Esther

The Bible has been the most influential text in all of Western culture. It's difficult to understand medieval or early modern or much of modern literature without knowing it...

Prof. Barbara Newman, Northwestern University
from 2006 Bible Literary project

It's not that it's impossible to read some writers without a Biblical background, but that you would miss a whole dimension to their work.

Prof. Steven Goldsmith, University of California at Berkeley
from 2006 Bible Literary Project

I can only say that if a student doesn't know any Bible literature, he or she will simply not understand whole elements of Shakespeare, Sidney, Spenser, Milton, Pope, Wordsworth

Prof. Robert Kiely, Harvard University
from 2006 Bible Literary Project

...there is truth in the remark. "without Tyndale[Bible translator], no Shakespeare"...

Prof. David Daniell, University College London
from The Bible in English

You can't really study Western literature intelligently or coherently without starting with the Bible.

Prof. Gerald L. Bruns, University of Notre Dame
from 2006 Bible Literary Project

...a familiar understanding of Christian doctrine in historical perspective thus contributes to a fuller appreciation of Shakespeare's art, but Shakespeare's art

Prof. Roland M. Frye
from Shakespeare and the Christian Doctrine

In English tradition and also for an American tradition begun by Puritan writers, a knowledge of the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament is even more crucial than classical references.

Prof. Ulrich Knoefplmacher, Princeton University
from 2006 Bible Literary Project

There is no book more important for our culture than the Bible, and it is fundametal to the study of English literature and language.

Prof. David Jasper and Prof. Stephen Prickett
from the Bible and literature

Esther

Picture description: Persian King and Queen Esther
Picture copyright: Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn/ public domain

bible verse

Esther

meaning

This name comes from the Persian word “star”. Esther was a Jewish queen in the Persian Empire. She was depicted as a heroine in the Old Testament because she successfully influenced the Persian king to save the Jewish people from destruction. She was praised for her deep faith, courage and patriotism. The Book of Esther in the Old Testament was named after her. A famous verse relating to her petition to the king goes like this, “And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”

gender

Female

example

Keywords

courage Esther faith Jewish patriot Persian star

Related Information

NIV official site
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Esther

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