Passage
Esther had not made known her people nor her kindred; for Mordecai had charged her that she should not make it known.
Esther 2:10 (ASV)
Nearby Context
Esther 2:8 So it came to pass, when the king`s commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was taken into the king`s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.
Esther 2:9 And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with her portions, and the seven maidens who were meet to be given her out of the king`s house: and he removed her and her maidens to the best place of the house of the women.
Esther 2:10 Esther had not made known her people nor her kindred; for Mordecai had charged her that she should not make it known.
Esther 2:11 And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women`s house, to know how Esther did, and what would become of her.
Esther 2:12 Now when the turn of every maiden was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that it had been done to her according to the law for the women twelve months (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, [to wit], six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odors and with the things for the purifying of the women),
Study Lenses
The verse centers on "esther", "known", "people", "kindred", "mordecai", "charged", "should", and "make". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "esther" and "known", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.
The nearby context moves from verse 9's "And the maiden pleased him and she..." into verse 11's "And Mordecai walked every day before the...", so "esther" and "known" belong inside that flow. In Esther context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.
A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "esther" and "known" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.