Esther 2:12 Meaning and Explanation
“Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;)”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Each young woman underwent twelve months of beauty preparations before her turn to go to the king.
What Does Esther 2:12 Mean?
A full year of preparation precedes each young woman's single audience with the king: six months with oil of myrrh, six with perfumes and cosmetics. The lavish detail conveys both the luxury of the court and the strangeness of its priorities, an entire year spent perfecting appearance for one evening.
The long ritual underscores how completely these women's lives were bent toward pleasing one man. Yet within this system Esther moves with a quiet wisdom the next verses reveal. The narrator records the extravagance not to celebrate it but to set the stage for a young woman whose true preparation lay deeper than any oil or perfume.
Frequently Asked Questions About Esther 2:12
What does Esther 2:12 mean?
Each young woman underwent twelve months of beauty preparations before her turn to go to the king.