What is the meaning of Esther 2:7? And Mordecai had brought up Hadassah (that is, Esther) Mordecai steps onto the scene as a faithful guardian. His decision to nurture Hadassah highlights God’s quiet providence working through ordinary obedience (see Ruth 2:3–4; Romans 8:28). Like Jehoiada guiding young King Joash (2 Kings 11:2-3), Mordecai’s steady care becomes the hinge on which Israel’s future safety will swing. the daughter of his uncle Esther is Mordecai’s cousin, yet he treats her as immediate family. Scripture repeatedly calls relatives to protect one another—“If anyone does not provide for his own… he has denied the faith” (1 Timothy 5:8). Numbers 27:11 shows inheritance laws flowing to the nearest kinsman; here, responsibility flows the same way, underscoring God’s design for family solidarity. because she did not have a father or mother Esther is an orphan, one of the most vulnerable categories in biblical law. The Lord “executes justice for the fatherless” (Deuteronomy 10:18) and is “a Father to the fatherless” (Psalm 68:5). Mordecai mirrors that divine heart, reflecting the call in James 1:27 to care for orphans. His watchfulness becomes a human illustration of God’s covenant love. The young woman was lovely in form and appearance Scripture notes Esther’s physical beauty (cf. Genesis 24:16 on Rebekah), a detail that explains why the Persian court notices her. Yet outer beauty alone never secures God’s favor—“man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). Esther’s humility and courage will soon prove that inner character matters most (Esther 4:16). when her father and mother had died The verse pauses on loss. Orphanhood is not theoretical; it is personal grief. Psalm 27:10 reassures, “Even if my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me”. Esther’s sorrow becomes the backdrop against which God’s comfort and purpose shine. Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter Mordecai’s adoption of Esther pictures the gospel pattern: choosing, welcoming, and granting full family rights (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:4-5). Practical expressions: • Legal protection under Persian law • Daily provision—food, shelter, instruction • Spiritual guidance in covenant faith, preparing her to stand for her people Much like Pharaoh’s daughter adopting Moses (Exodus 2:10), Mordecai’s action positions Esther exactly where God will use her to rescue the nation. summary Esther 2:7 reveals a faithful guardian, a vulnerable orphan, and a sovereign God orchestrating every detail. Mordecai’s obedient care fulfills biblical commands toward family and the fatherless, while Esther’s God-given beauty and humble spirit set the stage for her royal appointment. The verse reminds us that ordinary acts of compassion are often the very channels through which God advances His redemptive plan. |
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