And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.
He raised Hadassah (also called Esther), who was his uncle's daughter. She had no father or mother, and she was lovely and beautiful. When her parents died, Mordecai adopted her as his own daughter.
This verse tells us that Mordecai lovingly adopted his orphaned cousin Esther and raised her as his own daughter.
📚 Historical Context
In the Book of Esther, which takes place during the Persian Empire's rule over the exiled Jews following the Babylonian conquest, Mordecai is introduced as a Jewish man living in the city of Susa who takes responsibility for his orphaned cousin. He adopts Hadassah, also known as Esther, after her parents' death, reflecting the ancient Near Eastern cultural norm of family members caring for vulnerable relatives like orphans. This sets the stage for the larger narrative where Esther's beauty and Mordecai's guidance play key roles in the survival of the Jewish people.
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