Esther 5 9

Esther 5:9 kjv

Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.

Esther 5:9 nkjv

So Haman went out that day joyful and with a glad heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, and that he did not stand or tremble before him, he was filled with indignation against Mordecai.

Esther 5:9 niv

Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king's gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai.

Esther 5:9 esv

And Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai.

Esther 5:9 nlt

Haman was a happy man as he left the banquet! But when he saw Mordecai sitting at the palace gate, not standing up or trembling nervously before him, Haman became furious.

Esther 5 verses

Esther 5 9 Meaning

Esther 5:9 describes the rapid shift in Haman’s emotional state from overwhelming joy to consuming rage. After a day filled with unprecedented royal favor, including being exclusively invited to Esther’s banquet alongside the king, Haman's soaring pride was abruptly shattered when he encountered Mordecai at the king’s gate who steadfastly refused to stand or show deference to him. This act of perceived disrespect ignited Haman's profound indignation, overriding all his earlier satisfaction and setting the stage for his vengeful plot.

Esther 5 9 Context

Esther Chapter 5 highlights the unfolding of Esther's risky plan and Haman's escalating pride. Esther has just appeared before King Ahasuerus without summons, a life-threatening act, and gained favor. Instead of making her request immediately, she cleverly invites the king and Haman to a private banquet, and then to a second one. This exclusive invitation elevates Haman to the pinnacle of his self-perceived importance. He leaves the first banquet, feeling supremely honored and joyous, confident in his high standing. The king's gate was a significant place where officials gathered and conducted business, a public stage where Haman expected everyone to acknowledge his elevated status. Mordecai, however, maintained his previous posture, refusing to pay homage to Haman. This refusal was likely due to Mordecai's Jewish identity and religious convictions (not bowing to anyone but God, or more specifically, refusal to honor an Agagite/Amalekite, who were traditional enemies of Israel, cf. 1 Sam 15; Deut 25:17-19). This public affront completely undid Haman's joy, turning it into bitter resentment, and redirected his focus from general antisemitism to specific vengeance against Mordecai.

Esther 5 9 Word analysis

• Then Haman went forth that day joyful:

  • Joyful: (Hebrew: sameach, שָׂמֵחַ) – This word describes a state of outward, circumstantial happiness. Haman's joy is tied entirely to external validation and recognition from the king and queen. It's a temporary emotion, susceptible to disruption.
  • This phrase captures Haman at his emotional peak, embodying a transient, superficial contentment that soon proves brittle.

• and with a glad heart:

  • Glad heart: (Hebrew: tov lev, טוֹב לֵב) – Literally "good heart," in this context, it signifies a heart full of contentment and well-being due to his success and high status. It reflects an inflated ego and self-congratulation rather than a spirit of true peace or humility.
  • This underlines the depth of his initial positive feeling, making the subsequent turn even more dramatic.

• but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him:

  • but when: This crucial conjunction signifies an abrupt and powerful pivot in the narrative and in Haman's emotional state. It immediately sets up the contrast.
  • Mordecai in the king's gate: The king's gate was the central public forum for royal and administrative functions. Mordecai’s presence here meant his refusal to bow was a public, deliberate act, perceived by Haman as a direct challenge to his authority and honor.
  • stood not up: (Hebrew: lo qam, לֹא קָם) – Indicates a failure to rise in respect. In the Ancient Near East, this was a profound sign of insubordination and disrespect, especially towards a superior.
  • nor moved for him: (Hebrew: v'lo za', וְלֹא זָע) – This adds emphasis; not only did Mordecai not rise, but he also didn't even stir or tremble, signifying an utterly unyielding and indifferent stance. This was a direct, calm defiance to Haman's overwhelming authority. It suggests Mordecai’s firm convictions.

• he was full of indignation:

  • full of indignation: (Hebrew: yimalei chem אֶת־כֵּף לֹא נָאִי לִבּוֹ חֵמָה) – Literally "filled with heat/fury/wrath." Chemah is a powerful, intense anger often verging on rage. This signifies a visceral, consuming anger, highlighting the immediate and profound impact of Mordecai's refusal on Haman. It wasn't mere annoyance but a boiling fury, driven by pride.
  • This marks the precise moment Haman's pride curdles into destructive wrath, pivoting the narrative toward his eventual demise. The joy based on external validation is swiftly replaced by rage rooted in offended self-importance.

Esther 5 9 Bonus section

• Irony of Proximity to Downfall: Haman reaches the zenith of his worldly joy and influence right before his ignominious fall truly begins. This creates a powerful dramatic irony that is a recurring motif in scripture, where the wicked prosper temporarily only to face swift judgment.
• The Power of One Act: Mordecai's seemingly small act of not bowing holds immense narrative and theological weight. It’s the pebble that starts an avalanche, showing how God can use simple human interactions and a believer’s unwavering stance to fulfill His divine purposes.
• Nature of True Joy: Haman's "joyful and with a glad heart" reveals how superficial and circumstance-dependent human happiness can be when disconnected from true spiritual grounding. True, godly joy (as a fruit of the Spirit, Gal 5:22) is not easily stolen by external events or others' actions.

Esther 5 9 Commentary

Esther 5:9 acts as a sharp turning point in the Book of Esther, illustrating the volatility of a heart consumed by pride. Haman, a man whose joy is entirely dependent on external acclaim and recognition, finds his peak moment of exaltation instantly eclipsed by a perceived slight. His public display of honor at the king’s court, followed by Esther’s singular invitation, swells his heart with immense satisfaction. However, this transient happiness is shattered the moment he encounters Mordecai, whose steadfast refusal to bow challenges Haman's inflated self-perception.

Mordecai’s action is not a casual oversight but a deliberate posture of defiance, rooted in his faith and his understanding of the historical animosity between his people and Haman's Amalekite lineage. It signifies his loyalty to God above human accolades or fear. Haman's swift descent from joyous elation to an uncontrollable rage of "indignation" reveals the dangerous nature of a heart fueled by unbridled pride and bitterness. His "glad heart" was shallow; his fury, however, was profound and consuming, turning him from basking in royal favor to plotting dark vengeance against one man, ultimately setting a snare for himself and leading directly to his dramatic downfall. This verse thus profoundly demonstrates the biblical principle that pride precedes destruction and how quickly an arrogant spirit can shift from joy to ruinous wrath when confronted with resistance.