Esther 3:10

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.

Complete Jewish Bible:

The king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman the son of Hamdata the Agagi, the enemy of the Jews.

Berean Standard Bible:

So the king removed the signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.

American Standard Version:

And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And the king^{H4428} took^{H5493} his ring^{H2885} from his hand^{H3027}, and gave^{H5414} it unto Haman^{H2001} the son^{H1121} of Hammedatha^{H4099} the Agagite^{H91}, the Jews^{H3064}' enemy^{H6887}.

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Commentary for Esther 3:10

Esther 3:10 is set within the narrative of the Book of Esther, which tells the story of a Jewish woman named Esther who becomes queen of Persia and thwarts a plot to commit genocide against her people. The historical context of the verse is the Persian Empire, likely during the reign of King Ahasuerus, traditionally identified as Xerxes I (reigned 486–465 BCE).

In this verse, King Ahasuerus is handing over his signet ring to Haman, an official within his court. This act is highly significant because in the ancient world, a king's signet ring was a symbol of his authority and power. Anything sealed with the king's ring carried the full weight of the king's endorsement and command. The verse specifically identifies Haman as "the son of Hammedatha the Agagite," which may link him to the Amalekites, a traditional enemy of the Israelites, as Agag was a king of the Amalekites mentioned in the Book of Samuel.

The theme of Esther 3:10 is the delegation of royal authority to an adversary of the Jews. Haman is characterized as the Jews' enemy, and by giving him the signet ring, the king unknowingly empowers Haman to carry out his malevolent plans against the Jewish population within the empire. This act sets the stage for the central conflict of the book, as Haman uses the king's authority to issue a decree for the annihilation of all Jews—an event that will later be subverted by Queen Esther and her cousin Mordecai, leading to the deliverance of their people.

The verse captures a moment of critical importance in the narrative, highlighting the precariousness of the Jewish community living in diaspora, subject to the whims of foreign rulers and the hostility of influential courtiers like Haman. It underscores themes of power, betrayal, and the vulnerability of a minority group within a vast empire. The subsequent story of Esther is a testament to the courage and resourcefulness of individuals who risk everything to challenge injustice and protect their community.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H4428
   There are 1922 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֶלֶךְ
   Transliteration: melek
   Pronunciation: meh'-lek
   Description: from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal.
   
2. Strong's Number: H5493
   There are 283 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: סוּר
   Transliteration: çûwr
   Pronunciation: soor
   Description: or שׂוּר; (Hosea 9:12), a primitive root; to turn off (literal or figurative); be(-head), bring, call back, decline, depart, eschew, get (you), go (aside), [idiom] grievous, lay away (by), leave undone, be past, pluck away, put (away, down), rebel, remove (to and fro), revolt, [idiom] be sour, take (away, off), turn (aside, away, in), withdraw, be without.
   
3. Strong's Number: H2885
   There are 38 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: טַבַּעַת
   Transliteration: ṭabbaʻath
   Pronunciation: tab-bah'-ath
   Description: from טָבַע; properly, a seal (as sunk into the wax), i.e. signet (for sealing); hence (generally) a ring of any kind; ring.
   
4. Strong's Number: H3027
   There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָד
   Transliteration: yâd
   Pronunciation: yawd
   Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.
   
5. Strong's Number: H5414
   There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָתַן
   Transliteration: nâthan
   Pronunciation: naw-than'
   Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield.
   
6. Strong's Number: H2001
   There are 45 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: הָמָן
   Transliteration: Hâmân
   Pronunciation: haw-mawn'
   Description: of foreign derivation; Haman, a Persian vizier; Haman.
   
7. Strong's Number: H1121
   There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֵּן
   Transliteration: bên
   Pronunciation: bane
   Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
   
8. Strong's Number: H4099
   There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מְדָתָא
   Transliteration: Mᵉdâthâʼ
   Pronunciation: med-aw-thaw'
   Description: xlit Mᵉdâthâ corrected to Mᵉdâthâʼ; of Persian origin; Medatha, the father of Haman; Hammedatha (including the article).
   
9. Strong's Number: H91
   There are 79 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֲגָגִי
   Transliteration: ʼĂgâgîy
   Pronunciation: ag-aw-ghee'
   Description: patrial or patronymic from אֲגַג; an Agagite or descendent (subject) of Agag; Agagite.
   
10. Strong's Number: H3064
    There are 70 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יְהוּדִי
    Transliteration: Yᵉhûwdîy
    Pronunciation: yeh-hoo-dee'
    Description: patronymically from יְהוּדָה; a Jehudite (i.e. Judaite or Jew), or descendant of Jehudah (i.e. Judah); Jew.
    
11. Strong's Number: H6887
    There are 56 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: צָרַר
    Transliteration: tsârar
    Pronunciation: tsaw-rar'
    Description: a primitive root; to cramp, literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive; adversary, (be in) afflict(-ion), beseige, bind (up), (be in, bring) distress, enemy, narrower, oppress, pangs, shut up, be in a strait (trouble), vex.