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, King Xerxes was not feeling so angry. He thought about Vashti and what she had done. He remembered the law that he had made, that she should not be queen any more. The king's servants who helped him in the palace said, ‘We think that the king should send some men to look for beautiful young women for him. 3The king could choose officers from every region of his kingdom to do this. They will bring all the beautiful young women here to Susa. Hegai will take care of them in the royal harem. He is the eunuch who has that job. The young women will receive special oils and perfumes to make them more beautiful. 4The king may choose the young woman that pleases him most. She may take the place of Vashti as queen.’ King Xerxes thought that this was a good idea. He did everything that the servants said.

Esther 2:2 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• the king’sמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• servantsנַ֫עַרna‛ar · youthH5288
• that ministeredשָׁרַתshârath · to ministerH8334
• unto him, Let there be fairמַרְאֶהmar'eh · appearanceH4758
• unto him, Let there be fairטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• youngנַעֲרָהna‛ărâh · maidenH5291
• virginsבְּתוּלָהbethûlâh · virginH1330
• soughtבָּקַשׁbâqash · to seekH1245

Cross-references for Esther 2:2

• Esther 1:10On the seventh day of the feast, King Xerxes was feeling happy, because he had drunk so much wine. He had seven eunuchs who served him in the palace. Their names were Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Carcas.
• Esther 6:14While they were speaking, the king's eunuchs arrived. Very quickly they took Haman to the special meal that Esther had prepared.
• Genesis 12:14When Abram arrived in Egypt, the people saw that Sarai was a very beautiful woman.
• 1 Kings 1:2So his servants said to him, ‘We will look for a young woman who has never had sex, for you, our master the king. She can take care of you and she can be your nurse. She can also sleep beside you, so that our master the king will be 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