Esther 6 14

Esther 6:14 kjv

And while they were yet talking with him, came the king's chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared.

Esther 6:14 nkjv

While they were still talking with him, the king's eunuchs came, and hastened to bring Haman to the banquet which Esther had prepared.

Esther 6:14 niv

While they were still talking with him, the king's eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman away to the banquet Esther had prepared.

Esther 6:14 esv

While they were yet talking with him, the king's eunuchs arrived and hurried to bring Haman to the feast that Esther had prepared.

Esther 6:14 nlt

While they were still talking, the king's eunuchs arrived and quickly took Haman to the banquet Esther had prepared.

Esther 6 verses

Esther 6 14 Meaning

This verse marks a pivotal and ironic moment in the narrative, depicting the swift, dramatic turning point in Haman's fortunes. Immediately after Haman discusses his elaborate plan to hang Mordecai with his family and advisors, the king's officials arrive to escort him. Haman is hurriedly taken to the second banquet hosted by Queen Esther, completely unaware that this very feast, to which he felt highly honored to be invited, will be the setting for his public disgrace and the initiation of his downfall. The scene underscores the rapid and unexpected unfolding of divine providence, often hidden but perfectly orchestrated, where human schemes are suddenly interrupted and overturned.

Esther 6 14 Context

Esther 6:14 marks the climax of a meticulously crafted scene of dramatic irony and reversal. Prior to this verse, King Ahasuerus experienced a sleepless night (Esther 6:1). While reading the court records, he discovered that Mordecai had previously saved his life but had not been honored for it. At the same moment, Haman, driven by pride and hatred, had arrived at the palace to request permission to hang Mordecai (Esther 6:4). Unaware of Haman's true motive, the king asked Haman how best to honor a man whom the king wished to favor (Esther 6:6). Haman, assuming the king wished to honor him, grandly outlined a public display of royal recognition, involving a royal robe, a king's horse, and the leading of the honored man through the city square by a high official (Esther 6:7-9). To Haman's horror, the king commanded him to bestow all these honors upon Mordecai, the very Jew he sought to destroy (Esther 6:10).

After this deeply humiliating experience, Haman rushed home in distress, covering his face in shame (Esther 6:12). He recounted his ordeal to his wife Zeresh and his "wise men," who immediately recognized the significance of Mordecai's Jewish heritage and foresaw Haman's complete and inevitable downfall (Esther 6:13). This collective despair and recognition of impending doom set the stage for verse 14, where, while still conversing, the king's eunuchs appear to summon Haman to Esther's second banquet. The historical context reflects the vast, multi-ethnic Persian Empire under Ahasuerus (likely Xerxes I), where royal decrees were absolute, court intrigue was rampant, and powerful officials vied for influence. Throughout, God's providential hand, though not explicitly mentioned, guides every event, turning human designs on their head to protect His people and bring justice.

Esther 6 14 Word analysis

• While they were still talking: (וּבָהֶם דִּבְּרִים, uvahēm dibrim)

  • This phrase emphasizes the sudden, almost abrupt, interruption. Haman's private moment of despair and plotting, discussing Mordecai's fate with his closest confidantes, is cut short.
  • The word for "talking" (dibrim from dabar) implies deep discussion or consultation. This was a critical private counsel, where his "wise men" gave him grim prophecy. The timing is ironic as their words are of Haman's ruin.

• with him, (עִמּוֹ, immo)

  • Refers to Haman, reinforcing that the counsel was centered around his crisis.

• the king's eunuchs arrived: (סָרִיסֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ הִגִּיעוּ, sarîsê hamméleḵ higgî‘u)

  • King's eunuchs (sarîsê hamméleḵ): These were high-ranking, trusted royal officials. The term saris (סָרִיס) often refers to an official or courtier, not necessarily castrated, though that was their historical origin in many ancient courts. Their arrival signifies a direct, unyielding royal command. They embody the King's immediate authority.
  • arrived (higgî‘u): This denotes a precise, punctual arrival. The timing is divinely perfect for the unfolding drama, immediately following the ominous prophecy from Haman's own advisors. It shows the promptness of the king's expectation.

• and hurried Haman away: (וַיַּבְהִילוּ אֶת־הָמָן, vayyabhilû ’et-hâmân)

  • hurried (vayyabhilû from בָּהַל, bahal): This verb means "to hurry, to hasten," but it can also carry connotations of "to disturb, to alarm, to dismay." Here, it likely implies that the eunuchs promptly and urgently escorted Haman. Given Haman's agitated state, it might also suggest his being flustered or disoriented, effectively rushed without time to compose himself. It highlights the irresistible nature of the royal summons and his diminished control. The man who tried to rush Mordecai's execution is now himself rushed towards his own doom.

• to the banquet Esther had prepared: (אֶל־הַמִּשְׁתֶּה אֲשֶׁר־עָשְׂתָה אֶסְתֵּר, ’el-hammištah ’ăšer-‛âśətâ ’ester)

  • banquet (ha-mištêh, מִשְׁתֶּה): A lavish feast, often involving heavy drinking, signifying an occasion of pleasure or important diplomatic engagement. Haman believed these invitations were marks of ultimate royal favor and his rising status.
  • Esther had prepared (’ăšer-‛âśətâ ’ester): This underscores Esther's initiative and agency in orchestrating Haman's downfall. The banquet, originally perceived by Haman as a celebration of his favor, is in reality the meticulously set trap by the queen for his judgment. It highlights her deliberate and prayerful planning, setting the stage for the dramatic revelation.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "While they were still talking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived": This juxtaposition creates extreme dramatic irony. Haman is at his lowest ebb, just prophesied to be ruined, and suddenly official royal representatives appear, whisking him away. The very moment he considers his plans for revenge against Mordecai, he is summoned to his fate. It demonstrates God's perfect timing and counter-plotting against Haman's schemes.
  • "and hurried Haman away to the banquet Esther had prepared": This swift, almost forced, departure emphasizes Haman's loss of control and agency. He is no longer dictating events but is merely being moved, unawares, to the pre-arranged place of his judgment. The "hurrying" stands in stark contrast to the grand procession he had envisioned for himself hours earlier. The banquet, a symbol of honor, is revealed to be a meticulously set trap, demonstrating Esther's strategic brilliance guided by unseen providence.

Esther 6 14 Bonus section

The immediate juxtaposition of Haman's despairing private council and the swift public summons is a narrative masterpiece. It illustrates a common biblical motif of the tables turning dramatically for the proud and the wicked (Psalm 7:15). This scene is the final setup, bringing all key players (King, Queen, Haman, and by extension, Mordecai through Esther's action) to the decisive place for Haman's downfall. It showcases the quiet but powerful hand of divine providence, which requires no miraculous intervention or direct voice, but instead uses the seemingly ordinary movements of royal court life to achieve its extraordinary purposes. Haman's pride has so blinded him that he interprets this urgent summons as continued honor, completely missing the foreboding signs that his own advisors had just elucidated. This blindness highlights the deceitfulness of sin and the arrogance that precedes ruin.

Esther 6 14 Commentary

Esther 6:14 is a powerfully succinct verse, laden with dramatic irony and significant for its pivotal role in the book's narrative. It signifies the irreversible turn of events for Haman, propelling him towards his inescapable demise. Having just returned from a public humiliation and received ominous prophecies from his own wise men, Haman is now snatched from his private lamentations and forced towards his public unraveling. The prompt arrival of the eunuchs, often trusted agents of the king's absolute power, signifies that there is no appeal or delay possible for Haman. The very invitation to Esther's second banquet, which Haman viewed as the pinnacle of his favor, becomes the means of his judgment. This swift transition from Haman's delusional sense of security and power to his utter helplessness before divine judgment underscores a foundational biblical truth: human schemes against God's purposes, however meticulously planned or outwardly successful, are ultimately futile and subject to His sovereign timing and reversal. The stage is perfectly set, and Haman walks unknowingly into his prepared undoing.