Esther 2:17

2:17 And the king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she met with his loving approval ¹  more than all the other young women. ²  So he placed the royal high turban on her head and appointed her queen ³  in place of Vashti.

Esther 5:2

5:2 When the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she met with his approval. ⁴  The king extended to Esther the gold scepter that was in his hand, and Esther approached and touched the end of the scepter.

Esther 9:25

9:25 But when the matter came to the king’s attention, the king ⁵  gave written orders that Haman’s ⁶  evil intentions that he had devised against the Jews should fall on his own head. He and his sons were hanged on the gallows.

¹ tn Heb “grace and loyal love.” The expression is probably a hendiadys.

² tc The LXX does not include the words “more than all the other young women.”

³ tn Heb “caused her to rule.”

⁴ tn Heb “she obtained grace in his eyes”; NASB “she obtained favor in his sight”; NIV “he was pleased with her”; NLT “he welcomed her.”

⁷ tn Heb “he”; the referent (the king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁸ tn Heb “his”; the referent (Haman) has been specified in the translation for clarity.