New King James Version
Esther 2:12
12Each 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.
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 Living Translation (NLT)Before each young woman was taken to the king’s bed, she was given the prescribed twelve months of beauty treatments—six months with oil of myrrh, followed by six months with special perfumes and ointments.
Context of Esther 2:12
10Esther had not revealed her people or family, for Mordecai had charged her not to reveal it. 11And every day Mordecai paced in front of the court of the women’s quarters, to learn of Esther’s welfare and what was happening to her. 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. 13Thus prepared, each young woman went to the king, and she was given whatever she desired to take with her from the women’s quarters to the king’s palace. 14In the evening she went, and in the morning she returned to the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who kept the concubines. She would not go in to the king again unless the king delighted in her and called for her by name.
Read all of Esther 2Esther 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 should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,
- Proverbs 7:17I have perfumed my bed With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
- Isaiah 57:9You went to the king with ointment, And increased your perfumes; You sent your messengers far off, And even descended to Sheol.
- Luke 7:37And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant 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
In the dictionaries
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries