How long does it take to read the book of Esther?
About 21 minutes if you read it silently. Out loud it's about 28 minutes, and an audio Bible takes about 32 minutes. Esther has 10 chapters, 167 verses and 5,097 words.
- Silently
- 21 min
- Out loud
- 28 min
- Listening
- 32 min
About Esther
Esther tells how a young Jewish woman who becomes queen of Persia helps save her people from a plot to destroy them; God is never named, yet His care is everywhere.
The 17th of the Bible's 66 books, in the Old Testament (History).
A tip for reading it
Look for the well-timed turns of events, which show God quietly at work even when He isn't mentioned.
Plan your reading of Esther
Choose a finish date or the time you have, and get what to read each day.
How will you read it?
Plan by
Finish in
Reading days
Reading Esther silently takes about 21 minutes in all.
Each day
2 min
Reading days
10
You finish
…
That's about a chapter a day, 10 chapters in all.
Your first week
Whole chapters, balanced by length
- Day 1Esther 13 min
- Day 2Esther 23 min
- Day 3Esther 32 min
- Day 4Esther 42 min
- Day 5Esther 52 min
- Day 6Esther 62 min
- Day 7Esther 71 min
Chapter by chapter
Reading silently. The longest is Esther 9 at about 4 minutes; the shortest, Esther 10, takes under a minute.
- Chapter 122 verses3 min
- Chapter 223 verses3 min
- Chapter 315 verses2 min
- Chapter 417 verses2 min
- Chapter 514 verses2 min
- Chapter 614 verses2 min
- Chapter 710 verses1 min
- Chapter 817 verses3 min
- Chapter 932 verses4 min
- Chapter 103 verses<1 min
Questions about Esther
How long does it take to read Esther out loud?
About 28 minutes at a comfortable reading-aloud pace. Listening to an audio Bible, it takes about 32 minutes.
How many chapters are in Esther?
Esther has 10 chapters and 167 verses, 5,097 words in the Berean Standard Bible.
Can I read Esther in one sitting?
Yes. At about 21 minutes, Esther fits in one sitting, and reading a book straight through is a good way to see its whole message.
What's the longest chapter in Esther?
Esther 9, about 4 minutes to read. The shortest is Esther 10, under a minute.
What is Esther about?
Esther tells how a young Jewish woman who becomes queen of Persia helps save her people from a plot to destroy them; God is never named, yet His care is everywhere.