Esther 6 9

Esther 6:9 kjv

And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour.

Esther 6:9 nkjv

Then let this robe and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that he may array the man whom the king delights to honor. Then parade him on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him: 'Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!' "

Esther 6:9 niv

Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king's most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, 'This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!'?"

Esther 6:9 esv

And let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king's most noble officials. Let them dress the man whom the king delights to honor, and let them lead him on the horse through the square of the city, proclaiming before him: 'Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.'"

Esther 6:9 nlt

Let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king's most noble officials. And let him see that the man whom the king wishes to honor is dressed in the king's robes and led through the city square on the king's horse. Have the official shout as they go, 'This is what the king does for someone he wishes to honor!'"

Esther 6 verses

Esther 6 9 meaning

Esther 6:9 describes the detailed royal honors that Haman unknowingly proposes for Mordecai. It specifies bringing royal garments worn by the king, a horse the king himself rides, and a royal emblem or crown placed upon the horse's head. These elements are to signify the highest public esteem, marking the recipient as profoundly honored by the king. This counsel ironically sets the stage for Haman's humiliation and Mordecai's exaltation, revealing the outworking of divine providence.

Esther 6 9 Context

Esther 6:9 occurs in a pivotal moment within the Book of Esther, serving as the climax of an escalating irony. The previous night, King Ahasuerus experienced insomnia and requested the chronicles to be read, where he discovered Mordecai had previously saved his life from an assassination plot and had never been rewarded. Simultaneously, Haman, swollen with pride and fresh from building gallows for Mordecai, arrived at the palace to request permission to hang him. The king, unaware of Haman’s true intentions and believing Haman to be the most esteemed man, ironically asks Haman how best to honor "a man whom the king delights to honor." Haman, blinded by his own arrogance, assumes the king means him. Thus, the extravagant list of honors in verse 9 is Haman’s proud, self-serving proposal for what he believes he should receive. Historically, Persian kings held absolute power and often used lavish displays of wealth and honor to demonstrate their authority and reward loyal subjects.

Esther 6 9 Word analysis

• And (וַ): wa-. A simple conjunctive prefix, yet crucial for narrating the immediate and sequential flow, directly linking Haman’s internal thought to his spoken counsel.
• let them bring (יָבִיאוּ): yāḇīʾū. From the root bo (to come, bring). Imperfect Hiphil conjugation, denoting a causative command – "cause to come" or "bring." It implies a delegated task, that the king's servants are to carry out these instructions.
• the royal apparel (לְבוּשׁ מַלְכוּת): ləḇûš malḵûṯ.
  • Ləḇûš (לְבוּשׁ): clothing, garment, attire. Signifies not merely covering, but status and identity.
  • Malḵûṯ (מַלְכוּת): kingship, royalty, royal authority, royal presence.
  • This phrase refers to garments associated with the king himself, symbolizing direct association with royal power and prestige.
• which the king (הַמֶּלֶךְ) uses to wear (לָבַשׁוֹ): ašer lāḇašoʾ hammeleḵ.
  • Lāḇašoʾ (לָבַשׁוֹ): he wore it (past tense of lavash - to wear). This highlights the king's personal use of the garments, making the honor even greater than merely royal attire; it is the very clothes the king himself has worn. This indicates a direct transfer of honor, almost as an extension of the king’s persona.
• and the horse (וְהַסּוּס): wəhas·sûs. A horse. Specifically chosen because kings would ride on significant, often white, horses for state occasions.
• that the king (הַמֶּלֶךְ) rides on (רָכַב עָלָיו): ’ăšer rāḵaḇ ‘ālāyw ham·meleḵ.
  • Rāḵaḇ (רָכַב): he rode. Like the royal apparel, this is a horse specifically used by the king, again imparting immense prestige by its direct association with the monarch. Riding the king's horse was an act of profound honor and public recognition, often reserved for high-ranking officials or successors.
• and on whose head (וְכֶתֶר מַלְכוּת): wəḵeṭer malḵûṯ.
  • Keter (כֶּתֶר): a crown, diadem, or regal ornament.
  • Malḵûṯ (מַלְכוּת): royalty.
  • This phrase specifically refers to a "royal crown/diadem." The context suggests this is an ornamental royal insignia to be placed on the horse's head (as opposed to the person's head, which would signify actual kingship). This would indicate that the horse itself is outfitted in royal splendor, further elevating the stature of the rider by association.
• is placed (נָתוּן עָלָיו): nāṯûn ‘ālāyw. Nāṯûn (נָתוּן): given, placed (participle of natan - to give, place). ‘ālāyw (עָלָיו): upon it (referring to the horse). It means to formally affix or position, signifying official, ceremonial presentation of honor.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "royal apparel which the king uses to wear": This triad of terms highlights that the honor is not merely abstract but intensely personal, almost an 'investiture' through objects intimately connected with the king's body and status. It suggests an identification of the recipient with the king's own glory.
• "and the horse that the king rides on, and on whose head a royal crown is placed": These items collectively symbolize public acclamation and association with royal power. Riding the king's personal mount, especially one adorned with royal insignia, elevates the recipient to a near-royal status in the public eye, signaling immense favor and authority directly from the throne. The inclusion of the "royal crown" on the horse itself emphasizes the spectacle and uniqueness of the honor.

Esther 6 9 Bonus section

The request for "royal apparel" and the king's personal "horse" directly addresses and rectifies the previous omission of public gratitude towards Mordecai. Mordecai, previously adorned only in sackcloth as a sign of mourning and humiliation (Esther 4:1), is now to be clothed in the splendor of the king, symbolizing a complete reversal of his public status. This event subtly highlights the theological concept of "God's hidden hand" ( hester panim) within the book, where divine providence operates not through overt miracles but through the orchestration of human events, decisions, and even ironic misinterpretations. This particular verse demonstrates how divine justice can work through the very designs of the wicked.

Esther 6 9 Commentary

Esther 6:9 serves as a masterpiece of dramatic irony, where Haman’s carefully crafted proposal for honoring himself becomes the very instrument of Mordecai’s public exaltation. This verse meticulously details the trappings of ultimate royal honor in the Persian court: the king's own raiment and horse, symbolizing an extension of royal identity and authority. For an ordinary subject to be seen in the king's clothing and riding his personal horse, accompanied by royal heralds (as mentioned in verse 10), was an unparalleled public declaration of favor. Haman's advice, borne out of his own grandiose self-perception and insatiable pride, ironically creates the perfect scenario for God’s unseen hand to elevate the humble and faithful Mordecai. This specific moment of proposed honor directly counters Haman's murderous plot against Mordecai and the Jews, turning his anticipated triumph into bitter defeat. The king's simple question initiates a divine setup that dismantles the proud and exalts the faithful.