Esther 3 9

Esther 3:9 kjv

If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries.

Esther 3:9 nkjv

If it pleases the king, let a decree be written that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who do the work, to bring it into the king's treasuries."

Esther 3:9 niv

If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will give ten thousand talents of silver to the king's administrators for the royal treasury."

Esther 3:9 esv

If it please the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay 10,000 talents of silver into the hands of those who have charge of the king's business, that they may put it into the king's treasuries."

Esther 3:9 nlt

If it please the king, issue a decree that they be destroyed, and I will give 10,000 large sacks of silver to the government administrators to be deposited in the royal treasury."

Esther 3 verses

Esther 3 9 Meaning

Haman proposes to King Ahasuerus that he authorize the destruction of a specific, unnamed people group scattered throughout the Persian Empire. To secure this decree, Haman offers an exorbitant sum of ten thousand talents of silver to be added to the royal treasuries, thereby framing his genocidal plot as a beneficial financial transaction for the king. This verse reveals Haman's cunning, his profound malice, and his attempt to financially incentivize the king's approval for mass murder.

Esther 3 9 Context

This verse occurs immediately after King Ahasuerus's elevation of Haman to the chief minister, mandating that all officials bow down to him. Mordecai, a Jew, refuses to bow, causing Haman to become enraged. Haman discovers Mordecai's Jewish ethnicity and, in a display of intense malice and vengeful hatred rooted possibly in ancient conflict with the Amalekites (of whom Haman was an Agagite descendant), decides to seek the extermination of all Jews in the empire, rather than just Mordecai. This verse is Haman's presentation of his insidious plan to the king, cloaking his genocidal intent under a facade of royal benefit. The king, blinded by Haman's flattery and the prospect of immense wealth, quickly grants Haman the authority without proper inquiry into the proposed targets or their alleged offenses.

Esther 3 9 Word analysis

• If it please the king (אִם־עַל־הַמֶּלֶךְ טוֹב - Im-al-hammelech tov):
  • Significance: A formal, deferential phrase used to seek royal assent, suggesting humble submission but in Haman's case, it serves as a manipulative opening to conceal a wicked agenda. It echoes earlier respectful addresses in Esther, such as those made to Queen Vashti (Est 1:19) or by Queen Esther herself (Est 8:5). This phrase subtly transfers responsibility, making the king complicit in the upcoming atrocity by seeking his personal approval.
• let it be decreed (יִכָּתֵב - yikkatev, "let it be written" or "decreed"):
  • Significance: Highlights the immutable nature of Persian law once written and sealed by the king. Haman understands the finality and binding power of a royal edict, which, once issued, could not be revoked (Est 8:8). This command carries the weight of irreversible destruction, emphasizing the absolute authority of the monarch in the Achaemenid Empire.
• that they be destroyed (לְאַבְּדָם - l'abdam, from אָבַד, abad, "to perish, destroy, annihilate"):
  • Significance: The core of Haman's malicious intent. The word abad is strong, connoting utter destruction and eradication, signifying Haman's genocidal desire. It directly targets the continued existence of a people group. This is not merely punishment but absolute obliteration.
• and I will pay (וַעֲשֶׂרֶת אֲלָפִים כִּכְּרֵי־כֶסֶף אֶשְׁקֹל - wa'aseret alafim kikrei-keseph eshkol, "and ten thousand talents of silver I will weigh out/pay"):
  • 10,000 talents of silver (עֲשֶׂרֶת אֲלָפִים כִּכְּרֵי־כֶסֶף - aseret alafim kikrei-keseph):
    • Significance: An enormous, astronomical sum. A talent was a large unit of weight, roughly 75 pounds of silver. 10,000 talents would approximate 375 tons of silver, possibly representing the entire annual revenue of the Persian Empire at the time, according to ancient historical sources. This highlights Haman's immense wealth, his desperate resolve to see the Jews annihilated, and his cleverness in framing his hatred as a financial windfall for the crown, appealing to the king's greed and indifference. This bribe attempts to mask the moral cost of the decree.
  • I will pay (אֶשְׁקֹל - eshkol, from שָׁקַל, shaqal, "to weigh out, to pay"):
    • Significance: Indicates the exactness of the payment in ancient times, as silver was weighed for currency. It underscores Haman's commitment to financing the massacre and emphasizes the tangible nature of his corrupt inducement.
• into the hands of those who have charge of the king’s business (עַל־יְדֵי עֹשֵׂי הַמְּלָאכָה - al-yedey osey hammela'khah):
  • Significance: Refers to the royal administrators or financial officers responsible for managing the empire's affairs and treasury. Haman presents this as a legitimate transaction through official channels, lending an air of administrative formality to his wicked plot. This ensures the funds go directly into the king's treasury.
• that they may put it into the king’s treasuries (לְהָבִיא אֶל־גִּנְזֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ - lehavi el-ginzey hammekelach, "to bring into the king's storehouses"):
  • Significance: Explicitly states the destination of the money. Haman reassures the king that this financial 'windfall' will directly benefit the royal coffers, portraying the destruction of an entire people as economically advantageous and reducing their lives to mere monetary value. This showcases Haman's persuasive skill in aligning his malicious objective with the king's potential financial gain.

Esther 3 9 Bonus section

The sum of 10,000 talents was approximately half the annual revenue of the entire Persian Empire under Xerxes I (Ahasuerus). This vast amount offered by Haman demonstrates his unparalleled wealth, likely acquired through his high office, and his absolute obsession with annihilating the Jewish people, which transcended any material value. It suggests Haman was willing to sacrifice a significant portion of his own fortune (or intended to confiscate Jewish assets to cover his pledge) for this act of revenge, illustrating the profound depth of his hatred. This level of bribery also highlights the susceptibility of an absolute monarch to influence through financial inducement, showcasing a profound moral void in Ahasuerus's leadership, as he greenlighted a decree of mass murder without questioning the supposed offense or even the identity of the people Haman sought to destroy.

Esther 3 9 Commentary

Esther 3:9 reveals Haman's calculated, deceptive brilliance in presenting his genocidal plot. He masterfully manipulates King Ahasuerus's financial self-interest and indifference by offering an exorbitant bribe, effectively selling the lives of an entire people for an unparalleled sum. His carefully chosen words, from the deferential opening "If it please the king" to the promise of funds for the "king's treasuries," were designed to disguise his personal vendetta as a beneficial state affair. This bribe was so significant that it implied the proposed "destruction" of the targeted group (unidentified to the king as Jews) was somehow profitable to the empire, perhaps by confiscating their assets. Haman’s offer underscores the deep spiritual battle between greed and justice, highlighting how unchecked power and a thirst for personal vengeance can be financially incentivized, leading to unthinkable evil. This event emphasizes God's unseen providence protecting His people from plots hatched in the deepest malice and avarice.