אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ H0325
Ahasuerus (Xerxes) — the Persian king of the book of Esther, husband of Vashti then Esther
Achashverosh is the Hebrew rendering of Old Persian Khshayarsha (Xerxes), the name of the Persian emperor who reigns throughout the book of Esther. Twenty-nine of its 32 occurrences cluster in Esther, where Achashverosh presides over a vast empire stretching from India to Cush (Est 1:1), banishes Queen Vashti for her refusal to appear at his banquet (Est 1:12-19), and elevates Esther to the throne (Est 2:17). He is portrayed as impulsive, easily manipulated by advisors — first by Haman's genocidal decree, then by Esther and Mordecai's reversal. Outside Esther, the name appears in Ezra 4:6, where opponents of the rebuilding write an accusation in his reign, and in Daniel 9:1, where a figure by this name is identified as the father of Darius the Mede. Greek renders it Ahasoueros; modern translations keep the name recognizable: Spanish Asuero, French Assuerus, German Ahasveros.
Senses
1. Achashverosh — The proper name of the Persian king (identified with Xerxes I, r. 486-465 BC) who dominates the narrative of Esther. He dismisses Vashti (Est 1:12-19), marries Esther (Est 2:17), unwittingly authorizes Haman's genocide (Est 3:10-12), and ultimately reverses the decree (Est 8:7-12). Also mentioned as the king during whose reign adversaries accused Judah (Ezra 4:6) and as the father of Darius the Mede (Dan 9:1). 32×
AR["أَحَشْوِيرُوشَ", "أَحَشْوِيرُوشُ"]·ben["অহশ্বেরশ", "অহশ্বেরশকে", "অহশ্বেরশের", "অহশ্বেরোশের"]·DE["Ahasveros"]·EN["Achashverosh", "Ahasuerus"]·FR["Assuérus"]·heb["אחשורוש", "אחשורש"]·HI["अहशवेरोश-के", "अहश्वेरोश", "अहश्वेरोश-का", "अहश्वेरोश-की", "अहश्वेरोश-के", "अहश्वेरोश-ने", "अहश्वेरोश-पर", "वही-अहश्वेरोश"]·ID["Ahasyweros"]·IT["Assuero"]·jav["Ahasyeros", "Ahasywérus"]·KO["아하수에로", "아하수에로가", "아하수에로스", "아하수에로스의", "아하수에로에게", "아하수에로의"]·PT["Achashverosh"]·RU["Ахашверош", "Ахашвероша", "Ахашверошем", "Ахашверошу"]·ES["Asuero"]·SW["Ahasuero", "ampe", "kwa-mkono", "mfalme", "na-ikatiwa-muhuri", "wa-Ahasuero", "walipiga"]·TR["Ahasveros", "Ahasveros'a", "Ahasveros'un", "Ahasverosun"]·urd["اخسویرس", "اخسویرس-نے", "اخسویرس-کی"]
Related Senses
G3588 1. definite article (18298×)H0853 1. definite direct object marker (10915×)G2532 1. (8312×)H3068 1. YHWH (the divine name) (6522×)H0834a 1. relative pronoun (who/which/that) (4839×)H3588a 1. causal: because, for (3498×)G1161 1. and (2806×)H3478 1. Israel (proper name and nation) (2507×)G4771 1. you (plural address) (1853×)H1931 1. personal pronoun he/she/it (1431×)G3739 1. relative pronoun who/which/that (1149×)H1732 1. David (proper name) (1075×)H2088 1. this, this one (demonstrative) (1059×)G1063 1. (1047×)G3778 1. this thing, these things (1003×)H???? 2. (1002×)G2424 1. (924×)G3754 1. that (content clause) (881×)H2009 1. presentative particle: behold, look (881×)H0589 1. I (first person singular pronoun) (874×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ n.pr.m. Ahasuerus = Xerxes (Pers. Khshayârshâ = mighty + eye or man, vid. Spiegel l.c. 216; in Aramaic חשיארש, CISII. i. 122 [b.c. 481]) king of Pers. Ezr 4:6 Est 1:1(×2), 2, 9, 10 + 18 textual Est + Est 10:1 Qr (Kt אחשׁרשׁ); אֲחַשְׁוֵרֹשׁ Est 1:16; 2:21; 3:12; 8:7, 10; also Dn 9:1 where made father of ‘Darius the Mede,’ cf. Meinh.