Esther 6:5 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Esther 6:5 kjv
And the king's servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.
Esther 6:5 nkjv
The king's servants said to him, "Haman is there, standing in the court." And the king said, "Let him come in."
Esther 6:5 niv
His attendants answered, "Haman is standing in the court." "Bring him in," the king ordered.
Esther 6:5 esv
And the king's young men told him, "Haman is there, standing in the court." And the king said, "Let him come in."
Esther 6:5 nlt
So the attendants replied to the king, "Haman is out in the court." "Bring him in," the king ordered.
Esther 6 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 16:18 | Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. | Haman's downfall from pride |
| Prov 18:12 | Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honor is humility. | Haman's pride leading to ruin |
| Prov 29:23 | A man’s pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor. | Contrast between Haman and Mordecai's fates |
| Jas 4:6 | God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. | Divine opposition to Haman's arrogance |
| 1 Pet 5:5 | ...be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud... | Theological basis for Haman's fate |
| Ps 7:15-16 | He made a pit, dug it out, and has fallen into the hole which he made... | Haman falling into his own trap |
| Ps 35:8 | Let destruction come upon him by surprise; and let him fall into that very destruction. | Swift, unexpected ruin for the wicked |
| Ps 57:6 | They prepared a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit before me; into the midst of it themselves have fallen. | The wicked snared by their own devices |
| Ps 141:10 | Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I escape. | Deliverance of the righteous from snares |
| Eccl 10:8 | He who digs a pit will fall into it... | Consequences of malicious planning |
| Esth 7:9 | Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs, said to the king, “Look, the gallows... which Haman made for Mordecai...” | Direct mention of Haman's gallows |
| Esth 7:10 | So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai... | Fulfillment of divine irony and justice |
| Esth 9:25 | ...that this wicked plan which Haman had devised... should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged... | The reversal explicitly declared |
| Prov 26:27 | Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him. | General principle of retribution |
| Lk 14:11 | For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. | Principle of humility and exaltation (NT) |
| Matt 23:12 | And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. | Same principle from Jesus' teachings |
| Job 5:13 | He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the counsel of the cunning comes quickly to an end. | God's intervention in cunning schemes |
| Exod 18:11 | ...for in the thing in which they acted proudly, He was above them. | God's supremacy over prideful oppressors |
| Nah 1:9 | What do you conspire against the Lord? He will make an utter end of it. Affliction will not rise up a second time. | God defeating plots against His people |
| Is 44:25 | ...who frustrates the signs of impostors and makes fools of diviners; who turns wise men back and makes their knowledge foolish. | God confounding the wicked's counsel |
| Gen 50:20 | But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good... | God's use of evil for good (providence) |
Esther 6 verses
Esther 6 5 meaning
Esther 6:5 details the pivotal moment when King Ahasuerus's attendants inform him that Haman is waiting in the outer court of the palace. This seemingly simple exchange sets the stage for an extraordinary divine reversal. Haman, full of pride and intent on requesting Mordecai's execution, is unknowingly walking into the very situation where his own downfall will begin. The king's command for Haman to "come in" is the catalyst for the events that immediately follow, which turn Haman's meticulously crafted wicked scheme against himself, highlighting themes of dramatic irony and God's unseen, providential hand.
Esther 6 5 Context
Esther chapter 6 serves as the dramatic turning point in the book. Following a sleepless night, King Ahasuerus orders the royal chronicles to be read to him. Providentially, the passage detailing Mordecai's past heroism in uncovering a plot against the king is read. The king discovers that Mordecai was never rewarded for this act of loyalty. Simultaneously, Haman, full of rage and anticipating Mordecai's impalement, has arrived at the palace early that morning. The king's inquiry about who is in the court, immediately after realizing Mordecai's overlooked loyalty, sets up a powerful juxtaposition. The "outer court" (חֲצֵ֑ר - ḥāṣēr) was an area accessible to high officials, signifying Haman's prominent position and immediate availability for the king. This convergence of circumstances – the king's insomnia, the opportune reading, and Haman's eager, but ill-fated, presence – all point to divine orchestration, even though God is not explicitly named in the book of Esther. Historically, the Persian court operated with strict protocols; Haman's early arrival signifies his impatience and eagerness to execute his cruel plan.
Esther 6 5 Word analysis
- And the king's servants (wə-ʿab-ḏê ham-me-leḵ - וַעֲבָדַ֥י הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙): Refers to the personal attendants or high officials serving King Ahasuerus. Their role here is functional, responding directly to the king's query and confirming Haman's presence, signifying his rank and accessibility within the court.
- answered (way-yō-mə-rū - וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ): A simple past tense verb, indicating a direct, immediate reply to the king's question. Their response is straightforward, without adornment.
- him (lō - לֹ֖ו): A pronoun, clarifying that the servants are answering the king directly.
- "Behold (hin-nêh - הִנֵּ֛ה)": A particle used to draw attention, signaling an important, often immediate, or unexpected revelation. Here, it highlights Haman's dramatic and ironically significant presence, building suspense.
- Haman (hā-mān - הָמָ֥ן): The central antagonist, full of hubris, whose impending request is driven by hatred for Mordecai and the Jews.
- is standing (‘ō-mêḏ - עֹמֵֽד): A participle, meaning "standing, waiting, being present." It suggests Haman's eager posture and readiness to proceed with his malicious agenda, oblivious to the turn of events.
- in the outer court (ba-ḥă-ṣêr - בַּחֲצֵֽר): From
ḥāṣēr(חָצֵר), meaning "courtyard" or "enclosure." This specific location (the public outer court, not the king's inner sanctum) indicates Haman is awaiting summons but is also within easy reach. It underscores his high standing and access, contrasting with his pending humiliation. - And the king said (way-yō-mer ham-me-leḵ - וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַּמֶּ֗לֶךְ): A decisive command from the king, showing his authority.
- "Let him come in (yā-ḇō-w - יָב֖וֹא)": A jussive verb, a command for Haman to enter. This seemingly simple directive is a catalyst for the remarkable irony that follows, as Haman steps into the trap he unwittingly set for himself.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "The king's servants answered him, "Behold, Haman is standing...": This immediate exchange highlights the narrative's tension and the king's agency. The
Beholdemphasizes Haman's timely but ultimately self-defeating arrival. - "Haman is standing in the outer court.": This phrase establishes Haman's presence and eagerness. He is present specifically to seek permission to hang Mordecai, unknowingly putting himself in position to give advice that will elevate his enemy and seal his own doom. The choice of "outer court" shows he's not casually passing by but waiting for audience.
- "And the king said, 'Let him come in.'": This succinct command, delivered without fanfare, marks the beginning of the great reversal. It signifies divine timing working through human will. The king's word carries immediate effect, bringing the villain face-to-face with the situation he desires to manipulate, but which God will turn against him.
Esther 6 5 Bonus section
The seemingly coincidental timing of Haman's arrival precisely when King Ahasuerus seeks to honor someone (Mordecai) highlights the book of Esther's theme of divine providence without explicitly mentioning God. This "coincidence" is too perfect to be random, underscoring God's active, hidden hand in protecting His covenant people. The detailed description of Haman's elaborate gallows (later described as "fifty cubits high," about 75 feet) further intensifies the irony present in this verse; the sheer height of the gallows visually represents Haman's inflated pride and ambitious evil, only for it to become the instrument of his spectacular fall. This setup exemplifies the theological truth that those who dig a pit for others will often fall into it themselves, a motif frequently seen in Wisdom Literature.
Esther 6 5 Commentary
Esther 6:5, though brief, is charged with profound irony and marks the apex of dramatic tension in the narrative. It functions as the hinge point between Haman's unrestrained pride and his impending downfall. Unaware of the king's prior sleepless night and discovery of Mordecai's loyalty, Haman confidently positions himself to seek authorization for Mordecai's death. His eager "standing in the outer court" reflects his impatient cruelty, perfectly contrasting with the divine patience and meticulously timed providence unfolding. The king's simple command, "Let him come in," is saturated with layers of meaning, initiating Haman's final, unwitting step towards his own destruction. This moment serves as a powerful illustration of the biblical principle that pride precedes a fall, and that those who devise evil against the righteous often fall into their own traps. It underlines the sovereignty of God, who, even when unmentioned, perfectly orchestrates seemingly disparate events to fulfill His purpose and protect His people. It is a testament to the fact that God can use the very tools of the wicked for their own undoing, turning their counsel into foolishness.