Esther 2 6

Esther 2:6 kjv

Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.

Esther 2:6 nkjv

Kish had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives who had been captured with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.

Esther 2:6 niv

who had been carried into exile from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, among those taken captive with Jehoiachin king of Judah.

Esther 2:6 esv

who had been carried away from Jerusalem among the captives carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away.

Esther 2:6 nlt

His family had been among those who, with King Jehoiachin of Judah, had been exiled from Jerusalem to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar.

Esther 2 verses

Esther 2 6 Meaning

Mordecai, a key Jewish figure residing in Susa, is explicitly connected by his ancestral ties to Jerusalem and the significant Babylonian exile. This verse establishes that he, or more accurately his family lineage, was part of the deportation under King Jeconiah, which was executed by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. It profoundly underscores his heritage as part of the covenant people of Israel, who were deeply shaped by the judgment and guiding providence of God.

Esther 2 6 Context

Esther Chapter 2 describes the extensive process initiated by King Ahasuerus to find a new queen following the dismissal of Vashti. It introduces Mordecai in verse 5 as a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin living in the citadel of Susa. Verse 6 immediately provides his ancestral background, clarifying his presence in Persia. This precise detail is crucial, as it roots Mordecai and, by extension, his adopted cousin Esther, firmly in the historical reality of the Judean exile. Their family were not mere expatriates but descendants of those forcibly removed from Jerusalem during a defining national calamity – the Babylonian captivity of 597 BC. This historical anchor informs the reader that these individuals, positioned within the Persian court, are direct descendants of God's covenant people who endured judgment yet retained their identity. Their very existence in a foreign land is a testament to the prophecies of exile and God's sovereign hand even in the midst of national disaster, setting the stage for divine providence to unfold through them.

Esther 2 6 Word analysis

• Who (אֲשֶׁר, ’ăšer): This Hebrew relative pronoun primarily connects to Mordecai, introduced in the previous verse. However, given historical timelines, it refers not to Mordecai himself being a direct captive in 597 BC, but rather an ancestor (likely Kish, his great-grandfather, or someone further back) from whom he descended. This highlights Mordecai's genealogical connection to the core exilic group. This phrasing emphasizes that Mordecai is intrinsically linked to the national trauma and experience of forced displacement, inheriting that legacy.

• had been carried away (הָגְלָה, hāḡləḵā): This verb, derived from the root גָּלָה (gālāh), appears repeatedly in this verse, underscoring the compulsory and defining nature of the event: a "going into exile" or "deportation." It emphasizes the loss of homeland and autonomy. The repetition forcefully impresses upon the reader the severity of this historical judgment, yet it is also a reminder of God's sovereign control over nations and their history.

• from Jerusalem (מִירוּשָׁלַיִם, mîrūšāláyim): This identifies the sacred capital of Judah as the origin point of the deportation. Jerusalem was the spiritual heart of the Jewish people, home to the Temple and the Davidic monarchy. Its mention signifies profound loss, national upheaval, and the breaking of the covenant relationship due to sin. This reinforces the historical accuracy and emotional weight of the exile experience inherited by Mordecai's lineage.

• with the captivity (אֶת־הַגֹּלָה, ’et-ha-gōlāh): Refers to the collective body of people, the deported captives themselves. This phrase emphasizes that Mordecai's ancestors were part of a specific historical group, not isolated individuals. It highlights the national and corporate dimension of the exile, reinforcing that the suffering and displacement affected the entire community, and therefore shaped Mordecai's familial heritage.

• Jeconiah king of Judah (יְכָנְיָה מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה, Yəḵonyāh melek Yəhūdāh): Naming Jeconiah (also known as Jehoiachin) specifically dates the exile of Mordecai's family to 597 BC. This was the second major deportation by Nebuchadnezzar, which included the king, the royal family, nobles, craftsmen, and leading citizens (2 Kgs 24:10-16). This detail suggests Mordecai's ancestry belonged to the more prominent or skilled segments of Judean society, positioning him among those considered of significance even in exile.

• Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon (נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּר מֶלֶךְ בָּבֶל, Nəḇūḵaḏneṣṣar melek Bāḇel): Naming the mighty Babylonian emperor verifies the historical accuracy of the event. Nebuchadnezzar was God's chosen instrument of judgment against disobedient Judah, yet ultimately, he too served God's sovereign plan. This mention grounds the narrative within accepted historical records of the ancient world, reinforcing the biblical account's verity and showing how a foreign empire's actions fulfilled God's prophetic word.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Who had been carried away from Jerusalem": This establishes Mordecai's deep ancestral connection to the Judean homeland and its profound historical experience. It implies that his family, integral to the spiritual and physical heart of Israel, suffered displacement due to divine judgment.
  • "with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah": This group of words provides the precise historical context, distinguishing this specific, well-documented deportation from others. It implies that Mordecai's lineage was associated with a notable segment of Judean society, transported under the reign of a king specifically named in prophecy.
  • "whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away": This phrase attributes the act of captivity directly to the most powerful foreign ruler of the time. It not only solidifies the historical reality but also subtly points to God's sovereign use of pagan rulers to fulfill His divine will, whether for judgment or for later providence.

Esther 2 6 Bonus section

The repeated verb "gālāh" (carried away, exiled) in its various forms (three times in this single Hebrew verse) emphatically portrays the inescapable reality and profundity of the exile. This word's reiteration is not merely for emphasis but signals a deliberate act of divine judgment against Judah for her sins, yet also the beginning of a new phase for God's covenant people in the diaspora. The Book of Esther often depicts God's hidden hand. Mordecai's detailed genealogy in 2:5-6 not only provides historical context but also emphasizes that this Jewish community, though geographically distant and politically subservient, retained its distinct identity and was never truly abandoned by God, mirroring His enduring commitment despite human failures.

Esther 2 6 Commentary

Esther 2:6 is crucial for understanding Mordecai's deep-seated identity and his connection to the enduring narrative of Israel. By establishing that he was descended from those exiled with King Jeconiah by Nebuchadnezzar, the text grounds him firmly in the momentous events of Judah's history—a period of severe judgment yet also one of God's hidden, steadfast preservation of His covenant people. This precise historical anchoring means that Mordecai, though dwelling in a foreign court, carried within his heritage the full weight of God's past dealings with Israel. His actions in the book of Esther are therefore not those of a casual observer, but of a loyal descendant whose family endured exile and now stands to ensure the survival of God's people. This highlights that God often works through unlikely individuals in challenging circumstances, ensuring His promises remain even when His presence seems concealed. For example, similar to how Abraham's descendants became a great nation despite servitude in Egypt, the descendants of the Babylonian exiles in Persia remained distinct, awaiting God's continued faithfulness.