Esther 2:11
◄  Esther 2:11  ►
New International Version (©2011)
Every day he walked back and forth near the courtyard of the harem to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her.

New Living Translation (©2007)
Every day Mordecai would take a walk near the courtyard of the harem to find out about Esther and what was happening to her.

English Standard Version (©2001)
And every day Mordecai walked in front of the court of the harem to learn how Esther was and what was happening to her.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Every day Mordecai walked back and forth in front of the court of the harem to learn how Esther was and how she fared.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Every day Mordecai took a walk in front of the harem's courtyard to learn how Esther was doing and to see what was happening to her.

International Standard Version (©2012)
Every day Mordecai would walk back and forth in front of the court of the harem to find out about Esther's well-being and what was happening to her.

NET Bible (©2006)
And day after day Mordecai used to walk back and forth in front of the court of the harem in order to learn how Esther was doing and what might happen to her.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Every day Mordecai would walk back and forth in front of the courtyard of the women's quarters to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.

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

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

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he walked every day before the court of the house, in which the chosen virgins werre kept, having a care for Esther's welfare, and desiring to know what would befall her.

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

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

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

World English Bible
Mordecai walked every day in front of the court of the women's house, to find out how Esther did, and what would become of her.

Young's Literal Translation
and during every day Mordecai is walking up and down before the court of the house of the women to know the welfare of Esther, and what is done with her.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

2:1-20 We see to what absurd practices those came, who were destitute of Divine revelation, and what need there was of the gospel of Christ, to purify men from the lusts of the flesh, and to bring them back to the original institution of marriage. Esther was preferred as queen. Those who suggest that Esther committed sin to come at this dignity, do not consider the custom of those times and countries. Every one that the king took was married to him, and was his wife, though of a lower rank. But how low is human nature sunk, when such as these are the leading pursuits and highest worldly happiness of men! Disappointment and vexation must follow; and he most wisely consults his enjoyment, even in this present life, who most exactly obeys the precepts of the Divine law. But let us turn to consider the wise and merciful providence of God, carrying on his deep but holy designs in the midst of all this. And let no change in our condition be a pretext for forgetting our duties to parents, or the friends who have stood in their place.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 11. - Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house. Mordecai seems to have been one of the porters at the main entrance to the palace, and his proper place was at the gateway. He contrived, however, during some part of each day to visit the court in front-of the seraglio, in order to see Esther, or at any rate obtain intelligence concerning her.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house,.... Being one of the court, and in an high post, as Aben Ezra thinks, he might walk there without being examined, and called to an account for it:

to know how Esther did; to inquire of her health and prosperity, or peace, the word here used signifies, even all sorts of it:

and what should become of her; or was done to her, whether she was well used, or as yet introduced to the king, how it fared with her, and what befell her.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

11. Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house—The harem is an inviolable sanctuary, and what is transacted within its walls is as much a secret to those without as if they were thousands of miles away. But hints were given him through the eunuchs.

Esther 2:11 Parallel Commentaries

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Esther Finds Favor
…10Esther had not showed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not show it. 11And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her. 12Now 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 odors, and with other things for the purifying of the women;) …

Esther 2:10 Esther had not revealed her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had forbidden her to do so.
Esther 2:12 Before a young woman's turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics.