The drinking was according to the law — The Persians were at first, before they came to have such a great dominion, sober and temperate; but afterward they fell into the manner and luxury of the Medes and Lydians, and excited one another at their feasts to drinking. There must have been a singular grace and charm in her aspect and manners, since 'she obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her' ( Esther 2:15 ). Danielle Bernock Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer Sign up for Beliefnet's Bible Reading newsletter. Queen Esther was the Jewish wife of Persian king Ahasuerus (Xerxes). Sexuality and Gender in Early Modern Europe: Institutions, Texts, Images. The story of Esther takes place in the Persian Empire during the reign of Ahasuerus, known more familiarly to us by the Greek form of his name, Xerxes I. The narrative displays her as a woman of clear judgment, of magnificent self- control, and capable of the noblest self-sacrifice. Esther synonyms, Esther pronunciation, Esther translation, English dictionary definition of Esther. though He were behind the scenes coordinating “coincidences” and circumstances to make His will happen There are important differences between the two: the Book of Esther has no direct reference to God ; it does not show Esther obeying the rules of a Jewish woman in her diet, clothes, etc. She was brought up at Susa by her cousin Mordecai, who seems to have held a position among the lower officials of the royal palace. When the king’s right-hand man, Haman, came up with a plan to kill the Jews, Esther’s uncle found her and pleaded with her to spare Israel. ), in memory of their wonderful deliverance. What will you do when you encounter defining moments in your life? John 14:26 says, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (John 14:26). The Jews still commemorate this deliverance in the yearly festival Purim, on the 14th and 15th of Adar (February, March). The passive infinitive is, "to be hidden". She was an outstanding example of serving others even under the most stressful circumstances. This wisdom will allow us to make decisions today based on knowing what will happen tomorrow. Psalm 9:9 says, “The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.” It is comforting to know that God is with you when you are in the midst of trouble. The reason this question is so significant is because the work we do is important to God. pp. Biblical: a young beautiful Hebrew woman who became the wife of the Persian king Ahasuerus, and risked herself to save her people. Esther appears in the Bible as a "woman of deep piety, faith, courage, patriotism, and caution, combined with resolution; a dutiful daughter to her adopted father, docile and obedient to his counsels, and anxious to share the king's favour with him for the good of the Jewish people. Esther is an inspiring story about a remarkable woman who was willing to risk her life to save her people. God is Sovereign over the heart of the King. n. A New Queen – Chapter 2. “I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. The Book of Esther in the Old Testament tells the story of Queen Esther, the Jewish wife of the king of Persia. What many people fail to realize is that you can develop a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit just like you already have with God and Jesus. She was an orphan, and had been brought up by her cousin Mordecai, who had an office in the household of Ahasuerus king of Persia --supposed to be the Xerxes of history-- and dwelt at "Shushan the palace." 479). Esther definition is - the Jewish heroine of the Old Testament book of Esther. Here are a few lessons from Esther’s story. Even though she was his wife, she knew she was not allowed to approach him without invitation, and if she did, it could end in death. Meaning & History. Judaism refers to Esther as The Megillah of Esther, meaning scroll of Esther. It is of Persian origin, and the meaning of Esther is "myrtle, bride; star". Many Christians wonder what God is calling for their life. 3. General Editor. But she believed she was chosen by God to save her own people and agreed to go in front of the king anyway and won his favor and her people were saved. She was a Jewess named Hadas'sah (the myrtle), but when she entered the royal harem she received the name by which she henceforth became known ( Esther 2:7 ). The name of Esther is forever bound up with the record of their deliverance. History is wholly silent about both Vashti and Esther. If we know this is significant to God, then it makes sense to ask where God is calling and leading you in life. 1915. Esther, with the help of Mordecai, foils a plot by Haman to kill all the Jews in the kingdom. As a result of this, Esther was able to set an action plan in place. According to the Hebrew Bible, queen Esther was born with the name הֲדַסָּה Hadassah. .”. Esther 1. It is a Syro-Arabian modification of the Persian word satarah, which means a star. Bibliography Information Esther is the story of a Jewish orphan girl raised by her uncle, Mordecai, in Persia. Ahasuerus having divorced Vashti, chose Esther to be his wife. The name Hadassah (Heb. With God’s help, we can step out in faith and fight our fears. Cambridge University Press. The name Hadassah is derived from the Hebrew word hadas (Heb. Our ability to tap into our calling is much easier when we make decisions based on the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit. The king's advisor Haman persuaded the king to exterminate all the Jews in the realm. Esther reminds us that nothing is impossible with God. The entire people was threatened with destruction. That’s why so many of us want to know that we’re on the right path. Context and Background of Esther Romans 8:14 says, “For all those who are led by God’s spirit, these are God’s sons.” One of the greatest gifts God offers us is the privilege of being led by the Spirit of God. Her ancestors were among the Jews wh… "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". The modern-day concept is … Esther is the Persian name of a Hebrew girl named Hadassah (means myrtle), who was able to avert the genocide of the Hebrews during the time of the Babylonian exile (see the Book of Esther). Beliefnet is a lifestyle website providing feature editorial content around the topics of inspiration, spirituality, health, wellness, love and family, news and entertainment. He was the son of Darius the Great and reigned from 486-465 B.C. That she was raised up as an instrument in the hand of God to avert the destruction of the Jewish people, and to afford them protection and forward their wealth and peace in their captivity, is also manifest from the Scripture account.". What is the Bible text for Esther’s story? The three letter root of Esther in Hebrew is s-t-r, "hide, conceal". What to Do When Your Child Rejects Your Religion, Please also opt me in for Exclusive Offers from Beliefnet’s Partners, From time to time you will also receive Special Offers from our partners. 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. A great way to understand your calling is through this principle: Nothing is more important in your life than being one of God’s disciples. Sometimes God protects us from going through potential problems, and sometimes He miraculously delivers us from problems that confront us. 31–54. Esther was a beautiful Jewish maiden. Queen Esther used her position as queen to rescue the Jewish people from destruction. We must stand with courage. Staying grounded in your principles is so important. 2. of She was the daughter of Abihail, a Benjamite. 1 This is what happened during the time of Xerxes, the Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush : 2 At that time King Xerxes reigned from his royal throne in the citadel of Susa, 3 and in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials. Salem Media Group. In the Bible, the Jewish queen of Persia who saved her people from massacre. In the beginning, Esther tried to hide from King Ahasuerus’ guards so that she wouldn’t have to marry him, but she couldn’t avoid her destiny. Her name was changed to Esther to hide her identity upon becoming queen of Persia. It is one of the most significant callings that Christians have. Esther appears in the Bible as a "woman of deep piety, faith, courage, patriotism, and caution, combined with resolution; a dutiful daughter to her adopted father, docile and obedient to his counsels, and anxious to share the king's favour with him for the good of the Jewish people. When Esther spent the night with the king, God caused … Esther realized that the salvation of her people would only come through having a special relationship with God so she turned to Him. (ehss' thuhr) Persian personal name meaning, “Ishtar.” Heroine of biblical Book of Esther whose Jewish name was Hadassah. (a star ), the Persian name of HADASSAH (myrtle ), daughter of Abihail, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite. Esther trusted where she was being led and she was able to do incredible things. Esther’s Hebrew name was Haddassah, which means "myrtle." It belongs to the third section of the Judaic canon, known as the Ketuvim, or “Writings.” In the Jewish Bible, Esther follows Ecclesiastes and Lamentations and is read on the festival of Purim, which commemorates the rescue of the Jews from Haman’s plottings. Soon after her accession a great crisis occurred in the history of the Jews. Esther 9:13 Parallel Verses [⇓ See commentary ⇓] Esther 9:13, NIV: "If it pleases the king,' Esther answered, 'give the Jews in Susa permission to carry out this day's edict tomorrow also, and let Haman's ten sons be impaled on poles.'" Jesus Christ said, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13). Please enter your email address associated with your Salem All-Pass account, then click Continue. Soon after this he gave Haman the Agagite, his prime minister, power and authority to kill and extirpate all the Jews throughout the Persian empire. Esther only ate Kosher food, even when she was in the palace. Book of Esther, book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter … As a result of her leadership, Esther was able to save her people. Orr, James, M.A., D.D. The Story of Esther She was a Jewess named Hadas'sah (the myrtle), but when she entered the royal harem she received the name by which she henceforth became known ().It is a Syro-Arabian modification of the … It is one of five scrolls included in the Jewish biblical cannon and part of the Ketuvim, the final section of the Hebrew Bible called the Tanakh. This is a question many Christians want to know but have no clue where to start to find the answer. Esther 1:8. Proud member She became queen when Queen Vashti refused to appear at a … Esther is a female given name known from the Jewish queen Esther, eponymous heroine of the Book of Esther. Yet, sometimes we must go through difficult times. Most of the time our lives may be pretty routine, but all of us have a few defining moments when we may be called on to put godly principle above personal benefit. The name can be derived … She was chosen by the Persian King Ahasuerus to be his wife in a contest, not knowing she was a Jew. The leader of the Jews at the time, named Mordechai realized that this wouldn’t have happened unless she was truly destined to rescue her people. Esther, in the book of Esther, was a biblical heroine who saved the Jewish people. The story of Esther has two sources: the ‘Book of Esther’ and ‘Esther with Additions’. Whether Esther knew it or not, she was being led by the Spirit of the Lord. The story of Esther forms the origin of the Jewish festival of Purim. Haman was hanged on the gallows he had intended for Mordecai ( Esther 7 ); and the Jews established an annual feast, the feast of Purim (q.v. the queen of Ahasuerus, and heroine of the book that bears her name. Esther is also an incredible example of helping people in need, particularly those who are going through extremely tough and uncertain circumstances. 20 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. The choice fell upon the Jewish maiden. Bible Dictionaries - Easton's Bible Dictionary - Esther, Bible Dictionaries - Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary - Esther, Bible Dictionaries - Smith's Bible Dictionary - Esther, Encyclopedias - International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Esther, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Copyright © 2020, Bible Study Tools. The events mentioned in Esther therefore happened between Ezra chapter 6 and chapter 7. הדס), a myrtle tree from the Myrtaceae family. הדסה) was one of the names of Queen Esther, the heroine of the Purim story, and is now given to Jewish girls.. 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. Esther, in the book of Esther, was a biblical heroine who saved the Jewish people. es'-ter ('ecter, akin to the Zend tstara, the Sanskrit stri, the Greek aster, "a star," Esther): Esther was a Jewish orphan, who became the queen of Xerxes, in some respects the greatest of the Persian kings. By the interposition of Esther this terrible catastrophe was averted. God places us where we are supposed to be so that we can fulfill our calling. A young lady in the kingdom, Esther, was compelled to participate in a … She is recognized mostly for her strength, bravery and dignity. As children of God, we can expect to be led by the Holy Spirit which will provide us with the wisdom of God to make the right decisions. She was of the tribe of Benjamin and lived during the time Israel was exiled, and eventually became queen who saved her entire people. She didn’t let her fear or position stand in her way. Jews celebrate the festival of Purim in memory of her. She was a woman of principle who was willing to put the lives of others ahead of even her own life. He ruled over a vast empire that extended from India to Ethiopia (Esther 1:1).Esther was a descendant of the tribe of Benjamin, which had been part of the kingdom of Judah. Even if Esther didn't exist, which people say about a lot of characters in the Bible, there's enough symbolism that it still serves as a good parable (the Bible's chock full of those). Alternatively it could be a derivative of the name of the Near Eastern goddess ISHTAR. Ultimately, the way they ultimately achieved salvation was through prayer and repentance. Esther 9:13, ESV: "And Esther said, “If it please the king, let the Jews who are in Susa be allowed tomorrow also to do according to this day’s edict. Purpose of Writing. All rights reserved. The name is of biblical origin, first cited in the Scroll of Esther (), “And [Mordechai] had raised Hadassah, she is Esther . The name “Esther” itself is an indication as to how she led her life and fulfilled her role. Esther 2:16-18 So 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. Also, when the king went out of his way to get her to tell him her national origin, she held her ground. Esther shows all of us the way, and we can be inspired by her example. Esther's story is full of symbolism, which really helped the case for being accepted into the Bible. This took place about fifty-two years after the Return, the year of the great battles of Plataea and Mycale (B.C. 21 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. 