Esther 2:12
New International Version
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.

New Living Translation
Before each young woman was taken to the king’s bed, she was given the prescribed twelve months of beauty treatments—six months with oil of myrrh, followed by six months with special perfumes and ointments.

English Standard Version
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—

Berean Standard Bible
In the twelve months before her turn to go to King Xerxes, the harem regulation required each young woman to receive beauty treatments with oil of myrrh for six months, and then with perfumes and cosmetics for another six months.

King James Bible
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;)

New King James Version
Each young woman’s turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus after she had completed twelve months’ preparation, according to the regulations for the women, for thus were the days of their preparation apportioned: six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfumes and preparations for beautifying women.

New American Standard Bible
Now when the turn came for each young woman to go in to King Ahasuerus, after the end of her twelve months under the regulations for the women—for the days of their beauty treatment were completed as follows: six months with oil of myrrh and six months with balsam oil and the cosmetics for women—

NASB 1995
Now when the turn of each young lady came to go in to King Ahasuerus, after the end of her twelve months under the regulations for the women— for the days of their beautification were completed as follows: six months with oil of myrrh and six months with spices and the cosmetics for women—

NASB 1977
Now when the turn of each young lady came to go in to King Ahasuerus, after the end of her twelve months under the regulations for the women—for the days of their beautification were completed as follows: six months with oil of myrrh and six months with spices and the cosmetics for women—

Legacy Standard Bible
Now when it reached the turn of each young lady to go in to King Ahasuerus, after the end of her twelve months under the regulations for the women—for the days of their cosmetic treatment were fulfilled as follows: six months with oil of myrrh and six months with spices and the cosmetics for women—

Amplified Bible
Now when it was each young woman’s turn to go before King Ahasuerus, after the end of her twelve months under the regulations for the women—for the days of their beautification were completed as follows: six months with oil of myrrh and six months with [sweet] spices and perfumes and the beauty preparations for women—

Christian Standard Bible
During the year before each young woman’s turn to go to King Ahasuerus, the harem regulation required her to receive beauty treatments with oil of myrrh for six months and then with perfumes and cosmetics for another six months.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
During the year before each young woman’s turn to go to King Ahasuerus, the harem regulation required her to receive beauty treatments with oil of myrrh for six months and then with perfumes and cosmetics for another six months.

American Standard Version
Now when the turn of every maiden was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that it had been done to her according to the law for the women twelve months (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 the things for the purifying of the women),

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And whenever the time had arrived that one of the girls was to enter before King Akhashiresh, when twelve days were done for her according to the law of women, because thus were finished the days of their adornments, six days of oil of myrrh, and six days of ointment and in the adorning of the women

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Now this was the time for a virgin to go into the king, when she should have fulfilled twelve months; for so are the days of purification fulfilled, six months while they are anointing themselves with oil of myrrh, and six months with spices and women's purifications.

Contemporary English Version
The young women were given beauty treatments for one whole year. The first six months their skin was rubbed with olive oil and myrrh, and the last six months it was treated with perfumes and cosmetics. Then each of them spent the night alone with King Xerxes.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Now when every virgin's turn came to go in to the king, after all had been done for setting them off to advantage, it was the twelfth month: so that for six months they were anointed with oil of myrrh, and for other six months they used certain perfumes and sweet spices.

English Revised Version
Now when the turn of every maiden was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that it had been done to her according to the law for the women, twelve months, (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 the things for the purifying of the women,)

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Each young woman had her turn to go to King Xerxes after she had completed the required 12-month treatment for women. The time of beauty treatment was spent as follows: six months using oil of myrrh and six months using perfumes and other treatments for women.

Good News Translation
The regular beauty treatment for the women lasted a year--massages with oil of myrrh for six months and with oil of balsam for six more. After that, each woman would be taken in turn to King Xerxes.

International Standard Version
Each young woman's turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus at the end of the twelve month period, at which time she was treated according to the regulations for women. This process completed the period of her beauty treatments—six months with oil of myrrh and six months with spices and cosmetics for women.

JPS Tanakh 1917
Now when the turn of every maiden was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that it had been done to her according to the law for the women, twelve months--for so were the days of their anointing accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six month with sweet odours, and with other ointments of the women--

Literal Standard Version
And in the drawing near of the turn of each young woman to come in to King Ahasuerus, at the end of there being to her—according to the law of the women—twelve months, for so they fulfill the days of their purifications; six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfumes, and with the purifications of women,

Majority Standard Bible
In the twelve months before her turn to go to King Xerxes, the harem regulation required each young woman to receive beauty treatments with oil of myrrh for six months, and then with perfumes and cosmetics for another six months.

New American Bible
After the twelve months’ preparation decreed for the women, each one went in turn to visit King Ahasuerus. During this period of beautifying treatment, six months were spent with oil of myrrh, and the other six months with perfumes and cosmetics.

NET Bible
At the end of the twelve months that were required for the women, when the turn of each young woman arrived to go to King Ahasuerus--for in this way they had to fulfill their time of cosmetic treatment: six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfume and various ointments used by women--

New Revised Standard Version
The turn came for each girl to go in to King Ahasuerus, after being twelve months under the regulations for the women, since this was the regular period of their cosmetic treatment, six months with oil of myrrh and six months with perfumes and cosmetics for women.

New Heart English Bible
Each young woman's turn came to go in to King Achshayarsh after her purification for twelve months (for so were the days of their purification accomplished, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet fragrances and with preparations for beautifying women).

Webster's Bible Translation
Now when every maid's turn had 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;)

World English Bible
Each young woman’s turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus after her purification for twelve months (for so were the days of their purification accomplished, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet fragrances and with preparations for beautifying women).

Young's Literal Translation
And in the drawing nigh of the turn of each young woman to come in unto the king Ahasuerus, at the end of there being to her -- according to the law of the women -- twelve months, for so they fulfil the days of their purifications; six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with spices, and with the purifications of women,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Esther Finds Favor
11And every day Mordecai would walk back and forth in front of the court of the harem to learn about Esther’s welfare and what was happening to her. 12In the twelve months before her turn to go to King Xerxes, the harem regulation required each young woman to receive beauty treatments with oil of myrrh for six months, and then with perfumes and cosmetics for another six months. 13When the young woman would go to the king, she was given whatever she requested to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace.…

Cross References
Esther 2:3
and let the king appoint commissioners in each province of his kingdom to assemble all the beautiful young women into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king's eunuch in charge of the women, and let them be given beauty treatments.

Esther 2:9
And the young woman pleased him and obtained his favor, so he quickly provided her with beauty treatments and the special diet. He assigned to her seven select maidservants from the palace and transferred her with them to the best place in the harem.

Esther 2:11
And every day Mordecai would walk back and forth in front of the court of the harem to learn about Esther's welfare and what was happening to her.

Esther 2:13
When the young woman would go to the king, she was given whatever she requested to take with her from the harem to the king's palace.

Isaiah 3:24
Instead of fragrance there will be a stench; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of styled hair, baldness; instead of fine clothing, sackcloth; instead of beauty, shame.


Treasury of Scripture

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 odors, and with other things for the purifying of the women;)

A.

1 Thessalonians 4:4,5
That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; …

six months.

Proverbs 7:17
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

Song of Solomon 3:6
Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?

Isaiah 57:9
And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase thyself even unto hell.

Jump to Previous
Accomplished Ahasuerus Anointing Fragrances Maiden Maid's Manner Months Myrrh Odors Odours Oil Preparations Purification Six Sweet Turn Twelve Wit Woman's Women Young
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Accomplished Ahasuerus Anointing Fragrances Maiden Maid's Manner Months Myrrh Odors Odours Oil Preparations Purification Six Sweet Turn Twelve Wit Woman's Women Young
Esther 2
1. Out of the choice of virgins a queen is to be chosen.
5. Mordecai the nursing father of Esther.
8. Esther preferred before the rest.
12. The manner of purification, and going in to the king.
15. Esther, best pleasing the king, is made queen.
21. Mordecai, discovering a treason, is recorded in the chronicles.














(12) Manner.--Translate, law or ordinance, as in Esther 1:8; Esther 1:15.

Verse 12. - After she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women. Rather, "After she had been (in the palace), according to the law prescribed to the women, twelve months." A year's purification was considered necessary before any maiden could approach the king (see the comment on ver. 3). Six months with oil of myrrh. Myrrh was highly esteemed, both for its scent and for its purifying power, by the ancients. In Egypt it was employed largely in the preparation of mummies (Herod., 2:86). The Jews were directed to make it one of the chief ingredients in their "holy anointing oil" (Exodus 30:23-25). Dresses and beds were scented with it (Psalm 45:8; Proverbs 7:17). And six months with sweet odours. The word translated "sweet odours" seems to mean "spices" generally (comp. Song of Solomon 4:16).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
In the twelve
שְׁנֵ֣ים (šə·nêm)
Number - md
Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)

months
חֹ֔דֶשׁ (ḥō·ḏeš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2320: The new moon, a month

before [her]
נַעֲרָ֨ה (na·‘ă·rāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5291: A girl, maiden

turn
תֹּר֩ (tōr)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8447: A succession, a string, order

to go
לָב֣וֹא ׀ (lā·ḇō·w)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

King
הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

Xerxes,
אֲחַשְׁוֵר֗וֹשׁ (’ă·ḥaš·wê·rō·wōš)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 325: Ahasuerus -- king of Persia

the harem
הַנָּשִׁים֙ (han·nā·šîm)
Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

regulation required
כְּדָ֤ת (kə·ḏāṯ)
Preposition-k | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 1881: A royal edict, statute

[each young woman]
הַנָּשִֽׁים׃ (han·nā·šîm)
Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

to receive beauty treatments
מְרוּקֵיהֶ֑ן (mə·rū·qê·hen)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine plural
Strong's 4795: A scraping, rubbing

with oil
בְּשֶׁ֣מֶן (bə·še·men)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8081: Grease, liquid, richness

of myrrh
הַמֹּ֔ר (ham·mōr)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4753: Myrrh

for six
שִׁשָּׁ֤ה (šiš·šāh)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 8337: Six (a cardinal number)

months,
חֳדָשִׁים֙ (ḥo·ḏā·šîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2320: The new moon, a month

and then with perfumes
בַּבְּשָׂמִ֔ים (bab·bə·śā·mîm)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1314: Fragrance, spicery, the balsam plant

and cosmetics
וּבְתַמְרוּקֵ֖י (ū·ḇə·ṯam·rū·qê)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 8562: A scouring, soap, perfumery for, the bath, a detergent

for another six
וְשִׁשָּׁ֤ה (wə·šiš·šāh)
Conjunctive waw | Number - masculine singular
Strong's 8337: Six (a cardinal number)

months.
חֳדָשִׁים֙ (ḥo·ḏā·šîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2320: The new moon, a month


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OT History: Esther 2:12 Each young woman's turn came to go (Est Esth. Es)
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