Esther 5:9-14
New English Translation
Haman Expresses His Hatred of Mordecai
9 Now Haman went forth that day pleased and very much encouraged.[a] But when Haman saw Mordecai at the king’s gate, and he did not rise or tremble in his presence,[b] Haman was filled with rage toward Mordecai. 10 But Haman restrained himself and went on to his home.
He then sent for his friends to join him,[c] along with his wife Zeresh. 11 Haman then recounted to them his fabulous wealth,[d] his many sons,[e] and how the king had magnified him and exalted him over the king’s other officials and servants. 12 Haman said, “Furthermore, Queen Esther invited[f] only me to accompany the king to the banquet that she prepared. And also tomorrow I am invited[g] along with the king. 13 Yet all this fails to satisfy me so long as I have to see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”
14 Haman’s[h] wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a gallows 75 feet[i] high built, and in the morning tell the king that Mordecai should be hanged on it. Then go with the king to the banquet contented.”[j]
It seemed like a good idea to Haman, so he had the gallows built.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Esther 5:9 tn Heb “happy and good of heart”; NASB “glad and pleased of heart”; NIV “happy and in high spirits.”
- Esther 5:9 tn Heb “tremble from before him”; NIV “nor showed fear in his presence”; TEV “or show any sign of respect as he passed.”
- Esther 5:10 tn Heb “sent and brought.” The expression is probably a hendiadys (a figure of speech in which a single idea is expressed through two words or phrases), in which case the two verbs could be translated simply as “summoned” (so NAB) or “sent for” (NASB).
- Esther 5:11 tn Heb “the glory of his riches” (so KJV, NASB); NRSV “the splendor of his riches.”
- Esther 5:11 sn According to Esth 9:10 Haman had ten sons.
- Esther 5:12 tn Heb “caused to come”; KJV “did let no man come in…but myself.”
- Esther 5:12 tn Heb “called to her”; KJV “invited unto her”; NAB “I am to be her guest.”
- Esther 5:14 tn Heb “his”; the referent (Haman) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Esther 5:14 tn Heb “50 cubits.” Assuming a standard length for the cubit of about 18 inches (45 cm), this would be about 75 feet (22.5 meters), which is a surprisingly tall height for the gallows. Perhaps the number assumes the gallows was built on a large supporting platform or a natural hill for visual effect, in which case the structure itself may have been considerably smaller. Cf. NCV “a seventy-five foot platform”; CEV “a tower built about seventy-five feet high.”
- Esther 5:14 tn Or “joyful”; NRSV “in good spirits”; TEV “happy.”
Esther 5:9-14
English Standard Version
Haman Plans to Hang Mordecai
9 And Haman went out that day (A)joyful and glad of heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai (B)in the king's gate, (C)that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and brought his friends and (D)his wife Zeresh. 11 And Haman recounted to them the splendor of his riches, (E)the number of his sons, all the promotions with which (F)the king had honored him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and the servants of the king. 12 Then Haman said, “Even Queen Esther let no one but me come with the king to the feast she prepared. And tomorrow also I am invited by her together with the king. 13 Yet all this is worth nothing to me, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting (G)at the king's gate.” 14 Then (H)his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, (I)“Let a gallows[a] fifty cubits[b] high be made, and in the morning tell the king to have Mordecai hanged upon it. Then go joyfully with the king to the feast.” This idea pleased Haman, and he had the gallows made.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Esther 5:14 Or wooden beam; twice in this verse (see note on 2:23)
- Esther 5:14 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
