Esther 2:7 Meaning and Explanation
“And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Mordecai raised his orphaned cousin Hadassah, also called Esther, a beautiful young woman, as his own daughter.
What Does Esther 2:7 Mean?
At last the heroine appears, and tenderly. She is Hadassah, also called Esther, an orphan with neither father nor mother, taken in by Mordecai as his own daughter. Before she is ever fair and beautiful to a king, she is a cared-for child, raised by a kinsman who chose to love her. That bond will hold through every danger.
Her two names hint at her two worlds: a Hebrew name carried within, a name fit for the Persian court worn without. The girl who will one day stand veiled before power is first shown to us as a vulnerable orphan. The book begins her story not with her beauty but with the loyalty that surrounds her.
Esther 2:7 in the Original Language
hadassah (הֲדַסָּה), 'myrtle' -- Esther's Hebrew name, the myrtle being a fragrant, modest evergreen.
Frequently Asked Questions About Esther 2:7
What does Esther 2:7 mean?
Mordecai raised his orphaned cousin Hadassah, also called Esther, a beautiful young woman, as his own daughter.