוַיִּתֵּןand gaveמַשְׂאֵתtributeכְּיַדaccording to the hand ofהַמֶּלֶךְ׃the king

    Then 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.

19. 19

    וּבְהִקָּבֵץand when were gatheredבְּתוּלוֹתvirginsשֵׁנִיתagainוּמׇרְדֳּכַיand Mordecaiיֹשֵׁבsatבְּשַׁעַר־הַמֶּלֶךְ׃in the gate of the king

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

20. 20

    אֵיןthere is noאֶסְתֵּרEstherמַגֶּדֶתwas tellingמוֹלַדְתָּהּher kindredוְאֶת־עַמָּהּand its peopleכַּאֲשֶׁרasצִוָּהcommandedעָלֶיהָupon itמׇרְדֳּכָיMordecaiוְאֶת־מַאֲמַרand the command ofמׇרְדֳּכַיMordecaiאֶסְתֵּרEstherעֹשָׂהis makingכַּאֲשֶׁרasהָיְתָהwasבְאׇמְנָהunder his careאִתּוֹ׃with him

    Esther 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.

21. 21

    בַּיָּמִיםin the daysהָהֵםthoseוּמׇרְדֳּכַיand Mordecaiיוֹשֵׁבsittingבְּשַׁעַר־הַמֶּלֶךְin the gate of the kingקָצַףwas angryבִּגְתָןBigthanוָתֶרֶשׁand Tereshשְׁנֵי־סָרִיסֵיtwo the eunuchs ofהַמֶּלֶךְthe kingמִשֹּׁמְרֵיfrom the guards ofהַסַּףthe thresholdוַיְבַקְשׁוּand desired of himלִשְׁלֹחַlayיָדhandsבַּמֶּלֶךְon the kingאֲחַשְׁוֵרֹשׁ׃Ahasuerus

    In 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.

22. 22

    וַיִּוָּדַעand it was knownהַדָּבָרthe thingלְמׇרְדֳּכַיto Mordecaiוַיַּגֵּדand he toldלְאֶסְתֵּרto Estherהַמַּלְכָּהthe queenוַתֹּאמֶרand saidאֶסְתֵּרEstherלַמֶּלֶךְthe kingבְּשֵׁםin the name ofמׇרְדֳּכָי׃Mordecai

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

23. 23

    וַיְבֻקַּשׁand it was soughtהַדָּבָרthe wordוַיִּמָּצֵאand it was foundוַיִּתָּלוּand they were hangedשְׁנֵיהֶםthe twoעַל־עֵץupon a treeוַיִּכָּתֵבand it was writtenבְּסֵפֶרin the book ofדִּבְרֵיthe words ofהַיָּמִיםthe daysלִפְנֵיbeforeהַמֶּלֶךְ׃the king

    And 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.