Esther 5:5 kjv
Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
Esther 5:5 nkjv
Then the king said, "Bring Haman quickly, that he may do as Esther has said." So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
Esther 5:5 niv
"Bring Haman at once," the king said, "so that we may do what Esther asks." So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared.
Esther 5:5 esv
Then the king said, "Bring Haman quickly, so that we may do as Esther has asked." So the king and Haman came to the feast that Esther had prepared.
Esther 5:5 nlt
The king turned to his attendants and said, "Tell Haman to come quickly to a banquet, as Esther has requested." So the king and Haman went to Esther's banquet.
Esther 5 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 21:1 | The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it... | God guides leaders' decisions. |
| Prov 16:10 | A divine decision is in the lips of a king; his mouth must not err in judgment. | King's word holds great authority. |
| Neh 2:4-6 | Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” So I prayed... | King's favor for Nehemiah's request. |
| Ezra 7:6 | ...for the good hand of his God was upon him. The king granted him all he requested. | God's hand brings favor for Ezra. |
| Prov 25:11 | A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. | Wisdom in timely communication. |
| Prov 15:23 | A man has joy in an apt answer, and a word spoken at the right time. | Wisdom of choosing the right time to speak. |
| Ecc 3:1 | There is an appointed time for everything. | Emphasizes Esther's timing. |
| Prov 16:7 | When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, He makes even his enemies at peace... | God causes enemies to act favorably. |
| Gen 50:20 | As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good... | God's sovereign hand over human intentions. |
| Rom 8:28 | And we know that God causes all things to work together for good... | Divine orchestration of circumstances. |
| Jas 1:5 | If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God... | Esther's wisdom reflects God's provision. |
| Dan 1:17 | To these four young men God gave knowledge and skill in all literature... | God grants wisdom and discretion. |
| Prov 16:18 | Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. | Haman's impending fall due to his pride. |
| Prov 18:12 | Before destruction a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor. | Haman's unaware pride. |
| Job 20:5 | The exultation of the wicked is short... | Wickedness' temporary triumph. |
| Lk 14:15-24 | Parable of the Great Banquet, guests making excuses... | Invitation to a banquet leading to outcomes. |
| Dan 5:1-31 | Belshazzar's Feast and the writing on the wall, leading to downfall. | Banquet as a setting for judgment. |
| Isa 25:6 | The LORD of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet... | Prophetic feast; contrast with Haman's doom. |
| 1 Tim 2:1-2 | I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions... | Prayers for those in authority, like Esther. |
| Heb 7:25 | Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God... | Christ's intercession parallels Esther's. |
| Song of Sol 7:10 | I am my beloved's, and his desire is for me. | King's desire for Esther, and God's desire for His people. |
| Eph 5:25 | Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church... | King's love for Esther as a type of devoted affection. |
Esther 5 verses
Esther 5 5 Meaning
Esther 5:5 depicts King Ahasuerus' immediate and favorable response to Queen Esther's first invitation. The king promptly commanded that Haman be brought without delay, eager to fulfill Esther's request. Following this, both the king and Haman, unaware of Esther's deeper motives, attended the banquet she had meticulously prepared, setting the stage for subsequent events. This verse highlights the king's eagerness to please Esther and Esther's deliberate, strategic use of banquets as part of her petition process.
Esther 5 5 Context
Esther 5:5 concludes a critical scene initiated by Queen Esther's bold and life-threatening approach to King Ahasuerus. According to Persian law, approaching the king unsummoned was punishable by death, unless the king extended his golden scepter (Esther 4:11). In verse 1, Esther enters the inner court, and in verse 2, the king graciously extends the scepter, demonstrating favor. When the king, intrigued, offers to grant her up to half the kingdom (Esther 5:3), Esther strategically refrains from revealing her true petition immediately. Instead, she invites the king and Haman to a banquet that same day (Esther 5:4). Esther 5:5 marks the king's prompt and unhesitating acceptance of this invitation, signaling his eager disposition to hear and grant her desire, while Haman remains oblivious to the impending danger woven into the queen's elaborate plan. Historically, banquets in the Persian court were significant social and political events, often used for deliberation, celebration, or making announcements.
Esther 5 5 Word analysis
- Then the king said: Shows an immediate reaction from the king, indicating his authority and responsiveness. His word is final.
- Bring: The Hebrew word yāḇōʾ (root bôʾ - to come, bring) in this Hiphil imperative form denotes a direct, swift command to cause Haman to come. It highlights the king's power to summon anyone instantly.
- Haman quickly: The Hebrew term bimahērāh (בִּמְהֵרָה - in haste, swiftly, urgently) emphasizes the king's immediate desire to comply with Esther's request. There is no hesitation or delay on his part, reinforcing his strong favor towards Esther and eagerness to grant her unrevealed "desire."
- so that we may do as Esther desires: The Hebrew dəḇārāh (דְּבָרָהּ), literally "her word" or "her matter/request," implies a substantial and important issue that Esther needs addressed, not merely a trivial wish. The king's pledge to "do" it underscores his commitment even before knowing what it is. This sets a significant expectation.
- So the king and Haman came: This shows direct obedience to the king's command. The inclusion of Haman in the immediate arrival is crucial, highlighting his elevated (yet precarious) position at court.
- to the banquet: The Hebrew mištêh (מִשְׁתֶּה - drinking party, feast) refers to a celebratory or significant meal. In the book of Esther, banquets are recurring settings for plot development, revelation, and judgment, often involving heavy drinking and pivotal decisions. This sets up the dramatic context.
- that Esther had prepared: Emphasizes Esther's meticulous planning and control over the specific event, underscoring her strategic and calculating approach. She is not merely making a request; she is orchestrating a situation.
Esther 5 5 Bonus section
- The theme of divine providence is subtly at play in this verse. Although God is never explicitly mentioned in the Book of Esther, the king's unusual and immediate readiness to honor Esther's ambiguous request, and Haman's eagerness to attend the banquet (viewing it as a unique honor), demonstrate an unseen hand guiding events towards the deliverance of God's people. This serves as a theological polemic against the pagan notion of arbitrary fate or chance, asserting God's sovereignty even in seemingly secular or ordinary circumstances.
- Esther's strategy of preparing multiple banquets is a significant literary device. It not only builds suspense but also showcases her masterful understanding of court etiquette and human psychology, knowing that a petition delivered amidst a convivial atmosphere after extended royal favor would be more likely to succeed.
- The contrast between the "quickly" (Haman being brought to his doom) and the earlier "quickly" (royal decree for Jewish annihilation, Esth 3:14-15) highlights the dramatic reversal orchestrated by God's providence and Esther's courage. The same swiftness that endangered the Jews now swiftly brings judgment upon their enemy.
Esther 5 5 Commentary
Esther 5:5 is a pivotal moment that builds tension and demonstrates key character dynamics. King Ahasuerus's prompt and unwavering compliance to Esther's indirect request for a banquet with Haman signifies his deep affection and eagerness to please her, setting the stage for a positive reception of her future, true petition. His command to "bring Haman quickly" underlines the immediacy and weight of royal decrees, contrasting with Haman's earlier leisurely plot to destroy the Jews. Haman, by readily attending the banquet, walks unknowingly into the snare meticulously laid by Esther, symbolizing the impending downfall of the wicked who often become victims of their own pride. Esther's choice to delay her main request, opting instead for a banquet (and another one later), reflects extraordinary wisdom and psychological insight. She understands the power of timing, suspense, and creating the right atmosphere to ensure maximum impact and leverage the king's goodwill, patiently waiting for the opportune moment for justice to unfold. This calculated strategy allows her to secure the king's attention and participation, leading to the ultimate revelation and Haman's undoing.