Verse Lens · Concise explanation
Esther 2:21 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 21. 21In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king’s gate, two of the king’s chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
This verse places Mordecai at the gate where he encounters two enraged officials plotting against the king
Read It With
- Esther 2:19–23
Read Esther 2:19–23 together. This verse places Mordecai at the gate where he encounters two enraged officials plotting against the king Read Esther 2:19–23 as one complete Esther scene: While Esther still follows Mordecai's concealment instruction, Mordecai at the king's gate learns of an assassination plot. Esther reports it in his name, the charge is verified, the conspirators are executed, and the act is written down without immediate reward.
Why This Verse Appears Here
The unrewarded record creates the delayed fact that will reverse Haman's plot during the king's sleepless night, showing the narrative's careful timing. Within that movement, this verse places Mordecai at the gate where he encounters two enraged officials plotting against the king
Read Esther 2:19–23 together
Why these verses belong together: A renewed gathering notice, Esther's continuing concealment, Mordecai's gate position, the assassination plot, investigation, execution, and chronicle record form one court episode; 3:1 begins with Haman's promotion.
Verse 19. 19 And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king’s gate.
Verse 20. 20 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.
Verse 21. 21 In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king’s gate, two of the king’s chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.
Verse 22. 22 And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai’s name.
Verse 23. 23 And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.
What Remains True
Within Esther's story, this verse places Mordecai at the gate where he encounters two enraged officials plotting against the king
How It Can Shape Life
- Take credible threats seriously even when they arise inside a system whose wider ethics remain compromised.
Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read Esther 2:19–23 — Mordecai's loyal act is recorded and delayedSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? strong
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Exact reader-facing KJV wording and complete verse coverage for this thought unit.
Exact location: Esther 2:19–23, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Open source ↗hebrew text and morphology
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible: Esther
Open Scriptures
Open Scriptures, release 2.2
Supports: Hebrew wording, morphology, repeated roots, Persian terms, clause relationships, names, and translation controls.
Exact location: Open Scriptures MorphHB v.2.2, commit 6a5db284c715c18b239422e57bb89684e6a19f00, wlc/Esth.xml, Masoretic words and morphology for 2:19–23
Open source ↗translation and translator notes
NET Bible: Esther with translators' notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2006
Supports: Material lexical, grammatical, textual, Persian-setting, literary, and translation notes within the unit.
Exact location: NET Bible Esther PDF, printed pp. 784–786, translation and translator notes on 2:19–23
Open source ↗