Esther 2 · Verse 21

Esther 2:21

In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king’s gate, two of the king’s chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.
Esther 2:21, King James Version

Esther 2:21 in other translations

BSBIn those days, while Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the entrance, grew angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.
WEBIn those days, while Mordecai was sitting in the king’s gate, two of the king’s eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, who were doorkeepers, were angry, and sought to lay hands on the King Ahasuerus.
ASVIn those days, while Mordecai was sitting in the king’s gate, two of the king’s chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those that kept the threshold, were wroth, and sought to lay hands on the king Ahasuerus.
YLTIn those days, when Mordecai is sitting in the gate of the king, hath Bigthan been wroth, and Teresh, (two of the eunuchs of the king, the keepers of the threshold,) and they seek to put forth a hand on king Ahasuerus,
DARBYIn those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the threshold, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.
BBEIn those days, while Mordecai was seated at the king's doorway, two of the king's servants, Bigthan and Teresh, keepers of the door, being angry, were looking for a chance to make an attack on King Ahasuerus.
WebsterIn those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those who kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.

What does Esther 2:21 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Es 2:21-23. Mordecai, Discovering a Treason, Is Recorded in the Chronicles.

21. In those days ... two of the king's chamberlains ... were wroth and sought to lay hand on the king, &c.--This secret conspiracy against the king's life probably arose out of revenge for the divorce of Vashti, in whose interest, and at whose instigation, these eunuchs may have acted. Through the vigilance of Mordecai, whose fidelity, however, passed unnoticed, the design was frustrated, while the conspirators were condemned to be executed and as the matter was recorded in the court annals, it became the occasion afterwards of Mordecai's preferment to the place of power and influence for which, in furtherance of the national interests of the Jews, divine providence intended him.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 21 Mordecai sat in the kings gate - Mordecai might have been one of the officers of the king, as the gate was the place where such usually attended to await the king's call. It is not likely that he was the porter; had he been only such, Haman could have removed him at once. Two of the king's chamberlains - Eunuchs. Why they conspired against the life of the king, we are not informed. The Targum says that they found out that Esther had intended to use her influence with the king to get them removed from their office, and Mordecai put in their place; therefore they determined to poison Esther, and slay the king in his bedchamber. It is very likely that they were creatures of Haman, who probably affected the kingdom, and perhaps were employed by him to remove the king, and so make his way open to the throne.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Esther 2:21-23
Good subjects must not conceal any bad design they know of against the prince, or the public peace. Mordecai was not rewarded at the time, but a remembrance was written. Thus, with respect to those who serve Christ, though their recompence is not till the resurrection of the just, yet an account is kept of their work of faith and labour of love, which God is not unrighteous to forget. The servant of God must be faithful to every trust, and watchful for those who employ him. If he appear to be neglected now, he will be remembered hereafter. None of our actions can be forgotten; even our most secret thoughts are written in lasting registers, Re 20:12.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Esther 2:21 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.

בַּיָּמִ֣יםbai.ya.Mimin the daysH3117
הָהֵ֔םha.Hem<the> thoseH1992
וּמָרְדֳּכַ֖יu.ma.re.do.Khaiand MordecaiH4782
יֹשֵׁ֣בyo.Shev[was] sittingH3427
בְּשַֽׁעַר\־be.sha.'ar-at [the] gate ofH8179
הַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhthe kingH4428
קָצַף֩ka.Tzafhe was angryH7107
בִּגְתָ֨ןbig.TanBigthanH904
וָתֶ֜רֶשׁva.Te.reshand TereshH8657
שְׁנֵֽי\־she.nei-two ofH8147
סָרִיסֵ֤יsa.ri.Sei[the] eunuchs ofH5631
הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhthe kingH4428
מִשֹּׁמְרֵ֣יmi.sho.me.Reifrom [the] guards ofH8104
הַסַּ֔ףha.Safthe thresholdH5592
וַיְבַקְשׁוּ֙vay.vak.Shuand they soughtH1245
לִשְׁלֹ֣חַlish.Lo.achto stretch outH7971
יָ֔דYada handH3027
בַּמֶּ֖לֶךְba.Me.lekhon the kingH4428
אֲחַשְׁוֵֽרֹשׁ\׃'a.chash.Ve.roshAhasuerusH325

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

Cross references for Esther 2:21

  • Esther 6:2

    And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.

  • 2 Kings 12:20

    And his servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and slew Joash in the house of Millo, which goeth down to Silla.

  • 2 Kings 21:23

    And the servants of Amon conspired against him, and slew the king in his own house.

  • 1 Kings 16:9

    And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza steward of his house in Tirzah.

  • 2 Samuel 4:5-6

    And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ish–bosheth, who lay on a bed at noon. And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him under the fifth rib: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.

  • Psalms 144:10

    It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword.

  • 2 Samuel 16:11

    And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the Lord hath bidden him.

  • 2 Kings 9:22-24

    And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many? And Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, There is treachery, O Ahaziah. And Jehu drew a bow with his full strength, and smote Jehoram between his arms, and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot.

  • 1 Kings 15:25-27

    And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned over Israel two years. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin. And Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him; and Baasha smote him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel laid siege to Gibbethon.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Bigthan.
6:2
Bigthana. door. Heb. threshold. and sought.
2Sa 4:5,6; 16:11; 1Ki 15:25-27; 16:9; 2Ki 9:22-24; 12:20; 21:23
Ps 144:10

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

Context

  • Esther 2:20

    Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.

  • Esther 2:21

    In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king’s gate, two of the king’s chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.

  • Esther 2:22

    And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai’s name.

Read all of Esther 2

Esther 2:21 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
En aquellos días, estando Mardochêo sentado á la puerta del rey, enojáronse Bigthán y Teres, dos eunucos del rey, de la guardia de la puerta, y procuraban poner mano en el rey Assuero.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
– En ces jours-là, Mardochée étant assis à la porte du roi, deux des eunuques du roi, d’entre les gardiens du seuil, Bigthan et Théresh, se mirent en colère et cherchèrent à porter la main sur le roi Assuérus.
German
Elberfelder 1871
in selbigen Tagen, als Mordokai im Tore des Königs saß, ergrimmten Bigthan und Teresch, zwei Kämmerer des Königs, von denen, welche die Schwelle hüteten, und trachteten danach, Hand an den König Ahasveros zu legen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Eo igitur tempore, quo Mardochæus ad regis januam morabatur, irati sunt Bagathan et Thares duo eunuchi regis, qui janitores erant, et in primo palatii limine præsidebant: volueruntque insurgere in regem, et occidere eum.