Original Word: הֲדַסָּה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Feminine
Transliteration: Hadaccah
Pronunciation: hah-das-sah
Phonetic Spelling: (had-as-saw')
KJV: Hadassah
NASB: Hadassah
Word Origin: [feminine of H1918 (הֲדַס - myrtle)]

1. Hadassah (or Esther)

Hadassah

Feminine of hadac; Hadassah (or Esther) -- Hadassah.

see HEBREW hadac

Word Origin
from hadas
Definition
"myrtle," Esther's Jewish name
NASB Translation
Hadassah (1).

הֲדַסָּה proper name, feminine Jewish name of Esther ( = myrtle, on form compare Sta^{§ 199 a}) Esther 2:7 (compare אֶסְתֵּר).

Canonical Appearance

Esther 2:7 introduces the young Jewish woman “Hadassah (that is, Esther), the daughter of his uncle.” The narrative immediately places her within the post-exilic diaspora community living under the Persian king Ahasuerus. Her Hebrew name is given first, preserving her covenant identity before the reader, even as she bears a Persian name in the royal court.

Symbolic Resonance of the Myrtle

The myrtle is an evergreen that flourishes in arid regions, noted for its fragrance and glossy leaves. Scripture employs it to illustrate divine blessing and restoration: Isaiah 41:19; 55:13; Zechariah 1:8–11. By bearing a name connected to this plant, Hadassah embodies Israel’s calling to remain resilient and fruitful within foreign soil, demonstrating that covenant life can thrive even in exile.

Historical Setting and Identity

The account unfolds around 479 BC in Susa. Hadassah is an orphan adopted by her cousin Mordecai, reflecting the vulnerability of the scattered Jews. Her dual names highlight the tension between assimilation and faithful distinctiveness. While living under Persian authority, she retains a hidden Jewish identity until “such a time as this” (Esther 4:14) demands open allegiance to her God and people.

Providence and Deliverance

Though the Book of Esther never explicitly names God, Hadassah’s rise and intercession display the unseen orchestration of divine sovereignty. Esther 6–9 records the dramatic reversal whereby the decree intended for Jewish destruction becomes the means of their salvation, commemorated annually in the Feast of Purim (Esther 9:20–32). Her Hebrew name thus becomes inseparable from the memory of national deliverance.

Intercessory Typology

Standing uninvited before the king (Esther 5:1–2), Hadassah risks her life to mediate for her people, prefiguring the greater Mediator who enters the presence of the ultimate King on behalf of humanity (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 9:24). Her account reinforces the principle that “deliverance and relief will arise for the Jews from another place” (Esther 4:14), underscoring God’s unbreakable promises.

Liturgical Echoes

Myrtle branches were prescribed for the Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:40; Nehemiah 8:15), a celebration of God’s sheltering care. The parallel between booths made with myrtle and Hadassah’s protective role strengthens the association of her name with divine covering. Isaiah 55:13 prophetically replaces the “thornbush” with the myrtle as a sign “for an everlasting name”; Esther’s deliverance supplies a historical taste of that promised restoration.

Ethical and Devotional Implications

1. Courageous Obedience: Hadassah exemplifies costly obedience when silence would have been safer.
2. Stewardship of Position: Her royal influence is leveraged for righteousness, reminding believers that every station in life is a trust from God.
3. Hidden Yet Present Providence: The absence of explicit divine reference in Esther magnifies the certainty that God works through ordinary events and imperfect people.

Christ and the Church

The bride who secures life for her people foreshadows the Church’s role as a royal priesthood interceding for the world (1 Peter 2:9). Her account also anticipates the final victory described in Revelation, where the redeemed stand secure because of another’s faithful advocacy.

Summary

Hadassah occurs once in Scripture, yet the theological weight carried by that single mention is immense. Her name links her to the imagery of enduring, fragrant myrtle, while her life demonstrates covenant faithfulness, providential care, and intercessory courage. In her, the diaspora community witnessed that even in exile the evergreen purposes of God remain vibrant, pointing beyond the Persian court to the redemptive storyline culminating in Messiah and His people.

הֲדַסָּ֗ה הדסה hă·ḏas·sāh hadasSah hăḏassāhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts