635. Ester
Lexical Summary
Ester: Esther

Original Word: אֶסְתֵּר
Part of Speech: Proper Name Feminine
Transliteration: Ecter
Pronunciation: es-TAIR
Phonetic Spelling: (es-tare')
KJV: Esther
NASB: Esther, Esther's
Word Origin: [of Persian derivation]

1. Ester, the Jewish heroine

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Esther

Of Persian derivation; Ester, the Jewish heroine -- Esther.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
of foreign origin
Definition
"star," Ahasuerus' queen who delivered Isr.
NASB Translation
Esther (52), Esther's (3).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
אֶסְתֵּר proper name, feminine Esther (Persian stâra, star) — daughter of Abihail, cousin and adopted daughter of Mordecai, of tribe of Benjamin; made queen in Vashti's place by Ahasuerus; her Jewish name הֲדַסָּת q. v. Esther 2:7,8,10,11,15 (twice in verse); Esther 2:16,17 47t. Esther.

Topical Lexicon
Overview

Esther is the Jewish woman whom God raised up to become queen of Persia and the central human instrument through whom He preserved the covenant people from genocidal destruction during the reign of King Ahasuerus (Xerxes I, 486–465 B.C.). Her account is narrated in the Book of Esther, where her name occurs about fifty-five times, underscoring her pivotal role. Though the book never mentions the divine name, Esther’s life displays the unseen sovereignty of the LORD, His faithfulness to the Abrahamic promises, and His protection of the messianic line.

Historical Setting

• Exile context: The events unfold roughly fifty years after the first return under Zerubbabel (Ezra 1–6) but before Ezra’s and Nehemiah’s missions. Many Jews remained in the vast Persian Empire; Susa, the winter capital (Esther 1:2), became the stage for divine intervention among the diaspora.
• Persian court: Ahasuerus deposed Queen Vashti (Esther 1) and held a beauty search in his seventh year (ca. 479 B.C.), during which Esther, the orphaned cousin of Mordecai, was chosen queen (Esther 2:16–17).
• Threat and deliverance: Haman’s decree to annihilate the Jews (Esther 3:8–15) mirrored earlier satanic attempts to extinguish the covenant people (Exodus 1, 2 Chronicles 22). God’s reversal through Esther culminated in the Jews’ victory and the institution of Purim (Esther 9:20–32).

Character and Qualities of Esther

1. Modesty and wisdom (Esther 2:10; 2:15).
2. Courageous faith: “If I perish, I perish!” (Esther 4:16).
3. Strategic discernment: Her twofold banquet (Esther 5–7) exposed Haman at the right moment.
4. Identification with God’s people: She went from concealed ethnicity (Esther 2:20) to public intercession (Esther 7:3–4).
5. Dependence on corporate prayer and fasting (Esther 4:15–17).

Occurrences and Narrative Flow

Below is a representative survey of her appearances:

Esther 2:7 – first mention, “Hadassah—that is, Esther.”

Esther 2:17 – “the king loved Esther more than all the other women.”

Esther 4:14 – Mordecai’s challenge regarding her royal position.

Esther 5:2 – the king extends the golden scepter to Esther.

Esther 7:3 – Esther’s petition for her life and her people.

Esther 8:1–2 – Esther receives Haman’s estate.

Esther 9:29 – Esther and Mordecai confirm Purim.

The repeated use of her name intertwines her personal identity with national destiny.

Theological and Typological Themes

• Providence: God’s hidden but decisive governance ensures covenant continuity (Romans 8:28 echoes).
• Reversal motif: Gallows built for Mordecai hang Haman (Esther 7:10); mourning turns to joy (Esther 9:22). This foreshadows the cross, where intended defeat becomes victory (Colossians 2:15).
• Mediatorship: Esther risks death to approach the throne, prefiguring the greater Mediator who entered the heavenly throne room on behalf of His people (Hebrews 4:14–16).
• Preservation of the messianic line: By saving the Jews, the promise of Messiah through Judah remained intact.

Ministry Applications

1. Sovereign purpose in ordinary circumstances: Believers can trust God’s positioning (“for such a time as this,” Esther 4:14) even when He seems silent.
2. Prayer and fasting: Corporate intercession aligns the community with God’s deliverance.
3. Moral courage: Esther models obedience that risks security for righteousness.
4. Embrace public identity: Christians are called to confess allegiance to God despite cultural pressure (Matthew 10:32–33).

New Testament Echoes

Though Esther is not directly cited in the New Testament, its themes resonate:
• The hidden yet omnipotent work of God (John 5:17).
• Christ’s mediatorial access superseding Persian protocol (1 Timothy 2:5).
• Celebration of deliverance parallels believers’ continual remembrance in the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:26).

