Esther 5 10

Esther 5:10 kjv

Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.

Esther 5:10 nkjv

Nevertheless Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and called for his friends and his wife Zeresh.

Esther 5:10 niv

Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. Calling together his friends and Zeresh, his wife,

Esther 5:10 esv

Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and brought his friends and his wife Zeresh.

Esther 5:10 nlt

However, he restrained himself and went on home. Then Haman gathered together his friends and Zeresh, his wife,

Esther 5 verses

Esther 5 10 Meaning

Esther 5:10 depicts Haman's self-glorifying boast to his close circle regarding his extensive material wealth, numerous male offspring, the exceptional honors bestowed upon him by King Ahasuerus, and his exalted status above all other royal officials and servants. It showcases his excessive pride and reliance on worldly accomplishments and position for his sense of worth, while revealing the underlying discontent caused by Mordecai's refusal to bow.

Esther 5 10 Context

This verse occurs after King Ahasuerus's first banquet with Esther and Haman. Esther has invited Haman back for a second private banquet the following day. Buoyed by this special favor from the queen, Haman returns home, full of self-importance and a sense of unequaled success. Despite his outward splendor and apparent ascendancy, Haman's heart is filled with rage and bitterness due to Mordecai's continued refusal to acknowledge his authority by bowing down. This internal conflict between his immense outward accomplishments and his vexation over one seemingly insignificant individual underscores his deep-seated pride and serves as a direct setup for his ultimate downfall, planned in the very next verses. The historical context is the lavish and highly stratified Persian court where status, wealth, and proximity to the king determined a person's perceived worth.

Esther 5 10 Word analysis

• and he recounted (וַיְסַפֵּר – vay'saper): The Hebrew verb saphar means "to count," "to relate," or "to declare." Here, it implies a detailed and possibly boastful enumeration of his achievements, as if making a ledger entry of his greatness for his wife and friends. It highlights a deliberate act of self-glorification.
• to them (לָהֶם – lahem): Referring to his wife, Zeresh, and his friends mentioned in verse 9. This shows Haman seeking validation and admiration from his closest confidantes.
• the glory (כְּבוֹד – k'vod): This word signifies "honor," "dignity," "splendor," or "weight." It suggests not merely the existence of riches but their ostentatious display and the prestige they confer. Haman isn't just rich; his riches are glorious.
• of his riches (עָשְׁרוֹ – oshro): Refers to his vast wealth, treasures, and material possessions. In the ancient world, and particularly within the Persian Empire, wealth was a visible sign of royal favor and power.
• and the multitude (וְרֹב – v'rov): Implies abundance, a great number or quantity.
• of his children (בָּנָיו – banav): Specifically male children or sons. Having many sons was considered a great blessing, a sign of prosperity, a strong lineage, and a source of security and future honor in ancient Near Eastern culture. Haman's ten sons are mentioned later, highlighting his full house.
• and all the things (וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר – v'khol asher): "And all that which," emphasizing the comprehensive nature of his privileges.
• wherein the king had promoted him (הַמֶּלֶךְ גִּדְּלוֹ – ha'melekh gidd'lo): "The king made him great" or "exalted him." This speaks to his official promotion and elevation in the royal hierarchy, which was seen as directly coming from the monarch.
• and how he had advanced him (נִשְּׂאוֹ – niss'o): Literally, "and he had lifted him up" or "exalted him." This further reinforces the idea of his unique and unparalleled rise in status within the Persian Empire's power structure.
• above the princes and servants of the king: This phrase explicitly details Haman's perceived superior status, placing him at the apex of the royal court's officialdom, just beneath the king. This hierarchical comparison reveals the core of his boast: his unprecedented rank and proximity to power.

Esther 5 10 Bonus section

The structure of Haman's boasting, starting with "glory of his riches," moving to his "multitude of his children," and concluding with the king's promotions, reveals a hierarchy of pride. Wealth is often a primary marker of status, followed by lineage and then official position. For Haman, being directly chosen and advanced by the king was the ultimate validation, positioning him at the zenith of the royal bureaucracy, something he reveled in expressing. The absence of divine mention in his boasting underlines his worldly focus; his trust is entirely in human power and fleeting glories, a common characteristic of those whose ultimate end is destruction. This verse forms a striking parallel to Nebuchadnezzar's similar prideful boast in Dan 4:30 before his humiliation.

Esther 5 10 Commentary

Esther 5:10 profoundly highlights Haman's deep-seated pride, serving as a critical point in the narrative of his inevitable fall. He lists his assets – wealth, numerous sons, and supreme royal favor – as proof of his self-importance. These were highly valued in Persian culture, validating his perceived success. Yet, immediately following this impressive boast, the narrator reveals his vexation over Mordecai, demonstrating that external accomplishments, no matter how grand, cannot satisfy an arrogant and bitter heart. Haman's hubris is palpable; he sees himself as paramount due to man's exaltation, yet one man's integrity shatters his self-delusion. This self-aggrandizing confession sets the stage for God's sovereign hand to dramatically humble the proud, showcasing that true power and satisfaction do not derive from worldly acclaim or possessions, but from a disposition that God honors. Haman's boast serves as a sharp contrast to the quiet faithfulness of Mordecai and the eventual demonstration of God's unseen, but very real, power in the book.