Esther 2:6
What does Esther 2:6 mean?
A plain-English look at Esther 2:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Esther 2:6 means
The text anchors Mordecai’s family history in the trauma of exile under Nebuchadnezzar with Jeconiah. Whether it refers to Mordecai himself or his forebears, the point stands: his house bears the mark of deportation. This detail explains why Jews like Mordecai live in Persia and signals the fragility of their status. They are subjects of a foreign empire, dependent on its laws and favor. The exile backdrop heightens the significance of what follows: God’s people are scattered, yet not abandoned. The reverse of exile—preservation within a foreign land—will be worked out through events that begin in a royal harem but end in national deliverance.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives that had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Who 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives that had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Who had been taken away from Jerusalem among those who had been made prisoner with Jeconiah, king of Judah, when Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had taken him away.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862who had been removed from Jerusalem with the removal that was removed with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon removed--
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Who had been carried away from Jerusalem at the time that Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon carried away Jechonias king of Juda,
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives who had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.
Context
Verse 5 identified Mordecai; verse 6 locates him within Israel’s exilic history, setting a sober tone. The reminder of captivity prepares readers to see Esther’s rise not as mere good fortune but as part of God’s care for exiles. Next, verse 7 introduces Esther herself—her Hebrew name, her orphaned state, and Mordecai’s guardianship—factors that will matter for her character and choices in the palace.
v.5There was a certain Jew in Shushan the palace, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite,
v.6This passage
v.7And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maiden was fair and beautiful; and when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his own daughter.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Jeremiah 22:24
As I live, saith Jehovah, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet upon my right hand, yet would I pluck thee thence;
- 2 Chronicles 36:9
Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah.
- Jeremiah 24:1
Jehovah showed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs set before the temple of Jehovah, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the craftsmen and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon.
- 2 Kings 24:14
And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valor, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and the smiths; none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land.
- 2 Kings 24:6
So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers; and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead.
- 2 Chronicles 36:20
And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; and they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia: