Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, September 23rd, 2025
the Week of Proper 20 / Ordinary 25
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Read the Bible

King James Version (1611 Edition)

Esther 2:5

Now in Shushan the palace, there was a certaine Iew, whose name was Mordecai, the sonne of Iair, the sonne of Shimei, the sonne of Kish, a Beniamite,

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Chamberlain;   Jair;   Kish;   Mordecai;   Shimei;   Shushan (Susa);   Thompson Chain Reference - Mordecai;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Benjamin;   Mordecai;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Jews, Judaism;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Jair;   Kish;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Benjamin;   Elam;   Esther;   Jair;   Kish;   Mordecai;   Shimei;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Esther;   Jair;   Jews in the New Testament;   Kish;   Merodach;   Shimei;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Jair;   Jairus;   Kiseus;   Kish;   Semeias;   Shimei, Shimeites;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Jairus;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Jair ;   Kish;   Shimei ;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Ja'ir;   Kish;   Shim'ei;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Mordecai;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Esther, Book of;   Jair;   Jew;   Kish;   Mordecai;   Semeias;   Shimei;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Benjamin;   Esther, Apocryphal Book of;   Esther Rabbah;   Jair;   Mordecai;   Shimei;   Shushan;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for July 18;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
In the fortress of Susa, there was a Jewish man named Mordecai son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjaminite.
Hebrew Names Version
There was a certain Yehudi in Shushan the palace, whose name was Mordekhai, the son of Ya'ir, the son of Shim`i, the son of Kish, a Binyamini,
King James Version
Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;
English Standard Version
Now there was a Jew in Susa the citadel whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjaminite,
New Century Version
Now there was a Jewish man in the palace of Susa whose name was Mordecai son of Jair. Jair was the son of Shimei, the son of Kish. Mordecai was from the tribe of Benjamin,
New English Translation
Now there happened to be a Jewish man in Susa the citadel whose name was Mordecai. He was the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjaminite,
Amplified Bible
There was a certain Jew in the citadel of Susa whose name was Mordecai the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite,
New American Standard Bible
There was a Jew at the citadel in Susa whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjaminite,
World English Bible
There was a certain Jew in Shushan the palace, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite,
Geneva Bible (1587)
In the citie of Shushan, there was a certaine Iewe, whose name was Mordecai the sonne of Iair, the sonne of Shimei, the sonne of Kish a man of Iemini,
Legacy Standard Bible
Now there was at the citadel in Susa a Jew. And his name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite,
Berean Standard Bible
Now there was at the citadel of Susa a Jewish man from the tribe of Benjamin named Mordecai son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish.
Contemporary English Version
At this time a Jew named Mordecai was living in Susa. His father was Jair, and his grandfather Shimei was the son of Kish from the tribe of Benjamin.
Complete Jewish Bible
There was in Shushan the capital a man who was a Jew, whose name was Mordekhai the son of Ya'ir, the son of Shim‘i, the son of Kish, a Binyamini.
Darby Translation
There was in Shushan the fortress a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjaminite,
Easy-to-Read Version
Now there was a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin named Mordecai. Mordecai was the son of Jair, and Jair was the son of Shimei, and Shimei was the son of Kish. Mordecai was in the capital city, Susa.
George Lamsa Translation
Now there was a certain Jew in Shushan the palace, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;
Good News Translation
There in Susa lived a Jew named Mordecai son of Jair; he was from the tribe of Benjamin and was a descendant of Kish and Shimei.
Lexham English Bible
There was a Jew in the citadel of Susa whose name was Mordecai son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjaminite,
Literal Translation
In Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, and his name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
In the castell of Susan there was a Iewe, whose name was Mardocheus, the sonne of Iair, the sonne of Simei, the sonne of Cis, the sonne of Iemini,
American Standard Version
There was a certain Jew in Shushan the palace, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite,
Bible in Basic English
Now there was a certain Jew in Shushan named Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;
Bishop's Bible (1568)
In the citie of Susan there was a certayne Iewe, whose name was Mardocheus, the sonne of Iair, the sonne of Semei, the sonne of Cis, a man of Iemini,
JPS Old Testament (1917)
There was a certain Jew in Shushan the castle, whose name was Mordecai the son of Jair the son of Shimei the son of Kish, a Benjamite,
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Now there was a Jew in the city Susa, and his name was Mardochaeus, the son of Jairus, the son of Semeias, the son of Cisaeus, of the tribe of Benjamin;
English Revised Version
There was a certain Jew in Shushan the palace, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Forsothe a man, a Jew, was in the citee Susa, Mardoche bi name, the sone of Jair, sone of Semei, sone of Cys, of the generacioun of Gemyny;
Update Bible Version
There was a certain Jew in Shushan the palace, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite,
Webster's Bible Translation
[Now] in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name [was] Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjaminite;
New King James Version
In Shushan the citadel there was a certain Jew whose name was Mordecai the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite.
New Living Translation
At that time there was a Jewish man in the fortress of Susa whose name was Mordecai son of Jair. He was from the tribe of Benjamin and was a descendant of Kish and Shimei.
New Life Bible
Now in the city of Susa where the king lived there was a Jew whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite.
New Revised Standard
Now there was a Jew in the citadel of Susa whose name was Mordecai son of Jair son of Shimei son of Kish, a Benjaminite.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
A certain Jew, there was, in Shusan the palace, - whose, name, was Mordecai, son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a man of Benjamin;
Douay-Rheims Bible
There was a man in the city of Susan, a Jew, named Mardochai, the son of Jair, the son of Semei, the son of Cis, of the race of Jemini,
Revised Standard Version
Now there was a Jew in Susa the capital whose name was Mor'decai, the son of Ja'ir, son of Shim'e-i, son of Kish, a Benjaminite,
Young's Literal Translation
A man, a Jew, there hath been in Shushan the palace, and his name [is] Mordecai son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjamite --
THE MESSAGE
Now there was a Jew who lived in the palace complex in Susa. His name was Mordecai the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish—a Benjaminite. His ancestors had been taken from Jerusalem with the exiles and carried off with King Jehoiachin of Judah by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon into exile. Mordecai had reared his cousin Hadassah, otherwise known as Esther, since she had no father or mother. The girl had a good figure and a beautiful face. After her parents died, Mordecai had adopted her.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now there was at the citadel in Susa a Jew whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite,

