The Book of Esther (2013) – A Drastic Rewrite of a Biblical Classic

The Bible Story That Never Mentioned God – But He Was Always There

The Book of Esther is one of the most intriguing stories in the Bible, and for one unique reason—it never once mentions God. Yet, His presence is woven throughout the narrative, demonstrating that He is always at work, even when He isn’t explicitly named. The story reminds us that what may seem like coincidence is actually divine sovereignty.

With that in mind, let’s talk about The Book of Esther (2013), directed by David A. R. White (God’s Not Dead) and starring Jen Lilley, Joel Smallbone, Robert Miano, and Thaao Penghlis. Right from the start, the movie signals that we won’t be getting a faithful adaptation of the biblical story we know. And that, dear reader, is where things start to go sideways.

Not What It Seems: A Biblical Retelling Gone Off Course

This movie doesn’t take the expected route of telling Esther’s story as written. Instead, it introduces an unusual central question: If the commands of God clash with the commands of man, who should we obey?

Now, while that is an important topic worth exploring, the movie takes bizarre liberties in trying to address it. From altering the royal search for a new queen into a watered-down beauty pageant to a full-blown courtroom drama at the end where Mordecai is put on trial, this adaptation does more harm than good. Here’s why:

1. It Misses the Point of Esther’s Story

As mentioned earlier, the Book of Esther highlights God’s presence in our lives, even when we don’t see it directly. The focus is on God’s sovereignty, not just human courage. However, this film shifts the spotlight away from that key theme and instead centers the narrative on Mordecai’s faithfulness and Esther’s bravery—as if the story is about them rather than God.

It reminds me of how VeggieTales sometimes handles Bible stories. While their episodes are fun and full of life lessons, they often miss the deeper spiritual message. Take Dave and The Giant Pickle (1996), which tells the story of David and Goliath but sums it up as, “That’s the story of Dave, a little guy who did a really big thing.” That’s a nice motivational lesson, but it misses the real point—that God is the one who delivers victory, no matter how small or weak we may seem.

Similarly, The Book of Esther (2013) takes a biblical story and shifts the focus to human achievement rather than divine intervention.

2. A “Reboot” That Wasn’t Necessary

Before the movie even starts, the filmmakers include a disclaimer: “This film is based upon the biblical Book of Esther. However, certain material has been added or deleted for dramatic purposes. The filmmakers encourage the viewer to read the Book of Esther for further inspiration.”

Wait…why was anything added or deleted? Esther’s story is already filled with drama—betrayal, courage, revenge, royal politics. There’s no need for embellishment! If anything, the film’s alterations weaken the original story rather than enhancing it.

It seems like the filmmakers either:

  1. Wanted to fit the story into a different theme (obedience to God vs. obedience to man), or

  2. Felt that the story had been adapted too many times and needed a fresh spin.

But here’s the thing—the Word of God doesn’t need a rewrite. Isaiah 40:8 says, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God will stand forever.” Yes, every book-to-screen adaptation requires some adjustments for storytelling flow, but when you start rewriting the core message, you’re no longer adapting—you’re replacing.

Films like Samson and Delilah (1949) or The Prince of Egypt (1998) made adjustments for cinematic effect, but they stayed true to the biblical themes. This movie, however, takes liberties that shift the entire meaning of Esther’s story.

Final Thoughts: Should You Watch It?

Is this an evil movie? No. Would I recommend showing it to kids? Also no—unless you’re watching with them, Bible in hand, ready to explain where the film takes artistic liberties.

This movie is a perfect example of what happens when filmmakers try too hard to give a fresh take on a Bible story. If your changes alter the core message, maybe it’s best to make an entirely different movie and simply say it was inspired by biblical events rather than trying to pass it off as an actual adaptation.

So what do you think? Have you seen any Bible movies that completely missed the point? Drop your thoughts in the comments!

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