Girl Old Testament Rare
Zeresh
misery; strange; dispersed inheritance
זֶ֫רֶשׁ ze.resh
Zeresh (Hebrew: זֶ֫רֶשׁ, ze.resh) means “misery; strange; dispersed inheritance”, by traditional interpretation. It appears in 3 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 Ahasuerus.
The bearer in scripture
One person in scripture bears this name.
-
Zeresh
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 3 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 5:10 |
| Last appears | Esther 6:13 |
| Cross-references | 60 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Haman co-occurrence Appears with Haman in Esther 5.
- Mordecai co-occurrence Appears with Mordecai in Esther 6.
- Teresh co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Teresh.
- Bigthan co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Bigthan.
- Esther co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Esther.
- Ahasuerus co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Ahasuerus.
Origin & meaning
A woman living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Est.5.10; married to Haman (H2001)
§ Zeresh = "gold"
the wife of Haman, the Agagite
Zeresh, the wife of Haman, advised him to have Mordecai hanged on a gallows.
The biblical story
Zeresh was the wife of Haman, the chief antagonist in the Book of Esther. When Haman became enraged at Mordecai's refusal to bow down to him, Zeresh and Haman's friends advised him to have a gallows built and to ask the king's permission to hang Mordecai on it. This plan reveals Zeresh's support for her husband's evil schemes and her own animosity towards the Jews. However, after Haman was humiliated by having to honor Mordecai, Zeresh and his wise men predicted Haman's downfall, stating that he could not prevail against Mordecai if he was of Jewish descent. Zeresh's words proved true, as Haman was ultimately hanged on the very gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. The story of Zeresh and Haman serves as a warning against pride, hatred, and the consequences of plotting evil against others.
Key verses
Zeresh appears in 3 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
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Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.
Esther 5:10 -
Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.
Esther 5:14 -
And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.
Esther 6:13
Show all 3 references
Esther (3)
- Esther 5:10
- Esther 5:14
- Esther 6:13