Berean Standard Bible
Esther 2:12
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.
Esther 2:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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 International Version (NIV)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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)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—
- New King James Version (NKJV)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.
Context of Esther 2:12
10Esther did not reveal her people or her lineage, because Mordecai had instructed her not to do so. 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. 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. 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. 14She would go there in the evening, and in the morning she would return to a second harem under the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch in charge of the concubines. She would not return to the king unless he delighted in her and summoned her by name.
Read all of Esther 2Esther 2:12 word by word
וּבְהַגִּ֡יעַ תֹּר֩ נַעֲרָ֨ה וְנַעֲרָ֜ה לָב֣וֹא׀ אֶל־הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֗וֹשׁ מִקֵּץ֩ הֱי֨וֹת לָ֜הּ כְּדָ֤ת הַנָּשִׁים֙ שְׁנֵ֣ים עָשָׂ֣ר חֹ֔דֶשׁ כִּ֛י כֵּ֥ן יִמְלְא֖וּ יְמֵ֣י מְרוּקֵיהֶ֑ן שִׁשָּׁ֤ה חֳדָשִׁים֙ בְּשֶׁ֣מֶן הַמֹּ֔ר וְשִׁשָּׁ֤ה חֳדָשִׁים֙ בַּבְּשָׂמִ֔ים וּבְתַמְרוּקֵ֖י הַנָּשִֽׁים׃Read the interlinear
- In the twelveשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
- In the twelveעָשָׂר‛âώâr · tenH6240
- monthsחֹ֫דֶשׁchôdesh · monthH2320
- monthsכִּיkîy · forH3588
- monthsכֵּןkên · soH3651
- monthsמָלֵאmâlê' mâlâ' · to fillH4390
- monthsיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- beforeנַעֲרָהna‛ărâh · maidenH5291
- turnתּוֹרtôr tôr · plaitH8447
- turnנָגַעnâga‛ · to touchH5060
- to goבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- toאֶל'êl 'el · to(wards)H413
- Kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- Xerxesאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ'ăchashvêrôsh 'achashrôsh · AhasuerusH325
- Xerxesקֵץqêts · endH7093
- Xerxesהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
- the haremאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · womanH802
- regulation requiredדָּתdâth · lawH1881
- to receive beauty treatmentsמָרוּקmârûq · rubbingH4795
- with oilשֶׁ֫מֶןshemen · oilH8081
- of myrrhמֹרmôr môr · myrrhH4753
- for sixשֵׁשׁshêsh shishshâh · sixH8337
- and then with perfumesבֶּ֫שֶׂםbeώem bôώem · spiceH1314
- and cosmeticsתַּמְרוּקtamrûq tamrûq tamrîyq · cosmeticH8562
Cross-references for Esther 2:12
- 1 Thessalonians 4:4each of you must know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,
- Proverbs 7:17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, with aloes, and with cinnamon.
- Isaiah 57:9You went to Molech with oil and multiplied your perfumes. You have sent your envoys a great distance; you have descended even to Sheol itself.
- Luke 7:37When a sinful woman from that town learned that Jesus was dining there, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume.
Commentaries on Esther 2:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12Six months with oil of myrrh - See on Esther 2:3; (note). The reason of this purification seems not to be apprehended by any writer I have seen. The most beautiful of all the young virgins of all the provinces of Babylon were to be selected; and these were taken out of all classes of the people, indiscriminately; consequently there must have been many who were brought up in low life. Now we know that those who feed on coarse strong food, which is not…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12The twelve months of preparation likely included learning court customs and beauty treatments. However, the main focus was on physical beauty.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus--A whole year was spent in preparation for the intended honor. Considering that this took place in a palace, the long period prescribed, together with the profusion of costly and fragrant cosmetics employed, was probably required by state etiquette.Read the comment
Topics related to Esther 2:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Esther 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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