What is the Significance of Esther's Names?

Queen Esther

The Book of Esther, known as The Megillah in Jewish tradition, is the second book in the Hebrew Scriptures named for a female protagonist. It is part of the Ketuvim, or Writings. The Hebrew word megillah translates to scroll. Esther’s story, typically read from a scroll, is one of five megillahs found in the Hebrew Scriptures. Names are significant in Judaism, as are the Jewish texts that reference Esther’s names. When reading the Bible as a work of literature, it is important to consider the significance of the naming of a character. A traditional Jewish holiday is also tied to Esther’s story, and consequently, her names.

Names are significant in many cultures around the world. This is especially true for names of Jewish people. According to the Midrash, one virtue that delivered the Jewish people from Egypt was their decision to not change their names. Names were linked to redemption, language, and separting of the Jewish people from idolatry through their separation from Egyptians. Naming is significant in Judaism today, as names are used in ceremonies and should be chosen carefully. A child’s soul is said to enter into his or her body once he or she has been named. According to Rabbi Blech, names are considered to define Jewish people and be keys to their souls. He also claims that names of children are the result of parents’ efforts and the response of God. He says this “is why the Hebrew word for ‘name,’ shem, has the same numerical value for the word ‘book,’ sefer: 340.” This is because names are books that tell a story. God named things as he created them. As the protagonist spoke, according to Blech, the letters said determined what was created. The level of significance placed on names in the days of Mordechai and Esther illustrate the care with which people were named. Naming children is significant in Judaism today, illustrating the timelessness of the naming tradition.

According to Esther 2:7, Esther is also called Hadassah. Hadassah is from the Hebrew hadas, which is a type of myrtle tree. The Talmud says that Esther was called Hadassah “because the righteous are called myrtles…” Sages in the Midrash note, “Just as a myrtle has a sweet smell and a bitter taste, so too Esther was good and listened (“sweet”) to the righteous Mordechai, and was adverse (“bitter”) to the wicked Haman.” Kabbalah claims that Esther’s name is associated with spirituality on different planes. Hadassah is indicative of righteousness, which is associated with the divinity of the protagonist. Esther, from hester (hidden), is associated with “hidden G-dliness.” The Kabbalic interpretation of her names is appropriate when looking at the text. Esther 2:20 says that Esther had not shared her religious or cultural identity with anyone. In this way, she is not discussing her position as one of the protagonist’s chosen people and hides this information from others. As she saves her people, she brings her religion to the forefront, exemplifying the Kabbalic definition of Hadassah.

Names are also significant when viewing a book or story as a work of literature. According to Kathleen Coyne Kelly, novelists name characters in a way that promotes “symbolic force.” While she refers to fiction writers, this is true for the Bible when reading it as a literary work. While there are differing opinions about the veracity of the Bible in whole and in part, this interpretation has proven significant when looking at other characters’ names, such as those of Adam and Naomi. When looking at Esther’s name as a literary device of sorts, incorporating symbolism, she is Queen Esther, a royal woman who kept her common name, which is a tie to her past.

In Judaism today, Esther’s name is associated with a holiday called Purim. This holiday involves celebrating Esther’s story. Activities include reading the Megillah, giving money to the poor, sending food gifts to others, and attending a celebratory meal. Esther’s name has survived through the ages, allowing the Jewish people to remember her story. An event surrounding a courageous Jewish woman is especially significant because during the time in which the story took place, women were not highly valued in Jewish society. This celebration shows Esther’s importance as not only a Jewish woman, but as an historical figure who saved her people.

Esther’s story is relevant to the Jewish historical narrative, as well as the culture of the Jewish people. Her names, associated with various aspects of life, from nature to the protagonist, tell readers about her. She was a strong, determined leader who used her beauty and intelligence to save her people. After researching her names and their meanings, I believe that they show her complexity as a character in an enduring work of literature.