הֲדַסָּה
𐤄𐤃𐤎𐤄
Hadasah
H1919 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Hadassah, a feminine personal name in the Hebrew Bible, meaning 'myrtle' or 'myrtle tree' (as an emblematic plant), most notably the original Hebrew name of the individual later known as Esther. The term functions specifically as a proper noun — a personal name, not a general noun for the plant in this form.
Semantic Range
personal name Hadassah; symbolic link to myrtle tree; reference to feminine plant-based names; distinct from common noun 'myrtle'
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root הדס (hadas), meaning 'myrtle,' a type of aromatic evergreen shrub. The suffixed feminine ending -ה (heh) forms a feminine noun, resulting in הדסה (Hădassāh) — 'myrtle (fem.),' used as a woman's name.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, particularly in the Book of Esther (2:7), Hadassah is given as the Hebrew name of the woman otherwise known as Esther, a Judahite living in the Persian court. The selection of a Hebrew plant name for a personal name reflects the broader ancient Near Eastern custom of using plant and natural imagery in personal names. While 'myrtle' (hadas) carries symbolic associations with beauty and fragrance, the text does not explicitly explain the significance of the name for this individual. In later Rabbinic and cultural tradition, Hadassah is often interpreted as reflecting virtues of righteousness or pleasantness, drawing from the plant's positive qualities; however, this is not explicit in biblical contexts. The term appears only as a personal name; the standard term for the plant itself is הדס (hadas), not הדסה (Hadassah). English tradition often renders the name as 'Esther,' but the text of Esther 2:7 specifically notes both names, distinguishing between the Hebrew 'Hadassah' and the Persian 'Esther.'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine of הֲדַס; Hadassah (or Esther); Hadassah.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
הדס (h-d-s) — to be covered densely, myrtle, myrtle tree
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1918 | הֲדַס | myrtle tree |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1919-01 |
הֲדַסָּ֗ה | hadasah | HNp |
Hadassah | Hadassah | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1919-01 |
Esther 2:7 | הֲדַסָּ֗ה | hadasah | HNp |
Hadassah | Hadassah |