Illustration created for this project.

Mordecai

A Jew of the tribe of Benjamin living in Susa, who raised his orphaned cousin Esther as his own daughter. He uncovered a plot against the king's life and had it recorded, then refused to bow to Haman — the slight that led Haman to plan the destruction of every Jew in the empire. It was Mordecai who told Esther she must go to the king, and that she should not think she would escape in the palace: perhaps she had come to the kingdom for such a time as this. He ended the story robed in blue and white, second only to the king.

Role: Cousin of Esther

Lived: c. 5th century BC

Belonged to: Tribe of Benjamin

Tribe/lineage: Benjamin

Born: Susa

What we know — and how we know it

Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 1 Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 1

Life, role & deeds

BibleEsther's cousin and guardian, whose faithfulness and Haman's downfall saved the Jews of Persia.

Esther 2:7; 10:3

↳ Susa

ScholarlyA cuneiform tablet names a court official 'Marduka' at Susa in the early Persian period — a name some scholars connect with Mordecai, though it cannot be proven.

Persian administrative tablet (debated)

Where in scripture

Esther

He brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter; for she had neither father nor mother. The maiden was fair and beautiful; and when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his own daughter.
Esther 2:7 — Raises Esther

For Mordecai the Jew was next to King Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted by the multitude of his brothers, seeking the good of his people, and speaking peace to all his descendants.
Esther 10:3 — Second to the king

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.

Esther 2:7 Esther 10:3

Family

In their own words — 1 recorded saying

“Then Mordecai sent this answer back to Esther: Do not have the idea that you in the king's house will be safe from the fate of all the Jews. If at this time you say nothing, then help and salvation will come to the Jews from some other place, but you and your father's family will come to destruction: and who is to say that you have not come to the kingdom even for such a time as this?” — Esther 4:13-14

Speaker attribution: Clear Bible MACULA (CC BY 4.0). Wording: Bible in Basic English (public domain).