Esther 2:21

Authorized King James Version

In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
בַּיָּמִ֣ים
In those days
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
#2
הָהֵ֔ם
they (only used when emphatic)
#3
וּמָרְדֳּכַ֖י
while Mordecai
mordecai, an israelite
#4
יֹשֵׁ֣ב
sat
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
#5
בְּשַֽׁעַר
gate
an opening, i.e., door or gate
#6
בַּמֶּ֖לֶךְ
in the king's
a king
#7
קָצַף֩
were wroth
to crack off, i.e., (figuratively) burst out in rage
#8
בִּגְתָ֨ן
Bigthan
bigthan or bigthana, a eunuch of xerxes
#9
וָתֶ֜רֶשׁ
and Teresh
teresh, a eunuch of xerxes
#10
שְׁנֵֽי
two
two; also (as ordinal) twofold
#11
סָרִיסֵ֤י
chamberlains
a eunuch; by implication, valet (especially of the female apartments), and thus, a minister of state
#12
בַּמֶּ֖לֶךְ
in the king's
a king
#13
מִשֹּֽׁמְרֵ֣י
of those which kept
properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e., guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc
#14
הַסַּ֔ף
the door
a vestibule (as a limit); also a dish (for holding blood or wine)
#15
וַיְבַקְשׁוּ֙
and sought
to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after
#16
לִשְׁלֹ֣חַ
to lay
to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
#17
יָ֔ד
hand
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
#18
בַּמֶּ֖לֶךְ
in the king's
a king
#19
אֲחַשְׁוֵֽרֹשׁ׃
Ahasuerus
achashverosh (i.e., ahasuerus or artaxerxes, but in this case xerxes), the title (rather than name) of a persian king

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Esther Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine revelation in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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