God’s Word for Today: April 17

Esther 1:1 to Esther 2:23

Esther lived in Persia while the Jews were in exile there. By this time, the Persians had allowed some people to return to Jerusalem and to rebuild the temple. The opening chapters of her story tell how the Persian king grew angry with his wife, exiled her, and searched for a new queen.

Why was Esther know by two different names? Although Esther was a Jew, she was raised in Persia. The name Esther was a Persian name for “star.” Hadassah was her Hebrew name, meaning “myrtle.”

Today, ask God to make you effective at your work and in your family. Ask him for discipline to work harder in these areas.

Read today’s passage online at Bible Gateway.

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To enhance your reading and understanding, watch this excellent video from the Bible Project—where visual storytelling meets the Bible: