Esther 2:13 kjv
Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house.
Esther 2:13 nkjv
Thus 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.
Esther 2:13 niv
And this is how she would go to the king: Anything she wanted was given her to take with her from the harem to the king's palace.
Esther 2:13 esv
when the young woman went in to the king in this way, she was given whatever she desired to take with her from the harem to the king's palace.
Esther 2:13 nlt
When it was time for her to go to the king's palace, she was given her choice of whatever clothing or jewelry she wanted to take from the harem.
Esther 2 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 23:1 | The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. | God's complete provision |
| Matt 6:31-33 | Therefore do not worry... Seek first the kingdom... all these things... | Trust in God's provision for all needs |
| Phil 4:19 | And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches... | Divine abundance for His children |
| 2 Cor 9:8 | And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things... | God's grace enabling generous provision |
| Est 2:12 | Each young woman's turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus after 12 months... | Preceding verse, purification for the king |
| Rev 21:2 | And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down... prepared as a bride | Church as bride prepared for the King |
| Eph 5:27 | ...that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot... | Christ preparing His Church |
| 2 Cor 11:2 | For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband | Presenting the Church purely to Christ |
| Isa 61:10 | I will greatly rejoice in the Lord... as a bridegroom decks himself... | Garments of salvation, bride adornment |
| Est 2:15 | When the turn came for Esther... she asked for nothing except what Hegai... | Esther's contrast, wisdom, and humility |
| Prov 3:5-6 | Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own... | Contrast: Relying on divine guidance vs. own desires |
| 1 Cor 1:27 | But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise... | God's choice transcends outward appearances |
| 1 Pet 3:3-4 | Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair... spirit. | Emphasis on inner beauty over outward adornment |
| 1 Tim 2:9-10 | likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectful apparel... | Modest adornment for Christian women |
| Prov 16:15 | In the light of a king's face there is life, and his favor is like a cloud | Importance of a king's favor |
| Prov 18:16 | A man's gift makes room for him and brings him before great men. | Making oneself appealing/prepared for authority |
| Gen 50:20 | As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good... | God's hand in human circumstances |
| Gen 24:67 | Then Isaac brought her into the tent... and took Rebekah... | Bringing a chosen woman to her husband's home |
| John 14:3 | And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again... | Christ's preparation for His chosen ones |
| Psa 37:4 | Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart | God granting righteous desires |
| Prov 10:24 | What the wicked dreads will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous | Desires fulfilled (righteous vs. wicked) |
| Rom 8:26 | Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what... | Divine guidance when we lack wisdom (for Esther) |
| Isa 55:2 | Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread... | Caution against external, unfulfilling pursuits |
Esther 2 verses
Esther 2 13 Meaning
Esther 2:13 describes the custom within the Persian court where, as each young woman was brought before King Ahasuerus for the first time, she was granted complete freedom to choose any items or adornments she wished to take with her from the women's quarters (harem) into the king's palace. This highlights the extensive resources of the kingdom and the meticulous preparation involved in selecting the next queen, allowing each candidate to present herself in the most appealing way possible.
Esther 2 13 Context
Esther chapter 2 opens with King Ahasuerus's decision to find a new queen after Queen Vashti's defiant dismissal. This led to a decree that all beautiful virgins in the empire be gathered into the royal harem in Susa, where they would undergo a rigorous twelve-month purification and beauty treatment overseen by Hegai, the king's eunuch in charge of the women (Esther 2:8-9, 12). Verse 13 marks the culmination of this year-long preparation, describing the precise protocol for each young woman as her turn came to be presented to the king for the first time. It illustrates the highly structured, lavish, and competitive environment in which the future queen was to be chosen, emphasizing the material abundance available for the purpose of making an impression on the monarch.
Esther 2 13 Word analysis
- Then thus came (וּבָזֶה בָּאָה, u-va-zeh ba'ah): Literally "And in this way came." This phrase emphasizes the manner and formal procedure of her approach, signifying that her presentation was not arbitrary but followed a set custom or sequence after her year of preparation. It points to a regulated system within the palace.
- the damsel (הַנַּעֲרָה, hanna'arah): Refers to a specific "young woman" or "maiden," designating her age, purity, and status as one chosen for consideration by the king. It indicates her vulnerability and dependence on the court system.
- unto the king (אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְ, el hammalekh): Designates the direct encounter with the monarch, the supreme authority, underscoring the significance and ultimate purpose of her elaborate preparation.
- whatsoever she desired (כֹּל אֲשֶׁר תֹּאמַר, kol asher tomar): Literally "all which she spoke/said." This is a crucial and potent phrase, indicating an unlimited permission granted. Her verbal request, regardless of what it was, would be immediately fulfilled. It highlights an extreme level of indulgence and royal prerogative extended to the candidates.
- was given her (יִנָּתֵן לָהּ, yinnaten lah): The passive voice signifies that the items were provided to her by the royal officials, specifically Hegai. This confirms the availability of vast resources to facilitate her desires, paid for by the king, reinforcing the court's opulence.
- to go with her (לָבוֹא עִמָּהּ, lavo immah): Literally "to come with her." This specifies the purpose of the items: they were intended to accompany her from her preparatory chambers directly into the king's presence, forming part of her overall presentation.
- out of the house of the women (מִבֵּית הַנָּשִׁים, mibbeit hannashim): This refers to the royal harem or quarters designated for the women, a place of extensive confinement and preparation under the care of Hegai. It marks the departure from seclusion.
- unto the king's house (אֶל בֵּית הַמֶּלֶךְ, el beit hammalekh): Refers to the king's inner palace or residence. This is the destination where the actual encounter and selection process took place, emphasizing the direct path into royal presence.
- Words-group Analysis:
- "whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her": This phrase emphatically illustrates the extreme generosity and almost limitless resources extended to each young woman. It suggests a policy designed to provide every possible advantage to capture the king's attention, implying that no expense was spared. This open-ended permission sets the stage for the striking contrast with Esther's approach in verse 15.
- "out of the house of the women unto the king's house": This delineates the geographical and symbolic transition for each candidate. It signifies the critical move from the period of intensive preparation, managed by Hegai within the secure and luxurious harem, to the immediate, high-stakes moment of direct encounter and potential selection by the king in his private palace.
Esther 2 13 Bonus section
The remarkable liberty granted in Esther 2:13 — allowing "whatsoever she desired" — reveals a critical aspect of Persian imperial psychology: the king's insatiable pursuit of pleasure and his unlimited resources dedicated to gratifying it. This seemingly boundless provision suggests a court desperate to please its monarch and ensure that every possible effort was made to present a captivating array of candidates. This focus on external perfection and self-assertion through material display provides a subtle backdrop to the eventual triumph of Esther, whose unassuming approach (Esther 2:15) demonstrates a different kind of strength, potentially highlighting the true source of favor being God, not mere human preparation.
Esther 2 13 Commentary
Esther 2:13 provides a vivid snapshot of the Persian court's extravagance and its methodical approach to selecting a queen. The unlimited allowance granted to each woman to choose "whatsoever she desired" for her appearance before the king underscores the absolute wealth of Ahasuerus and the profound value placed on outward beauty and sensory appeal within his kingdom. This practice was intended to maximize each woman's charm and influence over the monarch, allowing her to express her individuality and creativity in seeking favor. Crucially, this detail sets a powerful background for Esther's later decision in verse 15 to request nothing beyond what Hegai, the king's eunuch, deemed appropriate. Her restraint, against the backdrop of such unbridled permission, suggests a reliance on wisdom and divine favor rather than on excessive adornment or human ingenuity, reflecting a contrast with worldly allure and a subtle testament to God's hand in her selection.