Esther 7 5

Esther 7:5 kjv

Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so?

Esther 7:5 nkjv

So King Ahasuerus answered and said to Queen Esther, "Who is he, and where is he, who would dare presume in his heart to do such a thing?"

Esther 7:5 niv

King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, "Who is he? Where is he?the man who has dared to do such a thing?"

Esther 7:5 esv

Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, "Who is he, and where is he, who has dared to do this?"

Esther 7:5 nlt

"Who would do such a thing?" King Xerxes demanded. "Who would be so presumptuous as to touch you?"

Esther 7 verses

Esther 7 5 Meaning

Esther 7:5 captures the precise moment King Ahasuerus confronts the perpetrator of the planned genocide against the Jewish people. Having heard Queen Esther's desperate plea for her life and the lives of her people, the king's sudden awareness transforms into righteous indignation. His question is sharp and direct, seeking immediate identification and the location of the audacious individual who dared to conceive and execute such an enormous evil within his kingdom, unaware until this dramatic revelation that it targeted his own beloved queen.

Esther 7 5 Context

Esther 7:5 occurs at the climactic moment of the book, during the second banquet hosted by Queen Esther for King Ahasuerus and Haman. In the preceding verses, Esther, filled with courage, revealed that she and her people were to be destroyed by a royal decree, for which she pleaded for her life. This verse marks the king's astonished and enraged reaction to this revelation. Unaware that the plot he had authorized in general terms targeted his queen and an innocent people, he is suddenly faced with a profound betrayal. His intense questioning underscores the dramatic irony of Haman dining with the very people he condemned, and reveals the turning point from a celebration to a reckoning, leading directly to Haman's swift demise.

Esther 7 5 Word analysis

• Then King Ahasuerus answered and said: This emphasizes the King's active response. The narrative has built to this moment where his awareness shifts dramatically, prompting a direct inquiry. His previous ignorance highlights the dangers of delegating authority without full oversight.
• to Queen Esther: Highlights the personal impact of the plot on the King. The target is not just a people group, but his cherished wife. This elevates the gravity of Haman's offense in the King's eyes beyond a mere administrative decision.
• "Who is he, and where is he": This double question demonstrates the King's shock, outrage, and immediate intent to exact justice. "Who is he" demands identity, and "where is he" signifies an immediate, decisive move to confront or punish the offender, reflecting his kingly authority. It points to a profound failure on his part to discern Haman's true character and the scope of his decree.
• "who has dared in his heart":
  • dared: The Hebrew is melao libbo (מְלָאוֹ לִבּוֹ), literally "filled his heart" or "whose heart filled him/emboldened him." This idiomatic expression denotes an audacious, audacious, or presumptuous resolve. It implies not just an act, but a deep, internal will and a boldness for evil. This speaks to the premeditated nature of Haman's malice, not a momentary lapse.
  • in his heart: The Hebrew term lev (לֵב) or levav (לֵבָב), "heart," refers to the core of a person's being—the seat of intellect, will, emotions, and moral choices. Thus, the evil act originated not by accident but from Haman's deepest intentions and character, rooted in pride and hatred (cf. Esth 3:5).
• "to do such a thing?": "Such a thing" refers to the monstrous scale and malicious nature of Haman's plot: the mass murder and extermination of an entire people without cause. The phrase underscores the enormity and heinousness of the crime in the king's shocked estimation.

Esther 7 5 Bonus section

• Dramatic Irony: The audience knows Haman's guilt and identity, making Ahasuerus's question dramatically ironic and highlighting the extreme peril Esther faced in her strategic revelation.
• Divine Providence: This verse showcases God's subtle, yet potent, work behind the scenes. Without any overt miracles, the timing and impact of Esther's revelation, and the King's instant rage, demonstrate divine orchestration leading to the salvation of His people.
• Shift in Power Dynamics: Prior to this, Haman was second only to the king. In this moment, the absolute power dynamic shifts irrevocably as his crimes are exposed and he is stripped of favor.
• King's Accountability: Though a powerful ruler, Ahasuerus reveals his previous lack of discernment by casually authorizing Haman's initial decree. His shock now indicates a dawning recognition of his own culpability in enabling such evil, prompting a swift and forceful response to correct his error.

Esther 7 5 Commentary

Esther 7:5 is the electrifying peak of the narrative, where Haman's hidden evil is suddenly brought into the light before the supreme authority. The king's furious interrogation signifies the turning of the tide, moving from oblivious authority to enraged justice. His demand for identity and location shows a visceral reaction, emphasizing his personal indignation once he understood the proximity and severity of Haman's genocidal plot. This moment vividly portrays the sudden downfall of the arrogant and the swift justice that can be unleashed when the truth is revealed to those in power, often orchestrated by divine timing. It serves as a stark reminder that hidden intentions and audacious schemes, even if seemingly successful for a time, will ultimately face an accounting, often at the very height of their perpetrator's presumed triumph.