Lexical Summary omnah: care Original Word: אָמְנָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance brought up Feminine of 'omen (in the specific sense of training); tutelage -- brought up. see HEBREW 'omen NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom aman Definition bringing up, nourishment NASB Translation care (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs אָמְנָה noun feminine bringing up, nourishment, Esther 2:20. Topical Lexicon Biblical Usage The term appears once, in Esther 2:20: “She obeyed Mordecai’s command, as she had done under his care”. Here it describes the relationship of nurture and guardianship that existed between Mordecai and Esther after the death of her parents. Historical Context Esther and Mordecai lived among the exiles dispersed throughout the Persian Empire. Orphans were particularly vulnerable, and a relative’s willingness to assume foster responsibility was both a legal necessity and a covenantal duty (compare Deuteronomy 10:18; Psalm 68:5). Mordecai’s role secured Esther’s physical safety and provided the moral formation that later enabled her to stand in defense of her people before King Ahasuerus. Theological Insights 1. Covenant Faithfulness in Miniature Mordecai’s foster care illustrates the faithfulness God Himself shows to His covenant people (Isaiah 49:15-23). While Israel endured foreign domination, the Lord quietly worked through ordinary acts of compassion, turning a private adoption into the means of national deliverance. Esther’s continued submission “as she had done under his care” demonstrates that true obedience flows from trusted nurture, not mere external compulsion (Proverbs 1:8-9). The hidden years of formation under Mordecai prepared Esther for her decisive moment, echoing how God often equips servants in obscurity before public ministry (1 Samuel 16:11-13; Luke 2:51-52). Related Biblical Themes • Foster care and nursing imagery recur throughout Scripture: Naomi became “a nurse to the child” Obed (Ruth 4:16); the nurse of Mephibosheth fled with him for safety (2 Samuel 4:4); kings and queens are promised as “foster fathers” and “nursing mothers” to Zion (Isaiah 49:23). Ministry Applications • Adoption and Orphan Care. The Church is called to mirror Mordecai’s example, defending the fatherless and integrating them into covenant community (James 1:27). Messianic and New Covenant Parallels The ultimate fulfillment of faithful guardianship is found in Christ, who said, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:18). His shepherding care surpasses Mordecai’s, yet Mordecai’s foster role foreshadows the Savior’s protective, formative love. Forms and Transliterations בְאָמְנָ֖ה באמנה ḇə’āmənāh ḇə·’ā·mə·nāh veameNahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Esther 2:20 HEB: כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר הָיְתָ֥ה בְאָמְנָ֖ה אִתּֽוֹ׃ ס NAS: when under his care. KJV: of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him. INT: after had done his care for 1 Occurrence |
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