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Ahasuerus

maleExile

Meaning: “Mighty man; lion-king

The Persian king of the book of Esther, who deposed Vashti, made Esther queen, and—after Haman’s plot—allowed the Jews to defend themselves.

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Biography

Ahasuerus (generally identified with Xerxes I) was the king of Persia in the book of Esther, reigning "from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and twenty and seven provinces" (Esther 1:1). His court is the stage for the deliverance of the Jews.

Vashti and Esther

After deposing Queen Vashti for refusing his summons, Ahasuerus sought a new queen and "loved Esther above all the women," setting the royal crown on her head (Esther 2:17), unaware she was a Jew.

The reversal

Ahasuerus elevated the wicked Haman, who plotted to destroy all the Jews. But a sleepless night led the king to honor Mordecai, and at Esther's banquet he learned of Haman's treachery and had him hanged on his own gallows (Esther 6–7). He then empowered Mordecai and Esther to issue a decree letting the Jews defend themselves — the deliverance celebrated at Purim.

Life Timeline

479 BC

Makes Esther queen of Persia

Esther 2:17
473 BC

Reverses Haman's decree, allowing the Jews to defend themselves

Esther 8:7

On the Bible timeline

Ahasuerus belongs to the The Return & Restoration era (c. 538 – 430 BC).

  1. 538 BCThe Return from Exile
  2. c. 516 BCThe Second Temple Rebuilt
  3. c. 445 BCNehemiah Rebuilds the Walls

Themes & lessons from Ahasuerus

Biblical themes that run through the passages where Ahasuerus appears.

Medes9×Vashti7×Queen6×Chamberlain5×Divorce5×Husband5×Massacre5×Medo-Persian Kingdom5×Mordecai5×Wife5×Feast of Purim, or Lots, the4×Memucan4×Months3×Ring3×Adar2×Minister (2)2×Revenge2×Teresh2×

People they appear with

Mordecai7×
Haman7×
Vashti6×
Esther4×
Darius1×

Places in their story

Shushan (Susa)1×

Scripture Appearances

30 verses in 3 books
Ezra1 verse

Ezra 4:6

And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. Ahasuerus: Heb. Ahashverosh

Esther28 verses

Esther 1:1

Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)

Esther 1:2

That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,

Esther 1:9

Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.

Esther 1:10

On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, chamberlains: or, eunuchs

Esther 1:15

What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains? What: Heb. What to do

Esther 1:16

And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.

Esther 1:17

For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.

Esther 1:19

If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she. If it: Heb. If it be good with the king unto: Heb. unto her companion from him: Heb. from before him be not: Heb. pass not away

Esther 2:1

After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.

Esther 2:12

Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;)

Esther 2:16

So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

Esther 2:21

In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. Bigthan: or, Bigthana the door: Heb. the threshold

Esther 3:1

After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.

Esther 3:6

And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.

Esther 3:7

In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.

Esther 3:8

And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them. for the: Heb. meet or, equal, etc

Esther 3:12

Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring. scribes: or, secretaries

Esther 6:2

And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. Bigthana: or, Bigthan door: Heb. threshold

Esther 7:5

Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so? that: Heb. whose heart hath filled him

Esther 8:1

On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her.

Esther 8:7

Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews.

Esther 8:10

And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus' name, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries:

Esther 8:12

Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.

Esther 9:2

The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people.

Esther 9:20

And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far,

Esther 9:30

And he sent the letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred twenty and seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth,

Esther 10:1

And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea.

Esther 10:3

For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.

Daniel1 verse

Daniel 9:1

In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans; which: or, in which he

Frequently asked about Ahasuerus

Who was Ahasuerus in the Bible?

The Persian king of the book of Esther, who deposed Vashti, made Esther queen, and—after Haman’s plot—allowed the Jews to defend themselves.

What does the name Ahasuerus mean?

The name Ahasuerus means “Mighty man; lion-king”.

What did Ahasuerus do in the Bible?

Ahasuerus served as king of persia.

Where does Ahasuerus appear in the Bible?

Ahasuerus is mentioned 30 times across 3 books: Ezra, Esther, Daniel.

What can we learn from Ahasuerus?

The story of Ahasuerus touches on themes of medes, vashti, queen, chamberlain — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Ahasuerus's life.

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