Esther (Greek) · Brenton's Greek Septuagint
Esther (Greek) 2 Brenton's Greek Septuagint
Notes on this text (1)
- Ezra and Nehemiah form one book (2 Esdras) in this edition; the reader shows them as Ezra 1–10 and Nehemiah 1–13.
1 Καὶ μετὰ τοὺς λόγους τούτους ἐκόπασεν ὁ βασιλεὺς τοῦ θυμοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ἔτι ἐμνήσθη τῆς Ἀστίν, μνημονεύων οἷα ἐλάλησε, καὶ ὡς κατέκρινεν αὐτήν.
1 After this, the king’s anger was pacified, and he no more mentioned Vashti, bearing in mind what she had said, and how he had condemned her.
2 Καὶ εἶπαν οἱ διάκονοι τοῦ βασιλέως, ζητηθήτω τῷ βασιλεῖ κοράσια ἄφθορα καλὰ τῷ εἴδει·
2 Then the servants of the king said, “Let chaste, beautiful young virgins be sought for the king.
3 Καὶ καταστήσει ὁ βασιλεὺς κωμάρχας ἐν πάσαις ταῖς χώραις τῆς βασιλείας αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἐπιλεξάτωσαν κοράσια παρθενικὰ καλὰ τῷ εἴδει εἰς Σοῦσαν τὴν πόλιν εἰς τὸν γυναικῶνα· καὶ παραδοθήτωσαν τῷ εὐνούχῳ τοῦ βασιλέως τῷ φύλακι τῶν γυναικῶν· καὶ δοθήτω σμῆγμα, καὶ ἡ λοιπὴ ἐπιμέλεια.
3 Let the king appoint local governors in all the provinces of his kingdom, and let them select beautiful, chaste young ladies and bring them to the city Susa, into the women’s apartment. Let them be consigned to the king’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women. Then let things for purification and other needs be given to them.
4 Καὶ ἡ γυνὴ ἣ ἂν ἀρέσῃ τῷ βασιλεῖ, βασιλεύσει ἀντὶ Ἀστίν· καὶ ἤρεσε τῷ βασιλεῖ τὸ πρᾶγμα, καὶ ἐποίησεν οὕτως.
4 Let the woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” This thing pleased the king; and he did so.
5 Καὶ ἄνθρωπος ἦν Ἰουδαῖος ἐν Σούσοις τῇ πόλει, καὶ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ Μαρδοχαῖος ὁ τοῦ Ἰαΐρου, τοῦ Σεμείου, τοῦ Κισαίου, ἐκ φυλῆς Βενιαμίν,
5 Now there was a Jew in the city Susa, and his name was Mordecai, the son of Jairus, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin.
6 ὃς ἦν αἰχμάλωτος ἐξ Ἱερουσαλὴμ, ἣν ᾐχμαλώτευσε Ναβουχοδονόσορ βασιλεὺς Βαβυλῶνος.
6 He had been brought as a prisoner from Jerusalem, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried into captivity.
7 Καὶ ἦν τούτῳ παῖς θρεπτή, θυγάτηρ Ἀμιναδὰβ ἀδελφοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὄνομα αὐτῇ Ἐσθήρ· ἐν δὲ τῷ μεταλλάξαι αὐτῆς τοὺς γονεῖς, ἐπαίδευσεν αὐτὴν ἑαυτῷ εἰς γυναῖκα· καὶ ἦν τὸ κοράσιον καλὸν τῷ εἴδει.
7 He had a foster child, daughter of Aminadab his father’s brother. Her name was Esther. When her parents died, he brought her up to womanhood as his own. This lady was beautiful.
8 Καὶ ὅτε ἠκούσθη τὸ τοῦ βασιλέως πρόσταγμα, συνήχθησαν πολλὰ κοράσια εἰς Σοῦσάν τὴν πόλιν ὑπὸ χεῖρα Γαῒ, καὶ ἤχθη Ἐσθὴρ πρὸς Γαῒ τὸν φύλακα τῶν γυναικῶν.
8 And because the king’s ordinance was published, many ladies were gathered to the city of Susa under the hand of Hegai; and Esther was brought to Hegai, the keeper of the women.
