מְהוּמָן
Mehuman, a eunuch of Xerxes
Definition
מְהוּמָן (Mehuman) is a proper name of Persian origin, referring to one of the seven eunuchs who served King Xerxes (Ahasuerus) in the Persian court, as recorded in Esther 1:10. The name appears only in this singular biblical context, where Mehuman is listed among the officials commanded to bring Queen Vashti before the king. As a eunuch, his role was that of a trusted court official, often overseeing the royal household or harem. The name itself is not given further exposition or narrative significance beyond this administrative listing in the opening chapter of Esther.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exactly once in the Old Testament, in Esther 1:10, as part of a list of seven eunuchs serving King Xerxes. Its usage is purely nominal, identifying a specific individual within the Persian imperial court. There are no patterns of usage across different books or contexts, as it is a unique personal name tied solely to the historical setting of the Book of Esther.
Etymology
The name מְהוּמָן is of Persian origin, not derived from Hebrew roots. It is a transliteration of a Persian name into Hebrew characters, a common feature for foreign names in biblical texts, especially in the book of Esther which is rich with Persian court terminology. The exact Persian etymology is uncertain, but it likely carried a meaning significant in its original language, lost in the Hebrew transcription.
Semantic Range
In its original setting, Mehuman was a eunuch (סָרִיס, saris) in the Persian court. Eunuchs were castrated males who held positions of significant trust and authority in ancient Near Eastern royal households, often managing the king's wives and palace affairs. Their presence indicates the opulence and structured bureaucracy of the Persian Empire. This contrasts with modern understandings of personal identity and royal service, highlighting the specific social and political roles of the era as depicted in Esther.
סָרִיס (Cârîyç, H5631) — A general term for a eunuch or court official, describing Mehuman's role, whereas מְהוּמָן is his specific personal name.
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.
Full methodology & sources →