The Different Esthers of the Septuagint and Masoretic Text: How the Inclusion of God Changes the Character of Esther

The Book of Esther is a unique work that contains significant differences between the Hebrew and Greek versions of the text. One significant difference is the character of Esther herself. In the throne room scene of chapter five (or addition D in the LXX), the LXX Esther is more passive than the Esther of the Hebrew Bible because of the inclusion of God and more specifically the differences in the power structure between God, Esther, and the king. By analyzing the different characters’ movements and the language describing them in chapter 5 or Addition D, the differences of Esther’s character between the versions become evident and these differences can help readers to have a more informed reading of both versions of the story. Understanding the different Esthers can influence future readings and help show how the inclusion of God changes the narrative.