Esther 2:21

Esther 2:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king’s gate, two of the king’s chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.
• New International Version (NIV)During the time Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, became angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.
• English Standard Version (ESV)In those days, as Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, became angry and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.
• New King James Version (NKJV)In those days, while Mordecai sat within the king’s gate, two of the king’s eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, doorkeepers, became furious and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.

Context of Esther 2:21

19Now when the virgins were gathered together for the second time, then Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate. 20Esther still had not revealed her relatives or her people, just as Mordecai had instructed her; for Esther did what Mordecai told her just as she had when under his care. In those days, while Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s officials from those who guarded the door, became angry and sought to attack King Ahasuerus. 22But the plot became known to Mordecai and he informed Queen Esther, and Esther told the king in Mordecai’s name. 23Then when the plot was investigated and found to be so, they were both hanged on a wooden gallows; and it was written in the Book of the Chronicles in the king’s presence.

Esther 2:21 word by word

בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔ם וּמָרְדֳּכַ֖י יֹשֵׁ֣ב בְּשַֽׁעַר־הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ קָצַף֩ בִּגְתָ֨ן וָתֶ֜רֶשׁ שְׁנֵֽי־סָרִיסֵ֤י הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ מִשֹּׁמְרֵ֣י הַסַּ֔ף וַיְבַקְשׁוּ֙ לִשְׁלֹ֣חַ יָ֔ד בַּמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵֽרֹשׁ׃Read the interlinear

• daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• while Mordecaiמׇרְדֳּכַיmordekay · MordecaiH4782
• was sittingיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
• at the king’sמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• gateשַׁ֫עַרsha‛ar · gateH8179
• Bigthanבִּגְתָןbigthân bigthânâ' · BigthanH904
• and Tereshתֶּ֫רֶשׁteresh · TereshH8657
• twoשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
• officialsסָרִיסsârîys sâris · eunuchH5631
• from those who guardedשָׁמַרshâmar · to keep: guardH8104
• the doorסַףsaph · thresholdH5592
• becameקָצַףqâtsaph · be angryH7107
• and soughtבָּקַשׁbâqash · to seekH1245
• attackשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: reachH7971
• attackיָדyâd · handH3027
• Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ'ăchashvêrôsh 'achashrôsh · AhasuerusH325

Cross-references for Esther 2:21

• Esther 6:2And it was found written what Mordecai had reported about Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who were doorkeepers, that they had sought to attack King Ahasuerus.
• 2 Samuel 4:5So the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, departed and came to the house of Ish-bosheth in the heat of the day, while he was taking his midday rest.
• 2 Samuel 16:11Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my son who came out of my own body seeks my life; how much more now this Benjaminite? Leave him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has told him.
• 1 Kings 15:25Now Nadab the son of Jeroboam became king over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel for two years.
• 1 Kings 16:9And his servant Zimri, commander of half his chariots, conspired against him. Now Elah was in Tirzah drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, who was in charge of the household in Tirzah.
• 2 Kings 9:22When Joram saw Jehu, he said, “Is your intention peace, Jehu?” And he answered, “What ‘peace,’ so long as your mother Jezebel’s acts of prostitution and witchcraft are so many?”
• 2 Kings 12:20And his servants rose up and formed a conspiracy; and they struck and killed Joash at the house of Millo as he was going down to Silla.
• 2 Kings 21:23And the servants of Amon conspired against him and killed the king in his own house.
• Psalms 144:10Who gives salvation to kings, Who rescues His servant David from the evil sword.

Commentaries on Esther 2:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Mordecai sat in the kings gate - Mordecai might have been one of the officers of the king, as the gate was the place where such usually attended to await the king's call. It is not likely that he was the porter; had he been only such, Haman could have removed him at once. Two of the king's chamberlains - Eunuchs. Why they conspired against the life of the king, we are not informed. The Targum says that they found out that Esther had intended to use her…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21Conspiracies inside the palace were ordinary occurrences in Persia. Xerxes was ultimately murdered by Artabanus, the captain of the guard, and Aspamitras, a chamberlain and eunuch.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-23Verses 21-23 Good subjects must not conceal any bad design they know of against the prince, or the public peace. Mordecai was not rewarded at the time, but a remembrance was written. Thus, with respect to those who serve Christ, though their recompence is not till the resurrection of the just, yet an account is kept of their work of faith and labour of love, which God is not unrighteous to forget. The servant of God must be faithful to every trust, and…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21Bigthana might be the same person as Bigtha from Esther 1:10, one of the king’s seven eunuchs. He and Teresh guarded the king’s bedroom. They could have easily carried out their plan if they had not been discovered.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 21-2321. In those days ... two of the king's chamberlains ... were wroth and sought to lay hand on the king, &c.--This secret conspiracy against the king's life probably arose out of revenge for the divorce of Vashti, in whose interest, and at whose instigation, these eunuchs may have acted. Through the vigilance of Mordecai, whose fidelity, however, passed unnoticed, the design was frustrated, while the conspirators were condemned to be executed and as the…Read the comment

Topics related to Esther 2:21

• Bigthan
• Chamberlain
• Citizens
• Conspiracy
• Loyalty
• Mordecai
• Teresh

In the dictionaries

• Ahasuerus
• Mordecai
• Abagtha
• Bigthan
• Chamberlain
• Teresh
• Doorkeeper
• Esther, Book of
• Tharra

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