Esther in the book of Esther was a biblical heroine who saved the Jewish people.

Esther's real name in the bible. According to the view that Esther was Hadassahs second name the Rabbis explain that she was given this name because she concealed histirah her origins. By Chana Raizel Zaklikowski The name Hadassah Heb. Bible Dictionaries - Eastons Bible Dictionary - Esther.

Esther probably means star in Persian but many feel that its a derivative of the name Ishtar a Near. Her name was changed to Esther to hide her identity upon becoming queen of Persia. She was of the tribe of Benjamin and lived during the time Israel was exiled.

Obedient as she was Esther or Hadassah kept her identity a secret only revealing it at the crucial time to her husband the king and so was able to be a vessel for the deliverance of her entire race. From the book of Esther we learn of two of Achashveroshs wivesthe wicked Vashti and the righteous Esther. Accordingly the name Hadassah needs further explanation.

She was a Jewess named Hadassah the myrtle but when she entered the royal harem she received the name by which she henceforth became known. Esther Began as Hadassah. According to the second direction Esther was her real name and she is so named throughout the Book of Esther.

If you look at The Bible it tells you that Esther means star and it was an assumed name so she wouldnt be persecuted for her Jewish background. הדסה was one of the names of Queen Esther the heroine of the Purim story and is now given to Jewish girls. Her name was Hadassah but you might know her by the name of Esther the one for whom the book in the Bible is named.

According to the Hebrew Bible queen Esther was born with the name הדסה Hadassah Myrtle. The three letter root of Esther in Hebrew is s-t-r סתר hide conceal. Herodotus and Ctesias both mention Xerxess wife Amestris who was very wicked.