People & groups
Eunuch
Usually a castrated man, though the term can also function as a court title; the context matters.
Also called · Court eunuch · Court official
What it means
The title was used in court settings for men responsible for women’s quarters or royal duties. Esther 2 describes Hegai, the king’s eunuch, overseeing the women and providing Esther with cosmetics and food.
In Isaiah 56, God promises eunuchs who keep his Sabbaths, choose what pleases him, and hold fast to his covenant a memorial and an everlasting name better than sons and daughters. These conditions belong to the promise.
How it appears in the Bible
In Acts 8, the eunuch is an official in charge of Queen Candace’s treasury. Returning from worship in Jerusalem, he reads Isaiah and asks Philip to explain it. Philip tells him the good news about Jesus and baptizes him when they reach water. After the Lord’s Spirit takes Philip away, the official continues his journey with joy. His title alone does not settle every question about his physical condition.