Esther 2:15 Meaning and Explanation
“Now 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 favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →When Esther's turn came she asked for nothing beyond Hegai's counsel, and she won favor with all who saw her.
What Does Esther 2:15 Mean?
When her turn comes, Esther required nothing beyond what Hegai advised, refusing the chance to deck herself in every available luxury. Her restraint sets her apart from all the others. She trusts the judgment of the man who knows the king, and she does not grasp. In a court of striving, her quiet confidence is itself a kind of beauty.
The result is striking: Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her, not the king only, but everyone. This universal favor is the book's signature note, the recurring sign that something gracious surrounds her. Without naming the source, the narrator lets us feel that her winsomeness is more than skin-deep and more than her own doing.
Esther 2:15 in the Original Language
chen (חֵן), 'favour' or 'grace' -- the winning regard Esther repeatedly draws from others, a quiet thread running through her story.
Frequently Asked Questions About Esther 2:15
What does Esther 2:15 mean?
When Esther's turn came she asked for nothing beyond Hegai's counsel, and she won favor with all who saw her.