("bedkeeper".) Generally used of those emasculated in order to satisfy the jealousy of masters who committed to them the charge of wives, concubines, and the female apartments. Sometimes implying the high office of "chamberlain," without such emasculation (1 Chronicles 28:1). Even the kings of Israel and Judah had eunuchs, probably foreigners (2 Kings 9:32; Jeremiah 38:7). Ethiopians were then, as Nubians now, often so employed. The chief of Pharaoh's cupbearers, and the chief of his cooks, were eunuchs; Potiphar was an "eunuch" (so Hebrew of "officer") of Pharaoh's (Genesis 37:36; Genesis 37:41). So the Assyrian Rabsaris, or chief eunuch (2 Kings 18:17).
        So in the Persian court there were eunuchs as "keepers of the women," through whom the king gave commands to the women, and kept men at a distance (Esther 1:10; Esther 1:12; Esther 1:15-16; Esther 2:3; Esther 2:8; Esther 2:14). Daniel and his companions were, possibly, mutilated so as to become eunuchs to the Babylonian king (2 Kings 20:17-18; Daniel 1:3-7). In Matthew 19:12 our Lord uses the term figuratively for those who are naturally, or who artificially, or by self restraint, have become divested of sexual passion (1 Corinthians 7:26; 1 Corinthians 7:32-34). Our Lord permits, but does not command or recommend, celibacy as superior in sanctity to wedlock; "he that is able to receive it, let him receive it."