Esther 2:2

Esther 2:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:
• New International Version (NIV)Then the king’s personal attendants proposed, “Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then the king's young men who attended him said, "Let beautiful young virgins be sought out for the king.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then the king’s servants who attended him said: “Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king;

Context of Esther 2:2

1Some time later, when the anger of King Xerxes had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done, and what had been decreed against her. Then the king’s attendants proposed, “Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king, 3and 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. 4Then let the young woman who pleases the king become queen in place of Vashti.” This suggestion pleased the king, and he acted accordingly.

Esther 2:2 word by word

וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ נַעֲרֵֽי־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ מְשָׁרְתָ֑יו יְבַקְשׁ֥וּ לַמֶּ֛לֶךְ נְעָר֥וֹת בְּתוּל֖וֹת טוֹב֥וֹת מַרְאֶֽה׃Read the interlinear

• Then the king’sמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• attendantsנַ֫עַרna‛ar · youthH5288
• attendantsשָׁרַתshârath · to ministerH8334
• proposedאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Let a search be madeבָּקַשׁbâqash · to seekH1245
• for beautifulטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• for beautifulמַרְאֶהmar'eh · appearanceH4758
• youngנַעֲרָהna‛ărâh · maidenH5291
• virginsבְּתוּלָהbethûlâh · virginH1330

Cross-references for Esther 2:2

• Esther 1:10On the seventh day, when the king’s heart was merry with wine, he ordered the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas—
• Esther 6:14While they were still speaking with Haman, the king’s eunuchs arrived and rushed him to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
• Genesis 12:14So when Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful.
• 1 Kings 1:2So his servants said to him, “Let us search for a young virgin for our lord the king, to attend to him and care for him and lie by his side to keep him warm.”

Commentaries on Esther 2:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king - This was the usual way in which the harem or seraglio was furnished: the finest women in the land, whether of high or low birth, were sought out, and brought to the harem. They all became the king's concubines: but one was raised, as chief wife or sultana, to the throne; and her issue was specially entitled to inherit.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-201-3. After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased--On recovering from the violent excitement of his revelry and rage, the king was pierced with poignant regret for the unmerited treatment he had given to his beautiful and dignified queen. But, according to the law, which made the word of a Persian king irrevocable, she could not be restored. His counsellors, for their own sake, were solicitous to remove his disquietude, and hastened…Read the comment

Topics related to Esther 2:2

• Marriage

In the dictionaries

• Esther, Book of
• Vashti

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