Original Word: אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Achashverowsh
Pronunciation: a-khash-veh-rosh
Phonetic Spelling: (akh-ash-vay-rosh')
KJV: Ahasuerus
NASB: Ahasuerus
Word Origin: [of Persian origin]

1. Achashverosh (i.e. Ahasuerus or Artaxerxes, but in this case Xerxes), the title (rather than name) of a Persian king

Ahasuerus

Or (shortened) pachashrosh {akh- ash-rosh'} (Esth. 10:1); of Persian origin; Achashverosh (i.e. Ahasuerus or Artaxerxes, but in this case Xerxes), the title (rather than name) of a Persian king -- Ahasuerus.

Word Origin
of foreign origin
Definition
king of Persia
NASB Translation
Ahasuerus (31).

אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֺשׁ proper name, masculine Ahasuerus = Xerxes (Persian Khshayârshâ = mighty + eye or man, see Spieg^{l. with 216}; in Aramaic חשיארש, CIS^{II. i. 122} [ B.C. 481]) king of Persia Ezra 4:6; Esther 1:1 (twice in verse); Esther 1:2,9,10 18t. Esther + Esther 10:1 Qr (Kt אחשׁרשׁ); אֲחַשְׁוֵרשׁ Esther 1:16; Esther 2:21; Esther 3:12; Esther 8:7,10; also Daniel 9:1 where made father of 'Darius the Mede,' compare Meinh.

Historical background

The name אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ designates one or more Median-Persian monarchs ruling after the Babylonian captivity. The great majority of references point to the Persian king commonly identified with Xerxes I (486–465 BC), who reigned over “one hundred twenty-seven provinces from India to Cush” (Esther 1:1). Two additional texts name an earlier Ahasuerus who was the father of Darius the Mede (Daniel 9:1) and another who reigned shortly after Cyrus (Ezra 4:6). The distribution is therefore:
• Esther – 28 instances referring to the king who married Esther.
• Ezra 4:6 – 1 instance.
• Daniel 9:1 – 2 instances (in the construct phrase “son of Ahasuerus”).

Ahasuerus in Esther

1. Royal splendor and absolute authority (Esther 1). His opulent banquet, seven-day feast, and swift dismissal of Queen Vashti display the unchecked power of Persian monarchs.
2. Providence in palace intrigue (Esther 2–3). Although Ahasuerus seeks a new queen from worldly motives, God positions Esther “for such a time as this” (4:14) to preserve the covenant people.
3. Reversal of edicts (Esther 7–8). The irrevocable decree to annihilate the Jews is countered by a second decree permitting them to defend themselves. The king’s use of his signet ring (3:12; 8:8) underscores the legal finality of both orders, highlighting that only divine sovereignty can overturn humanly irreversible sentences.
4. Administrative reach (Esther 9–10). From the capital Susa to “the farthest shores” (10:1) the king’s authority touches every province, emphasizing the global scope of God’s preservation of His people.

Ahasuerus in Ezra 4:6

“At the beginning of the reign of Ahasuerus, they lodged an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.” Pagan officials exploited a change of ruler to hinder temple reconstruction. The verse shows that royal favor toward God’s people can fluctuate, yet the divine program moves forward (see Ezra 6:14).

Relation to Darius the Mede (Daniel 9:1)

“In the first year of Darius son of Ahasuerus, a Mede by descent, who was made ruler over the kingdom of the Chaldeans …” Daniel dates his prayer of chapter 9 by the reign of Darius, grounding the seventy-weeks prophecy in verifiable history. The linkage indicates a Median line into which God inserted a ruler sympathetic to Jewish return (compare Daniel 6).

Theological themes

God’s providence over empires — Human rulers issue edicts, but “the king’s heart is a watercourse in the hand of the LORD; He directs it wherever He pleases” (Proverbs 21:1).

Covenant preservation — Despite genocidal threats (Esther 3:8-15), the Abrahamic line remains intact, preparing for Messiah.

Moral accountability of rulers — The king’s rashness (Esther 1:19; 3:9-11) warns leaders against decisions divorced from wisdom and justice.

Typology of deliverance — The great reversal in Esther foreshadows the greater deliverance accomplished in Christ, who similarly rescued His people from an irreversible decree of death (Colossians 2:14).

Practical lessons for ministry

• Pray for those in authority (1 Timothy 2:2); God can turn even a Xerxes toward His purposes.
• Encourage believers serving in secular settings like Esther and Mordecai; strategic obedience in hostile courts may protect many.
• Teach courage: “If I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16) remains a model of self-sacrificial faith.
• Emphasize the importance of remembering deliverance: the Feast of Purim (Esther 9:20-32) illustrates corporate testimony to future generations.

Summary

Ahasuerus is more than a historical footnote; he is a vessel through whom God showcased His unbreakable covenant, His mastery over nations, and His call for faithful witness amid political uncertainty.

אֲחַשְׁוֵֽרֹשׁ׃ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֑וֹשׁ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֖וֹשׁ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֗וֹשׁ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֜וֹשׁ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֡וֹשׁ אֲחַשְׁוֵרֹ֔שׁ אֲחַשְׁוֵרֹשׁ֙ אֲחַשְׁוֵרֽוֹשׁ׃ אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ֙ אֲחַשְׁוֵרֹ֧ושׁ אֳחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ אחשורוש אחשורוש׃ אחשורש אחשורש׃ ’ă·ḥaš·wê·rō·wōš ’ă·ḥaš·wê·rōš ’ăḥašwêrōš ’ăḥašwêrōwōš ’o·ḥaš·wê·rō·wōš ’oḥašwêrōwōš achashveRoosh achashVerosh achashveroVosh ochashveRooshInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts