Boy Old Testament Rare
Bigthan
in the press; giving meat
בִּגְתָן big.tan
Bigthan (Hebrew: בִּגְתָן, big.tan) means “in the press; giving meat”, by traditional interpretation. It appears in 2 verses across 1 book of the Bible. In United States birth records the name is below the reporting threshold. Appears in the same passages as Abihail.
The bearer in scripture
One person in scripture bears this name.
-
Bigthan
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 2 across 1 book
- Bearers
- 1 one person only
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Second Temple
Using it today
In United States birth records this name is below the reporting threshold. The Social Security Administration does not publish counts under five, so a name given to four children looks the same as one given to none.
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | Esther 2:21 |
| Last appears | Esther 6:2 |
| Cross-references | 19 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Teresh co-occurrence Appears with Teresh in Esther 6.
- Ahasuerus co-occurrence Appears with Ahasuerus in Esther 6.
- Mordecai co-occurrence Appears with Mordecai in Esther 6.
- Jair co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Jair.
- Shimei co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Shimei.
- Shaashgaz co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Shaashgaz.
- Kish co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Kish.
- Abihail co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Abihail.
Origin & meaning
A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Est.2.21; also called Bigthana at Est.6.2;
§ Bigthan = "in their wine-press"
a eunuch in king Ahasuerus' (Xerxes) court
Bigthan, a doorkeeper in Ahasuerus' court, plotted to assassinate the king but was exposed by Mordecai.
The biblical story
Bigthan, along with Teresh, was one of the doorkeepers in the court of King Ahasuerus (Est. 2:21). They became angry with the king and conspired to assassinate him. However, their plot was discovered by Mordecai, the cousin and guardian of Esther, who had been recently crowned as queen. Mordecai informed Esther about the plot, and she reported it to the king in Mordecai's name (Est. 2:22). After an investigation, Bigthan and Teresh were found guilty and hanged on the gallows (Est. 2:23). The incident was recorded in the king's presence in the book of the chronicles. Later, when the king was unable to sleep, he ordered the book of chronicles to be read to him, and Mordecai's good deed in exposing the plot was brought to his attention (Est. 6:1-2). This event led to Mordecai's elevation and honor, as well as the king's protection of the Jewish people from Haman's evil scheme. The story of Bigthan's plot and its consequences demonstrates the importance of loyalty, vigilance, and divine providence in the narrative of Esther.
Key verses
Bigthan appears in 2 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
-
In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king’s gate, two of the king’s chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.
Esther 2:21 -
And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.
Esther 6:2
Show all 2 references
Esther (2)
- Esther 2:21
- Esther 6:2