Esther 6 10

Esther 6:10 kjv

Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.

Esther 6:10 nkjv

Then the king said to Haman, "Hurry, take the robe and the horse, as you have suggested, and do so for Mordecai the Jew who sits within the king's gate! Leave nothing undone of all that you have spoken."

Esther 6:10 niv

"Go at once," the king commanded Haman. "Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended."

Esther 6:10 esv

Then the king said to Haman, "Hurry; take the robes and the horse, as you have said, and do so to Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate. Leave out nothing that you have mentioned."

Esther 6:10 nlt

"Excellent!" the king said to Haman. "Quick! Take the robes and my horse, and do just as you have said for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the gate of the palace. Leave out nothing you have suggested!"

Esther 6 verses

Esther 6 10 Meaning

Esther 6:10 marks a dramatic reversal of fortune for Mordecai and Haman. The king, unknowingly fulfilling Haman's own self-serving suggestions for honor, commands Haman to bestow those very honors upon Mordecai, whom Haman seeks to destroy. It is a moment of profound divine irony, where Haman’s pride and scheme for personal glory backfire spectacularly, initiating his downfall and the rise of his adversary, all according to the exact blueprint he himself devised.

Esther 6 10 Context

Esther 6:10 unfolds on a pivotal night. King Ahasuerus, suffering from insomnia, orders the royal chronicles to be read. Through this, he discovers Mordecai’s heroic act of exposing a plot against him, for which Mordecai received no public recognition. At dawn, Haman, arriving to seek the king’s permission to hang Mordecai, is instead confronted by the king’s question: "What shall be done for the man whom the king delights to honor?" Haman, swollen with pride and assuming the honor is for him, devises the most lavish display imaginable. This verse, therefore, captures the precise moment when the king delivers the shocking command that turns Haman's ambitious plan into his deepest humiliation, and signals the turning point for the Jewish people from certain destruction to deliverance. The context highlights divine irony and hidden providence.

Esther 6 10 Word analysis

• Then the king said to Haman, "Go quickly,"

  • Then: Signifies an immediate and consequential next step in the narrative, following Haman's proposal and the king's prior question.
  • king: Represents ultimate human authority and power in the Persian Empire, unknowingly acting as God's instrument.
  • said: A direct command, not a request.
  • to Haman: The direct address to Haman emphasizes his forced involvement in bestowing honor on his rival.
  • "Go quickly," (Hebrew: מַהֵר֙, mahēr, from mahar, "to hasten, hurry"). Conveys urgency and royal insistence. This is profoundly ironic as Haman intended to move quickly to eliminate Mordecai but is now commanded to rush to honor him.

• "get the clothing and the horse as you have said,"

  • "get" (Hebrew: קַ֤ח, qaḥ, imperative of laqaḥ, "to take, receive, seize"). A forceful directive, implying full responsibility on Haman for execution.
  • "the clothing" (Hebrew: הַלְּב֣וּשׁ, hallelûš). Refers to the royal robe, worn by the king, symbolizing royal favor, high honor, and status. It's a garment of distinction.
  • "and the horse" (Hebrew: וְאֶת־הַסּוּס֙, wə’eṯ-hassûs). The specific royal horse, another emblem of honor reserved for the king's most esteemed guests or appointees. Public procession on such a horse demonstrated unparalleled recognition.
  • "as you have said," (Hebrew: כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבַּ֗רְתָּ, ka’ăšer dibbārtā, "as you spoke"). The core of the irony. Haman’s own words, designed to elevate himself, are precisely what the king demands be executed for another. This phrase confirms Haman is compelled to fulfill his own unwitting prophecy concerning Mordecai.

• "and do so for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate."

  • "and do so": Imperative, direct, brooks no argument or modification.
  • "for Mordecai the Jew," (Hebrew: מָרְדֳּכַ֧י הַיְּהוּדִ֛י, Mōrdeḵay hayyəhûḏî). The explicit naming of Mordecai is crushing to Haman. The additional descriptor "the Jew" is critical, highlighting that the honor is specifically for a member of the people Haman sought to annihilate, bringing the ethnic conflict into stark relief at the moment of reversal. It implicitly undermines Haman’s plan.
  • "who sits at the king’s gate." (Hebrew: הַיֹּשֵׁ֖ב בְּשַׁ֣עַר הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ, hayyōšēḇ bəša‘ar hammelleḵ). Identifies Mordecai by his humble, yet publicly known, position as a palace functionary. The "gate" (sha'ar) was also a place of judicial and administrative activity, underscoring Mordecai’s loyalty and public presence. This public identification enhances the reversal's impact.

• "Do not let one word fail of all that you have spoken."

  • "Do not let one word fail" (Hebrew: לֹא־תַפֵּ֣ל דָּבָ֔ר, lō’-ṭappēl dāḇār, "do not let fall a word"). A severe command ensuring complete and precise execution of Haman’s proposed plan. It implies dire consequences for any deviation or omission. This adds to Haman’s misery, as he cannot omit any detail from his elaborate scheme of honor, even though it’s for his enemy.
  • "of all that you have spoken.": Reinforces the entirety of Haman's elaborate proposal must be fulfilled, leaving no room for Haman to cut corners or lessen the honor in any way.

Esther 6 10 Bonus section

• The "gate of the king" was a significant location in ancient Near Eastern courts, often serving as a public gathering place, administrative hub, and a place where judgments were passed. For Mordecai, a seemingly lowly figure at this gate, to be elevated in such a public manner signifies his promotion beyond mere functionary to one recognized by the highest authority.
• The absence of God’s name in the Book of Esther accentuates the subtle yet profound workings of divine providence. This verse is a prime example: the "chance" sleepless night, the "accidental" reading of the chronicles, and Haman's perfectly timed arrival are all interwoven by God's unseen hand to achieve His purposes for His people.
• This verse provides a narrative fulfillment of the prophetic principle that "those who honor Me I will honor" (1 Sam 2:30). Mordecai's previous selfless act of loyalty to the king, for which he received no immediate reward, is now publicly and gloriously recognized, orchestrated by divine timing.

Esther 6 10 Commentary

Esther 6:10 is the lynchpin in the Book of Esther’s narrative of divine reversal. It encapsulates profound irony: Haman, brimming with pride and eager for Mordecai's destruction, meticulously outlines the highest honors achievable in the Persian court, only to hear the king command him to confer these very honors upon Mordecai, the man he despises and seeks to hang. The verse emphasizes the king's unequivocal command for exact obedience, sealing Haman's fate to become the reluctant herald of his rival's glory. This dramatic turnaround, orchestrated by an unnamed divine hand through a king’s sleepless night, demonstrates God's sovereign control over human events, turning evil intentions back on their perpetrators and exalting the humble. It underscores that "pride goes before destruction" (Prov 16:18) and illustrates God's unseen providence, protecting His people even within a pagan empire. The explicit mention of "Mordecai the Jew" brings the national conflict to a peak in this personal drama.