Esther 2:2 kjv
Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:
Esther 2:2 nkjv
Then the king's servants who attended him said: "Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king;
Esther 2:2 niv
Then the king's personal attendants proposed, "Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king.
Esther 2:2 esv
Then the king's young men who attended him said, "Let beautiful young virgins be sought out for the king.
Esther 2:2 nlt
So his personal attendants suggested, "Let us search the empire to find beautiful young virgins for the king.
Esther 2 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 21:1 | The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD... | God controls king's decisions and desires. |
| Ps 33:10-11 | The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations... He brings the counsel... | God's plans prevail over human counsel. |
| Rom 8:28 | And we know that in all things God works for the good... | God uses all circumstances for His purpose. |
| Prov 11:14 | Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in abundance of counselors... | Importance of good counsel for rulers. |
| Prov 15:22 | Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed. | Confirming the value of multiple advisers. |
| Prov 31:30 | Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD... | Contrast: emphasizes outward beauty vs. true value. |
| 1 Pet 3:3-4 | Do not let your adorning be external… but let it be the hidden person... | Christian perspective on inner beauty over outward. |
| Song 4:7 | You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you. | Biblical appreciation for physical beauty (within context). |
| Gen 6:2 | ...the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. | Seeking women for their appearance. |
| Gen 12:15-16 | ...Pharaoh’s officials saw her and praised her... | A king taking women for his harem. |
| 1 Ki 1:1-4 | ...let a young virgin be sought for my lord the king... | Similar search for a young woman for royal comfort. |
| 1 Ki 11:1-3 | Now King Solomon loved many foreign women... had 700 wives... | Historical context of kings having many wives. |
| Deut 22:20-21 | But if the thing is true... not found to be a virgin... | Old Testament laws regarding virginity's importance. |
| 2 Cor 11:2 | For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband as a pure virgin... | Spiritual metaphor for purity and dedication. |
| Matt 25:1-13 | The Parable of the Ten Virgins. | Virgins as a symbol of preparedness or purity. |
| Rev 14:4 | These are the ones who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. | Spiritual virginity/purity in eschatological context. |
| Luke 2:1 | In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus... | Authority of kings/emperors to issue widespread decrees. |
| Esth 1:19 | If it pleases the king, let a royal decree go out from him... | Immediate background: decrees as a form of royal authority. |
| Eph 5:25-27 | Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church... present her to himself as a radiant church... | God's intention for marriage contrasted with worldly harems. |
| Dan 5:1-2 | Belshazzar the king held a great feast for a thousand of his lords... | Feasts and royal excesses in Persian/Babylonian courts. |
Esther 2 verses
Esther 2 2 Meaning
Esther 2:2 states that following King Ahasuerus's deposition of Queen Vashti, his attendants, who were high-ranking officials in his service, proposed a search for beautiful young virgins throughout the empire to be brought to the royal harem. The purpose was for the king to select one of them as his new queen. This verse initiates the process that providentially leads to Esther's elevation.
Esther 2 2 Context
Esther chapter 2 opens immediately after the dramatic dismissal of Queen Vashti in chapter 1, following her refusal to appear before King Ahasuerus's male guests. The king's fury had subsided, but he was left to consider the consequences of his irreversible decree. His wise men, who had advised the decree against Vashti, are now absent from the narrative, replaced by "the king's attendants" offering new counsel. This verse thus marks a transition from punitive action to finding a replacement queen, setting the stage for Esther's entry into the narrative. The historical context is the vast Achaemenid Persian Empire (circa 483 BC), known for its extensive royal court, opulence, and a system of concubines and potential queens for its powerful ruler, all reflecting a highly patriarchal and hierarchical society.
Esther 2 2 Word analysis
- Then: Hebrew achar, indicating a sequence of events. It points to the period after Vashti's dismissal and the king's cooling anger, suggesting a need to address the new void.
