Shethar is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Shethar was one of the seven princes of Persia and Media who served under King Ahasuerus, the ruler whose vast empire and lavish court form the backdrop of the Book of Esther. These seven men are described as those “which saw the king’s face, and which sat the first in the kingdom” (Esther 1:14), a phrase indicating that they enjoyed direct, personal access to the monarch and held the highest rank among his officials. Shethar is named second in the list, following Carshena and preceding Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan.
Shethar appears in the opening chapter of Esther, during the third year of Ahasuerus’s reign, when the king hosted a great feast for his nobles and officials in the citadel of Susa. After Queen Vashti refused the king’s command to appear before his guests, Ahasuerus consulted these seven princes, who were described as men “which knew the times” and who served as his closest legal and political advisers. It was this council that recommended the decree deposing Vashti and establishing that every man should bear rule in his own house.
Beyond this single scene, Scripture records nothing further about Shethar. He is mentioned only once in the entire King James Bible, and no words, actions, or personal details are attributed to him individually. He stands among the company of royal advisers whose counsel shaped the events that would eventually lead to Esther’s rise as queen.
The Name
The name Shethar is of Persian origin, appearing in the Hebrew text of Esther as שֵׁתָר. Its precise meaning is not clearly recoverable from the biblical text or from the surviving records of the Persian language. Unlike some biblical names whose meanings are explained within Scripture itself, no inspired interpretation of this name is given. Various suggestions have been offered by scholars, but none is firmly established. It is best to say plainly that the meaning of this name is uncertain, and we should not assign it a definition that the text does not provide.
A Closing Thought
Shethar’s brief appearance reminds us that most lives recorded in Scripture are not defined by dramatic deeds but by faithful presence in the place where God has set them. Though unnamed in any other chapter and given no spoken words, Shethar stood among the counselors of a pagan king at a pivotal moment in redemptive history. God’s providence often works through quiet, unnamed figures who simply occupy their post. We may never know the full weight of our own small part in His purposes, but we can trust that no position of service is overlooked by the One who orders all things.
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;)