Esther 6 KJV
1 On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.
2 And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.
3 And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.
4 And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
5 And the king's servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.
6 So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?
Esther 6 (Old Testament)
7 And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour,
8 Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head:
9 And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour.
10 Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.
11 Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.
12 And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.
Est.6 (Old Testament)
13 And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.
14 And while they were yet talking with him, came the king's chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared.
| Hebrew Word + Transliteration | Verse + Snippet | Meaning | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| שֵׁנָה — shenah | Verse 1 — “…the king could not sleep…” | “Sleep.” | Shenah (“sleep”) marks unrest (“sleep”). Divine providence disturbs the king’s rest. The term initiates turning of events. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary (1890) |
| זָכַר — zakhar | Verse 1 — “…he commanded to bring the book of records…” | “Remember,” recall. | Zakhar (“to remember”) denotes covenantal recollection (“recall”). Mordecai’s forgotten deed returns to attention. The term highlights providential timing. — C. F. Keil, Commentary on Esther (1880) |
| יְקָר — yeqar | Verse 3 — “…What honor and dignity hath been done…?” | “Honor,” glory. | Yeqar (“honor”) signifies value and public esteem (“honor/dignity”). Recognition reflects divine justice. The term contrasts with Haman’s arrogance. — August Dillmann, Lexicon Linguae Hebraicae (1897) |
| גָּדַל — gadal | Verse 3 — “…nothing done for him.” | “Become great,” magnify. | Gadal (“to make great”) conveys exaltation (“magnify/honor”). God intends to elevate Mordecai. The term participates in narrative reversal. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon (1905) |
| חוּץ — chutz | Verse 4 — “…Haman was come into the outward court…” | “Outside,” outer space. | Chutz (“outside”) connotes peripheral zones (“outer court”). Haman enters unaware of reversal. The term heightens dramatic irony. — Franz Delitzsch, Old Testament Theology (1889) |
| לָבוּשׁ — lavush | Verse 8 — “…the royal apparel…” | “Garment,” clothing. | Lavush (“garment”) symbolizes royal dignity (“apparel”). Haman unknowingly prescribes Mordecai’s exaltation. The term reinforces ironic justice. — C. F. Keil, Commentary (1880) |
| פָּרָשׁ — parash | Verse 8 — “…the horse that the king rideth upon…” | “Horse,” steed. | Parash (“horse”) reflects military prestige (“steed”). The king’s horse signifies authority. The term magnifies public honor. — Heinrich Ewald, Hebrew Antiquities (1890) |
| תָּלָה — talah | Verse 4 (Haman’s plot) | “Hang,” suspend. | Talah (“to hang”) denotes execution method (“hang/suspend”). Haman’s plan anticipates his own fate. The term embodies poetic justice. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary (1890) |
| רִיב — riv | Verse 10 — “…let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.” | “Plead,” strive. | Riv (“to contend”) implies legal vindication (“plead/strive”). Reversal vindicates Mordecai’s integrity. The term frames dispute resolution. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon (1905) |
| חָפֵץ — ḥafetz | Verse 6 — “…whom would the king delight to honor?” | “Delight,” take pleasure. | Ḥafetz (“to delight”) expresses royal favor (“take pleasure”). Haman misinterprets the king’s intent. The term reveals human pride. — August Dillmann, Lexicon Linguae Hebraicae (1897) |
ESTHER 6: Faithful Service can never be forgotten.
Memory verse: Esther 6:3 And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.
“Every faithful service deserves compensation” This saying suggests that those who work hard and diligently should receive some form of reward or recognition for their efforts. This phrase highlights the idea that a person's dedication, loyalty, and hard work should not go unnoticed or unrewarded.
In the case of Mordecai, who had previously saved the King’s life by foiling a plot to assassinate him, nothing indicated that he would receive a reward. Fortunately for Mordecai, God who is faithful wouldn’t allow that to happen. He (God) used the king's insomnia to bring to mind Mordecai's service to the kingdom, and He used Haman's own pride and desire for honor to lead to his eventual downfall.
The devotion today is to aid in reminding us that every good deed and faithful service to God and humanity will always be remembered and rewarded. It may seem that no one acknowledges your faithful services today but remember what Hebrews 6:10 says, For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. So, be sure that God will never forget your service of love as long as you’re faithful to it.
What's Next? See our Inspirational Motivational Bible Quotes Today