- the king’s attendants: Hebrew na’arey hammelech, meaning 'youths' or 'servants' of the king, often referring to close personal advisors or eunuchs. In the Persian court, eunuchs frequently held powerful and influential positions, having direct access to the monarch and the harem, making them privy to the king's intimate thoughts and trusted with delicate matters. Their counsel here initiates a significant royal undertaking.
- who served him: Reinforces their status as trusted personal staff, loyal to the king's comfort and interests. They are not merely administrators but those intimately involved in his daily life and welfare.
- said: Signifies they offered counsel or a suggestion to the king. Their initiative shows their proactive role in managing the kingdom and addressing the king's needs.
- Let beautiful: Hebrew tovat mar’eh, meaning "good of appearance" or "beautiful to behold." This term emphasizes the paramount importance of physical attractiveness as the primary criterion for potential candidates to the royal household. This cultural value often superseded other qualities in selecting a queen or concubine in ancient Near Eastern monarchies.
- young virgins: Hebrew na'arot betulot.
- Na'arot refers to 'young women' or 'maidens,' indicating an age group appropriate for royal marriage and childbearing.
- Betulot specifically means 'virgins,' signifying their physical purity and untainted status. In ancient contexts, virginity was crucial for a prospective queen, ensuring the legitimacy of future heirs and embodying purity for the king, albeit a superficial purity in contrast to true moral and spiritual integrity. This also aligns with the cultural value placed on an undefiled woman for the king’s personal possession.
- be sought: Hebrew yibbaqes, passive form of 'to seek,' indicating a wide, empire-spanning search. This implies a rigorous and comprehensive selection process, emphasizing the immense resources and authority of the Persian king.
- for the king: This phrase clarifies the sole purpose of the search: to provide a woman for the king's pleasure, choice, and eventual replacement of Vashti. It highlights the monarch's supreme authority and the women's subordinate status as objects of royal preference. This contrasts starkly with biblical principles of mutual respect and partnership in marriage (e.g., Eph 5:22-33).
Esther 2 2 Bonus section
The proposal of the "attendants" over the previous "wise men" (Esth 1:13) might indicate a shift in the inner circle or different aspects of royal governance being addressed. The "wise men" dealt with law and state policy; the "attendants" handle personal and household matters. This shift suggests the problem is now perceived less as a constitutional crisis and more as a personal void for the king, though the outcome profoundly impacts the empire. The immense scale of the search across "all the provinces of his kingdom" points to the absolute power of Ahasuerus and the depth of the available resources, highlighting the vulnerability of the young women involved, who had little choice in being gathered for the king's harem.
Esther 2 2 Commentary
Esther 2:2 serves as the pivotal turning point that ushers Esther onto the grand stage of Persian imperial politics. The recommendation from the king's personal attendants highlights the pragmatic and utterly worldly approach to resolving a royal crisis: replace a disobedient queen with an abundance of physical beauty. This proposal reflects the sensuality, opulence, and power dynamics inherent in the Persian court, where women, even future queens, were often seen as possessions, their value primarily based on physical appeal and ability to satisfy the king. The call for "virgins" underscores cultural purity standards, but more significantly, establishes clear ownership and unquestionable lineage for any future royal offspring.
Though human counsel and desire drive this initiative, theologically, this verse sets in motion God's hidden providence. There is no mention of divine intervention, prayer, or moral introspection, yet this worldly counsel is precisely the pathway through which a Jewish orphan, Esther, will be strategically positioned to save her people. It underscores that God works through common, even corrupt, human institutions and actions, aligning seemingly random or self-serving human plans with His sovereign purpose, even when human agents are unaware of His guiding hand (Prov 21:1).
Examples for practical usage:
- God's Sovereignty: Just as God used worldly means (a beauty pageant) for His purpose in Esther's time, He can use any situation, even seemingly negative or secular circumstances today, to advance His will.
- Human Counsel: This verse shows the king receiving advice from trusted attendants, emphasizing the importance of seeking counsel. Believers can learn from this about the value of seeking wise, godly counsel in decision-making (Prov 11:14).