Contextual Overview

1 After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, hee remembred Uasthi, and what shee had done, and what was decreed against her. 2 Then saide the kings seruants, that ministred vnto him, Let there bee faire yong virgins sought for the king: 3 And let the king appoint officers in all the prouinces of his kingdome, that they may gather together all the faire yong virgins vnto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women vnto the custodie of Hege the kings chamberlaine, keeper of the women, and let their things for purification bee giuen them: 4 And let the maiden which pleaseth the king, bee Queene in stead of Uasthi. And the thing pleased the king, and he did so. 5 Now in Shushan the palace, there was a certaine Iew, whose name was Mordecai, the sonne of Iair, the sonne of Shimei, the sonne of Kish, a Beniamite, 6 Who had bene caried away from Ierusalem, with the captiuitie which had bene caried away with Ieconiah king of Iudah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the King of Babylon had caried away. 7 And hee brought vp Hadassah (that is Esther) his vncles daughter, for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was faire and beautiful, whom Mordecai (when her father and mother were dead) tooke for his owne daughter. 8 So it came to passe, when the kings commandement and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together vnto Shushan the palace, to the custodie of Hegai, that Esther was brought also vnto the kings house, to the custodie of Hegai, keeper of the women. 9 And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindnesse of him, and hee speedily gaue her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seuen maidens, which were meet to be giuen her, out of the Kings house, and hee preferred her and her maids, vnto the best place of the house of the women. 10 Esther had not shewed her people, nor her kinred: for Mordecai had charged her, that she should not shew it.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Shushan: Esther 2:3, Esther 1:2, Esther 5:1

a certain Jew: Esther 3:2-6, Esther 10:3

the son of Shimei: 1 Samuel 9:1, 2 Samuel 16:5

Cross-References

Genesis 2:9
And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow euery tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food: the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and euill.
Genesis 2:11
The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Hauilah, where there is gold.
Genesis 2:12
And the gold of that land is good: There is Bdellium and the Onix stone.
Genesis 3:23
Therefore the LORD God sent him foorth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground, from whence he was taken.
Genesis 4:2
And she againe bare his brother Abel, and Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
Genesis 4:12
When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yeeld vnto thee her strength: A fugitiue and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
Job 5:10
Who giueth raine vpon the earth, and sendeth waters vpon the fields:
Psalms 104:14
He causeth the grasse to grow for the cattell, and herbe for the seruice of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth:
Psalms 135:7
Hee causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth, he maketh lightnings for the raine: he bringeth the winde out of his treasuries.
Jeremiah 14:22
Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause raine? or can the heauens giue showres, Art not thou he, O Lord our God? therefore we will waite vpon thee: for thou hast made all these things.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Now in Shushan the palace was a certain Jew,.... Not one of the tribe of Judah, for he was afterwards called a Benjaminite; but was so called, because he was of the kingdom of Judah, which consisted of both tribes. Jarchi says, all that were carried captive with the kings of Judah were called Jews among the nations, though of another tribe:

whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite; who was among those that came with Zerubbabel from Babylon to Jerusalem, and returned to Persia again, Ezra 2:2, though some think this was another Mordecai; Ezra 2:2- :, who descended not from Kish, the father of Saul, but a later and more obscure person.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Mordecai, the eunuch Esther 2:7, Esther 2:11, has been conjectured to be the same as Matacas, who, according to Ctesias, was the most powerful of the eunuchs during the latter portion of the reign of Xerxes. Mordecai’s line of descent is traced from a certain Kish, carried off by Nebuchadnezzar in 598 B.C. - the year of Jeconiah’s captivity - who was his great-grandfather. The four generations, Kish, Shimei, Jair, Mordecai, correspond to the known generations in other cases, for example:



High priests kings of Persia Royal stock of Judah
Seraiah Cambyses Jeconiah
Jozadak Cyrus Salathiel
Jeshua Darius Zerubbabel
Joiakim Xerxes Hananiah



The age of Mordecai at the accession of Xerxes may probably have been about 30 or 40; that of Esther, his first cousin, about 20.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Esther 2:5. Whose name was Mordecai — The Targum says, "He was the son of Jair, the son of Shimea, the son of Gera, the son of Kish." And "this was the same Shimea that cursed David; and whom David forbade Joab to slay because he saw, in the spirit of prophecy, that he was to be the predecessor of Esther and Mordecai; but when he became old, and incapable of having children, David ordered Solomon to put him to death."


 
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