Zeresh (
Hebrew language: זֶרֶשׁ) was the wife of Haman the
Agagite who is mentioned in the
Hebrew Bible in the Book of Esther.
Etymology
The etymology of the name Zeresh is debated. Some scholars suggest that the name may derive from the
Avestan word
zairiçi, ‘blonde’, while others have related it to the Elamite deity
Kiririsha or to an
Daeva.
Role in Book of Esther
Zeresh advised her husband to prepare a high
gallows (50
) and to hang
Mordecai on it (). However, she later advised Haman that he would not be able to win against Mordecai (Esther 6:12-13).
Their plans were soon reversed when King
Ahasuerus ordered Haman to be hanged on the same gallows which he had prepared for Mordecai (Esther 7:9-10).
Ten sons of Haman (and possibly of Zeresh) were later killed in fighting, and Ahasuerus had their bodies hanged on the same gallows that their father was hanged on (Esther 9:7-14). Zeresh's fate is not recorded.
