שֵׁתָר
Shethar, a Persian satrap
Definition
Shethar is the name of a Persian official, specifically one of the seven princes or satraps who served as advisors to King Ahasuerus (Xerxes I) in the Book of Esther. As a satrap, he held a high-ranking administrative position, likely governing a province of the vast Persian Empire. His sole biblical appearance is in Esther 1:14, where he is listed among the king's closest counselors who had special access to the royal presence. The text presents him as part of the imperial power structure that Queen Vashti defied, setting the stage for Esther's rise.
Biblical Usage
This proper noun is used only once in the Old Testament, in Esther 1:14. It appears in a list of seven named Persian princes who were 'wise men, which knew the times' and sat in the king's council. The usage is purely identificatory, providing the name of a specific historical court official within the narrative context of the Persian court in Susa.
Etymology
The name Shethar (שֵׁתָר) is of foreign (Persian) derivation, not Hebrew. Its exact meaning in Old Persian is uncertain, but as a personal name for a high official, it likely carried a significant meaning in its original language, possibly related to concepts of strength, rule, or stellar bodies, common in Persian onomastics. The biblical author simply transliterated the foreign name into Hebrew characters.
Semantic Range
While the name Shethar itself is not theologically loaded, his role is significant. As one of the seven princes, he represents the human power structures and wisdom of the Persian court. His presence in Esther 1:14 highlights the contrast between the vast, impersonal machinery of a pagan empire and the unseen, providential hand of God working through individuals like Esther and Mordecai to preserve His people. Understanding these officials enriches the reading of Esther by emphasizing the political context God sovereignly navigates.
In the cultural context of the Persian Empire, a satrap was a governor of a major province, a position of immense political and military authority directly under the king. The 'seven princes' (Esther 1:14) were likely a special inner circle of the most trusted satraps or advisors, a known institution in Persian rule. Their privilege of seeing the king's face (Esther 1:14) signified the highest level of favor and access. This contrasts with later Persian law that made unauthorized approach to the king a capital offense (Esther 4:11).
Carshena (Karshena', H3771) — Another of the seven princes listed alongside Shethar in Esther 1:14. Memucan (Memukan, H4462) — Another prince in the same list, who is the only one recorded as speaking (Esther 1:16-21).
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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