Esther 2:16
What does Esther 2:16 mean?
A plain-English look at Esther 2:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Esther 2:16 means
Esther is brought to Ahasuerus in the tenth month, Tebeth, during the seventh year of his reign. The precise dating grounds the story in history and implies that years have elapsed since the events of chapter 1. The long span reinforces how deliberate and costly the selection process is. It also suggests that Esther’s rise was not a fleeting whim but the culmination of extended preparations. Specificity lends credibility and gravity: the scene is not legend but royal record. This day, marked by the calendar of Persia, will become the hinge upon which the fate of many Jews will turn, though that impact has yet to be seen.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
KJV
King James Version · 1611So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949So Esther was taken in to King Ahasuerus in his house in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his rule.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And Esther is taken unto the king Ahasuerus, unto his royal house, in the tenth month--it <FI>is<Fi> the month of Tebeth--in the seventh year of his reign,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752So she was brought to the chamber of king Assuerus the tenth month, which is called Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890So Esther was taken to king Ahasuerus, into his royal house, in the tenth month, that is, the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
Context
After describing Esther’s posture of restraint, the narrative notes the exact time of her presentation. This prepares for the king’s decisive response in verse 17. The detail underscores that this is a climactic moment after a lengthy process. The next verses will show Esther receiving the crown and the empire celebrating, then the story will pivot to a subplot involving Mordecai at the king’s gate.
v.15Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all them that looked upon her.
v.16This passage
v.17And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained favor and kindness in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Esther 2:3
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 Hegai the king’s chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them;
- Esther 2:1
After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was pacified, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.
- Esther 8:9
Then were the king’s scribes called at that time, in the third month, which is the month Sivan, on the three and twentiethday thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the satraps, and the governors and princes of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, a hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.
- Ezra 7:8
And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.