Esther 3 6

Esther 3:6 kjv

And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.

Esther 3:6 nkjv

But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him of the people of Mordecai. Instead, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus?the people of Mordecai.

Esther 3:6 niv

Yet having learned who Mordecai's people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai's people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes.

Esther 3:6 esv

But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone. So, as they had made known to him the people of Mordecai, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.

Esther 3:6 nlt

He had learned of Mordecai's nationality, so he decided it was not enough to lay hands on Mordecai alone. Instead, he looked for a way to destroy all the Jews throughout the entire empire of Xerxes.

Esther 3 verses

Esther 3 6 Meaning

Esther 3:6 reveals Haman’s escalation of vengeance from targeting Mordecai alone to plotting the genocide of all Jews throughout the vast Persian Empire. His profound hatred and pride caused him to view personal offense as an opportunity to eradicate an entire people group, highlighting the dangerous link between unchecked animosity and genocidal intent.

Esther 3 6 Context

Esther chapter 3 opens with King Ahasuerus promoting Haman the Agagite to a position of ultimate authority, second only to the king. A royal decree mandates that all servants bow down to Haman. Mordecai, a Jew, conspicuously refuses to bow, a refusal rooted possibly in his conviction not to give obeisance due only to God, or his unwillingness to honor an Agagite, a descendant of the Amalekites (the historical enemies of Israel). When Haman discovers Mordecai’s Jewish identity, his prideful anger swells beyond targeting Mordecai personally. Instead, fueled by a deep-seated ancestral hatred for the Jewish people, he devises a plan for their total annihilation across the vast Persian kingdom. He casts lots (Pur) to determine an auspicious day for this mass extermination and then obtains the king's consent for his wicked decree.

Esther 3 6 Word analysis

• But he scorned: (וַיִּבֶז, vayyivəz) From the root בז (baz), meaning "to despise," "to hold in contempt," or "to treat as worthless." This indicates Haman's extreme arrogance. For him, merely punishing Mordecai was too petty for his elevated sense of self-importance and anger. His rage was so immense that it demanded a broader target, elevating personal slight to a national genocide.
• to lay hands on Mordecai alone: This phrase underscores Haman's disdain for a singular act of revenge. It reveals the scope of his pride; his "honor" demanded a grander, more sweeping retribution than mere personal assassination.
• For they had told him: This signifies the information flow crucial to Haman's plot. The knowledge that Mordecai was a "Jew" ignited the deeper, latent hatred within Haman, connecting to an ancient, inherent animosity. This piece of intelligence transformed his personal vendetta into a genocidal crusade.
• of the people of Mordecai: Identifies Mordecai's ethnic group. This is the pivot point: Haman's rage morphs from individual grievance to ethnic hatred, highlighting the communal identity of God's chosen people as the target.
• so Haman sought: Emphasizes Haman's active, determined initiative in this wicked scheme. It wasn't an impulse but a deliberate pursuit.
• to destroy: (לְהַשְׁמִיד, ləhašmîḏ) From the root שמד (shamad), meaning "to annihilate," "to exterminate," "to lay waste," "to utterly ruin." This word unequivocally signifies Haman’s genocidal intent. It is a term often used in the Bible for divine judgment and complete destruction.
• all the Jews: The breadth of Haman’s malice is laid bare. Not some, but all. This points to the absolute, indiscriminate nature of his ethnic hatred, aimed at erasing an entire people from existence. This "all" also underscores the immense threat posed to the scattered Jewish diaspora.
• who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus: This highlights the immense geographical scope of the threat. The Jewish people were dispersed across 127 provinces, making them uniquely vulnerable to such a broad decree and showing the global scale of Haman's evil design.
• the people of Mordecai: A reiteration that identifies the Jews as Mordecai’s people. This links the specific individual insult directly to the general population that Haman now wishes to annihilate, serving as a bitter label for the targeted group.

Esther 3 6 Bonus section

• Haman is identified as an "Agagite," which carries significant historical and theological weight. Agag was the king of the Amalekites whom Saul failed to utterly destroy as commanded by God (1 Sam 15). The Amalekites were perpetual enemies of Israel from their Exodus onwards (Ex 17:8-16, Deut 25:17-19). This background provides a profound historical enmity underlying Haman’s animosity, elevating his plot beyond a personal vendetta to an ancestral spiritual conflict.
• The plot to "destroy all the Jews" implies an intention to negate God's covenantal promises to Abraham (Gen 12:2-3) and establish a great nation through his descendants. Such attempts against Israel throughout history (e.g., Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, Haman) are, at their root, indirect assaults on God's divine plan.
• The absence of God's name in the Book of Esther, even in a verse dealing with such an explicit existential threat to His people, serves as a powerful literary and theological device. It demonstrates that God's work of providence is not always openly declared but can be seen in the subtle, yet perfectly orchestrated, unfolding of human events, turning evil intent on its head for His glory and His people's salvation.

Esther 3 6 Commentary

Esther 3:6 is a pivotal moment in the narrative, revealing the true depth of Haman's malevolence. What begins as personal indignation against Mordecai for a perceived insult quickly escalates into a plan of horrific genocide against an entire ethnic group, "all the Jews." This transition highlights Haman's excessive pride and unbridled anger, showcasing how hatred, when left unchecked, metastasizes into widespread malice. His "scorn" for merely harming one man indicates a perverse ambition for grander evil, illustrating the extreme nature of his depravity. This verse sets the stage for the dramatic confrontation that will follow, underlining the dire existential threat facing the Jewish people and subtly introducing the unseen hand of divine providence that will ultimately reverse the enemy’s scheme, demonstrating that God's covenant with His people ensures their preservation even in their greatest perils.