9 Καὶ ἤρεσεν αὐτῷ τὸ κοράσιον, καὶ εὗρε χάριν ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἔσπευσε δοῦναι αὐτῇ τὸ σμῆγμα, καὶ τὴν μερίδα, καὶ τὰ ἑπτὰ κοράσια τὰ ὑποδεδειγμένα αὐτῇ ἐκ βασιλικοῦ· καὶ ἐχρήσατο αὐτῇ καλῶς καὶ ταῖς ἅβραις αὐτῆς ἐν τῷ γυναικῶνι·
9 The lady pleased him, and she found favor in his sight. He hurried to give her the things for purification, her portion, and the seven maidens appointed her out of the palace. He treated her and her maidens well in the women’s apartment.
10 Καὶ οὐχ ὑπέδειξεν Ἐσθὴρ τὸ γένος αὐτῆς οὐδὲ τὴν πατρίδα· ὁ γὰρ Μαρδοχαῖος ἐνετείλατο αὐτῇ μὴ ἀπαγγεῖλαι.
10 But Esther didn’t reveal her family or her kindred, for Mordecai had charged her not to tell.
11 Καθʼ ἑκάστην δὲ ἡμέραν περιεπάτει ὁ Μαρδοχαῖος κατὰ τὴν αὐλὴν τὴν γυναικείαν, ἐπισκοπῶν τί Ἐσθὴρ συμβήσεται.
11 But Mordecai used to walk every day by the women’s court, to see what would become of Esther.
12 Οὗτος δὲ ἦν καιρὸς κορασίου εἰσελθεῖν πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα, ὅταν ἀναπληρώσῃ μῆνας δεκαδύο· οὕτως γὰρ ἀναπληροῦνται αἱ ἡμέραι τῆς θεραπείας, μῆνας ἓξ ἀλειφομέναις ἐν σμυρνίνῳ ἐλαίῳ, καὶ μῆνας ἓξ ἐν τοῖς ἀρώμασι καὶ ἐν τοῖς σμήγμασι τῶν γυναικῶν,
12 Now this was the time for a virgin to go into the king, when she had completed twelve months; for so are the days of purification fulfilled, six months while they are anointing themselves with oil of myrrh, and six months with spices and women’s purifications.
13 καὶ τότε εἰσπορεύεται πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα· καὶ ᾧ ἐὰν εἴπῃ, παραδώσει αὐτὴν συνεισέρχεσθαι αὐτῷ ἀπὸ τοῦ γυναικῶνος ἕως τῶν βασιλείων·
13 And then the lady goes in to the king. The officer that he commands to do so will bring her to come in with him from the women’s apartment to the king’s chamber.
14 Δείλης εἰσπορεύεται, καὶ πρὸς ἡμέραν ἀποτρέχει εἰς τὸν γυναικῶνα τὸν δεύτερον, οὗ Γαῒ ὁ εὐνοῦχος τοῦ βασιλέως ὁ φύλαξ τῶν γυναικῶν, καὶ οὐκ ἔτι εἰσπορεύεται πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα, ἐὰν μὴ κληθῇ ὀνόματι.
14 She enters in the evening, and in the morning she departs to the second women’s apartment, where Hegai the king’s chamberlain is keeper of the women. She doesn’t go in to the king again, unless she is called by name.
15 Ἐν δὲ τῷ ἀναπληροῦσθαι τὸν χρόνον Ἐσθὴρ τῆς θυγατρὸς Ἀμιναδὰβ ἀδελφοῦ πατρὸς Μαρδοχαίου εἰσελθεῖν πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα, οὐδὲν ἠθέτησεν ὧν ἐνετείλατο ὁ εὐνοῦχος ὁ φύλαξ τῶν γυναικῶν· ἦν γὰρ Ἐσθὴρ εὑρίσκουσα χάριν παρὰ πάντων τῶν βλεπόντων αὐτήν.
15 And when the time was fulfilled for Esther the daughter of Aminadab the brother of Mordecai’s father to go in to the king, she neglected nothing which the chamberlain, the women’s keeper, commanded; for Esther found grace in the sight of all who looked at her.
