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

10Now Esther had not disclosed her people or her lineage, for Mordecai had instructed her not to do so. 11And day after day Mordecai used to walk back and forth in front of the court of the harem in order to learn how Esther was doing and what might happen to her. At the end of the twelve months that were required for the women, when the turn of each young woman arrived to go to King Ahasuerus – for in this way they had to fulfill their time of cosmetic treatment: six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfume and various ointments used by women – 13the woman would go to the king in the following way: Whatever she asked for would be provided for her to take with her from the harem to the royal palace. 14In the evening she went, and in the morning she returned to a separate part of the harem, to the authority of Shaashgaz the king’s eunuch who was overseeing the concubines. She would not go back to the king unless the king was pleased with her and she was requested 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Now when every maid’sנַעֲרָהna‛ărâh · maidenH5291
• turnתּוֹרtôr tôr · plaitH8447
• was comeנָגַעnâga‛ · to touchH5060
• to go inבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• to kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• Ahasuerusאֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ'ăchashvêrôsh 'achashrôsh · AhasuerusH325
• afterקֵץqêts · endH7093
• that she had been twelveעָשָׂר‛âώâr · tenH6240
• that she had been twelveשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
• monthsחֹ֫דֶשׁchôdesh · monthH2320
• according to the mannerדָּתdâth · lawH1881
• of the womenאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · womanH802
• for so were the daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• of their purificationsמָרוּקmârûq · rubbingH4795
• accomplishedמָלֵאmâlê' mâlâ' · to fillH4390
• sixשֵׁשׁshêsh shishshâh · sixH8337
• with oilשֶׁ֫מֶןshemen · oilH8081
• of myrrhמֹרmôr môr · myrrhH4753
• with sweet odoursבֶּ֫שֶׂםbeώem bôώem · spiceH1314
• things for the purifyingתַּמְרוּקtamrûq tamrûq tamrîyq · cosmeticH8562

Cross-references for Esther 2:12

• 1 Thessalonians 4:4that each of you know how to possess his own body in holiness and honor,
• Proverbs 7:17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
• Isaiah 57:9You take olive oil as tribute to your king, along with many perfumes. You send your messengers to a distant place; you go all the way to Sheol.
• Luke 7:37Then when a woman of that town, who was a sinner, learned that Jesus was dining at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfumed oil.

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
• Ahasuerus; Asseurus
• 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