TRV
Translation
King James Version
And the king's servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.
Complete Jewish Bible
The king's servants told him, "It's Haman standing there in the courtyard."The king said, "Have him come in."
Berean Standard Bible
So the king’s attendants answered him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.” “Bring him in,” ordered the king.
American Standard Version
And the king’s servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.
World English Bible Messianic
The king’s servants said to him, “Behold, Haman stands in the court.” The king said, “Let him come in.”
Geneva Bible (1599)
And the Kings seruants said vnto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the King sayd, Let him come in.
Young's Literal Translation
and the servants of the king say unto him, `Lo, Haman is standing in the court;' and the king saith, `Let him come in.'
See on the biblical-era map
In the KJVVerse 12,799 of 31,102
Study This Verse
Commentary on Esther 6 verses 4–11
4 ¶ And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
5 And the king's servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.
6 So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?
7 And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour,
8 Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head:
9 And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour.
10 Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.
11 Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.
It is now morning, and people begin to stir.
I. Haman is so impatient to get Mordecai hanged that he comes early to court, to be ready at the king's levee, before any other business is brought before him, to get a warrant for his execution (Est 6:4), which he makes sure that he shall have at the first word. The king would gratify him in a greater thing than that; and he could tell the king that he was so confident of the justice of his request, and the king's favour to him in it, that he had got the gallows ready: one word from the king would complete his satisfaction.
II. The king is so impatient to have Mordecai honoured that he sends to know who is in the court that is fit to be employed in it. Word is brought him that Haman is in the court, Est 6:5. Let him come in, says the king, the fittest man to be made use of both in directing and in dispensing the king's favour; and the king knew nothing of any quarrel he had with Mordecai. Haman is brought in immediately, proud of the honour done him in being admitted into the king's bed-chamber, as it should seem, before he was up; for let the king but give orders for the dignifying of Mordecai, and he will be easy in his mind and try to sleep. Now Haman thinks he has the fairest opportunity he can wish for to solicit against Mordecai; but the king's heart is as full as his, and it is fit he should speak first.
III. The king asks Haman how he should express his favour to one whom he had marked for a favourite: What shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honour? Est 6:6. Note, It is a good property in kings, and other superiors, to delight in bestowing rewards and not to delight in punishing. Parents and masters should take a pleasure in commending and encouraging that which is good in those under their charge.
IV. Haman concludes that he himself is the favourite intended, and therefore prescribes the highest expressions of honour that could, for once, be bestowed upon a subject. His proud heart presently suggested, "To whom will the king delight to do honour more than to myself? No one deserves it so well as I," thinks Haman, "nor stands so fair for it." See how men's pride deceives them. 1. Haman had a better opinion of his merits than there was cause for: he thought none so worthy of honour as himself. It is a foolish thing for us thus to think ourselves the only deserving persons, or more deserving than any other. The deceitfulness of our own hearts appears in nothing so much as in the good conceit we have of ourselves and our own performances, against which we should therefore constantly watch and pray. 2. He had a better opinion of his interest than there was reason for. He thought the king loved and valued no one but himself, but he was deceived. We should suspect that the esteem which others profess for us is not so great as it seems to be or as we are sometimes willing to believe it is, that we may not think too well of ourselves nor place too much confidence in others. Now Haman thinks he is carving out honour for himself, and therefore does it very liberally, Est 6:8, Est 6:9. Nay, he does it presumptuously, prescribing honours too great to be conferred upon any subject, that he must be dressed in the royal robes, wear the royal crown, and ride on the king's own horse; in short, he must appear in all the pomp and grandeur of the king himself, only he must not carry the sceptre, the emblem of power. He must be attended by one of the king's most noble princes, who must be his lacquey, and all the people must be made to take notice of him and do him reverence; for he must ride in state through the streets, and it must be proclaimed before him, for his honour, and the encouragement of all to seek the ruler's favour, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honour, which had the same intention with that which was proclaimed before Joseph, Bow the knee; for every good subject will honour those whom the king delights to honour. And shall not every good Christian then honour those whom the King of kings delights to honour and call the saints that are on the earth the excellent ones?
V. The king confounds him with a positive order that he should immediately go himself and put all this honour upon Mordecai the Jew, Est 6:10. If the king had but said, as Haman expected, Thou art the man, what a fair opportunity would he have had to do the errand he came on, and to desire that, to grace the solemnity of his triumphs, Mordecai, his sworn enemy, might be hanged at the same time! But how is he thunderstruck when the king bids him not to order all this to be done, but to do it himself to Mordecai the Jew, the very man he hated above all men and whose ruin he was now designing! Now, it is to no purpose to think of moving any thing to the king against Mordecai when he is the man whom the king delights to honour. Solomon says, The heart of the king is unsearchable (Pro 25:3), but it is not unchangeable.
VI. Haman dares not dispute nor so much as seem to dislike the king's order, but, with the greatest regret and reluctance imaginable, brings it to Mordecai, who I suppose did no more cringe to Haman now than he had done, valuing his counterfeit respect no more than he had valued his concealed malice. The apparel is brought, Mordecai is dressed up, and rides in state through the city, recognized as the king's favourite, Est 6:11. It is hard to say which of the two put a greater force upon himself, proud Haman in putting this honour upon Mordecai, or humble Mordecai in accepting it: the king would have it so, and both must submit. Upon this account it was agreeable to Mordecai as it was an indication of the king's favour, and gave hope that Esther would prevail for the reversing of the edict against the Jews.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 4–11. Public domain.
Copy as
Aphrahat the Persian SageAD 345
DEMONSTRATIONS 21.20
Mordecai was also persecuted as Jesus was persecuted. Mordecai was persecuted by the wicked Haman; and Jesus was persecuted by the rebellious people. Mordecai by his prayer delivered his people from the hands of Haman; and Jesus by his prayer delivered his people from the hands of Satan. Mordecai was delivered from the hands of his persecutor; and Jesus was rescued from the hands of his persecutors. Because Mordecai sat and clothed himself with sackcloth, he saved Esther and his people from the sword; and because Jesus clothed himself with a body and was illuminated, he saved the church and its children from death. Because of Mordecai, Esther was well pleasing to the king and went in and sat instead of Vashti, who did not do his will; and because of Jesus, the church is well pleasing to God and has gone in to the king, instead of the congregation that did not his will. Mordecai admonished Esther that she should fast with her maidens, that she and her people might be delivered from the hands of Haman; and Jesus admonished the church and its children [to fast], that it and its children might be delivered from the wrath. Mordecai received the honor of Haman, his persecutor; and Jesus received great glory from his Father, instead of his persecutors who were of the foolish people. Mordecai trod on the neck of Haman, his persecutor; and as for Jesus, his enemies shall be put under his feet. Before Mordecai, Haman proclaimed, “Thus shall it be done to the man, in honoring whom the king is pleased”; as for Jesus, his preachers came out of the people who persecuted him, and they said, “This is Jesus the Son of God.” The blood of Mordecai was required at the hand of Haman and his sons; and "the blood of Jesus,” his persecutors took “on themselves and on their children.”
John CassianAD 435
CONFERENCE 1.19
Above all we should at least know that there are three origins of our thoughts, that is, from God, from the devil and from ourselves. They come from God when he deigns to visit us with the illumination of the Holy Spirit, lifting us up to a higher state of progress; or when we have made but little progress or through sloth have been overcome, he chastens us with most salutary compunction; or when he discloses to us heavenly mysteries or turns our purpose and will to better actions. This was the case of king Ahasuerus when, chastened by the Lord, he was prompted to ask for the books of the annals, by which he was reminded of the good deeds of Mordecai and promoted him to a position of the highest honor and at once recalled his most cruel sentence concerning the slaughter of the Jews.
Rabanus MaurusAD 856
Commentary on Esther
What can the fact that the king spent a sleepless night mean but that which is written in the Psalm: “See, the one who guards Israel will not sleep or slumber” (Psalms 121). They read before him the histories and chronicles of earlier times in which are mentioned the loyalty and the good deeds of Mordecai, because the king of the saints and the prince of the kings of the earth—who remains the same within himself—comes to know with a single glance the course of all the ages and the actions of every individual; and nothing ever escapes his notice, rather everything lies open before him in his sight. Jeremiah tells us about this: “For it is he who has strengthened all things, and Israel is the staff of his inheritance; the Lord of hosts is his name” (Jeremiah 10). Hence the apostle also says: “For in Christ Jesus there is no ‘is’ and ‘was’, but in him there is always ‘is’.” And likewise: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and for all time” (Hebrews 13).
So Mordecai’s actions are mentioned before this king, because the good deeds of the holy teachers never fade from his memory; rather it is as it is written: “The righteous will be in eternal memory, he will have no fear of bad tidings” (Psalms 112).
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
Copy as
Continue studying Esther 6:5 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
SefariaThe Hebrew text with Rashi and centuries of Jewish commentary.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
SUMMARY
Esther 6:5 captures the precise moment Haman, the chief minister, arrives in the royal court, a seemingly ordinary event imbued with profound significance. This arrival occurs at the exact time King Ahasuerus is contemplating how to honor Mordecai for his past loyalty. The verse thus serves as the dramatic pivot point, setting the stage for a divinely orchestrated reversal of fortune where Haman's malicious intentions against Mordecai are unknowingly poised to become the very instrument of Mordecai's exaltation and Haman's own catastrophic downfall.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Esther 6:5 is rich in literary devices that amplify its dramatic impact and theological depth. Dramatic Irony is paramount; the audience knows Haman's true purpose (to request Mordecai's execution) and the king's current preoccupation (to honor Mordecai), while Haman remains blissfully unaware that his arrival is divinely orchestrated to bring about his own demise and Mordecai's exaltation. This creates intense suspense and anticipation. The verse also employs Foreshadowing, as Haman's uninvited but perfectly timed appearance signals the imminent resolution of the king's dilemma and the beginning of Haman's swift downfall. Furthermore, the Juxtaposition of the king's thoughts (rewarding Mordecai) with Haman's presence (intending to destroy Mordecai) powerfully highlights the unseen hand of divine providence at work, turning human intentions on their head. The simple, direct dialogue also contributes to the rapid pacing, emphasizing the immediacy of the unfolding events.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Esther 6:5 serves as a profound illustration of divine providence, demonstrating God's sovereign control over seemingly random events and human intentions. Even without explicit mention of God's name, His unseen hand is undeniably at work, orchestrating circumstances to protect His people and fulfill His purposes. This verse teaches us that God can use the very plans of the wicked to bring about His righteous will, turning evil intentions into instruments of deliverance and justice. It underscores the theme that God is actively involved in human history, meticulously weaving together seemingly disparate threads to achieve His ultimate design, often through "coincidences" that are, in fact, divine appointments, ensuring His covenant promises are upheld.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Esther 6:5 offers immense encouragement for believers navigating life's complexities. It reminds us that even when circumstances appear chaotic, unjust, or utterly bleak, God is sovereignly at work behind the scenes, orchestrating events according to His perfect timing and plan. Just as Haman's malicious intent was unknowingly used by God to bring about Mordecai's deliverance and exaltation, so too can God use unexpected situations, or even the schemes of adversaries, to achieve His purposes for His people. This verse calls us to cultivate a deep trust in God's providential care, to remain patient in waiting for His intervention, and to recognize that His timing is always perfect. It also serves as a sobering reminder against pride and malicious intent, demonstrating how swiftly God can turn such schemes back upon their originators. Our call is to remain faithful, trusting that God's ultimate justice and deliverance will prevail, even when His hand is unseen.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why is God's name not mentioned in the book of Esther, yet His presence is so evident?
Answer: The absence of God's explicit name in the book of Esther is a unique literary feature, yet it paradoxically highlights His pervasive presence and sovereign control through the concept of divine providence. Instead of direct intervention or verbal commands, God works through seemingly "coincidental" events, human decisions, and the natural course of history. Esther 6:5 is a prime example: Haman's arrival at the precise moment the king is contemplating Mordecai's reward is not random chance but a divinely orchestrated "coincidence." This emphasizes that God is actively involved in the affairs of humanity, even when His hand is unseen or unacknowledged. The book teaches that God is sovereign even in the mundane, the political, and the seemingly secular aspects of life, ensuring His purposes are fulfilled for His people, often through unexpected means.
What is the significance of Haman's timing in this verse?
Answer: Haman's timing in Esther 6:5 is of paramount significance, serving as the dramatic pivot point of the entire narrative. His arrival at the royal court at the exact moment King Ahasuerus is seeking a way to honor Mordecai is not mere chance but a moment of perfect, divinely orchestrated timing. This synchronicity highlights God's absolute sovereignty, demonstrating His ability to align human actions and circumstances to achieve His will. It amplifies the dramatic irony, as Haman, full of pride and eager to request Mordecai's execution, unwittingly walks into a situation where he will be forced to participate in Mordecai's exaltation. This precise timing sets in motion the rapid reversal of fortunes that characterizes the book of Esther, leading to the deliverance of the Jewish people and the downfall of their adversary, as seen in the subsequent events of Esther 6.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Esther 6:5, with its profound demonstration of divine providence and the reversal of fortune, beautifully foreshadows the ultimate work of Christ. Haman's unwitting role in Mordecai's exaltation, despite his malicious intent, mirrors how the wicked intentions of those who crucified Jesus ultimately served God's greater redemptive plan. The very act meant to destroy the "King of the Jews" became the means by which humanity was saved, as God "made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21). Just as Mordecai, though innocent and loyal, faced a death sentence before his exaltation, Christ, the truly innocent One, suffered humiliation and death on the cross before His glorious resurrection and ascension to the right hand of God, where He was given "the name that is above every name" (Philippians 2:8-9). The gallows Haman prepared for Mordecai, which ultimately became Haman's own demise, powerfully prefigures the cross of Christ. What appeared to be an instrument of defeat became the very means of victory over sin, death, and the powers of darkness, as Christ "disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross" (Colossians 2:14-15). The unseen hand of God orchestrating events in Esther points to the deeper, unseen work of God in bringing about salvation through Christ, a "mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord's people" (Colossians 1:26). This divine orchestration ensures that "all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28), culminating in the ultimate triumph of God's redemptive plan through His Son.