Esther 3 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.
2 And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.
3 Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?
4 Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.
5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.
6 And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
Esther Chapter 3 (Old Testament, King James Bible)
7 In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.
8 And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them.
9 If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries.
10 And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.
11 And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.
12 Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring.
Esther Chapter 3 (Old Testament)
13 And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.
14 The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day.
15 The posts went out, being hastened by the king's commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.
| Hebrew Word + Transliteration | Verse + Snippet | Meaning | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| מִשְׁנֶה — mishneh | Verse 1 — “…advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes…” | “Second,” deputy. | Mishneh (“second in rank”) signals elevated authority (“second/deputy”). Haman’s promotion overturns expectations. The term introduces conflict between human exaltation and divine reversal. — C. F. Keil, Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament (1866) |
| כָּרַע — kara‘ | Verse 2 — “…bowed, and reverenced Haman…” | “Bow,” bend. | Kara‘ (“to bow”) denotes submission (“worship/bow”). Mordecai’s refusal asserts covenant fidelity. The term highlights religious identity conflict. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the OT (1884) |
| גָּדַל — gadal | Verse 1 — “the king promoted Haman…” | “Magnify,” exalt. | Gadal (“to make great”) reveals human elevation (“promote/exalt”). God later reverses this power dynamic. The term anticipates poetic justice. — James Hastings, Dictionary of the Bible (1898) |
| זָעַם — za‘am | Verse 5 — “…Haman was full of wrath.” | “Rage,” indignation. | Za‘am (“to be enraged”) describes violent anger (“wrath”). Haman’s ego drives destructive schemes. The term uncovers psychological instability. — Hermann Strack, Old Testament Studies (1907) |
| חֹרֶב — chorev | Verse 6 — “…to destroy all the Jews…” | “Desolation,” destruction. | Chorev (“destruction”) frames genocidal intent (“ruin”). The word echoes covenant curses. The term heightens narrative danger. — Joseph Henry Thayer, Lexicon to the OT Citations (1892) |
| פֻּר — pur | Verse 7 — “…they cast Pur, that is, the lot…” | “Lot,” fate casting. | Pur (“lot”) represents random fate (“lot/casting”). God overrules chance. The term becomes central to the Feast of Purim. — C. F. Keil, Commentary on Esther (1875) |
| דַּת — dat | Verse 8 — “…their laws are diverse…” | “Law,” custom. | Dat (“law”) emphasizes Jewish distinctiveness (“law/custom”). Haman weaponizes difference. The term frames conflict between assimilation and faithfulness. — Emil G. Hirsch, Jewish Encyclopedia (1901) |
| כָּלָה — kalah | Verse 13 — “…to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish…” | “Complete,” finish off. | Kalah (“to bring to an end”) intensifies annihilation language (“destroy”). It conveys finality of intended genocide. The term exposes extremity of evil. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary on Esther (1884) |
| שֹׁד — shod | Verse 13 — “…to take the spoil…” | “Despoil,” plunder. | Shod (“spoil”) denotes violent plunder (“spoil/ruin”). The edict sanctions greed. The term shows moral decay of empire. — James Strong, Hebrew Dictionary (1890) |
| תַּהֲלוּכָה — tahalukhah | Verse 15 — “…the city Shushan was perplexed.” | “Confusion,” agitation. | Tahalukhah (“confusion”) conveys civic turmoil (“perplexity”). Public unrest contrasts with royal callousness. The term highlights empire-wide shock. — S. R. Driver, OT Literature (1891) |
ESTHER 3: Guide your heart against pride.
Memory verse: Esther 3:5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.
Haman was a proud and ambitious man who was outraged when Mordecai, a Jewish man who serves in the king's court, refuses to bow down to him. Fueled by his anger and hatred for Mordecai and the Jewish people, Haman hatches a sinister plot to have all of the Jews in the kingdom killed.
Who could have planned to eliminate and get rid of an entire tribe because of one man’s refusal to bow to him, if not a wicked man? His willingness to condemn an entire people group based on the actions of one individual is a chilling example of how easily we can be blinded by our own biases and prejudices.
The incident of Haman serves as a lesson to all today. We are reminded of the need to guard our hearts against the insidious influence of pride and prejudice. We must be willing to examine our own biases and prejudices and extend grace and love to those who may be different from us. (Proverbs 16:18, Mathew 5:3-11, Psalm 138:6)
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