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People of the Bible
Who Was Queen Esther?
In short
Esther was a young Jewish woman who became queen of Persia, and who risked her life to save her people from destruction. 'If I perish, I perish,' she said.
Though God is never named in her book, His hidden hand is everywhere, placing her where she was for exactly such a time.
“For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
Esther 4:14 · King James Version (public domain)
Esther at a glance
| Name | Esther |
|---|---|
| Where to read about them | Esther |
| Key passage on this page | Esther 4:14 |
| Passages linked to that verse | 10 |
| Translation on this page | King James Version (public domain) |
Read it in context
Read it beside its neighbours. These are the passages readers most often set next to this one.
- Genesis 45:4-8
- 1 Samuel 12:22
- Deuteronomy 32:36
- Isaiah 54:17
- Jeremiah 30:11
- Matthew 16:18
- Acts 7:20-25
- Ezra 9:9
- Jeremiah 46:28
- Esther 2:15
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY.
Questions people ask
Where can I read about Esther in the Bible?
Esther appears in Esther. Start with the key passage on this page, then read the whole chapter around it.
What other passages sit beside Esther 4:14?
Readers most often set it next to Genesis 45:4-8, 1 Samuel 12:22, Deuteronomy 32:36, Isaiah 54:17.
Why does Esther matter to Christians today?
Because the story of Esther is told to point to Christ and to teach us to love one another. Read it as part of the one story of Scripture, not as a stand-alone biography.
Pray this
Lord Jesus, you see Esther and you know every person there by name. We bring you Esther, Esther. Make us people who love one another there. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Live this
Where to begin this week.
- Read the key passage, Esther 4:14, aloud once today.
- Write one sentence about what Esther's story says about God, not only about Esther.
- Tell one person what you noticed, and ask what Bible story has stayed with them.
Where this fits in the walk with Christ
Nothing here is a finish line. It is one door into a life with Christ and with His people.
Read the story of Esther
You can read the story of Esther in Esther on The Living Bread, free, with audio, and with Simon to answer your questions along the way.
