Esther 2:17

Bible in Basic English (1941)

And Esther was more pleasing to the king than all the women, and to his eyes she was fairer and more full of grace than all the other virgins: so he put his crown on her head and made her queen in place 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 takes the poor man out of the dust, lifting him up from his low position; 8 To give him a place among the rulers, even with the rulers of his people.
• Ezek 17:24 : 24 And it will be clear to all the trees of the field that I the Lord have made low the high tree and made high the low tree, drying up the green tree and making the dry tree full of growth; I the Lord have said it and have done it.
• Luke 1:48-52 : 48 For he has had pity on his servant, though she is poor and lowly placed: and from this hour will all generations give witness to the blessing which has come to me. 49 For he who is strong has done great things for me; and holy is his name. 50 His mercy is for all generations in whom is the fear of him. 51 With his arm he has done acts of power; he has put to flight those who have pride in their hearts. 52 He has put down kings from their seats, lifting up on high the men of low degree.
• 1 Sam 2:8 : 8 Lifting the poor out of the dust, and him who is in need out of the lowest place, to give them their place among rulers, and for their heritage the seat of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord's and he has made them the base of the world.
• Esth 1:11 : 11 That Vashti the queen was to come before him, crowned with her crown, and let the people and the captains see her: for she was very beautiful.
• Esth 4:14 : 14 If at this time you say nothing, then help and salvation will come to the Jews from some other place, but you and your father's family will come to destruction: and who is to say that you have not come to the kingdom even for such a time as this?
• Ps 75:6-7 : 6 For honour does not come from the east, or from the west, or uplifting from the south; 7 But God is the judge, putting down one, and lifting up another.