חַרְבוֹנָא
Charbona or Charbonah, a eunuch of Xerxes
Definition
Charbona (also spelled Charbonah) is the name of one of the seven eunuchs who served King Ahasuerus (Xerxes I) in the Persian court, as recorded in the book of Esther. He first appears among the attendants sent to summon Queen Vashti (Esther 1:10). His most significant role is in Esther 7:9, where he informs the king about the gallows Haman had built for Mordecai, directly leading to Haman's execution on his own device. The name identifies a specific historical court official, and no other meanings or senses are attested in biblical usage.
Biblical Usage
The name Charbona is used only twice in the Old Testament, both times in the book of Esther. It functions strictly as a proper noun identifying a eunuch in the Persian royal service. In Esther 1:10, he is listed as one of seven eunuchs sent to Queen Vashti. In Esther 7:9, he speaks up at a critical moment to reveal Haman's plot against Mordecai, showcasing his role as a court insider whose testimony seals Haman's fate.
Etymology
The name חַרְבוֹנָא (Charbôwnâʼ) is of Persian origin, not Hebrew. It is a transliteration of a Persian name or title into Hebrew characters. The exact meaning in Old Persian is uncertain, but it likely denoted a specific role or characteristic within the Persian court administration. The Hebrew text uses the Aramaic definite article (־ָא, '-a'), which is common for foreign names in later biblical books.
Semantic Range
While the name itself is not theologically loaded, Charbona's action in Esther 7:9 is a key moment in the narrative of divine providence. His seemingly incidental report about the gallows demonstrates how God orchestrates even minor details and the words of seemingly peripheral characters to bring about justice and deliverance for His people. Understanding this highlights the theme of God's hidden hand working through the Persian court system.
As a eunuch (סָרִיס, saris), Charbona was a castrated male servant entrusted with access to the royal harem and intimate court duties. In the Persian Empire, eunuchs often held significant administrative power and were trusted court officials. His ability to address the king directly (Esther 7:9) reflects this position of trust. His Persian name and role firmly place the Esther narrative within its historical setting of the Persian court.
Bigthan (בִּגְתָן, H904) — Another eunuch of King Ahasuerus mentioned in Esther 1:10. Teresh (תֶּרֶשׁ, H8657) — A eunuch of King Ahasuerus, co-conspirator with Bigthan (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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