Esther 7 7

Esther 7:7 kjv

And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.

Esther 7:7 nkjv

Then the king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine and went into the palace garden; but Haman stood before Queen Esther, pleading for his life, for he saw that evil was determined against him by the king.

Esther 7:7 niv

The king got up in a rage, left his wine and went out into the palace garden. But Haman, realizing that the king had already decided his fate, stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life.

Esther 7:7 esv

And the king arose in his wrath from the wine-drinking and went into the palace garden, but Haman stayed to beg for his life from Queen Esther, for he saw that harm was determined against him by the king.

Esther 7:7 nlt

Then the king jumped to his feet in a rage and went out into the palace garden. Haman, however, stayed behind to plead for his life with Queen Esther, for he knew that the king intended to kill him.

Esther 7 verses

Esther 7 7 Meaning

Esther 7:7 describes the immediate aftermath of Queen Esther's revelation of Haman's genocidal plot. The king, Ahasuerus, overcome with furious indignation upon realizing he was tricked into signing a decree that would annihilate his own queen and her people, rises from the banquet in wrath. He withdraws to the palace garden, perhaps to cool his fury, collect his thoughts, or deliberate Haman's fate. Haman, understanding the king's definitive resolve against him, recognizes his doom is sealed and desperately attempts to plead with Queen Esther for his life, signaling a complete reversal of his power and authority.

Esther 7 7 Context

Esther chapter 7 is the dramatic climax of the book. Following two carefully orchestrated banquets, Queen Esther has finally disclosed to King Ahasuerus and Haman the terrible plot to annihilate all Jews in the Persian Empire, a plot initiated and planned by Haman himself. The revelation is personalized as Esther states that "we have been sold...to be destroyed, to be killed, and to perish" (Esther 7:4), leading to the king's shocked inquiry and Esther's direct accusation, "A foe and an enemy is this wicked Haman!" (Esther 7:6). Verse 7 immediately follows this direct accusation, portraying the king's enraged reaction and Haman's immediate, terrifying realization of his utter doom.

Esther 7 7 Word analysis

• Then the king arose (וַיָּקָם הַמֶּלֶךְ - vayyaqom hammelekh): This denotes a swift, decisive, and perhaps impulsive reaction from Ahasuerus. His rising from his couch, where he was reclining for the feast, signifies a sudden shift from feasting to serious action and judgment.
• in wrath (בַּחֲמָתוֹ - baḥamato): The Hebrew term חֵמָה (ḥemah) conveys fierce, intense, even consuming anger. It's more than annoyance; it's a boiling rage, indicating extreme indignation and the impending, certain nature of severe punishment. This rage is not just for being deceived but for realizing the intended destruction would have included his beloved queen.
• from the feast of wine (מִמִּשְׁתֵּה הַיַּיִן - mimmishteh hayyayin): This detail highlights the dramatic shift from a context of pleasure and luxury to one of grave accusation and impending judgment. The king's abrupt departure signifies the end of merriment and the beginning of accountability.
• and went into the palace garden (אֶל גִּנַּת בִּיתָן - ʾel ginnat bitan): The "palace garden" could symbolize a place for reflection, solitary contemplation, or an area for the king to deliberate a severe decision away from public eyes. Ironically, this very garden is where Haman is soon to be impaled, adding to the chapter's profound sense of poetic justice. It emphasizes the king's need for a moment to process the enormity of Haman's deception before enacting justice.
• but Haman stood up (וְהָמָן עָמַד - vehaman ʿamad): Haman’s change in posture from reclining (a position of honor/ease) to standing signifies a shift from his former arrogance and power to a posture of desperation, submission, and terror, anticipating judgment. This stands in stark contrast to his earlier refusal to bow to Mordecai (Esther 3:5).
• to plead for his life (לְבַקֵּשׁ עַל נַפְשׁוֹ - lebaqqesh ʿal nafsho): "To plead" (בָּקַשׁ - baqash) means "to seek," often with urgency and desperation. "For his life" (עַל נַפְשׁוֹ - ʿal nafsho, literally "for his soul/self") signifies the most fundamental and primal request—survival. The powerful man, who orchestrated the death of an entire people, is now reduced to begging for his own individual existence, revealing extreme fear and helplessness.
• from Queen Esther (מֵאֵסְתֵּר הַמַּלְכָּה - meʾester hammalkah): This is a monumental reversal. Haman, who disdained Mordecai (Esther 3:5, 5:9) and targeted Esther's entire ethnic group for destruction, now finds himself in the desperate position of begging the very queen he sought to annihilate for his life. His power and influence are gone, and his only (vain) hope is her mercy.
• for he saw that disaster from the king was determined against him (כִּי רָאָה כִּי כָּלְתָה אֵלָיו הָרָעָה מֵאֵת הַמֶּלֶךְ - ki raʾah ki khaltah ʾelav haraʿah meʾet hammelekh): This phrase highlights Haman’s profound and terrifying realization. "He saw" (רָאָה - raʾah) implies not just literal seeing, but a deep understanding and recognition of the gravity of his situation. "Disaster" (רָעָה - raʾah) means evil, calamity, or misfortune, often bringing destruction. "Was determined" (כָּלְתָה - kaltah, from כָּלָה - kalah, meaning "to finish, consume, complete") indicates a final, irrevocable decision had been made in the king’s mind. There was no going back; Haman's fate was sealed by the king’s fury and realization. This emphasizes the irreversible nature of his judgment.

Esther 7 7 Bonus section

• The Power of Wrath: The king's "wrath" (חֵמָה - ḥemah) in this verse is a potent catalyst. In Scripture, human wrath often parallels divine wrath in its swift, consuming, and often terrifying consequences when justly applied, highlighting the absolute authority and unchallengeable nature of judgment once delivered.
• Literary Foreshadowing: The garden location subtly foreshadows Haman's end, as it is in a garden that he will later be hanged (Esther 7:9). This adds a layer of grim irony and emphasizes the meticulous orchestration of his downfall, even down to the precise location of his demise.
• From Plotter to Victim: Haman's dramatic reversal is a classic biblical motif: the wicked plotter becomes the ultimate victim of his own designs. This serves as a powerful reminder of divine justice, even when God's name is not explicitly mentioned. It demonstrates the certainty with which evil schemes are eventually revealed and self-destruct.

Esther 7 7 Commentary

Esther 7:7 marks the precipitous downfall of Haman, transforming him from the kingdom's second-in-command to a terrified, condemned man. The King's reaction – his fierce wrath and immediate withdrawal – signifies a grave contemplation of justice, recognizing Haman’s treachery has personally endangered his own queen. This isn't mere annoyance, but the fiery anger of one whose trust has been violated and who has been manipulated into approving a horrifying decree. Ahasuerus retreats to the garden, a place of personal deliberation or quiet resolution, perhaps indicating a struggle within himself regarding the next action, but with his anger undoubtedly driving the severity of his judgment.

Haman’s subsequent posture and plea are deeply ironic and speak volumes about his shift from extreme hubris to absolute despair. The man who previously would not deign to acknowledge Mordecai, and whose pride was his primary motivation, is now on his feet, literally begging for his bare existence. His pleas are directed toward Queen Esther, underscoring the completeness of his humiliation and the full reversal of power dynamics. The verse underscores Haman's "seeing" and understanding that his "disaster... was determined." This certainty of impending doom is a terrifying realization, a premonition of divine judgment working through the king. It illustrates the principle that those who dig a pit for others often fall into it themselves, a testament to God's unseen, yet undeniable, sovereignty in bringing justice. Haman’s arrogance is consumed by the very scheme he hatched, leaving him utterly without recourse.