Esther

The Jewish queen of Persia who fasted, risked her life to approach the king uninvited, and exposed Haman's plot to destroy her people.

Exile & Return45 references in 1 bookIn theological review

The facts, as Scripture gives them

Lived: Dates not given in Scripture.
Region: The citadel of Susa, in Persia. (Esther 1:2; Esther 2:5)
The name: She is introduced by both names: Hadassah, that is, Esther. (Esther 2:7)

Key verses

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows if perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

Esther 4:14 (BSB)

Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day, and I and my maidens will fast as you do. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish

Esther 4:16 (BSB)

What they did

Was raised by her cousin Mordecai after her parents died, and was taken into the king's palace among the young women gathered at Susa. (Esther 2:7-8)
Was chosen queen in place of Vashti, and the king loved her above all the women. (Esther 2:17)
Kept her Jewish descent secret at Mordecai's instruction until the hour of danger. (Esther 2:20)
Fasted three days with her maids and all the Jews of Susa, then went to the king unsummoned: if I perish, I perish. (Esther 4:16)
At her second banquet exposed Haman as the enemy of her people, and he was hanged on his own gallows. (Esther 7:3-10)
Obtained a new decree allowing the Jews to defend themselves, and with Mordecai established the feast of Purim. (Esther 8:9-14; Esther 9:26-29)

Family

Father: Abihail (Esther 2:15)
Spouse: King Ahasuerus (Esther 2:17)

Connected to

Mordecai: Her cousin and guardian, who urged her: who knows if you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this (Esther 2:7; Esther 4:14)
King Ahasuerus: Her husband, ruler of 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia (Esther 1:1; Esther 2:17)
Haman: The Agagite official whose plot against the Jews she overturned (Esther 3:5-6; Esther 7:6)

Mentioned in

Esther.

Every reference (45)

Esther 2:7 · Esther 2:8 · Esther 2:10 · Esther 2:11 · Esther 2:15 · Esther 2:16 · Esther 2:17 · Esther 2:18 · Esther 2:20 · Esther 2:22 · Esther 4:4 · Esther 4:5 · Esther 4:8 · Esther 4:9 · Esther 4:10 · Esther 4:12 · Esther 4:13 · Esther 4:15 · Esther 4:17 · Esther 5:1 · Esther 5:2 · Esther 5:3 · Esther 5:4 · Esther 5:5 · Esther 5:6 · Esther 5:7 · Esther 5:12 · Esther 6:14 · Esther 7:1 · Esther 7:2 · Esther 7:3 · Esther 7:5 · Esther 7:6 · Esther 7:7 · Esther 7:8 · Esther 8:1 · Esther 8:2 · Esther 8:3 · Esther 8:4 · Esther 8:7 · Esther 9:12 · Esther 9:13 · Esther 9:29 · Esther 9:31 · Esther 9:32

Review status: in-theological-review. Every Contend profile passes a human theological review against the Statement of Faith before it is published as approved teaching. This profile is in that queue. Sources: Scripture quotations are from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain), verified verse by verse. Name and reference data: STEP Bible (TIPNR), Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0.