Esther 2:17

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained favor and kindness in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיֶּאֱהַ֨ב הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ אֶת־אֶסְתֵּר֙ מִכָּל־הַנָּשִׁ֔ים וַתִּשָּׂא־חֵ֥ן וָחֶ֛סֶד לְפָנָ֖יו מִכָּל־הַבְּתוּלֹ֑ת וַיָּ֤שֶׂם כֶּֽתֶר־מַלְכוּת֙ בְּרֹאשָׁ֔הּ וַיַּמְלִיכֶ֖הָ תַּ֥חַת וַשְׁתִּֽי׃

Transliteration

And-yeʾĕhaḇ the-meleḵ ʾeṯ-ʾestēr from-all-the-nāšîm and-tiśśāʾ-ḥēn and-ḥesed before-him from-all-the-bəṯûlōṯ and-yāśem keṯer-malḵûṯ on-rōšāh and-yamliḵehā taḥaṯ waštî.

Grammar Details

• *yeʾĕhaḇ*: verb, qal imperfect with vav consecutive, 3rd masculine singular - and he loved
• *meleḵ*: noun, masculine singular - king
• *ʾeṯ*: direct object marker
• *ʾestēr*: proper noun - Esther
• *nāšîm*: noun, feminine plural - women
• *tiśśāʾ*: verb, qal imperfect with vav consecutive, 3rd feminine singular - and she obtained
• *ḥēn*: noun, masculine singular - favor/grace
• *ḥesed*: noun, masculine singular - kindness/favor
• *bəṯûlōṯ*: noun, feminine plural - virgins
• *yāśem*: verb, qal imperfect with vav consecutive, 3rd masculine singular - and he placed
• *keṯer*: noun, masculine singular construct - crown of
• *malḵûṯ*: noun, feminine singular - royalty/kingdom
• *rōšāh*: noun, masculine singular + 3rd feminine singular suffix - her head
• *yamliḵehā*: verb, hiphil imperfect with vav consecutive, 3rd masculine singular + 3rd feminine singular suffix - and he made her queen
• *taḥaṯ*: preposition - instead of
• *waštî*: proper noun - Vashti

Word Meanings

• *yeʾĕhaḇ*: loved/had affection for
• *tiśśāʾ*: obtained/won/carried/gained
• *ḥēn*: favor/grace/charm/approval
• *ḥesed*: kindness/favor/loyalty/loving-kindness
• *bəṯûlōṯ*: virgins/maidens/unmarried young women
• *yāśem*: placed/set/put
• *keṯer*: crown/diadem
• *malḵûṯ*: royalty/kingdom/royal position
• *yamliḵehā*: made her queen/caused her to reign
• *taḥaṯ*: instead of/in place of/under

Referenced Verses

• Ps 113:7-8 : 7 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, And lifteth up the needy from the dunghill; 8 That he may set him with princes, Even with the princes of his people.
• Ezek 17:24 : 24 And all the trees of the field shall know that I, Jehovah, have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish; I, Jehovah, have spoken and have done it.
• Luke 1:48-52 : 48 For he hath looked upon the low estate of his handmaid: For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; And holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is unto generations and generations On them that fear him. 51 He hath showed strength with his arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart. 52 He hath put down princes from [their] thrones, And hath exalted them of low degree.
• 1 Sam 2:8 : 8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, He lifteth up the needy from the dunghill, To make them sit with princes, And inherit the throne of glory: For the pillars of the earth are Jehovah's, And he hath set the world upon them.
• Esth 1:11 : 11 to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to show the peoples and the princes her beauty; for she was fair to look on.
• Esth 4:14 : 14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then will relief and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place, but thou and thy father's house will perish: and who knoweth whether thou art not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
• Ps 75:6-7 : 6 For neither from the east, nor from the west, Nor yet from the south, [cometh] lifting up. 7 But God is the judge: He putteth down one, and lifteth up another.