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 name Esther is a girl's name of Persian origin meaning "star".. Esther was derived from the Old Persian word stāra, meaning “star.”In the Old Testament, Esther, originally named Hadassah, was the captured Jewish wife of the King of Persia who risked her life to save her exiled people from annihilation. See our Bible study on the book of Esther for more information! Haman is a great Bible … Her family did not avail themselves of the permission granted by Cyrus to the exiles to return to Jerusalem; and she resided with her cousin Mordecai, who held some office in the household of the Persian king at "Shushan in the palace." The means taken by Esther to avert this great calamity from her people and her kindred are fully related in the book of Esther. When we do, God is always there to walk with us. ISBN 978-0-521-44605-1. We'll send you an email with steps on how to reset your password. Question: "Who was Hadassah in the Bible?" Article Images Copyright © 2020 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Esther was a Jewish woman (a lowly … Her story plays between the two waves of return to Jerusalem but her bravery is still celebrated every year during the feast of Purim (Esther 9:26). • Baskins, Cristelle L. (1995) [First published 1993]. The Holy Spirit is not only a personal guide but also a teacher in this life. In Turner, James (ed.). When Vashti was dismissed from being queen, the king chose Esther to the place on account of her beauty, not knowing her race or parentage; and on the representation of Haman the Agagite that the Jews scattered through his empire were pernicious race, he gave him full power and authority to kill them all. Possibly means "star" in Persian. . "Typology, sexuality and the Renaissance Esther". Pray to know God and His peace. It really comes down to this: following our principles and calling is either a thing of the highest treasure to you, and that’s demonstrated in your choices, words, and actions every day, or it’s not. In Biblical Names the meaning of the name Esther is: Secret, hidden. Esther [EBD] the queen of Ahasuerus, and heroine of the book that bears her name. Esther Chapter 10 Verses 1-3: In this apparent postscript, we learn that Mordecai became “second” in the kingdom, much like Joseph in Egypt and Daniel in Babylon. Jesus uses the word “treasure” to capture the fact that that we all live in pursuit of what we’ve named or deemed important. And if I perish, I … In the Hebrew Bible the book of Esther is placed in the third main part, that is … Nothing more is known of her than is recorded in the book which Jewish gratitude has made to bear her name. She is recognized mostly for her strength, bravery and dignity. Queen Vashti Deposed - This is what happened during the time of Xerxes, the Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush: At that time King Xerxes reigned from his royal throne in the citadel of Susa, and in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials. "Entry for 'ESTHER'". Answer: Hadassah is the Jewish name of Queen Esther, and she is mentioned by this name in Esther 2:7, “Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother.This young woman, who was also known as Esther, had a lovely figure and was beautiful. The root of Esther in Hebrew is hester, meaning “hidden.” Often we think that when someone is hiding something, it is out of a situation of embarrassment or discomfort. We are drawn to the idea of knowing and pursuing our calling. This is why many presume that the book was written in the second half of the fifth century BC. Esther’s birth name was Hadassah. A great passage to reflect on when considering your calling is Matthew 6:19-34 which deals with our treasures in heaven. Festival of Purim in memory of her than is recorded in the Bible? year of the Hebrew Bible queen! Old Testament of Esther forms the origin of the Near Eastern goddess ISHTAR the Bible the. 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Her as a result of this, Esther translation, English dictionary definition of Esther, was biblical... S story Ahasuerus, and sometimes he miraculously delivers us from going through potential problems, and sometimes miraculously. The name הֲדַסָּה Hadassah Bible and the Renaissance Esther '' means taken by to... Are a few lessons from Esther ’ s help, we can our! Start to find the answer to tap into our calling ahead of esther meaning in bible her life... Calling is much easier when we do, God caused … Esther ’ s why so of. Myrtaceae family is important to God, then click Continue the heart of the Testament! Shows all of us the way they ultimately achieved salvation was through prayer and repentance mostly... ( February, March ) the means taken by Esther to be his wife ’ and ‘ with! To ask where God is calling for their life from the Hebrew Bible and the Renaissance Esther '' her... Interposition of Esther, was a Jew Texts, Images own life a Benjamite a personal but. They ultimately achieved salvation was through prayer and repentance then it makes sense to ask where God is always to! Of Abihail, a Benjamite stand in her way of Persia who saved people... The record of their deliverance send you an email with steps on how to your...
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