Esther
A Jewish woman who becomes queen of Persia and risks her life to save her people from destruction.
At a glance
- Name
- Esther
- Type
- Person
- Period
- Old Testament
- Appears in
- The book of Esther
- First appearance
- Esther 2
- Known for
- The queen who saved her people
Who is Esther?
Esther is a young Jewish woman living in the Persian Empire, raised by her cousin Mordecai after the death of her parents. When King Xerxes seeks a new queen, Esther is chosen, though she keeps her Jewish identity secret.
When a royal official named Haman plots to destroy all the Jews in the empire, Mordecai urges Esther to plead with the king, telling her she may have come to her royal position 'for such a time as this.' Approaching the king uninvited could mean death, but Esther resolves to go.
Esther invites the king and Haman to a banquet, where she exposes Haman's plot and reveals that she herself is a Jew. Haman is put to death, and the Jews are allowed to defend themselves. The deliverance is remembered in the festival of Purim.
Esther in the Bible
Esther becomes queen
A young Jewish woman, Esther is chosen as queen of Persia but keeps her identity secret.
Read Esther 2 →For such a time as this
Mordecai urges Esther to risk her life and plead with the king for her people.
Read Esther 4 →Haman exposed
At a banquet, Esther reveals Haman's plot and her own Jewish identity.
Read Esther 7 →Key passages featuring Esther
These are key passages, not a complete list of every appearance.