Esther 2:12

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 kindred, because Mordecai had instructed her that she was not to reveal them. 11And every day Mordecai walked back and forth in front of the courtyard of the harem to learn how Esther was and what was happening to her. 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-- 13the young woman would go in to the king in this way: anything that she desired was given her to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace. 14In the evening she would enter and in the morning she would return to the second harem, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the concubines. She would not go in to the king again, unless the king delighted in her and she was summoned by name.

Esther 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

• Now when the turnתּוֹרtôr tôr · plaitH8447
• cameנָגַעnâga‛ · to touchH5060
• for eachנַעֲרָהna‛ărâh · maidenH5291
• to goבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• inבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• to Kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ'ăchashvêrôsh 'achashrôsh · AhasuerusH325
• afterמִן־min minnîy minnêy · fromH4480
• the endקֵץqêts · endH7093
• of her twelveשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
• of her twelveעָשָׂר‛âώâr · tenH6240
• monthsחֹ֫דֶשׁchôdesh · monthH2320
• under the regulationsדָּתdâth · lawH1881
• for the womenאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · womanH802
• for the daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• of their beautyמָרוּקmârûq · rubbingH4795
• were completedמָלֵאmâlê' mâlâ' · to fillH4390
• asכֵּןkên · rightH3651
• with oilשֶׁ֫מֶןshemen · oilH8081
• of myrrhמֹרmôr môr · myrrhH4753
• with balsamבֶּ֫שֶׂםbeώem bôώem · spiceH1314
• and the cosmeticsתַּמְרוּקtamrûq tamrûq tamrîyq · cosmeticH8562

Cross-references for Esther 2:12

• 1 Thessalonians 4:4that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,
• Proverbs 7:17I have sprinkled my bed With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
• Isaiah 57:9You have journeyed to the king with oil And increased your perfumes; You have sent your messengers a great distance And made them go down to Sheol.
• Luke 7:37And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial 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

• Anointing
• Chamberlain
• Marriage
• Myrrh
• Ointment
• Purification

In the dictionaries

• Ahasuerus
• Myrrh
• Esther, Book of
• Manner; Manners
• Odor
• Oil
• Spice; Spices
• Bath, Bathing

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