16 καὶ εἰσῆλθεν Ἐσθὴρ πρὸς Ἀρταξέρξην τὸν βασιλέα τῷ δωδεκάτῳ μηνὶ, ὅς ἐστιν Ἀδάρ, τῷ ἑβδόμῳ ἔτει τῆς βασιλείας αὐτοῦ.
16 So Esther went in to King Ahasuerus in the twelfth month, which is Adar, in the seventh year of his reign.
17 Καὶ ἠράσθη ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἐσθὴρ, καὶ εὗρε χάριν παρὰ πάσας τὰς παρθένους, καὶ ἐπέθηκεν αὐτῇ τὸ διάδημα τὸ γυναικεῖον.
17 The king loved Esther, and she found favor beyond all the other virgins. He put the queen’s crown on her.
18 Καὶ ἐποίησεν ὁ βασιλεὺς πότον πᾶσι τοῖς φίλοις αὐτοῦ καὶ ταῖς δυνάμεσιν ἐπὶ ἡμέρας ἑπτά, καὶ ὕψωσε τοὺς γάμους Ἐσθήρ, καὶ ἄφεσιν ἐποίησε τοῖς ὑπὸ τὴν βασιλείαν αὐτοῦ.
18 The king made a banquet for all his friends and great men for seven days, and he highly celebrated the marriage of Esther; and he granted a remission of taxes to those who were under his dominion.
19 Ὁ δὲ Μαρδοχαῖος ἐθεράπευεν ἐν τῇ αὐλῇ.
19 Meanwhile, Mordecai served in the courtyard.
20 Ἡ δὲ Ἐσθὴρ οὐχ ὑπέδειξε τὴν πατρίδα αὐτῆς· οὕτως γὰρ ἐνετείλατο αὐτῇ Μαρδοχαῖος, φοβεῖσθαι τὸν Θεὸν, καὶ ποιεῖν τὰ προστάγματα αὐτοῦ, καθὼς ἦν μετʼ αὐτοῦ· καὶ Ἐσθὴρ οὐ μετήλλαξε τὴν ἀγωγὴν αὐτῆς.
20 Now Esther had not revealed her country, for so Mordecai commanded her, to fear God, and perform his commandments, as when she was with him. Esther didn’t change her manner of life.
21 Καὶ ἐλυπήθησαν οἱ δύο εὐνοῦχοι τοῦ βασιλέως οἱ ἀρχισωματοφύλακες, ὅτι προήχθη Μαρδοχαῖος, καὶ ἐζήτουν ἀποκτεῖναι Ἀρταξέρξην τὸν βασιλέα.
21 Two chamberlains of the king, the chiefs of the body-guard, were grieved, because Mordecai was promoted; and they sought to kill King Ahasuerus.
22 Καὶ ἐδηλώθη Μαρδοχαίῳ ὁ λόγος, καὶ ἐσήμανεν Ἐσθήρ, καὶ αὐτὴ ἐνεφάνησε τῷ βασιλεῖ τὰ τῆς ἐπιβουλῆς.
22 And the matter was discovered by Mordecai, and he made it known to Esther, and she declared to the king the matter of the conspiracy.
23 Ὁ δὲ βασιλεὺς ἤτασε τοὺς δύο εὐνούχους, καὶ ἐκρέμασεν αὐτούς· καὶ προσέταξεν ὁ βασιλεὺς καταχωρίσαι εἰς μνημόσυνον ἐν τῇ βασιλικῇ βιβλιοθήκῃ ὑπὲρ τῆς εὐνοίας Μαρδοχαίου, ἐν ἐγκωμίῳ.
23 And the king examined the two chamberlains and hanged them. Then the king gave orders to make a note for a memorial in the royal library of the goodwill shown by Mordecai, as a commendation.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Abihail
Mordecai’s uncle and the father of Esther, who had died, leaving Esther to be adopted by Mordecai.
Cited in the guide: Esther 2:15; Esther 9:29
Bigthan
With Teresh, a doorkeeping eunuch who conspired to assassinate Xerxes; Mordecai exposed the plot and both were hanged. (Esther 6:2 spells the name Bigthana.)
Cited in the guide: Esther 2:21; Esther 6:2
Esther
Hadassah, an orphan raised by her cousin Mordecai, was made queen in place of Vashti; she risked her life to plead for her people, exposed Haman, and with Mordecai confirmed the…
Cited in the guide: Esther 2:7; Esther 2:17; Esther 5:2
Hegai
The king’s eunuch who oversaw the harem; he favored Esther, gave her beauty treatments and the best place, and advised her.
