Esther 2:5
אִ֣ישׁ יְהוּדִ֔י הָיָ֖ה בְּשׁוּשַׁ֣ן הַבִּירָ֑ה וּשְׁמֹ֣ו מָרְדֳּכַ֗י בֶּ֣ן יָאִ֧יר בֶּן־שִׁמְעִ֛י בֶּן־קִ֖ישׁ אִ֥ישׁ יְמִינִֽי׃
1. Transliteration
ʾÎsh Yehûdî hāyāh beShûshan habbîrāh, ûshemō Mordokhay, ben Yāʾîr, ben-Shimʿî, ben-Qîsh, ʾîsh Yemînî.
2. Literal Translation
A Jewish man was in Shushan the citadel, and his name was Mordokhay, son of Yaʾir, son of Shimʿi, son of Qish, a man of Yemini.
3. Grammar Focus: Hebrew Introduces Identity by Layering Nouns
This verse introduces Mordokhay by building layers of identity. Hebrew does not begin with a long explanation. It gives simple noun phrases one after another:
אִישׁ יְהוּדִי וּשְׁמוֹ מָרְדֳּכַי בֶּן יָאִיר
The pattern is easy to feel:
- Who is he? A Jewish man.
- Where is he? In Shushan the citadel.
- What is his name? Mordokhay.
- What is his line? son of Yaʾir, son of Shimʿi, son of Qish.
For beginners, this is one of the clearest ways Biblical Hebrew introduces a character: identity, location, name, and family line.
4. The Character Introduction Pattern
| Introduction Layer | Hebrew Phrase | Beginner Insight |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | אִישׁ יְהוּדִי | He is first introduced by people-group identity. |
| Location | בְּשׁוּשַׁן הַבִּירָה | He is located in Shushan the citadel. |
| Name | וּשְׁמוֹ מָרְדֳּכַי | His name is given after the setting is established. |
| Genealogy | בֶּן יָאִיר בֶּן־שִׁמְעִי בֶּן־קִישׁ | The repeated בֶּן traces his family line. |
| Tribal connection | אִישׁ יְמִינִי | The final phrase identifies him as a Benjaminite. |
5. Vocabulary Builder: Man, Name, Son, Citadel
| Hebrew Word | Pronunciation | Core Root & Meaning | Ancient Concrete Insight |
|---|---|---|---|
| אִישׁ | ʾîsh | “man, person, individual” | The verse begins by placing one man before the reader. |
| יְהוּדִי | Yehûdî | “Jewish, Judean” | An identity word connecting the man with the people of Yehudah. |
| הָיָה | hāyāh | Root ה־י־ה, “to be, exist, happen” | The verb places this man within the scene: he was there. |
| בִּירָה | bîrāh | “citadel, fortress, palace complex” | A fortified royal center, not merely an ordinary city quarter. |
| שְׁמוֹ | shemō | From שֵׁם, “name” | The suffix ־וֹ means “his,” so שְׁמוֹ means “his name.” |
| בֶּן | ben | “son” | A genealogy word that links one generation to another. |
6. Syntax Insight: The Repeated בֶּן Creates a Genealogical Chain
The middle of the verse repeats one simple word:
בֶּן יָאִיר בֶּן־שִׁמְעִי בֶּן־קִישׁ
The word בֶּן means “son.” By repeating it, Hebrew stretches the name backward through the family line.
Mordokhay → Yaʾir → Shimʿi → Qish
For beginners, this is very helpful: when you see repeated בֶּן, expect a genealogy or family identification.
7. Grammar Pattern: The Suffix ־וֹ Means “His”
The word שְׁמוֹ means “his name.”
It is built from:
| Part | Meaning | Beginner Insight |
|---|---|---|
| שֵׁם | name | The base noun. |
| ־וֹ | his | A possessive suffix attached to the end. |
Hebrew often attaches possession directly to the word instead of using a separate word like English “his.”
8. Beginner Practice Activity: Trace Mordokhay’s Line
Put the genealogy in order by following the repeated בֶּן.
| Hebrew Phrase | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| מָרְדֳּכַי | The man being introduced |
| בֶּן יָאִיר | Son of whom? |
| בֶּן־שִׁמְעִי | Next generation backward |
| בֶּן־קִישׁ | Earlier ancestor in the line |
Click to Reveal the Scribal Answer
Answer:
The line is: מָרְדֳּכַי → יָאִיר → שִׁמְעִי → קִישׁ.
The repeated בֶּן means “son of,” so Hebrew walks backward through the family line.
Reading Identity Through Hebrew Genealogy
This verse introduces Mordokhay with careful Hebrew layering. It gives his people, his location, his name, his father-line, and his tribal identity.
The grammar is simple, but the effect is strong. Repeated nouns and repeated בֶּן links make the introduction feel formal and rooted.
For beginners, this verse shows that Biblical Hebrew often introduces important characters by placing them inside a network of identity: person, place, name, family, and people-group.
