Esther 2:20 · Bible study
Esther 2:20 Commentary: Obedience and Hidden Identity
Hebrew · 6 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why Esther continued to conceal her Jewish identity even as queen, and what this shows about obedience, humility, and divine providence.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Esther continues to conceal her Jewish identity, obeying Mordecai’s command exactly as she did when under his guardianship.
- Key words: “telling” (H5046, Hiphil participle, ongoing action), “command” (H3982, word/command), “guardianship” (H0545, nourishing upbringing).
- Main debate: Whether her secrecy stemmed from obedience or possible shame (the text and commentators point to obedience).
- Theological theme: Hidden divine providence working through human faithfulness.
- Best use: Teaching on waiting on God’s timing, the value of following wise counsel, and seeing God’s hand in everyday choices.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Esther still had not revealed her lineage or her people, just as Mordecai had instructed. She obeyed Mordecai’s command, as she had done under his care.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Esther had not yet made known her relatives nor her people, as Mordecai had commanded her; for Esther obeyed Mordecai, like she did when she was brought up by him.
KJV King James Version 1769
Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Esther had not yet made known her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
Esther is not declaring her kindred and her people, as Mordecai hath laid a charge upon her, and the saying of Mordecai Esther is doing as when she was truly with him.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
(Esther, as Mordecai had charged her, had not yet made known her birth nor her people; for Esther did what Mordecai told her, like as when she was brought up with him.)
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Neither had Esther as yet declared her country and people, according to his commandment. For whatsoever he commanded, Esther observed: and she did all things in the same manner as she was wont at that time when he brought her up a little one.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y Esther, según le tenía mandado Mardochêo, no había declarado su nación ni su pueblo; porque Esther hacía lo que decía Mardochêo, como cuando con él se educaba.
Ester, porém ,não tinha declarado sua parentela nem seu povo, assim como Mardoqueu havia lhe mandado; porque Ester fazia o que Mardoqueu mandava, assim como quando ele a criava.
Esther n’ avait fait connaître ni sa naissance ni son peuple, car Mardochée le lui avait défendu, et elle suivait les ordres de Mardochée aussi fidèlement qu’ à l’époque où elle était sous sa tutelle.
Und Esther hatte noch nicht angesagt ihre Freundschaft noch ihr Volk, wie ihr Mardochai geboten hatte; denn Esther tat nach den Worten Mardochais, gleich als da er ihr Vormund war.
Esther nu had haar maagschap en haar volk niet te kennen gegeven, gelijk als Mordechai haar geboden had; want Esther deed het bevel van Mordechai, gelijk als toen zij bij hem opgevoed werd.
Ester, secondo l’ordine che Mardocheo le avea dato, non avea detto nulla né del suo parentado né del suo popolo; perché ella faceva quello che Mardocheo le diceva, come quand’era sotto la tutela di lui.
(A Ester nie oznajmiła była narodu swego, ani ludu swego, jako jej był rozkazał Mardocheusz; bo rozkazaniu Mardocheuszowemu dosyć czyniła Ester, jako gdy ją wychowywał u siebie.)
Есфирь все еще не сказывала о родстве своем и о народе своем, как приказал ей Мардохей; а слово Мардохея Есфирь выполняла и теперь так же, как тогда, когда была у него на воспитании.
以斯帖 照著末底改 所 囑咐的，還沒有 將 籍貫 宗族 告訴人；因為以斯帖 遵 末底改 的命，如 撫養 她的時候一樣。
Esther had still said nothing of her family or her people, as Mordecai had given her orders; for Esther did what Mordecai said, as when she was living with him.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Esther 2:20
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Esther's ongoing concealment of her Jewish identity after becoming queen reflects her steadfast obedience to Mordecai's command. Gill observes that her continued secrecy, despite the king's possible urging, was a mark of humility and gratitude, not shame. Lange notes the force of the Hebrew participle here (maggedet, H5046, Hiphil participle): she “was not telling,” emphasizing the sustained nature of her silence. The Cambridge Bible adds that such a secret was plausible in the Persian court, where a queen’s origins could remain unknown. The consensus holds that her obedience was both morally and providentially motivated: she trusted Mordecai’s wisdom, and the hiddenness allowed God (unmentioned in the narrative) to orchestrate deliverance at the right moment.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Obedience and humility: The text explicitly says Esther obeyed Mordecai's command; Gill and Lange stress that this was done from gratitude and trust, not shame.
- Possible shame or prudence: Some interpreters suggest Esther may have concealed due to fear or embarrassment, though the supplied commentators argue against reading shame into the text.
What is clear: Esther continued not to reveal her kindred or people, following Mordecai's command, and this secrecy was part of the providential unfolding of the story.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Reason for Esther’s secrecy | All traditions affirm that Esther obeyed Mordecai’s explicit instruction not to reveal her people or kindred. | Some readers propose she might have been ashamed of her Jewish heritage, while Gill and Lange emphasize her obedience and humility, not shame. |
| Mordecai’s motive for the command | Scholars agree the command was strategic, likely to protect Esther and avoid anti-Jewish prejudice in the court. | Whether the command also served to keep Esther’s identity hidden until a providential moment (Gill, Keil) or was simply practical (Cambridge) is left open. |
| The nature of Esther’s relationship with Mordecai after her coronation | They remained in contact; Mordecai communicated with Esther through intermediaries (2:22). | Whether Mordecai’s sitting at the gate indicates a lowly position or a official appointment is debated; the text does not specify his rank. |
| Implications for Christian ethics of concealment | It is legitimate to keep some truths hidden for a time, as part of wise stewardship. | Catholic and Protestant traditions may differ on when concealment becomes deception; this passage is not used to resolve that question. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The verse sits between Esther’s coronation (2:17) and the discovery of a plot against the king (2:21, 23). Mordecai, now sitting at the king’s gate, held a minor court position, he was not elevated as the queen’s relative. This suggests Esther’s secret was well kept. The second gathering of virgins (2:19) hints that the king may have maintained a harem even after choosing Esther, underscoring the ongoing political vulnerability of his household. In the Persian court, a queen’s lineage could bring either favor or peril to her people. Mordecai’s instruction to conceal was a prudent measure in a time of exile, when Jews faced pressure to assimilate and where anti-Jewish sentiment could flare. Already the narrative is weaving a tapestry of divine care: Esther’s quiet obedience positions her to later risk everything for her people. The historical context of Shushan and the uncertainties of diaspora life make this secrecy both understandable and freighted with significance.
Textual Notes
The Hebrew text of Esther 2:20 is well preserved, with no significant variants noted in the supplied sources. The Septuagint adds a clause at the end of verse 20: “because Mordecai had become distinguished” (noted in Lange), but this addition is absent from the Masoretic text and is not considered original. The standard Hebrew manuscripts support the reading as given.
Reception History
In Jewish tradition, Esther’s continued obedience to Mordecai has been seen as a model of kibbud av (honoring a parent-like figure). The hiddenness of her Jewish identity is a key plot element that underscores the miracle of the Purim story. In Christian history, commentators from the patristic period onward have read this verse as an example of humble fidelity; it is often cited in sermons on God’s unseen guidance. The Reformers, including Geneva notes, emphasized the practical wisdom of following godly counsel. More recently, Esther 2:20 has been used to discuss the tension between public identity and strategic silence in hostile environments.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Faithfulness in a New Position, Esther did not let her royal status erase her allegiance to Mordecai’s instruction. Her obedience continued unchanged.
- Hidden Identity, Hidden Providence, The secrecy is not deception; it is divine timing. God works in the quiet spaces, even when His name is absent from the page.
- The Right Time for Revelation, Esther’s restraint sets the stage for her bold confession later. What is hidden now will be revealed when it can do the most good.
Five-point outline
- Esther’s continued obedience after advancement
- The role of gratitude and humility in her loyalty
- Mordecai’s wisdom in commanding secrecy
- Providence in the preservation of the secret
- The present silence as preparation for future speech
Illustration hooks
- A young executive who, after promotion, still heeds the counsel of a mentor from earlier years.
- Parents who ask a child to keep a family matter private until the right time; the child’s obedience protects everyone.
- An immigrant who keeps her background quiet at a new workplace not from shame but because she senses the moment to share it has not yet arrived.
Questions your congregation is asking
- “If God is not mentioned in Esther, how can we be sure He is at work?”
- “Was Esther being dishonest by not revealing her Jewish identity?”
- “How do I know when to speak up and when to remain quiet about my faith or identity?”
Leading a Discussion
Esther 2:20 shows a young queen continuing to follow a directive given years before. This quiet obedience raises questions about identity, loyalty, and divine guidance. The verse does not explain Mordecai’s reasons, leaving room for discussion about wisdom, trust, and the timing of revelation.
Discussion questions
- What does the way Esther “kept the command of Mordecai” (Hebrew ma’amar, H3982, “word/command”) tell us about her character and her relationship with him?
- Why do you think Mordecai wanted Esther’s Jewish identity kept secret, even after she became queen?
- How does Esther’s silence in this verse prepare for her later boldness in chapter 5?
- In what ways is God at work here, even though the book of Esther never mentions Him directly?
- When might it be wise to keep our identity or convictions private for a season?
- How can we practice obedience to godly guidance even after our circumstances have changed?
- What does this verse teach us about trusting God’s timing rather than forcing revelation too soon?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Esther 2:7 | He brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter; for she had neither father nor mother. The maiden was fair and beautiful; and when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his own daughter. |
| Esther 2:10 | Esther had not made known her people nor her relatives, because Mordecai had instructed her that she should not make it known. |
| Ephesians 6:1 | Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. |
| Ephesians 6:3 | “that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth.” |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
6 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
Historic Christian teaching holds that Esther concealed her relation to Mordecai because she kept her foster father’s secret. This action allowed her to enter the palace safely.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note highlights that Esther kept her Jewish heritage hidden, faithfully following Mordecai's command even after rising to royal status. Her obedience did not change because she continued to honor his word just as she had when he raised her as a child.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill emphasizes that Esther’s continued silence about her Jewish identity, even after becoming queen, showed deep humility and gratitude toward Mordecai. He explains that Mordecai insisted on secrecy partly to protect her from contempt and envy, but mainly because Providence had not yet brought the right moment for disclosure.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil and Delitzsch argue that the second gathering of virgins after Esther became queen was a literal event, not a flashback or a reference to concubines. They base this on the custom of polygamy among kings. They also note that Mordecai sat in the king's gate and stayed in contact with Esther, who continued to obey his command not to reveal her Jewish identity.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange notes that Esther always kept her family connection secret even after becoming queen because Mordecai had instructed her to do so. He also explains that the Hebrew word for family is
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that the king orders virgins gathered to replace Vashti as queen. He also explains that Mordecai raises Esther as his own daughter after her parents die.