Cited in the guide: Esther 2:3; Esther 2:8; Esther 2:15
Jair
Named as the father of Mordecai and the son of Shimei.
Cited in the guide: Esther 2:5
Kish
Benjaminite named at the head of Mordecai’s ancestry; the text does not say whether he is Saul’s father.
Cited in the guide: Esther 2:5
Mordecai
Benjaminite of Susa, exiled with Jeconiah, who raised his cousin Esther, exposed the plot of Bigthan and Teresh, refused to bow to Haman, was honored by the king, and became…
Cited in the guide: Esther 2:5; Esther 2:22; Esther 3:2
Shaashgaz
The king’s eunuch over the second harem where women returned after their night with the king.
Cited in the guide: Esther 2:14
Shimei
Son of Kish and father of Jair in Mordecai’s ancestry; "son" may mean descendant.
Cited in the guide: Esther 2:5
Teresh
With Bigthan, a doorkeeping eunuch who conspired to assassinate Xerxes and was hanged after Mordecai reported the plot.
Cited in the guide: Esther 2:21; Esther 6:2
Xerxes
King who reigned over 127 provinces from Susa; he deposed Vashti, made Esther queen, honored Mordecai, hanged Haman and allowed the Jews to defend themselves. Ezra 4:6 mentions an…
Cited in the guide: Ezra 4:6; Esther 1:1; Esther 2:16
Cross references (22)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Esther 7:10; Daniel 6:14–18; Esther 1:12–21
- 2 1 Kings 1:2; Esther 6:14; Genesis 12:14; Esther 1:14; Esther 1:10
- 3 Esther 2:8–9; Esther 2:12–15; Esther 1:1–2; Isaiah 3:18–23
- 4 Matthew 14:6; Matthew 20:16; Matthew 22:14; Esther 3:9–10; 2 Samuel 17:4
- 5 2 Samuel 16:5; Esther 2:3; 1 Samuel 9:1; Esther 1:2; Esther 5:1
- 6 2 Kings 24:14–15; 2 Chronicles 36:20; Jeremiah 24:1; 2 Kings 24:6; Jeremiah 22:24
- 7 Esther 2:15; Esther 1:11; Ephesians 6:4; 2 Corinthians 6:18; 1 John 3:1
- 8 Esther 2:3; Esther 2:15
- 9 Genesis 39:21; Proverbs 16:7; Esther 2:12; Esther 2:3; Daniel 1:9
- 10 Esther 2:20; Matthew 10:16; Esther 3:8; Ephesians 6:1; Esther 4:13–14
- 11 Genesis 37:14; 1 Samuel 17:18; Acts 15:36; Esther 2:13–14
- 12 Proverbs 7:17; 1 Thessalonians 4:4–5; Isaiah 57:9; Song of Songs 3:6; Luke 7:37–38
- 14 Esther 4:11; Genesis 34:19; Isaiah 43:1; Isaiah 45:4; Isaiah 62:4–5
- 15 Song of Songs 6:9; Esther 2:3; Esther 9:29; Acts 7:10; Song of Songs 8:10
- 16 Esther 8:9; Esther 2:3; Esther 2:1; Ezra 7:8
- 17 Psalm 113:7–8; Luke 1:48–52; Ezekiel 17:24; Psalm 75:6–7; 1 Samuel 2:8
- 18 Genesis 29:22; Judges 14:10–17; 1 Samuel 25:8; Matthew 22:2; Esther 1:3–5
- 19 Esther 2:21; Esther 2:3–4; Esther 3:2–3; Esther 5:13
- 20 Esther 2:10; Ephesians 6:1–3; Esther 2:7
- 21 Esther 6:2; 2 Kings 12:20; 2 Kings 21:23; 1 Kings 16:9; 2 Samuel 4:5–6
- 22 Esther 6:1–2; Acts 23:12–22; Romans 11:33; Philippians 2:4; Ecclesiastes 10:20
- 23 Genesis 40:19; Genesis 40:22; Esther 10:2; Joshua 8:29; Esther 5:14–6:2
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences