Esther 5:13 kjv
Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.
Esther 5:13 nkjv
Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate."
Esther 5:13 niv
But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king's gate."
Esther 5:13 esv
Yet all this is worth nothing to me, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate."
Esther 5:13 nlt
Then he added, "But this is all worth nothing as long as I see Mordecai the Jew just sitting there at the palace gate."
Esther 5 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 16:18 | Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. | Haman's pride leading to his downfall |
| Prov 29:23 | A person’s pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor. | Contrast of Haman's pride vs. Mordecai's honor |
| Dan 4:30-31 | "Is not this great Babylon, which I have built..." While the words were still... | Nebuchadnezzar's boastful pride and judgment |
| 1 Pet 5:5 | God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. | Divine principle against Haman's character |
| Jas 4:6 | God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. | Reiteration of God's opposition to pride |
| Eccl 4:4 | Then I saw that all toil and all achievement come from one person's envy of another. | Envy as a motivator for Haman's malice |
| Prov 27:4 | Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy? | Haman's uncontrollable envy and rage |
| Tit 3:3 | For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray... living in malice and envy. | Human sinful state, including envy and malice |
| Lk 12:15 | "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance..." | Life's true worth not in possessions |
| Eccl 2:11 | Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind. | Vanity of worldly achievements without true contentment |
| 1 Jn 2:16 | For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh... and the boastful pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world. | Haman's worldly desire and pride of life |
| Phil 4:11-12 | Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. | Contrast with contentment in Christ |
| 1 Tim 6:6-10 | But godliness with contentment is great gain... For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. | Haman's discontent despite wealth, rooted in love of status |
| John 15:18 | "If the world hates you, know that it hated me before it hated you." | World's opposition to God's people (Mordecai/Jews) |
| Gen 12:3 | I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse. | God's protection of His people, defying Haman |
| Ps 2:1-4 | Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?... The One enthroned in heaven laughs. | Futility of attempts against God's chosen |
| Isa 54:17 | No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed. | God's protective shield over His people |
| Zech 2:8 | Whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye. | God's special care for His chosen people |
| Heb 12:15 | See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble. | Haman's root of bitterness poisoning him |
| Matt 15:19 | For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. | Source of Haman's evil is his heart condition |
| Jer 17:9 | The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? | Depravity of Haman's human heart |
Esther 5 verses
Esther 5 13 Meaning
Esther 5:13 reveals the profound spiritual bankruptcy of Haman despite his immense worldly success, power, and wealth. He publicly boasts of his prosperity and favor with the king, but then declares that none of it brings him satisfaction or true worth as long as he is forced to witness Mordecai the Jew, who refuses to show him customary reverence, seated prominently at the king's gate. This verse underscores how pride and an insatiable desire for absolute control can nullify all other accomplishments, demonstrating the deep-seated spiritual enmity Haman harbors towards Mordecai, and by extension, the Jewish people.
Esther 5 13 Context
Esther 5:13 occurs at a critical juncture after Haman believes himself to be at the apex of his influence and success. Following Esther’s first banquet, which Haman perceives as an exclusive honor, he goes home filled with pride and delight. He gathers his wife Zeresh and his friends, whom he cannot help but boast to about his "vast wealth" (rov ʽoshro), "his many sons," and "all the ways the king had honored him and elevated him above the other nobles and officials" (Esth 5:11). This verse is the pivot, where his outward declaration of power contrasts sharply with his deep inner torment, exposing the chink in his armor: Mordecai. Haman's hatred for Mordecai is so consuming that all his immense achievements are rendered meaningless in his own eyes, demonstrating the tyrannical power of unchecked pride, envy, and malicious bitterness over his soul. Historically, the Persian Empire at this time was vast and powerful, and Haman's position was second only to the king. His public recognition at the king's gate was significant, but it meant little if not universally applied, particularly to one he deemed an inferior "Jew" who defied him.
Word Analysis
- Yet all this (וְכָל-זֶה, ve-chol-zeh): Literally, "and all this." This phrase emphatically encapsulates Haman's catalog of accomplishments: his great riches, numerous sons, high status, and singular honor from King Ahasuerus and Queen Esther. It sets the stage for the stark contrast that follows, highlighting the emptiness of these worldly acquisitions in the face of inner turmoil.
- avails me nothing (אֵינֶנּוּ שֹׁוֶה לִי, ’ênennu shōweh li): Literally, "it does not equal for me," or "it is not worth to me." This powerful phrase conveys utter worthlessness and profound discontent. Despite all his advantages, Haman finds no satisfaction or contentment. It points to a deep spiritual poverty where external blessings cannot compensate for internal malevolence and envy. It's not just a minor irritation; it nullifies everything.
- so long as I see (כָּל-עֵת אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי רֹאֶה, kol-‛eth ’asher ’ăni ro'eh): This signifies a continuous, persistent perception. It's not a fleeting annoyance but a constant, gnawing presence in his mind. The act of seeing Mordecai at the gate day after day reinforces his humiliation and frustration, turning it into an obsession.
- Mordecai the Jew (מָרְדְּכַי הַיְּהוּדִי, Mardechai ha-Yehudi): The specific mention of "the Jew" is critical. Haman's animosity is not merely personal but rooted in an ethnic and religious hatred that encompasses Mordecai's entire people. This is an ancient conflict, hinting at the long-standing tension between Israel (Mordecai's lineage is Benjamite, from Saul's tribe) and Amalek (Haman's lineage as an Agagite), a people marked for destruction by God (Exod 17:16; Deut 25:17-19). This detail elevates the conflict beyond personal ego to a broader spiritual and historical struggle against God’s covenant people.
- sitting at the king’s gate (יוֹשֵׁב בְּשַׁעַר הַמֶּלֶךְ, yoshev b’sha’ar ha-Melech): The king’s gate was a significant public place. It served as a court, a business center, and where royal officials gathered. Mordecai's presence there, despite Haman’s edict for all to bow, indicates his unyielding adherence to his principles, presumably out of loyalty to God rather than king, refusing to give Haman the undue reverence that would suggest divinely ordained authority. For Haman, seeing Mordecai, whom he views as an insignificant Jew, boldly seated in a prominent official space and defying his authority, is a constant, public affront to his immense ego and status. It represents a direct challenge to his absolute power and the deep flaw in his seemingly perfect world.
Esther 5 13 Commentary
Esther 5:13 starkly reveals the internal emptiness of a man consumed by pride and envy, despite possessing immense worldly success. Haman, in his grandiose recounting of wealth and honor, cannot conceal the venomous resentment festering within him because of one man's defiant presence. His inability to find joy in his vast blessings due to Mordecai's perceived slight highlights that true satisfaction is not found in accumulation or recognition, but in a heart free from bitterness and malice. This verse demonstrates how an obsession with absolute control and outward reverence can twist an individual's perception, making their greatest accomplishments seem meaningless when a single detail falls short of their demanding expectations. It also serves as a poignant theological point: the spiritual adversary often cannot stand the mere existence of God's chosen, revealing a deep-seated spiritual hatred. Haman's statement underscores that the "king's gate" – a place of justice and authority – symbolizes his thwarted desire for total dominion. This spiritual sickness ultimately leads to his dramatic downfall, orchestrated by divine providence through Queen Esther.
Bonus SectionThe inherent irony of Esther 5:13 is profound. Haman has just detailed his extraordinary life, and his confession of meaninglessness reveals a complete spiritual void. He values absolute submission and superficial respect over true inner peace. His seemingly "perfect" life is in fact entirely dependent on what others do, specifically what Mordecai does. This exposes the precariousness of basing one's happiness on external circumstances or the actions of others, particularly an enemy. The verse also underscores God's providential work in seemingly ordinary interactions; Mordecai's simple act of defiance, which infuriates Haman to the point of nullifying all his worldly gains, sets in motion the very events that will lead to Haman's demise and the salvation of the Jewish people, revealing God's ultimate sovereignty working through human will and weakness.