בִּגְתָן
Bigthan or Bigthana, a eunuch of Xerxes
Definition
Bigthan (also spelled Bigthana) is a proper name referring to one of the eunuchs who served as a doorkeeper in the court of King Xerxes (Ahasuerus) of Persia. In the biblical narrative, he is specifically named as one of the two conspirators who plotted to assassinate the king, a plot that was discovered and reported by Mordecai (Esther 2:21). This event becomes a crucial plot point, as the king's later remembrance of Mordecai's loyalty leads to his honor and the advancement of the Jewish people's cause (Esther 6:2). The name appears in two slightly variant forms (Bigthan and Bigthana) within the book of Esther, but both refer to the same individual.
Biblical Usage
The word is used exclusively in the book of Esther, occurring only twice. It functions solely as a proper name identifying a specific court official. In Esther 2:21, Bigthan is introduced as one of the two doorkeepers who became angry and conspired against King Xerxes. In Esther 6:2, the royal chronicles are read to the king, reminding him of Mordecai's report about 'Bigthana' (the alternate spelling), which had been recorded. The usage is purely narrative, serving to identify a minor character whose actions trigger a significant chain of events.
Etymology
The name בִּגְתָן (Bigthân) is of Persian origin, not Hebrew. It is related to the name בִּגְתָא (Bigthā', H903), another Persian official mentioned in Esther 1:10. The exact meaning in Old Persian is uncertain, but it likely signified something like 'gift of God' or had a theophoric element, a common feature in Persian names. Its appearance in the Hebrew text reflects the authentic Persian setting of the book of Esther.
Semantic Range
While the name Bigthan itself carries no inherent theological meaning, the character's role is theologically significant within the narrative of divine providence in Esther. His conspiracy and Mordecai's intervention demonstrate God's hidden hand at work, orchestrating events to protect His people. The recording of Mordecai's deed (Esther 6:2) and its eventual recall highlights themes of divine timing, justice, and the reversal of fortunes, which are central to the book's message of God's faithfulness even when He is not explicitly named.
Bigthan is identified as a סָרִיס (sārîs), a term often translated as 'eunuch' but which could also denote a high-ranking court official or chamberlain in the Persian court, regardless of physical condition. As a doorkeeper, he held a position of significant trust, controlling access to the king, which made his conspiracy particularly dangerous. His Persian name and role accurately reflect the historical and cultural setting of the Persian Empire during the 5th century BCE, as depicted in the book of Esther.
בִּגְתָא (Bigthā', H903) — Another Persian court official; a different individual mentioned earlier in Esther. תְּרֵשׁ (Teresh, H8657) — The other conspirator named alongside Bigthan in the assassination plot (Esther 2:21).
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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