Esther 6
GOD’S WORD Translation
6 That night the king could not sleep. So he told ⌞a servant⌟ to bring the official daily records, and they were read to the king. 2 The records showed how Mordecai had informed him that Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the entrance, had plotted a rebellion against King Xerxes.
3 The king asked, “How did I reward and promote Mordecai for this?”
The king’s personal staff replied, “Nothing was done for him.”
4 The king asked, “Who is in the courtyard?” At that moment, Haman came through the courtyard to the king’s palace to ask the king about hanging Mordecai on the pole he had prepared for him.
5 The king’s staff answered him, “Haman happens to be standing in the courtyard.”
“Let him come in,” the king said.
6 So Haman came in. The king then asked him, “What should be done for the man whom the king wishes to reward?”
Haman thought to himself, “Whom would the king wish to reward more than me?” 7 So Haman told the king, “This is what should be done: 8 ⌞The servants⌟ should bring a royal robe that the king has worn and a horse that the king has ridden, one that has a royal crest on its head. 9 Give the robe and the horse to one of the king’s officials, who is a noble. Put the robe on the man whom the king wishes to reward and have him ride on the horse in the city square. The king’s servants are also to shout ahead of him, ‘This is what is done for the man whom the king wishes to reward.’ ”
10 The king told Haman, “Hurry, take the robe and the horse as you said. Do this for Mordecai the Jew who sits at the king’s gate. Do not omit anything you have said.”
11 So Haman took the robe and the horse. He put the robe on Mordecai and had him ride in the city square, shouting ahead of him, “This is what is done for the man whom the king wishes to reward.”
12 After that, Mordecai returned to the king’s gate, but Haman hurried home. He was in despair and covered his head. 13 There, Haman began to relate in detail to his wife Zeresh and to all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his counselors and his wife Zeresh told him, “You are starting to lose power to Mordecai. If Mordecai is of Jewish descent, you will never win out over him. He will certainly lead to your downfall.”
14 While they were still speaking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and quickly took Haman to the dinner Esther had prepared.
Esther 6
New King James Version
The King Honors Mordecai
6 That night [a]the king could not sleep. So one was commanded to bring (A)the book of the records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. 2 And it was found written that Mordecai had told of [b]Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, the doorkeepers who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. 3 Then the king said, “What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?”
And the king’s servants who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.”
4 So the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered (B)the outer court of the king’s palace (C)to suggest that the king hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
5 The king’s servants said to him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.”
And the king said, “Let him come in.”
6 So Haman came in, and the king asked him, “What shall be done for the man whom the king delights to honor?”
Now Haman thought in his heart, “Whom would the king delight to honor more than (D)me?” 7 And Haman answered the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honor, 8 let a royal robe be brought which the king has worn, and (E)a horse on which the king has ridden, which has a royal [c]crest placed on its head. 9 Then let this robe and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that he may array the man whom the king delights to honor. Then [d]parade him on horseback through the city square, (F)and proclaim before him: ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!’ ”
10 Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry, take the robe and the horse, as you have suggested, and do so for Mordecai the Jew who sits within the king’s gate! Leave nothing undone of all that you have spoken.”
11 So Haman took the robe and the horse, arrayed Mordecai and led him on horseback through the city square, and proclaimed before him, “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!”
12 Afterward Mordecai went back to the king’s gate. But Haman (G)hurried to his house, mourning (H)and with his head covered. 13 When Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him, his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish descent, you will not prevail against (I)him but will surely fall before him.”
14 While they were still talking with him, the king’s eunuchs came, and hastened to bring Haman to (J)the banquet which Esther had prepared.
Footnotes
- Esther 6:1 Lit. the king’s sleep fled away
- Esther 6:2 Bigthan, Esth. 2:21
- Esther 6:8 crown
- Esther 6:9 Lit. cause him to ride
Esther 6
English Standard Version
The King Honors Mordecai
6 On that night the king could not sleep. And he gave orders to bring (A)the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, and they were read before the king. 2 And it was found written how (B)Mordecai had told about (C)Bigthana[a] and (D)Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, and who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. 3 And the king said, “What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” The king's young men who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.” 4 And the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered (E)the outer court of the king's palace to speak to the king about having Mordecai hanged on (F)the gallows[b] that he had prepared for him. 5 And the king's young men told him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.” And the king said, “Let him come in.” 6 So Haman came in, and the king said to him, “What should be done to the man (G)whom the king delights to honor?” And Haman said to himself, “Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?” 7 And Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honor, 8 let royal robes be brought, which the king has worn, (H)and the horse that the king has ridden, and on whose head (I)a royal crown[c] is set. 9 And let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king's most noble officials. Let them dress the man whom the king delights to honor, and let them lead him on the horse through the square of the city, (J)proclaiming before him: ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.’” 10 Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry; take the robes and the horse, as you have said, and do so to Mordecai the Jew, who sits (K)at the king's gate. Leave out nothing that you have mentioned.” 11 So Haman took the robes and the horse, and he dressed Mordecai and led him through the square of the city, proclaiming before him, “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.”
12 Then Mordecai returned to the king's gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning (L)and with his head covered. 13 And Haman told (M)his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of the Jewish people, you will not overcome him but will surely fall before him.”
Esther Reveals Haman's Plot
14 While they were yet talking with him, the king's eunuchs arrived and hurried to bring Haman (N)to the feast that Esther had prepared.
Footnotes
- Esther 6:2 Bigthana is an alternate spelling of Bigthan (see 2:21)
- Esther 6:4 Or wooden beam (see note on 2:23)
- Esther 6:8 Or headdress
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
