Esther 3:2 kjv
And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.
Esther 3:2 nkjv
And all the king's servants who were within the king's gate bowed and paid homage to Haman, for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai would not bow or pay homage.
Esther 3:2 niv
All the royal officials at the king's gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor.
Esther 3:2 esv
And all the king's servants who were at the king's gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage.
Esther 3:2 nlt
All the king's officials would bow down before Haman to show him respect whenever he passed by, for so the king had commanded. But Mordecai refused to bow down or show him respect.
Esther 3 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 41:43 | And he had him ride in the second chariot, and they cried before him, "Bow the knee!" | Bowing for respect/authority |
| Deut 25:17-19 | Remember what Amalek did to you... you shall blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven; you shall not forget. | Enmity with Amalek (Haman) |
| 1 Sam 15:8 | And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive... | Saul and Agag's descendants |
| Dan 3:5 | that when you hear the sound of the horn... you are to fall down and worship the golden image... | Refusal to worship idols |
| Dan 3:18 | But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image... | Faithful disobedience |
| Dan 6:10 | when Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house... and prayed... | Priority of divine commands |
| Matt 4:9-10 | And he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." ... "You shall worship the Lord your God..." | Worship only God |
| Acts 4:19-20 | But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge..." | Obeying God over man |
| Acts 5:29 | But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men." | Obedience to God |
| Php 2:10-11 | so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow... | Universal bowing to Christ |
| 2 Sam 1:2 | David said to him, "From where do you come?" And he said to him, "From the camp of Israel I have escaped." And David said, "How did it go?" | Bowing as respect for rank |
| 1 Chr 29:20 | ...they bowed down and paid homage to the Lord and to the king. | Bowing to God & earthly king |
| Prov 29:25 | The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe. | Trusting God over human fear |
| Is 2:22 | Stop regarding man in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he? | Trust in God, not man |
| Ps 146:3-5 | Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation... | Dependence on God alone |
| Hab 2:4 | The righteous shall live by his faith. | Righteousness by faith |
| Rom 13:1 | Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God... | Submitting to authorities |
| Heb 11:6 | And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists... | Living by faith |
| 1 Pet 2:13-17 | Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution... | Submitting to authorities (context) |
| Is 45:23 | By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: 'To me every knee shall bow... | Only God receives universal worship |
Esther 3 verses
Esther 3 2 Meaning
Esther 3:2 describes how all the king's servants at the royal gate would bow down and pay homage to Haman, as commanded by King Ahasuerus. However, Mordecai consistently refused to do so. This verse highlights Mordecai's steadfast refusal and sets the stage for the central conflict of the book of Esther, as Haman's offended pride leads him to plot the destruction of all Jews.
Esther 3 2 Context
Esther chapter 3 introduces Haman, an Agagite, who is promoted by King Ahasuerus to a position of immense power, placing him above all other princes. The king then commands all royal servants at the palace gate to bow down and show him reverence. This command sets up the immediate tension because Mordecai, a Jew, pointedly refuses to comply. This refusal by Mordecai is crucial, escalating a personal slight into a national crisis, as Haman, upon learning Mordecai's Jewish identity (from Esth 3:4), schemes to annihilate all Jews within the Persian Empire. This follows Chapter 2, where Mordecai, a relative of Esther, diligently sat at the king's gate and discovered a plot against the king, for which he was not yet formally rewarded. The larger historical context is the Jewish exile under Persian rule, highlighting themes of preservation and divine providence despite no direct mention of God's name.
Esther 3 2 Word analysis
- all (כָּל): Indicates the universal scope of the king's command; everyone at the gate except Mordecai obeyed, highlighting his isolation.
- the king's (הַמֶּלֶךְ֙): Refers to King Ahasuerus. Emphasizes that Haman's command derived its authority directly from the highest power in the kingdom, making Mordecai's defiance a serious transgression.
- servants (עֲבָדִ֔ים): Royal officials and administrators. Their actions reflect the standard protocol and expected obedience within the Persian court system.
- at the king's gate (בְּשַׁ֙עַר֙ הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙): This was a prominent and central location in the Persian palace. It was a place of public administration, justice, and where important officials gathered, making Mordecai's refusal a very public act of defiance.
- bowed down (כֹּרְעִ֤ים - kōrʿim): From the Hebrew root ḵāraʿ (כָּרַע), meaning to kneel, bow, or crouch in prostration. This gesture in the Ancient Near East could denote reverence, submission, respect, or even worship, depending on the context. Here, it implies deep submission to Haman's elevated status.
