Esther 7:6

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And Esther said, The adversary and enemy [is] this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Ester said, "A ruthless enemy - it's this wicked Haman!" Haman stood aghast, terrified before the king and queen.

Berean Standard Bible:

Esther replied, “The adversary and enemy is this wicked man—Haman!” And Haman stood in terror before the king and queen.

American Standard Version:

And Esther said, An adversary and an enemy, even this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And Esther^{H635} said^{H559}, The adversary^{{H376}{H6862}} and enemy^{H341} is this wicked^{H7451} Haman^{H2001}. Then Haman^{H2001} was afraid^{H1204} before^{H6440} the king^{H4428} and the queen^{H4436}.

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Commentary for Esther 7:6

Esther 7:6 is a pivotal moment in the biblical book of Esther, which is set in the Persian Empire during the reign of King Ahasuerus (commonly identified with Xerxes I, who ruled from 486 to 465 BCE). The book tells the story of a Jewish woman named Esther who becomes queen of Persia and uses her influence to save her people from a planned genocide.

In this verse, Esther publicly identifies Haman, the king's advisor, as the adversary responsible for plotting the destruction of her people, the Jews. Haman had previously convinced the king to issue a decree authorizing the annihilation of all Jews in the empire, without revealing their ethnic identity to the king. Esther's revelation comes after a series of strategic moves, including inviting the king and Haman to two banquets. At the second banquet, she reveals her own Jewish identity and exposes Haman's plot.

The themes present in this verse include the sovereignty of God working behind the scenes, the courage and wisdom of Esther, and the overturning of injustice. Esther's bravery in speaking truth to power and the reversal of fortune for Haman, who goes from a position of power to one of fear and vulnerability, are central to the narrative. The historical context reflects the precarious situation of Jewish communities living in diaspora, often under threat from hostile authorities and requiring both caution and boldness to ensure their survival. Esther's actions not only save her people but also result in Haman's downfall, as he is later executed on the gallows he had prepared for Esther's cousin Mordecai, who had refused to bow to him. This verse captures the climax of the story, where the protagonist confronts the villain, leading to a dramatic shift in the characters' fortunes.

*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: H635
   There are 73 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֶסְתֵּר
   Transliteration: ʼEçtêr
   Pronunciation: es-tare'
   Description: of Persian derivation; Ester, the Jewish heroine; Esther.
   
2. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
3. Strong's Number: H376
   There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אִישׁ
   Transliteration: ʼîysh
   Pronunciation: eesh
   Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה.
   
4. Strong's Number: H6862
   There are 102 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: צַר
   Transliteration: tsar
   Pronunciation: tsar
   Description: or צָר; from צָרַר; compare as in צֹר; narrow; (as a noun) a tight place (usually figuratively, i.e. trouble); also a pebble ; (transitive) an opponent (as crowding); adversary, afflicted(-tion), anguish, close, distress, enemy, flint, foe, narrow, small, sorrow, strait, tribulation, trouble.
   
5. Strong's Number: H341
   There are 481 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֹיֵב
   Transliteration: ʼôyêb
   Pronunciation: o-yabe'
   Description: or (fully) אוֹיֵב; active participle of אָיַב; hating; an adversary; enemy, foe.
   
6. Strong's Number: H7451
   There are 623 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רַע
   Transliteration: raʻ
   Pronunciation: rah
   Description: from רָעַע; bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral); adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, [phrase] displease(-ure), distress, evil((-favouredness), man, thing), [phrase] exceedingly, [idiom] great, grief(-vous), harm, heavy, hurt(-ful), ill (favoured), [phrase] mark, mischief(-vous), misery, naught(-ty), noisome, [phrase] not please, sad(-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex, wicked(-ly, -ness, one), worse(-st), wretchedness, wrong. (Incl. feminine raaah; as adjective or noun.).
   
7. 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.
   
8. Strong's Number: H1204
   There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בָּעַת
   Transliteration: bâʻath
   Pronunciation: baw-ath'
   Description: a primitive root; to fear; affright, be (make) afraid, terrify, trouble.
   
9. Strong's Number: H6440
   There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּנִים
   Transliteration: pânîym
   Pronunciation: paw-neem'
   Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you.
   
10. 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.
    
11. Strong's Number: H4436
    There are 34 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מַלְכָּה
    Transliteration: malkâh
    Pronunciation: mal-kaw'
    Description: feminine of מֶלֶךְ; a queen; queen.