Who was Esther in the bible?
Esther—also called Hadassah—is the Jewish queen of Persia whose courage, recorded in the book that bears her name, delivered her people from Haman’s plot to destroy them.
Queen of Persia
“The king loved Esther more than all the women… so that he set the royal crown on her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.” (Esther 2:17)
Learn More →For Such a Time
Mordecai warned her, “Who knows if you haven’t come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14) She answered, “If I perish, I perish.” (Esther 4:16)
Learn More →Esther—also called Hadassah—is a Jewish orphan raised by her cousin Mordecai who became queen of Persia and risked her life to save the Jewish people from Haman’s plot to destroy them. Her story is told in the book of Esther.
Esther in Scripture
Esther is introduced as an orphan of the Jewish exile, raised by her older cousin Mordecai.
“He brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter; for she had neither father nor mother… and when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his own daughter.” (Esther 2:7, WEB)
When King Ahasuerus sought a new queen, Esther was chosen above all the others.
“The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she obtained favor and kindness in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown on her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.” (Esther 2:17, WEB)
For Such a Time as This
When Haman schemed to destroy the Jews, Mordecai urged Esther to plead with the king, though approaching him uninvited risked death.
“Who knows if you haven’t come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14, WEB)
Esther resolved to act, entrusting herself to God’s purpose.
“I will go in to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish.” (Esther 4:16, WEB)
Deliverance of the Jews
At her banquet, Esther exposed Haman and begged the king for the lives of her people.
“If I have found favor in your sight, O king… let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request.” (Esther 7:3, WEB)
Haman was undone, and the Jews were granted deliverance. Their rescue is remembered each year in the Feast of Purim.
“…that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending presents of food to one another, and gifts to the needy.” (Esther 9:22, WEB)
Name and Meaning
Esther’s Hebrew name was Hadassah (“myrtle”), and she was also known as Esther (אֶסְתֵּר), a name commonly linked to the Persian word for “star.” The name is listed in Strong’s Concordance as H635. Esther is remembered as the queen whose faith and courage preserved her people.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Esther mean?
Her Hebrew name was Hadassah, meaning “myrtle” (Esther 2:7). She was also called Esther, a name usually connected with the Persian word for “star.”
Who was Esther in the Bible?
Esther was a Jewish orphan raised by her cousin Mordecai who became queen of Persia under King Ahasuerus (Esther 2:7, 17).
What did Esther do to save the Jews?
She risked her life by approaching the king uninvited, exposed Haman’s plot at a banquet, and pleaded for her people’s lives (Esther 4:16; 7:3–6).
How is Esther remembered?
The deliverance of the Jews through Esther is celebrated each year in the Feast of Purim (Esther 9:22–28).
Explore Further
If you found this page about Esther interesting and would like to discover more about other biblical characters, explore our comprehensive Encyclopedia of Biblical Characters. For those looking to delve deeper into the Greek origins of these names and terms, our Greek Lexicon is an invaluable resource.
Sources: Name and occurrence data from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and STEPBible reference data (CC BY). Scripture quotations from the World English Bible (public domain).
