Esther 3 5

Esther 3:5 kjv

And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.

Esther 3:5 nkjv

When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow or pay him homage, Haman was filled with wrath.

Esther 3:5 niv

When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged.

Esther 3:5 esv

And when Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage to him, Haman was filled with fury.

Esther 3:5 nlt

When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or show him respect, he was filled with rage.

Esther 3 verses

Esther 3 5 Meaning

Esther 3:5 describes Haman's direct observation of Mordecai's persistent refusal to acknowledge him with customary reverence. Haman perceives that Mordecai neither bows down nor pays him the honor commanded by the king, an act of perceived insubordination that fills Haman with overwhelming rage. This intense anger signals a pivotal turning point, escalating Haman's personal grievance against Mordecai into a destructive plan targeting all of Mordecai's people.

Esther 3 5 Context

Esther 3 begins with King Ahasuerus exalting Haman to the highest position of authority in the kingdom, commanding all royal officials to prostrate themselves before him. Mordecai, a Jewish official at the palace gate, consistently refuses to obey this command. His fellow servants question him daily, confirming his repeated disobedience and eventually reporting it to Haman to see if Mordecai's stated reasons, possibly rooted in his Jewish identity and allegiance to God, would be tolerated. This verse, Esther 3:5, marks the point when Haman personally becomes aware of Mordecai's defiance, catalyzing the narrative's central conflict.

Esther 3 5 Word analysis

• When Haman saw: (וַיַּרְא - vayyar') This verb "saw" (from root רָאָה - ra'ah, "to see, perceive") emphasizes Haman's direct observation, indicating his full awareness and understanding of Mordecai's deliberate refusal, rather than just hearing reports. This personal perception deepens the insult in Haman's eyes.
• that Mordecai: (כִּי מָרְדְּכַי - ki Mordekhai) "Ki" serves as a conjunction, "that." Mordecai's identity as a Jew, a descendant of the tribe of Benjamin, and specifically related to Kish, the father of King Saul, carries implicit historical tension given Haman's Agagite (Amalekite) lineage.
• did not: (אֵינֶנּוּ - einennu) A strong negation, indicating a complete and consistent absence of the expected action. It emphasizes Mordecai's firm stance.
• bow down: (כֹרֵעַ - kore'a) From the root כָּרַע (kara'), meaning "to kneel" or "prostrate oneself." This denotes a deep physical expression of reverence, submission, or homage typically rendered to royalty or deity.
• or pay him honor: (וּמִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה - umishtahaveh) From the root שָׁחָה (shachah), meaning "to bow low" or "prostrate oneself in worship." This is a crucial term in the Bible, overwhelmingly used for an act of worship or supreme reverence offered to God. Mordecai's refusal to perform shachah before Haman implies he recognized this as potentially idolatrous or reserved for God alone, indicating a principled, perhaps even religious, objection rather than mere disrespect.
• Haman was filled: (וַיִּמָּלֵא - vayyimmale') From the root מָלֵא (male'), "to be full." This vividly portrays the overwhelming nature of his emotion, suggesting he was utterly consumed, permeated, and overcome by rage, leaving no room for reason or moderation.
• with rage: (חֵמָה - khemah) This word describes a fierce, burning, intense anger, often uncontrolled and violent. It frequently describes divine wrath but here powerfully illustrates the destructive human passion that overtakes Haman, setting the stage for his wicked plans.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Mordecai did not bow down or pay him honor": This phrase highlights Mordecai's steadfast, active non-compliance. His specific refusal to "pay honor" (וּמִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה - umishtahaveh), using a term often linked to divine worship, elevates his resistance from a simple political act to one with profound religious undertones. It suggests a conviction to offer ultimate allegiance and honor to God alone, not to Haman or any human authority demanding quasi-divine veneration. This sets him apart and positions him as faithful amidst pagan demands.
• "Haman was filled with rage": This emphasizes the immediate, total, and visceral nature of Haman's reaction. The phrase "filled with" signifies a complete saturation by wrath, indicating that his fury wasn't a fleeting emotion but rather took full possession of his being, leading directly to his disproportionate and genocidal retaliation. This response reveals the extent of his pride, malevolence, and the severe consequences of unrestrained human anger.

Esther 3 5 Bonus section

• Dramatic Irony: The reader, especially one familiar with the history of Amalek and the expectation of exclusive worship for God, immediately understands the theological underpinnings of Mordecai's refusal and Haman's rage, adding layers to the narrative's tension.
• Biblical Motif of Steadfastness: Mordecai's actions align with a broader biblical theme where faithful individuals refuse to compromise their obedience to God, even in the face of death (e.g., Daniel in the lion's den, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace).
• Catalyst for God's Plan: Haman's rage and subsequent genocidal plot, though seemingly born from human wickedness, ultimately become the very catalyst God uses to bring about the deliverance and preservation of His people, fulfilling His covenant promises despite human opposition.

Esther 3 5 Commentary

Esther 3:5 pinpoints the dramatic flashpoint of conflict in the book: Haman's furious reaction to Mordecai's principled defiance. Mordecai's refusal to prostrate himself, particularly with the term shachah typically reserved for divine worship, hints at a deeply religious conviction against rendering such honor to any human, especially an Agagite, a descendant of Israel's ancient enemy. This steadfastness of faith implicitly contrasts with Haman's boundless pride and demand for ultimate veneration. Haman's immediate response—being "filled with rage"—is critical. This wrath is not mere irritation but a consuming, destructive fury, born out of a perceived challenge to his supreme authority and deeply wounded pride. This disproportionate anger sets the stage for his irrational decision to seek the extermination of not just Mordecai, but all Jews in the empire, demonstrating how unchecked human pride and rage can lead to unspeakable evil, a plan over which God, though hidden, remains sovereign.