Esther 2 · Verse 23

Esther 2:23

And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.
Esther 2:23, King James Version

Esther 2:23 in other translations

BSBAfter the report had been investigated and verified, both officials were hanged on the gallows. And all this was recorded in the Book of the Chronicles in the presence of the king.
WEBWhen this matter was investigated, and it was found to be so, they were both hanged on a gallows; and it was written in the book of the chronicles in the king’s presence.
ASVAnd when inquisition was made of the matter, and it was found to be so, they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.
YLTand the thing is sought out, and found, and they are hanged both of them on a tree, and it is written in the book of the Chronicles before the king.
DARBYAnd the matter was investigated and found out; and they were both hanged on a tree. And it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.
BBEAnd when the thing had been looked into, it was seen to be true, and the two of them were put to death by hanging on a tree: and it was put down in the records before the king.
WebsterAnd when inquisition was made of the matter, it was discovered; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.

What does Esther 2:23 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 23 It was found out - It was proved against them, in consequence of which they were hanged. Perhaps the words ויתלו על עץ vaiyittalu al ets, they were hung upon wood or a tree, may refer to their being impaled. A pointed stake is set upright in the ground, and the culprit is taken, placed on the sharp point, and then pulled down by his legs till the stake that went in at the fundament passes up through the body and comes out by the side of the neck. A most dreadful species of punishment, in which revenge and cruelty may glut the utmost of their malice. The culprit lives a considerable time in excruciating agonies. It has been observed that the name of God does not once occur in this book. This is true of the Hebrew text, and all translations from it; but in the Septuagint we find the following words, in Est 2:20, after, Esther had not showed her kindred: Οὑτως γαρ ενετειλατο αυτῃ Μαρδοχαιος, φοβεισθαι τον Θεον, και ποιειν τα προσταγματα αυτου, καθως ην μετ' αυτου; "For so Mordecai had charged her to fear God, and to keep his commandments, as she did when with him." This, as far as the Septuagint is concerned, takes away the strange reproach from this book. It must be owned that it was not because there were not many fair opportunities that the sacred name has not been introduced.

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…

Read the full comment on Esther 2:21-23 →

Esther 2:23 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.

וַיְבֻקַּ֤שׁvay.vu.Kashand it was soughtH1245
הַדָּבָר֙ha.da.Varthe matterH1697
וַיִּמָּצֵ֔אvai.yi.ma.Tze'and it was foundH4672
וַיִּתָּל֥וּvai.yi.ta.Luand they were hangedH8518
שְׁנֵיהֶ֖םshe.nei.Hem[the] two of themH8147
עַל\־'al-onH5921
עֵ֑ץ'Etza gallowsH6086
וַיִּכָּתֵ֗בvai.yi.ka.Tevand it was writtenH3789
בְּסֵ֛פֶרbe.Se.ferin [the] book ofH5612
דִּבְרֵ֥יdiv.Rei[the] matters ofH1697
הַיָּמִ֖יםhai.ya.Mimthe daysH3117
לִפְנֵ֥יlif.Nei<to> beforeH6440
הַמֶּֽלֶךְ\׃\ \פha.Me.lekhthe kingH4428

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

Cross references for Esther 2:23

  • Genesis 40:19

    Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.

  • Genesis 40:22

    But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them.

  • Esther 10:2

    And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?

  • Joshua 8:29

    And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide: and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcase down from the tree, and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city, and raise thereon a great heap of stones, that remaineth unto this day.

  • Esther 5:14-6:2

    Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made. On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. 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.

  • Malachi 3:16

    Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.

  • Esther 7:10

    So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified.

  • Deuteronomy 21:22-23

    And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
hanged.
5:14; 7:10; Ge 40:19,22; De 21:22,23; Jos 8:29
the book.
6:1,2; Mal 3:16

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Esther 2:23

    And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.

Read all of Esther 2

Esther 2:23 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Hízose entonces indagación de la cosa, y fué hallada cierta; por tanto, entrambos fueron colgados en una horca. Y escribióse el caso en el libro de las cosas de los tiempos delante del rey.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et on fit une enquête sur la chose, et elle fut trouvée telle, et les deux eunuques furent pendus à un bois. Et cela fut écrit dans le livre des chroniques en présence du roi.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und die Sache wurde untersucht und wahr gefunden; und sie wurden beide an ein Holz gehängt. Und es wurde vor dem König in das Buch der Chroniken eingeschrieben.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quæsitum est, et inventum: et appensus est uterque eorum in patibulo. Mandatumque est historiis, et annalibus traditum coram rege.