H1896 H1896
Hegai (also Hege); the eunuch of King Ahasuerus who was custodian of the royal harem.
The proper name of the king's eunuch placed in charge of the women's quarters in the court of Ahasuerus (Xerxes). He appears four times in Esther 2, overseeing the gathering of young women and later entrusting Esther with her preparations (Esth 2:3, 8, 15). The name has variant spellings—הֵגֵא (Hege) and הֵגַי/הֵגָי (Hegai)—and is likely of Persian origin, possibly related to the name Hegias known from Ctesias. All translations simply transliterate as 'Hegai.'
Senses
1. sense 1 — Hegai (also spelled Hege) — the personal name of the eunuch of King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) who served as keeper of the women in the royal harem at Susa. He is responsible for the care and preparation of the young women brought to the king, including Esther, who wins his favor (Esth 2:8–9, 15). The name appears in variant forms: הֵגֵא in Esth 2:3 and הֵגַי/הֵגָי in 2:8, 15. It is likely a Persian loan-name, paralleled by the courtier Hegias mentioned by Ctesias. English, Spanish, French, and German all render it 'Hegai.' 4×
AR["هِيجَا", "هِيجَايَ", "هِيجَايُ"]·ben["হেগয়", "হেগয়ের", "হেগায়ের"]·DE["Hegai", "[הגא]"]·EN["Hegai"]·FR["[הגא]", "[הגי]"]·heb["הגא", "הגי"]·HI["हेगै", "हेगै-ने"]·ID["Hegai"]·IT["Hegai"]·jav["Hégai"]·KO["헤가이가", "헤가이의"]·PT["Hegay"]·RU["Гегай", "Гегая"]·ES["Hegai"]·SW["wa-Hegai", "wa-wanawake"]·TR["Hegay", "Hegay'ın"]·urd["ہیگی"]
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
† הֵגֵא n.pr.m. eunuch of Ahasuerus (prob. Pers.; cf. Ἡγιας, courtier of Xerxes, CtesiasPers. 24; also Herodot. ix. 33; Roed. in Thes Add) Est 2:3; = הֵגַי 2:8, 15, הֵגָ֑י 2:8.