Commemoration in Jewish and Christian Tradition

Purim remains an annual feast (Esther 9:28). Within Christian teaching, Esther is valued for illustrating providence, encouragement in diaspora living (1 Peter 1:1), and affirmation that God’s promises stand irrespective of geopolitical tides.

Summary

Esther’s fifty-plus appearances spotlight an orphan exalted to queenly influence, whose steadfast faith and strategic courage preserved God’s people and advanced redemptive history. Her narrative invites every generation to trust the unseen hand of God, to intercede boldly, and to live faithfully amid secular powers until the greater King completes His story.

Forms and Transliterations
אֶסְתֵּ֑ר אֶסְתֵּ֔ר אֶסְתֵּ֖ר אֶסְתֵּ֗ר אֶסְתֵּ֛ר אֶסְתֵּ֜ר אֶסְתֵּ֣ר אֶסְתֵּ֤ר אֶסְתֵּ֥ר אֶסְתֵּ֨ר אֶסְתֵּֽר׃ אֶסְתֵּר֙ אסתר אסתר׃ וְאֶסְתֵּ֣ר ואסתר לְאֶסְתֵּ֔ר לְאֶסְתֵּ֗ר לְאֶסְתֵּ֜ר לְאֶסְתֵּ֣ר לְאֶסְתֵּר֙ לאסתר מֵֽאֶסְתֵּ֣ר מאסתר ’es·têr ’estêr esTer lə’estêr lə·’es·têr leesTer mê’estêr mê·’es·têr meesTer veesTer wə’estêr wə·’es·têr
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Esther 2:7
HEB: הֲדַסָּ֗ה הִ֤יא אֶסְתֵּר֙ בַּת־ דֹּד֔וֹ
NAS: up Hadassah, that is Esther, his uncle's
KJV: Hadassah, that [is], Esther, his uncle's
INT: Hadassah that is Esther daughter his uncle's

Esther 2:8
HEB: הֵגָ֑י וַתִּלָּקַ֤ח אֶסְתֵּר֙ אֶל־ בֵּ֣ית
NAS: of Hegai, that Esther was taken
KJV: of Hegai, that Esther was brought
INT: of Hegai was taken Esther about palace

Esther 2:10
HEB: לֹא־ הִגִּ֣ידָה אֶסְתֵּ֔ר אֶת־ עַמָּ֖הּ
NAS: Esther did not make known
KJV: Esther had not shewed her people
INT: did not make Esther her people her kindred

Esther 2:11
HEB: אֶת־ שְׁל֣וֹם אֶסְתֵּ֔ר וּמַה־ יֵּעָשֶׂ֖ה
NAS: how Esther was and how
KJV: to know how Esther did,
INT: to learn how Esther was and how fared

Esther 2:15
HEB: וּבְהַגִּ֣יעַ תֹּר־ אֶסְתֵּ֣ר בַּת־ אֲבִיחַ֣יִל
NAS: Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter
KJV: Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter
INT: came the turn of Esther the daughter of Abihail

Esther 2:15
HEB: הַנָּשִׁ֑ים וַתְּהִ֤י אֶסְתֵּר֙ נֹשֵׂ֣את חֵ֔ן
NAS: advised. And Esther found
KJV: appointed. And Esther obtained
INT: of the women become and Esther found favor

Esther 2:16
HEB: וַתִּלָּקַ֨ח אֶסְתֵּ֜ר אֶל־ הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ
NAS: So Esther was taken to King
KJV: So Esther was taken unto king
INT: was taken Esther to King

Esther 2:17
HEB: הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ אֶת־ אֶסְתֵּר֙ מִכָּל־ הַנָּשִׁ֔ים
NAS: The king loved Esther more than all
KJV: loved Esther above all the women,
INT: loved the king Esther all the women

Esther 2:18
HEB: אֵ֖ת מִשְׁתֵּ֣ה אֶסְתֵּ֑ר וַהֲנָחָ֤ה לַמְּדִינוֹת֙
NAS: banquet, Esther's banquet,
KJV: and his servants, [even] Esther's feast;
INT: and his servants banquet Esther's A holiday the provinces

Esther 2:20
HEB: אֵ֣ין אֶסְתֵּ֗ר מַגֶּ֤דֶת מֽוֹלַדְתָּהּ֙
NAS: Esther had not yet made known
KJV: Esther had not [yet] shewed
INT: else Esther known her kindred

Esther 2:20
HEB: מַאֲמַ֤ר מָרְדֳּכַי֙ אֶסְתֵּ֣ר עֹשָׂ֔ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר
NAS: had commanded her; for Esther did
KJV: had charged her: for Esther did
INT: what Mordecai Esther did after

Esther 2:22
HEB: לְמָרְדֳּכַ֔י וַיַּגֵּ֖ד לְאֶסְתֵּ֣ר הַמַּלְכָּ֑ה וַתֹּ֧אמֶר
NAS: Queen Esther, and Esther
KJV: who told [it] unto Esther the queen;
INT: to Mordecai told Esther Queen informed

Esther 2:22
HEB: הַמַּלְכָּ֑ה וַתֹּ֧אמֶר אֶסְתֵּ֛ר לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ בְּשֵׁ֥ם
NAS: Esther, and Esther informed
KJV: the queen; and Esther certified
INT: Queen informed and Esther the king name

Esther 4:4
HEB: ק) נַעֲר֨וֹת אֶסְתֵּ֤ר וְסָרִיסֶ֙יהָ֙ וַיַּגִּ֣ידוּ
NAS: Then Esther's maidens and her eunuchs
KJV: So Esther's maids and her chamberlains
INT: abide maidens Esther's eunuchs and told

Esther 4:5
HEB: וַתִּקְרָא֩ אֶסְתֵּ֨ר לַהֲתָ֜ךְ מִסָּרִיסֵ֤י
NAS: Then Esther summoned Hathach
KJV: Then called Esther for Hatach,
INT: summoned Esther Hathach eunuchs

Esther 4:8
HEB: לְהַרְא֥וֹת אֶת־ אֶסְתֵּ֖ר וּלְהַגִּ֣יד לָ֑הּ
NAS: that he might show Esther and inform
KJV: them, to shew [it] unto Esther, and to declare
INT: had been issued show Esther and inform order

Esther 4:9
HEB: הֲתָ֑ךְ וַיַּגֵּ֣ד לְאֶסְתֵּ֔ר אֵ֖ת דִּבְרֵ֥י
NAS: Mordecai's words to Esther.
KJV: and told Esther the words
INT: Hathach and related to Esther words Mordecai's

Esther 4:10
HEB: וַתֹּ֤אמֶר אֶסְתֵּר֙ לַהֲתָ֔ךְ וַתְּצַוֵּ֖הוּ
NAS: Then Esther spoke to Hathach
KJV: Again Esther spake unto Hatach,
INT: spoke Esther to Hathach and ordered

Esther 4:12
HEB: אֵ֖ת דִּבְרֵ֥י אֶסְתֵּֽר׃ פ
NAS: They related Esther's words
KJV: to Mordecai Esther's words.
INT: to Mordecai words Esther's

Esther 4:13
HEB: לְהָשִׁ֣יב אֶל־ אֶסְתֵּ֑ר אַל־ תְּדַמִּ֣י
NAS: [them] to reply to Esther, Do not imagine
KJV: to answer Esther, Think
INT: reply to Esther not imagine

Esther 4:15
HEB: וַתֹּ֥אמֶר אֶסְתֵּ֖ר לְהָשִׁ֥יב אֶֽל־
NAS: Then Esther told [them] to reply
KJV: Then Esther bade [them] return
INT: told Esther reply to

Esther 4:17
HEB: צִוְּתָ֥ה עָלָ֖יו אֶסְתֵּֽר׃ ס
NAS: just as Esther had commanded
KJV: and did according to all that Esther had commanded
INT: had commanded as Esther

Esther 5:1
HEB: הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֗י וַתִּלְבַּ֤שׁ אֶסְתֵּר֙ מַלְכ֔וּת וַֽתַּעֲמֹ֞ד
NAS: day that Esther put
KJV: day, that Esther put on
INT: the third put Esther her royal and stood

Esther 5:2
HEB: הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אֶת־ אֶסְתֵּ֣ר הַמַּלְכָּ֗ה עֹמֶ֙דֶת֙
NAS: saw Esther the queen
KJV: saw Esther the queen
INT: saw the king Esther the queen standing

Esther 5:2
HEB: וַיּ֨וֹשֶׁט הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ לְאֶסְתֵּ֗ר אֶת־ שַׁרְבִ֤יט
NAS: extended to Esther the golden
KJV: held out to Esther the golden
INT: extended and the king to Esther scepter the golden

55 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 635
55 Occurrences


’es·têr — 42 Occ.
lə·’es·têr — 11 Occ.
mê·’es·têr — 1 Occ.
wə·’es·têr — 1 Occ.

634
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