Chamberlain* — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Originally, a royal official in charge of the private quarters of the king. They sometimes had other significant tasks and had great influence with those in authority (Acts 12:20). The chamberlain Erastus (Rom 16:23, KJB) was actually the city treasurer. Nathan-melech the chamberlain (2 Kgs 23:11) was a court official at the time of Josiah. The Persian kings used eunuchs as chamberlains (Est 1:10, 12, 15 OET EST 1:10 · OET EST 1:12 · OET EST 1:15; 2:3, 14-15 OET EST 2:3 · OET EST 2:14–15; 4:4-5; 6:2, 14 OET EST 6:2 · OET EST 6:14; 7:9).

Show passage in OET: ACT 12:20

OET-RV ACT 12:20

20 Now King Herodes (Herod) was disputing with the people of Tsor (Tyre) and Tsidon (Sidon), and so they got together and persuaded Blastos, a close personal servant of the king, to be their spokesman in asking for peace because they were dependent on food from the king’s provinces.

OET-LV ACT 12:20

20 And he _was raging with_the_Turos/(Tsor) and Sidōn/(Tsīdōn)ians, and with _one _accord they _were _coming to him, and having _persuaded Blastos, who was over the bedchamber of _the king, they _were _requesting peace, because _of that the region of _them to _be _being _nourished by the royal.

Show passage in OET: ROM 16:23

OET-RV ROM 16:23

23 My host Gaios and the whole assembly here greet you believers.

OET-LV ROM 16:23

23 Is _greeting you _all Gaios, the host of _me, and all of _the assembly.
Is _greeting you _all Erastos, the manager of _the city, and Kouartos the brother.

Show passage in OET: KI2 23:11

OET-RV KI2 23:11

11 The horses that the kings of Yehudah had offered to the sun, he prevented from approaching the hall of the official Netan-Melek that was in the courtyards of Yahweh’s temple, and he set fire to the chariots of the sun.

OET-LV KI2 23:11

11 And_he _removed DOM the_horses which the _kings _of Yəhūdāh/(Judah) they _had _dedicated to_sun from_the _going of _the _house _of of_YHWH at the _room _of Nathan the_court-official which was_in_Parbar and_DOM the _chariots _of the _sun he _burnt with_fire.

Show passage in OET: EST 1:10; EST 1:12; EST 1:15

OET-RV EST 1:10

10 On the last day of the celebrations, when the emperor was pleasantly tipsy, he ordered seven of his chief servants (Mehuman, Bizta, Harvona, Bigta, Avagta, Zetar, and Karkas)

OET-RV EST 1:12

12 The servants told her Ahashverosh’s (Ahasuerus’/Xerxes’) command, but Queen Vashti refused to come. When they reported back to Ahashverosh, he was furious and sat there raging for a while.

OET-RV EST 1:15

15 ‘According to our law,’ he asked, ‘what should be done with Empress Vashti, since she refused to obey my command when the servants passed it on to her?’

OET-LV EST 1:10

10 In _the_day the_seventh just_ the _heart _of the_king _as _was _good by_wine he _said to_Mehuman Biztha Harbona Bigtha and_Abagtha Zethar and_Carcas the _seven _of the_officials who_served DOM the _presence _of the_king ʼAḩashvērōsh.

OET-LV EST 1:12

12 And_ the_queen Vashti _she _refused to_come at_the _message _of the_king which was_by_the _hand _of the_officials and_ the_king _he _was _angry exceedingly and_rage _of_his it _burnt in_him/it.

OET-LV EST 1:15

15 According_to_the_law what is_to_do with_queen Vashti on that not she _did DOM the _command _of the_king ʼAḩashvērōsh by_the _hand _of the_officials.

Show passage in OET: EST 2:3; EST 2:14–15

OET-RV EST 2:3

3 You could assign officers in each province of your empire to bring every virgin who is very beautiful here to your capital city of Shushan (Susa). They could stay in the harem for virgins under the custody of Hegay, the castrated royal guardian who takes care of the young women who live there and he could arrange for them to receive beauty treatments.

OET-RV EST 2:14

14 She’d be taken across in the evening, and in the morning she’d be led out to the other harem which was for the concubines. (That harem was overseen by Sha’ashgaz, another castrated royal guardian.) The women taken there wouldn’t go again to the king’s house unless he had especially liked them and summoned her back by name.

OET-RV EST 2:15

15 Now Ester was the daughter of Mordekai’s uncle, Avihayil, from whom Mordekai had adopted her as his own daughter. When it was her turn to go to the king, she didn’t ask for anything other than what Hegay, the king’s trusted official in charge of the harem, had advised, and everyone who saw Ester liked her.

OET-LV EST 2:3

3 And_ the_king _let _him _appoint appointees in_all the _provinces _of his/its_kingdom and_let _them _gather DOM every _of girl virgin good _of appearance to Shūshan the_citadel to the _house _of the _women into the _hand _of Hegai the _eunuch _of the_king the _one _who_kept _of the_women and_let _him _give cleansings _of_their.

OET-LV EST 2:14

14 In_evening she was_going and_in_morning she was_returning to the _house _of the _women second into the _hand _of Shaashgaz the _eunuch _of the_king the _one _who_kept _of the_concubines not she _went again into the_king if/because (if) he _delighted in_her the_king and_she _was _summoned by_name.

OET-LV EST 2:15

15 And_when_ the _turn _of ʼEştēr the _daughter _of ʼAⱱīhayil the _uncle _of Mordəkay whom he _had _taken to_him/it to_a _daughter _arrived to_go to the_king not she _requested anything if/because (if) DOM that_which Hegai the _eunuch _of the_king the _one _who_kept _of the_women he _said and_ ʼEştēr _it _became bearing _of favour in/on_both _eyes _of all _of those _of_who_saw _her.

Show passage in OET: EST 4:4–5

OET-RV EST 4:4

4 When Queen Ester’s young female attendants came with her guardians and told her what was going on outside, even the queen became very scared. She sent Mordekai some good clothes to wear instead of the sackcloth, but he wouldn’t accept them.

OET-RV EST 4:5

5 The king had assigned some of the royal guardians to Ester personally, so Ester called for one of them—a man named Hatak. She told him to go out and speak with Mordekai and find out what he was so distressed about.

OET-LV EST 4:4

4 And_they _came the _maids _of ʼEştēr and_eunuchs _of_her and_they _told to/for_her/it and_ the_queen _she _agonized exceedingly and_she _sent garments to_clothe DOM Mordəkay and_to_remove sackcloth _of_his from_on_him and_not he _accepted_them.

OET-LV EST 4:5

5 And_ ʼEştēr _she/it _called/named (to)_Hathach one_of _the _eunuchs _of the_king whom he _had _made _stand before_her and_she_commanded _him on Mordəkay to_know what was_this and_concerning what was_this.

Show passage in OET: EST 6:2; EST 6:14

OET-RV EST 6:2

2 The records mentioned that Bigtan and Teresh, two of the royal guardians who protected the doorway to the king’s private quarters, had planned to assassinate the king, but that Mordekai had reported it.

OET-RV EST 6:14

14 While they were still talking together, some of the royal guardians arrived to bring Haman quickly to the banquet that Ester had had prepared.

OET-LV EST 6:2

2 And_it _was _found recorded which/who Mordəkay he _had _told on Bigthana and_Teresh two _of the _eunuchs _of the_king of_the _keepers _of of_the _threshold who they _had _sought to_stretch _out a _hand on_king ʼAḩashvērōsh.

OET-LV EST 6:14

14 Still_they were_speaking with_him/it and_the _eunuchs _of the_king they _arrived and_they _made _haste to_bring DOM Haman to the_feast which ʼEştēr she _had _prepared.

Show passage in OET: EST 7:9

OET-RV EST 7:9

9 Then Harvona, who was one of the guardians who served the king personally, said, “Your majesty, Haman has also set up a pole twenty-five metres high at his house because he wants to hang Mordekai on it. But Mordekai saved your life.”
¶ “Execute Haman on it!” the king commanded.

OET-LV EST 7:9

9 And_ Harbona one of the_officials _he/it _said to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before the_king also THERE the_tree which Haman he _has _made for_Mordəkay who he _spoke good on the_king is_standing in_house _of Haman high fifty cubit[s] and_ the_king _he/it _said hang_him on/upon/above_him/it.

Jump to OET ACT 12:20 section.

Jump to OET ROM 16:23 section.

Jump to OET KI2 23:11 section.

Jump to OET EST 1:10 section. · OET EST 1:12 section. · OET EST 1:15 section.

Jump to OET EST 2:3 section. · OET EST 2:14–15 section.

Jump to OET EST 4:4–5 section.

Jump to OET EST 6:2 section. · OET EST 6:14 section.

Jump to OET EST 7:9 section.