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Esther 3

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 3 of 10

1 ¶ After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and lifted him up, and set his seat above all the rulers with him.

2 And all the king's servants who were in the king's gate were kneeling and bowing down to Haman, for the king had so commanded for him. But Mordecai did not bow down and did not kneel.

3 And the king's servants who were at the gate of the king said to Mordecai, Why are you transgressing the king's command?

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Chapter Summary

1 Haman, despised by Mordecai, seeks revenge on all the Jews. 8 He obtains a decree from the king to put the Jews to death.

Key Hebrew Words

שָׁחָה bow down H7812 · TWOT 2360
חֵמָה fury H2534 · TWOT 860a
פּוּר lot (Pur) H6332 · TWOT 1749
שָׁמַד to destroy H8045 · TWOT 2406
טַבַּ֫עַת signet ring H2885 · TWOT 789a
דָּת decree H1881 · TWOT 458

People & Context

Haman

Agagite promoted above all princes; enraged at Mordecai, plots to destroy all the Jews

Mordecai

Jew at the king's gate who refuses to bow or kneel to Haman

Ahasuerus

Persian king who gives Haman his signet ring and consents to the decree

Hammedatha

the Agagite, named as Haman's father in the patronymic

Timeline

Haman Promoted

King Ahasuerus promotes Haman the Agagite, elevating his seat above all other rulers in the kingdom.

Esther 3:1
Mordecai Refuses to Bow to Haman

All the king's servants bow down to Haman as commanded by the king, but Mordecai refuses to bow or kneel. The servants question him day by day.

Esther 3:2-4
Haman Informed of Mordecai's Heritage

The king's servants report Mordecai's refusal to Haman to see if Mordecai's behavior will be tolerated, revealing to Haman that Mordecai is a Jew.

Esther 3:4

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