Esther 2 3

Esther 2:3 kjv

And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them:

Esther 2:3 nkjv

and let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather all the beautiful young virgins to Shushan the citadel, into the women's quarters, under the custody of Hegai the king's eunuch, custodian of the women. And let beauty preparations be given them.

Esther 2:3 niv

Let the king appoint commissioners in every province of his realm to bring all these beautiful young women into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king's eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let beauty treatments be given to them.

Esther 2:3 esv

And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom to gather all the beautiful young virgins to the harem in Susa the citadel, under custody of Hegai, the king's eunuch, who is in charge of the women. Let their cosmetics be given them.

Esther 2:3 nlt

Let the king appoint agents in each province to bring these beautiful young women into the royal harem at the fortress of Susa. Hegai, the king's eunuch in charge of the harem, will see that they are all given beauty treatments.

Esther 2 verses

Esther 2 3 Meaning

Esther 2:3 describes King Ahasuerus's royal decree after Queen Vashti's dismissal. It mandates the appointment of officials across the vast Persian empire to systematically gather all beautiful young virgins. These selected maidens were to be brought to the royal palace in Shushan, specifically to the harem or "house of women," where they would be placed under the care and custody of Hegai, the king's chamberlain and keeper of the women. The purpose of this gathering was to provide these virgins with extensive cosmetic preparations and purification rites, a crucial step in the process of selecting a new queen from among them. The verse outlines a state-sanctioned beauty contest designed to secure a new royal consort through a highly organized and centralized system.

Esther 2 3 Context

Esther 2:3 follows directly from the dramatic events of Esther chapter 1, where Queen Vashti defied King Ahasuerus's command to appear before his guests. Her refusal led to her public dethronement by royal decree, driven by the advice of Memucan and other wise men who feared her example would spread disobedience among women throughout the empire. The vacuum left by Vashti's removal prompts the suggestion from the king's servants for a new queen to be sought. Verse 3 then details the practical implementation of this search, outlining a highly structured and extensive process for collecting prospective candidates from all provinces of the vast Achaemenid Persian Empire. The aim was to ensure the selection of the most beautiful woman from his dominion, suitable to be the next queen, thus stabilizing the monarchy and restoring its honor. This verse sets the stage for the introduction of Esther, one of these gathered virgins, and her eventual elevation to queen.

Esther 2 3 Word analysis

• And let the king appoint officers (wəyapqed hammalekh pĕqīdīm):

  • appoint (paqad): More than just "appointing," paqad often conveys visiting, overseeing, taking account, or setting in charge. Here, it implies an official mandate to delegate authority and responsibility, suggesting a comprehensive, administrative approach to the task. It emphasizes the systematic and bureaucratic nature of the royal command.
  • officers (pĕqīdīm): Those who are "appointed" or "overseers." These are official delegates with specific duties, reflecting the king's absolute administrative power and reach throughout his vast kingdom.

• in all the provinces of his kingdom, (bəchol-medinōt malḵûtô):

  • provinces (medinōt): Refers to the satrapies or administrative divisions of the vast Persian Empire, highlighting the king's immense dominion which stretched "from India to Ethiopia" (Esth 1:1).
  • This phrase underscores the unparalleled scale and ambition of the king's quest for a new queen, reaching into every corner of his rule.

• that they may gather together (wəyiqbattsu):

  • gather together (qavats): To collect, assemble. This term implies a forced, centralized collection, not a voluntary or selective invitation. The women are not choosing to come; they are being assembled as required by royal decree. This speaks to the women's lack of agency in the situation.

• all the beautiful young virgins (na‘ărôt bəṯûlôṯ ṭōḇôṯ mar’ēh):

  • beautiful (ṭōḇôṯ mar’ēh): Literally "good of appearance" or "pleasant to look upon." This highlights the singular criterion for selection—external physical attractiveness. It emphasizes a superficial evaluation, setting a worldly contrast to God's view of inward beauty (1 Sam 16:7; 1 Pet 3:3-4).
  • young virgins (na‘ărôt bəṯûlôṯ):
    • young women/maidens (na‘ărôt): Emphasizes youthfulness.
    • virgins (bəṯûlôṯ): Absolutely critical requirement for eligibility as a royal consort in ancient Near Eastern monarchies. This ensured pure lineage and indisputable claim for any potential offspring.

• unto Shushan the palace, (ʾel Šûṣ̌an ha-birah):

  • Shushan the palace (Šûṣ̌an ha-birah): The royal citadel or fortress in Susa, one of the four capitals of the Persian Empire (along with Persepolis, Ecbatana, and Babylon). It was the administrative and political center where the king often resided, signifying the centralized nature of the power and decision-making.

• to the house of the women, (ʾel bêṯ hannašim):

  • house of the women (bêṯ hannašim): This term explicitly refers to the royal harem. It was a secluded, controlled environment where the king's concubines and prospective queens resided. It indicates a place of strict supervision and often luxurious confinement.

• unto the custody of Hege the king's chamberlain, (ʾel yāḏ Hêgê sārîs hammelḵe):

  • custody (yāḏ): Literally "hand," implying control, power, or authority over someone. They are delivered into the hand of Hegai, signifying his absolute charge over them.
  • Hege (Hêgê): A Persian name (or a Persian term meaning eunuch). His specific role is expanded next.
  • chamberlain (sārîs): A eunuch. Eunuchs were widely employed in ancient Near Eastern royal courts as trusted officials, especially in managing harems. They were perceived as loyal because they posed no dynastic threat to the king's progeny. Their presence underscores the highly sensitive and controlled nature of the "house of women."

• keeper of the women; (šōmēr hannašim):

  • keeper (šōmēr): Guardian, watchman. This reiterates Hegai's responsibility for supervising, maintaining order, and perhaps overseeing the daily routines, including the beautification process, of the women in the harem. It indicates surveillance and control.

• and let their things for purification be given them. (wənatôn tammərûqêhen):

  • things for purification (tammərûqêhen): Refers to cosmetics, perfumes, lotions, and other anointing oils used for physical beautification and possibly hygienic or ritual cleansing. Esther 2:12 elaborates that this was a twelve-month process—six months with oil of myrrh and six months with sweet odours. This extensive regimen implies an emphasis on elaborate preparation and enhancement of outward beauty.

Words-group Analysis:

• "appoint officers in all the provinces...that they may gather together all the beautiful young virgins": This passage illustrates a highly centralized and absolute monarchical system. The King's will extends across the entire vast empire, demonstrating his total authority and ability to mobilize resources (including people) to serve his desires. It is a systematic process for finding the "most desirable" candidate based on external beauty, reducing women to commodities in a selection pool.
• "unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege... keeper of the women": This sequence of locations and guardianship emphasizes the journey of these virgins from their homes into a tightly controlled and segregated environment within the royal court. It highlights the women's lack of freedom and their placement under the direct authority and watchful eye of royal officials. The description signifies an almost institutionalized system of selection and management of royal consorts.
• "and let their things for purification be given them": This phrase introduces the compulsory and prolonged process of preparation required before the women would even appear before the King. It underscores the immense cultural emphasis placed on physical appearance, elaborate grooming, and enhancement for royal favor. This purification is not spiritual but aesthetic, a worldly parallel to ritualistic preparations for divine encounter or consecration.

Esther 2 3 Bonus section

The institution of the harem and the use of eunuchs like Hegai (who appears prominently later in the chapter as supportive of Esther) were characteristic features of large Near Eastern empires like Persia. These systems allowed kings to maintain vast collections of wives and concubines, reinforcing their status and ensuring potential heirs. Eunuchs were considered ideal caretakers because they could not impregnate the royal women, thus safeguarding the purity of the royal lineage and preventing rival claims. The "house of women" (or harem) was a place of luxury, yet it was also a place of confinement and strict social hierarchy, with intense competition among the women vying for the king's attention and favor. The term "purification" here, tammurqayhen, signifies a long and arduous process of enhancing physical allure rather than ritualistic purity in a spiritual sense. The historical backdrop for the Book of Esther, usually placed during the reign of Xerxes I (486-465 BC), makes such a selection process historically plausible for the period, reflecting the political and cultural realities of the Achaemenid Empire.

Esther 2 3 Commentary

Esther 2:3 lays bare the pragmatic, almost cold, approach of King Ahasuerus's court to a deeply personal matter like marriage. It paints a vivid picture of absolute royal authority where human beings, especially women, are subject to the king's whims, treated as assets to be systematically collected and processed. The emphasis is entirely on outward, physical beauty, in stark contrast to God's values of inner character and spiritual purity (1 Sam 16:7). The selection process is essentially a mass roundup and beauty pageant, driven by a desire for a suitable, outwardly pleasing queen rather than a loving or divinely ordained relationship. This verse is crucial as it details the dehumanizing context within which Esther, a Jewish orphan, will soon find herself. The extended "purification" or beautification period, lasting a full year (Esth 2:12), highlights the superficiality and the significant effort placed on external presentation in this worldly royal system. It serves as a strong reminder that God often uses ordinary individuals in extraordinary circumstances, even in seemingly godless environments, to fulfill His divine purposes, demonstrating His sovereignty over human kings and their decrees.

• Example: Imagine a powerful CEO issuing a company-wide memo that all female employees under 30 must undergo a year-long training in etiquette and appearance to determine the "face" of the company, losing all autonomy. This parallels the decree, showing how people are depersonalized and treated as resources for an institution's needs.
• Example: Contrast the extensive, superficial purification for human favor with a bride purifying herself spiritually and inwardly for her wedding, eager to be found faithful by her groom, mirroring the church's preparation for Christ.