Esther 6 13

Esther 6:13 kjv

And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.

Esther 6:13 nkjv

When Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him, his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, "If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish descent, you will not prevail against him but will surely fall before him."

Esther 6:13 niv

and told Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him. His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, "Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him?you will surely come to ruin!"

Esther 6:13 esv

And Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, "If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of the Jewish people, you will not overcome him but will surely fall before him."

Esther 6:13 nlt

When Haman told his wife, Zeresh, and all his friends what had happened, his wise advisers and his wife said, "Since Mordecai ? this man who has humiliated you ? is of Jewish birth, you will never succeed in your plans against him. It will be fatal to continue opposing him."

Esther 6 verses

Esther 6 13 Meaning

This verse contains a stark prophecy delivered by Haman's wife Zeresh and his friends, confirming the irreversible nature of his downfall. It highlights that because Mordecai, before whom Haman has begun to be humiliated, is of Jewish descent, Haman's opposition to him will not succeed but will inevitably lead to his complete defeat. The verse underscores divine providence orchestrating events for the deliverance of God's people and the just demise of their enemies.

Esther 6 13 Context

This verse occurs at the pinnacle of Haman's unraveling. Prior to this, Haman's meticulously planned decree for the annihilation of the Jews seemed set for success, elevating him as the king's favored official. However, divine providence interceded: King Ahasuerus's sleepless night led him to review chronicles, recalling Mordecai's forgotten service in uncovering a plot against the king (Esth 6:1-3). In an ironic twist, Haman was then unwittingly called upon to advise how to honor someone the king delighted in (Esth 6:6-9), mistakenly assuming it was himself. The king then commanded Haman to lavishly honor Mordecai (Esth 6:10-11), personally leading him through the city. This public humiliation deeply shook Haman (Esth 6:12), and it is immediately upon returning home that Zeresh and his friends deliver their prophetic verdict in Esther 6:13. This statement signifies a pivotal moment, shifting the narrative from Haman's rising power to his irreversible decline, recognizing Mordecai's identity as key to his ultimate triumph and Haman's defeat. The cultural context includes Persian court intrigue, where personal counsel (like that from Zeresh and friends) was highly influential, and a superstitious environment where divine omens or signs of fate might be perceived even by pagans concerning specific people groups.

Esther 6 13 Word analysis

• Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends: This highlights a collective discernment. Zeresh often gave Haman malicious counsel (e.g., suggesting the gallows in Esth 5:14). Here, her advice, backed by Haman's entire social circle, carries significant weight, though ironically it's a message of doom rather than aid. It's an unwelcome truth spoken by his closest confidantes, suggesting their awareness of a deeper, perhaps spiritual, force at play that they do not control or understand fully.
• said to him: A direct, declarative statement, emphasizing the gravity and certainty of their pronouncement. Their words are not a question or suggestion but a firm declaration.
• “If Mordecai (אִם־מָרְדֳּכַי, ʾim-Mordekhai): The "if" here is not an expression of doubt, but rather a conditional premise already observed to be true – given that Mordecai is who he is. It assumes the recognized identity of Mordecai. It subtly implies a foundational truth, that his ethnicity changes everything.
• before whom you have begun to fall (אֲשֶׁר הַחִלּוֹתָ לִנְפּוֹל לְפָנָיו, ʾasher hakhilōta linnəpôl lepanayv):
  • begun to fall: This Hebrew phrase strongly implies that a process has already commenced, is ongoing, and is irreversible. It’s not just a setback but the initiation of an inevitable and total collapse. Haman’s public humiliation in Esther 6:11-12 was the first clear sign of this divine reversal.
  • to fall before him: This idiom often denotes bowing down, submission, or defeat. It foreshadows Haman's ultimate fate of utter submission and destruction at the hands of the very man he intended to annihilate.
• is of Jewish descent (מִזֶּרַע הַיְּהוּדִים, mizzeraʿ haY^ehudim):
  • of Jewish descent: This is the pivotal detail. It elevates the conflict beyond a personal vendetta between Haman and Mordecai to a confrontation between the proud oppressor and God's covenant people. Zeresh and his friends likely perceived the Jews as a people with a uniquely powerful deity or a divinely ordained destiny that was unalterable. They recognize the "seed" or lineage, which carried implications of a unique identity protected by their God, distinguishing them from all other peoples.
• you will not overcome him (לֹא־תוּכַל לוֹ, lo-tukhal lo): Lit. "you will not be able for him." A declaration of Haman’s complete impotence in the face of Mordecai, or rather, the power that protects Mordecai. It's a statement of inherent inability.
• but will surely fall before him (כִּי נָפוֹל תִּפּוֹל לְפָנָיו, ki napol tippol lepanayv): This is an emphatic Hebrew construction (an infinitive absolute followed by the finite verb from the same root), indicating absolute certainty and totality. "You shall surely fall," "you shall utterly fall." It's a stronger declaration than just "you will not overcome him." This confirms that not only will Haman fail to win, but he will experience a devastating defeat. It echoes prophecies of judgment where the wicked are utterly consumed (e.g., Num 11:4).
• Word-Group Analysis:
  • "Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him": This collective declaration signifies the widespread recognition of Haman's impending doom even among those closest to him. It's not a singular, unheeded warning but a unified and clear judgment from his confidantes. This makes Haman's later continued actions seem all the more blinded by pride and divine judgment.
  • "begun to fall... will surely fall": The repetition of "fall" highlights the inevitability and progress of Haman's collapse. The process has started, and its culmination is guaranteed. This shows a divine pattern of judgment, where once God begins to move against the wicked, their defeat is assured.

Esther 6 13 Bonus section

The seemingly secular book of Esther, which famously never explicitly mentions God's name, subtly reinforces divine sovereignty through details like this verse. Haman's own inner circle becomes a mouthpiece for what amounts to a divine warning and prophecy of doom. This reflects the reality that God's plan can unfold and even be recognized by those who do not overtly acknowledge Him. The foretelling by Haman's closest companions serves as a definitive validation of God's unseen hand working through circumstantial events. This particular insight from pagan sources implicitly acknowledges the unique power accompanying God's chosen people, foreshadowing the fulfillment of God's covenant with Abraham (Gen 12:3), promising blessing to those who bless Israel and cursing those who curse them. The mention of "Jewish descent" is especially significant as Haman was an Agagite (Esth 3:1), a descendant of King Agag of Amalek (1 Sam 15:8), the perpetual enemy of Israel. Zeresh's prophecy therefore echoes the ancient divine decree of continuous warfare against Amalek, affirming that any opposition to "the seed of the Jews" would ultimately fail.

Esther 6 13 Commentary

Esther 6:13 marks a critical shift in the Book of Esther, embodying the principle that divine providence can turn the schemes of the wicked against themselves. The counsel from Haman's pagan advisors, his wife Zeresh and friends, is an ironic yet profound prophetic utterance. Despite their own possible superstitions or lack of belief in the God of Israel, they clearly perceive a supernatural force protecting Mordecai due to his Jewish identity. They recognized the unfolding pattern: the man Haman intended to destroy, he had just been forced to honor, symbolizing the initial "fall." Their emphasis on Mordecai's "Jewish descent" (mizzeraʿ haY^ehudim) reveals an understanding, perhaps intuitive, of the unique status of the Jewish people and the futility of trying to destroy them. This external recognition from Haman's own circle validates the divine protection over Israel, showcasing that even outsiders sometimes perceive the hand of God in historical events. This verse encapsulates the narrative's turning point, moving from Haman's ascendance and the threat against the Jews to the dramatic reversal leading to their deliverance and Haman's demise, fulfilling the warning that "pride goes before destruction."