Carshena is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Carshena was one of the seven princes of Persia and Media who served as advisers to King Ahasuerus. He is named only once in Scripture, in the opening chapter of Esther, where he appears among a select group of noblemen who held the highest rank in the kingdom. These seven men are described as those “which saw the king’s face, and which sat the first in the kingdom” (Esther 1:14), indicating that they enjoyed direct access to the king and held preeminent positions of authority in the empire.
The setting of his appearance is the third year of Ahasuerus’s reign, during a great feast the king hosted for his officials and servants. When Queen Vashti refused the king’s command to appear before his guests, Ahasuerus consulted these seven princes for counsel, asking what should be done according to law. Carshena was one of those whose opinion the king sought in this matter.
Scripture records nothing else about Carshena beyond his name in this list. He is not shown speaking or acting independently; he stands among the seven as a collective body of advisers. His inclusion in the text places him among the powerful men of the Persian court at a pivotal moment in the story of Esther, though the biblical narrative gives no further detail about his life, his counsel, or his later fate.
The Name
The name Carshena is of Persian origin, appearing in the Hebrew text of Esther as a transliteration of a foreign name. Its precise meaning is not clearly recoverable. Unlike some biblical names that carry an evident Hebrew meaning tied to God, faith, or circumstance, this name belongs to the Persian setting of the book and does not yield a well-established definition. Various suggestions have been offered by scholars, but none is certain. It is best to say plainly that the meaning of this name is not clearly known.
A Closing Thought
Carshena stands in Scripture as a name on a list—present at a crucial moment, yet silent. He reminds us that faithfulness is not measured by how much of our story is recorded, but by whether we are found in our place when duty calls. Most of God’s people live and serve without headlines, known fully only to Him. Like Carshena, we may never see our names honored in a great narrative, but we can be faithful where God has placed us, trusting that He sees and remembers what the world overlooks.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- Esther 1:14 — And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king’s face, and which sat the first in the kingdom;)