Esther 2:14 Meaning: Called by Name
In the evening she went, and on the next day she returned into the second women’s house, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch, who kept the concubines. She came in to the king no more, unless the king delighted in her, and she was called by name.
In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.
In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s chamberlain, who kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and she were called by name.
in the evening she hath gone in, and in the morning she hath turned back unto the second house of the women, unto the hand of Shaashgaz eunuch of the king, keeper of the concubines; she cometh not in any more unto the king except the king hath delighted in her, and she hath been called by name.
In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, unto the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, keeper of the concubines. She came in to the king no more, unless the king delighted in her, and she were called by name.
Meaning in one sentence
Esther 2:14 reveals the fate of the king's concubines: only those he delighted in and called by name returned.
Context
In chapter 2 of Esther, the Persian king Ahasuerus orders a search for a new queen after deposing Vashti. Young women from all provinces are gathered to the palace in Susa. Among them is Esther, a Jewish orphan raised by her cousin Mordecai. This verse explains what happened after each woman spent one night with the king. She returned not to the original women's quarters but to a second house, kept by a different eunuch, and effectively became a concubine. She could not see the king again unless he specifically requested her. This procedure shows the women's lack of freedom and status. But it also sets up the surprising reversal when Esther, without asking for anything extra, wins the king's favor and is called by name.
Key Words
The Hebrew verb shuv, translated 'returned', means to turn back or go back. It suggests a definite change: the woman does not return to her previous life but to a different place, a second house under the eunuch Shaashgaz. This return is a confinement.
The word chafetz, 'delighted', is used for the king's pleasure. It appears in Isaiah 62:4 where God says to Jerusalem, 'You will be called Hephzibah', meaning 'my delight is in her'. The same word shows that while the king's delight was conditional and temporary, God's delight in His people is faithful and eternal.
Being 'called by name' (qara shem) is deeply personal. In Isaiah 43:1, God says, 'I have called you by your name; you are mine.' The king's call could give a woman another chance to see him; God's call gives us identity and belonging. You may feel like one of many waiting in a second house, but God knows your name and calls you to Himself.
How Christians Read This Verse
Reformed commentator Matthew Henry sees the hand of providence in Esther's favor: God prepared the way for her to become queen. Baptist writer John Gill notes that the second house was for concubines, and 'she came no more' unless called, emphasizing the women's lack of agency. The Geneva Bible notes simply describe the custom. All traditions agree that while the system was harsh, God was working quietly through it. Each affirms that this verse sets the stage for God's unexpected choice of Esther to rescue His people.
A common misunderstanding
Living This Out
This verse asks you to face the difference between how human power works and how God works. Human systems often treat people as disposable: after one night, a woman was sent to a second house and forgotten. But God does not forget. He calls people by name, out of the second houses of life, the places of waiting, obscurity, or suffering. This week, when you feel passed over or lost in the crowd, remember that the God who delighted in Esther and called her forward delights in you. He knows your name, and He has a purpose for you, even when the world has moved on.
Main takeaway: God calls us by name, not because we are useful, but because He delights in us and has a purpose for our lives.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
In the palace, only the girls that the king remembered could see him again. But God never forgets you. He loves you and always wants you to be with Him.
For ages 9, 12
The women in this story had no control over their future. Once they spent a night with the king, they were sent to a different part of the palace and could only see him again if he asked for them by name. That must have felt lonely and unfair. But God is different. He doesn't forget us. He calls each of us by name, and He always wants a relationship with us. You are important to God, not just one of many.
Questions People Ask
Why did the women return to a 'second house' after spending the night with the king?
The second house was for the king's concubines, kept under a different eunuch. The women became his permanent concubines and could not marry or leave. Only if the king specifically called them by name could they see him again.
What does 'the king delighted in her' mean in Esther 2:14?
The Hebrew word chafetz means to take pleasure in or desire. It indicates the king's personal interest. But his delight was conditional and could fade. In contrast, God's delight in His people is constant and faithful, as seen in Isaiah 62:4 where God calls His people Hephzibah, 'my delight is in her'.
How does being 'called by name' in Esther 2:14 relate to God's calling in the Bible?
In the verse, being called by name was the only way a concubine could see the king again. In Scripture, God calling someone by name signifies personal knowledge and election. Isaiah 43:1 says, 'I have called you by your name; you are mine.' Esther's being called by name leads to her becoming queen and saving her people, showing God's hand even in a secular king's actions.
Did Esther go through the same procedure described in Esther 2:14?
Yes, Esther would have followed the same process after her night with the king. But verse 17 says the king loved her more than all the women, and she found favor. So when the king 'delighted in her' and called her by name, it was a genuine choice, leading to her being crowned queen rather than remaining a concubine. Her story shows how God works through normal customs to accomplish His purposes.
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