Original Word: תֶּרֶשׁ
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Teresh
Pronunciation: TEH-resh
Phonetic Spelling: (teh'-resh)
KJV: Teresh
NASB: Teresh
Word Origin: [of foreign derivation]

1. Teresh, a eunuch of Xerxes

Teresh

Of foreign derivation; Teresh, a eunuch of Xerxes -- Teresh.

Word Origin
of foreign origin
Definition
a eunuch of Ahasuerus
NASB Translation
Teresh (2).

תֶּ֫רֶשׁ proper name, masculine eunuch at court of Ahasuerus (Scheft⁵⁸ compare Old Iranian tarša, 'Begierde,' used as proper name in New Persian); — Esther 2:21; Esther 6:2; Θαρ(ρ)ας.

Historical Setting

King Ahasuerus ruled the vast Persian Empire from 486 to 465 BC. At his winter palace in Susa, a select cadre of eunuchs served as royal doorkeepers, a position combining ceremonial honor with life-and-death responsibility for the king’s personal safety. Teresh was one of these officers. His name appears only twice in Scripture, yet the conspiracy in which he engaged became a pivotal hinge in the Book of Esther and in the preservation of the Jewish people within the empire.

Biblical Occurrences

• Esther 2:21 – “In those days, while Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the entrance, grew angry and conspired to assassinate King Ahasuerus.”
• Esther 6:2 – “It was found recorded there that Mordecai had reported Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who had guarded the entrance, when they had conspired to assassinate King Ahasuerus.”

Character Profile

Teresh is portrayed in tandem with Bigthan/Bigthana, indicating either a shared motive or a collective plot fostered by the closed community of palace servants. As a eunuch, Teresh held direct access to the monarch but also lived under strict palace protocol. Scripture provides no insight into his background, grievances, or personal motivations; the Spirit-inspired narrative keeps the focus on God’s providence rather than on the inner life of the conspirator.

Narrative Importance in Esther

1. Catalyst for Mordecai’s Recognition: Mordecai’s loyalty in exposing the plot went unrewarded for several years, yet the record of Teresh’s conspiracy was preserved in the royal chronicles. When the scrolls were read to an insomniac king (Esther 6), that seemingly forgotten account positioned Mordecai for honor at precisely the moment Haman planned his downfall.
2. Providential Link in Redemptive History: Teresh’s treachery, though sinful, served God’s larger design to exalt Mordecai and protect the Jews from extermination (Esther 9). The episode illustrates how the Lord “makes even the wrath of man to praise Him” (compare Psalm 76:10).

Theological Implications

• Divine Sovereignty and Human Freedom: Teresh acted by personal choice, yet his plot was woven into God’s sovereign timeline. The balance of responsibility and providence echoes Joseph’s assessment in Genesis 50:20.
• Righteous Witness in a Pagan Court: Mordecai’s civic integrity displays how believers may serve faithfully in secular settings without compromising loyalty to the covenant God (also Daniel 6).
• Bookkeeping as a Means of Providence: The royal annals, a mundane administrative tool, became the vehicle through which God’s timing was executed. Nothing ordinary is outside His orchestration.

Ministry Lessons

1. Vigilance Against Hidden Sin: Leadership must remain alert to internal threats; accountability structures protect both leaders and those they govern (Nehemiah 4:9).
2. Faithful Service Without Immediate Reward: Mordecai’s delayed recognition encourages believers to “not grow weary in doing good” (Galatians 6:9).
3. The Power of Timely Records: Churches and ministries benefit from accurate documentation of God’s works, becoming future testimonies of His faithfulness.

Related Biblical Conspiracies

• 2 Samuel 15 – Absalom’s plot against David underscores how betrayal often arises within close circles.
• 2 Kings 12:20 – Servants assassinate King Joash, paralleling palace-guard treachery.
• Daniel 6 – Officials conspire against Daniel; God overturns the scheme, protecting His servant under Persian rule.

Summary

Teresh stands as a minor yet strategic figure whose failed conspiracy became the backdrop for divine reversal and deliverance. His account affirms that God governs the actions of nations and individuals alike, preserving His people and fulfilling His covenant purposes even through the hidden corridors of royal palaces.

וָתֶ֗רֶשׁ וָתֶ֜רֶשׁ ותרש vaTeresh wā·ṯe·reš wāṯerešInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts