Illustration created for this project.
Hegai
The king's eunuch in charge of the harem, who favoured Esther above the other candidates.
What we know — and how we know it
Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 1
Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 1
Origin & birthplace
Name & titles
ScholarlyHegai (also spelled Hege), the royal eunuch keeping the harem, bears a name generally taken to be Persian in origin, consistent with the book of Esther's Achaemenid court setting, though its precise meaning is uncertain. No inscription or independent ancient writer names this particular official.
Onomastic observation that Hēgay/Hēgeʾ fits an Old Persian court-name pattern; meaning undetermined and no external attestation of the individual.
Where in scripture
EstherPlaces in their life
Photo: Marie-Lan Nguyen — Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)