904. Bigthan or Bigthana

Lexical Summary

Bigthan or Bigthana: Bigthan or Bigthana

Original Word: בִּגְתָן
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Bigthan
Pronunciation: big-THAN or big-THAH-nah
Phonetic Spelling: (big-thawn')
KJV: Bigthan, Bigthana
NASB: Bigthan, Bigthana
Word Origin: [of similar derivation to H903 (בִּגתָּא - Bigtha)]

1. Bigthan or Bigthana, a eunuch of Xerxes

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Bigthan, Bigthana

Or Bigthanad {big-thaw'naw}; of similar derivation to Bigtha'; Bigthan or Bigthana, a eunuch of Xerxes -- Bigthan, Bigthana.

see HEBREW Bigtha'

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
of foreign origin
Definition
a eunuch of Ahasuerus
NASB Translation
Bigthan (1), Bigthana (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

בִּגְתָן proper name, masculine (Persian bagadâna, gift of God?) a eunuch of Ahasuerus Esther 2:21 = בִּגְתָנָא Esther 6:2.

בִּגְתָ֫נָא see foregoing.

Topical Lexicon

𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐲

Bigtan (also Bigthana) appears exclusively in the Book of Esther as one of two eunuchs who conspired against King Ahasuerus (Xerxes I). Scripture gives no genealogy, background, or motive beyond the statement that he “grew angry” (Esther 2:21).

𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭

The plot emerges not long after Esther’s elevation to the throne (circa 479 B.C.). Persian eunuchs often held trusted palace positions; their access to the royal person made them both valuable and potentially dangerous. Bigtan and Teresh “guarded the entrance,” suggesting responsibility for the king’s private quarters or the inner court.

𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞

1. Conspiracy Revealed – “Bigthan and Teresh… conspired to assassinate King Ahasuerus.” (Esther 2:21)
2. Mordecai’s Intervention – Mordecai hears, informs Esther, and the coup is stopped; judgment is swift, and the matter is entered into the royal chronicles (Esther 2:23).
3. Providential Memory – During a sleepless night, Ahasuerus listens to those chronicles and belatedly honors Mordecai for thwarting Bigtan’s plot (Esther 6:1–3). This timing sets in motion a cascade that will undo Haman’s deadly decree.

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬
• Divine Providence: A minor incident becomes a pivotal hinge upon which Israel’s survival turns (Romans 8:28).
• Civic Integrity: Mordecai’s vigilance mirrors Joseph’s faithful service in Egypt (Genesis 41:46).
• God’s Books of Remembrance: Earthly records hint at the heavenly ledger (Malachi 3:16; Revelation 20:12).
• The Folly of Secret Sin: Hidden rebellion cannot thwart divine sovereignty (Psalm 2:1–4).

𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬

Eunuchs in the Persian court (cf. Herodotus, Histories 3.84) often wielded considerable influence. Their betrayal illustrates the volatile politics of ancient monarchies and heightens the sense of miraculous preservation enveloping the Jewish exiles.

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞

Bigtan’s failed plot showcases God’s meticulous orchestration of history, culminating in deliverance for His people and prefiguring the greater rescue accomplished by Christ. Human malice is real, yet ultimately subordinate to divine decree.

𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
• Faithful Presence: Like Mordecai at the gate, believers serve God by serving well in secular spheres (Jeremiah 29:7).
• Watchfulness and Prayer for Rulers: “Pray… for kings and all who are in authority” (1 Timothy 2:2).
• Assurance of Vindication: Acts of obedience recorded in obscurity will receive recognition in God’s time (Luke 6:35).

Forms and Transliterations

בִּגְתָ֣נָא בִּגְתָ֨ן בגתן בגתנא biḡ·ṯā·nā biḡ·ṯān bigTan biḡṯān bigTana biḡṯānā

Englishman's Concordance

Esther 2:21
HEB: הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ קָצַף֩ בִּגְתָ֨ן וָתֶ֜רֶשׁ שְׁנֵֽי־
NAS: gate, Bigthan and Teresh,
KJV: chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh,
INT: the king's became Bigthan and Teresh two

Esther 6:2
HEB: מָרְדֳּכַ֜י עַל־ בִּגְתָ֣נָא וָתֶ֗רֶשׁ שְׁנֵי֙
NAS: concerning Bigthana and Teresh,
KJV: had told of Bigthana and Teresh,
INT: Mordecai concerning Bigthana and Teresh two

2 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 904
2 Occurrences

biḡ·ṯān — 1 Occ.
biḡ·ṯā·nā — 1 Occ.