- and paid homage (וּמִֽשְׁתַּחֲוִים֙ - ūmištagḥăwîm): From the Hebrew root šāḥāh (שָׁחָה), meaning to prostrate oneself, often used in the context of worship to God. When applied to humans, it signifies profound deference and respect for superior authority. The combination with ḵāraʿ emphasizes the extent of the reverence demanded and given to Haman.
- for the king (כִּי־ כֵ֖ן הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ): Literally "because thus the king," indicating that the king's specific directive was the reason for this universal act of homage to Haman. This clarifies that it was not merely an arbitrary choice by the servants but a royal decree.
- had commanded concerning him (צִוָּה־ לֽוֹ): Reinforces that the bowing was a direct result of the king's official instruction regarding Haman's new position and the honor due to him. This amplifies the severity of Mordecai's disobedience in the eyes of the other servants and eventually, Haman.
- but (וְלֹא): The crucial conjunctive particle introducing the sharp contrast between the general obedience and Mordecai's unique defiance.
- Mordecai (מָרְדֳּכַי֙): A key figure, Esther's cousin, a Jew, and loyal to the king (as shown in Esth 2:21-23). His specific refusal stems from deeply held principles, likely his Jewish faith (due to the Amalekite connection, or general principle of bowing to no one but God or due to the unique reverence Haman sought).
- did not bow down (לֹ֥א יִכְרַ֖ע): A direct negative statement of his action, emphasizing his unwavering stance.
- or pay homage (וְלֹ֥א יִשְׁתַּחֲוֶֽה): Reiterates the completeness of his refusal, not just bowing but the deeper act of prostration/homage.
Words-Group analysis:
- "all the king's servants who were at the king's gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman": This establishes the expected, widespread behavior. The phrase details the group, location, and the specific acts of deference performed, painting a picture of universal submission to Haman's elevated status as mandated by the king. It underscores Haman's power and the perceived insignificance of any individual's dissent within the imperial system.
- "for the king had commanded concerning him": This clause provides the official justification for the servants' actions. It shifts responsibility from the servants' initiative to the king's direct order, emphasizing that Mordecai's refusal was a direct challenge to royal authority and protocol, not just a personal slight to Haman.
- "but Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage": This simple, stark contrast creates the central conflict of the narrative. Mordecai's deliberate and repeated non-compliance (implied by "daily" in later verses, and his consistent presence at the gate) highlights his convictions and marks him as unique and defiant against the universal expectation and royal decree. His Jewish identity, tied to the historical conflict with the Amalekites (from whom Haman was descended, an Agagite), is a strong traditional interpretation for his refusal to accord such reverence, potentially viewing it as bordering on idolatry or recognizing an ancestral enemy.
Esther 3 2 Bonus section
The consistent refusal of Mordecai in the public sphere, at the very seat of power (the King's Gate), not only reflects his deep personal conviction but also served as a visible testament to his identity and allegiance. This persistent defiance likely exacerbated Haman's pride, turning mere annoyance into an obsessive rage. The narrative deliberately contrasts Haman's burgeoning ego, craving excessive veneration, with Mordecai's steadfast humility and adherence to principle. This sets up a classic biblical tension between human pride and divine purposes, ultimately demonstrating that even through the acts of human agency and defiance, God's plan for His people remains unthwarted, even when His name is not overtly mentioned. The story underscores the importance of principled stands against human authority when it infringes upon fundamental loyalties or promotes excessive, god-like reverence for individuals.
Esther 3 2 Commentary
Esther 3:2 marks the pivotal moment of the narrative's tension. The royal command for all to bow to Haman placed Mordecai in a precarious position, demanding a compromise of his conscience or a display of public defiance. His unwavering refusal, described by the repeated Hebrew terms for bowing and prostrating oneself, highlights an act of deep conviction. While the Bible doesn't explicitly state Mordecai's motivation, commonly understood reasons include:
- Religious Piety: As a faithful Jew, Mordecai may have viewed the kind of homage demanded by Haman as reserved only for God, or that Haman, given his elevated pride, might demand reverence bordering on divine honor.
- Ethnic Enmity: Haman's lineage as an Agagite (Esth 3:1) connects him to Agag, the king of the Amalekites, a perpetual enemy of Israel (Deut 25:17-19; 1 Sam 15). Mordecai, as a Jew, might have found it religiously and historically objectionable to prostrate himself before such an adversary.This single act of non-compliance ignites Haman's wrath and leads directly to the genocidal plot against the Jewish people. Mordecai's actions are presented not as petty defiance, but as a deeply held principle that God uses providentially to set the stage for Esther's heroic intervention and the deliverance of her people.