Esther 2 · Verse 14

Esther 2:14

In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.
Esther 2:14, King James Version

Esther 2:14 in other translations

BSBShe would go there in the evening, and in the morning she would return to a second harem under the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch in charge of the concubines. She would not return to the king unless he delighted in her and summoned her by name.
WEBIn the evening she went, and on the next day she returned into the second women’s house, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch, who kept the concubines. She came in to the king no more, unless the king delighted in her, and she was called by name.
ASVIn the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s chamberlain, who kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and she were called by name.
YLTin the evening she hath gone in, and in the morning she hath turned back unto the second house of the women, unto the hand of Shaashgaz eunuch of the king, keeper of the concubines; she cometh not in any more unto the king except the king hath delighted in her, and she hath been called by name.
DARBYIn the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, unto the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, keeper of the concubines. She came in to the king no more, unless the king delighted in her, and she were called by name.
BBEIn the evening she went, and on the day after she came back to the second house of the women, into the keeping of Shaashgaz, one of the king's unsexed servants who had the care of the king's wives: only if the king had delight in her and sent for her by name did she go in to him again.
WebsterIn the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, who kept the concubines: she came in to the king no more, except that the king delighted in her, and she was called by name.

What does Esther 2:14 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 14 She returned into the second house - This was the place where the king's concubines were kept. They went out no more, and were never given in marriage to any man, and saw the king's face no more unless specially called. Custody of Shaashgaz - This is probably another Persian name; sheshkhunj, beardless, a proper epithet of a eunuch; or sestgunj, weak loins, for the same reason. Names of this kind at once show the reason of their imposition, by describing the state of the person.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Esther 2:1-20

We see to what absurd practices those came, who were destitute of Divine revelation, and what need there was of the gospel of Christ, to purify men from the lusts of the flesh, and to bring them back to the original institution of marriage. Esther was preferred as queen. Those who suggest that Esther committed sin to come at this dignity, do not consider the custom of those times and countries. Every one that the…

Read the full comment on Esther 2:1-20 →

Esther 2:14 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

בָּעֶ֣רֶב\׀ba.'E.revin the eveningH6153
הִ֣יאhi'sheH1931
בָאָ֗הva.'Ah[was] goingH935
וּ֠בַבֹּקֶרU.va.bo.kerand in the morningH1242
הִ֣יאhi'sheH1931
שָׁבָ֞הsha.Vah[was] returningH7725
אֶל\־'el-toH413
בֵּ֤יתbeit[the] house ofH1004
הַנָּשִׁים֙ha.na.Shimthe womenH802
שֵׁנִ֔יshe.NisecondH8145
אֶל\־'el-inH413
יַ֧דyad[the] hand ofH3027
שַֽׁעֲשְׁגַ֛זsha.'ash.GazShaashgazH8190
סְרִ֥יסse.Ris[the] eunuch ofH5631
הַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhthe kingH4428
שֹׁמֵ֣רsho.Mer[the] keeperH8104
הַפִּֽילַגְשִׁ֑יםha.pi.lag.Shimof the concubinesH6370
לֹא\־lo'-notH3808
תָב֥וֹאta.Vo'she wentH935
עוֹד֙'OdagainH5750
אֶל\־'el-intoH413
הַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhthe kingH4428
כִּ֣יkithatH3588
אִם\־'im-exceptH518
חָפֵ֥ץcha.Fetzhe delightedH2654
בָּ֛הּbahin <the> her
הַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhthe kingH4428
וְנִקְרְאָ֥הve.nik.re.'Ahand she was summonedH7121
בְשֵֽׁם\׃ve.Shemby nameH8034

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Esther 2:14

  • Esther 4:11

    All the king’s servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.

  • Genesis 34:19

    And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob’s daughter: and he was more honourable than all the house of his father.

  • Isaiah 43:1

    But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

  • Isaiah 45:4

    For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.

  • Isaiah 62:4-5

    Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzi–bah, and thy land Beulah: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married. For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.

  • Deuteronomy 21:14

    And it shall be, if thou have no delight in her, then thou shalt let her go whither she will; but thou shalt not sell her at all for money, thou shalt not make merchandise of her, because thou hast humbled her.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
delighted.
4:11; Ge 34:19; De 21:14; Isa 62:4,5
she were called.
Isa 43:1; 45:4

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Esther 2:13

    Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king’s house.

  • Esther 2:14

    In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.

  • Esther 2:15

    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.

Read all of Esther 2

Esther 2:14 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Ella venía á la tarde, y á la mañana se volvía á la casa segunda de las mujeres, al cargo de Saasgaz eunuco del rey, guarda de las concubinas: no venía más al rey, salvo si el rey la quería, y era llamada por nombre.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Le soir elle allait, et le matin elle s’en revenait à la seconde maison des femmes, sous la surveillance de Shaashgaz, eunuque du roi, gardien des concubines. Elle n’entrait plus auprès du roi, à moins que le roi ne trouve plaisir en elle, et qu’elle ne soit appelée par son nom.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Am Abend kam sie, und am Morgen kehrte sie in das zweite Frauenhaus zurück, unter die Aufsicht Schaaschgas, des königlichen Kämmerers, des Hüters der Kebsweiber. Sie kam nicht wieder zu dem König, es sei denn, daß der König Gefallen an ihr hatte, und sie mit Namen gerufen wurde.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Et quæ intraverat vespere, egrediebatur mane, atque inde in secundas ædes deducebatur, quæ sub manu Susagazi eunuchi erant, qui concubinis regis præsidebat: nec habebat potestatem ad regem ultra redeundi, nisi voluisset rex, et eam venire jussisset ex nomine.