Esther 8:7 kjv
Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews.
Esther 8:7 nkjv
Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, "Indeed, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows because he tried to lay his hand on the Jews.
Esther 8:7 niv
King Xerxes replied to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, "Because Haman attacked the Jews, I have given his estate to Esther, and they have impaled him on the pole he set up.
Esther 8:7 esv
Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, "Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows, because he intended to lay hands on the Jews.
Esther 8:7 nlt
Then King Xerxes said to Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, "I have given Esther the property of Haman, and he has been impaled on a pole because he tried to destroy the Jews.
Esther 8 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 7:15-16 | "He made a pit... falls into the pit he himself has made. His mischief... shall return on his own head..." | Haman's poetic justice. |
| Prov 26:27 | "Whoever digs a pit will fall into it..." | Haman's fate; the trap he set for others caught him. |
| Job 5:12 | "He frustrates the devices of the crafty..." | God frustrates Haman's schemes. |
| Prov 11:8 | "The righteous is delivered from trouble, and the wicked takes his place." | The wicked Haman takes his own place of death. |
| Luke 1:52 | "He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate." | Divine reversal for Haman and Mordecai. |
| Isa 54:17 | "No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed..." | God's protection of His people despite plots. |
| Gen 50:20 | "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good..." | Haman's evil turned for good by divine design. |
| Rom 8:28 | "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good..." | Providence working in difficult situations. |
| Exod 12:35-36 | "The people of Israel... plundered the Egyptians." | Possessing enemies' wealth as restitution. |
| Deut 6:10-11 | "...cities that you did not build... houses full of all good things that you did not fill..." | Inheriting possessions of opponents/enemies. |
| Josh 14:1 | "...portion for inheritance in the land..." | Possession of enemies' land as part of blessing. |
| Ps 37:35-36 | "I have seen a wicked, ruthless man... passed away... he was no more." | The swift downfall and disappearance of the wicked. |
| Ps 83:4 | "They say, 'Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more!'" | Plot to annihilate God's people, like Haman's. |
| Dan 3:28 | "He has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him..." | Divine deliverance from oppressors. |
| Rev 12:13 | "...he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child." | Spiritual attack against God's chosen people. |
| Zech 12:3 | "...all who burden themselves with it will be severely injured..." | Those who attack Jerusalem (God's people) will suffer. |
| Acts 12:1 | "About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church." | "Lay hands on" indicating violent intent against God's people. |
| 1 Sam 25:10 | "...who is David, and who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants today who are breaking away from their masters." | Idiomatic "lay hands on" for taking control/violence. |
| Num 35:21 | "if he struck him down with his hand through enmity..." | "Lay hands on" with deadly, malicious intent. |
| Prov 29:2 | "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan." | Shift of power to righteous brings relief. |
| Jer 1:18-19 | "...they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you..." | God's assurance of protection for His servants. |
| Judg 9:56 | "Thus God returned the evil of Abimelech... into his own head..." | Justice of God upon wicked leaders. |
Esther 8 verses
Esther 8 7 Meaning
King Ahasuerus, in addressing Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, declares the irreversible judgment passed upon Haman. He affirms that Haman's entire estate has been granted to Queen Esther, a significant act of restitution, and reiterates that Haman himself was executed by hanging, precisely because he maliciously planned to attack and destroy the Jewish people. This statement serves as the royal justification for the dramatic reversal of Haman's evil decree and sets the stage for the protection and deliverance of the Jews.
Esther 8 7 Context
Esther 8:7 occurs at a pivotal moment following Haman's execution in chapter 7 and preceding the issuing of a new royal decree to counteract Haman's original genocidal edict. Having exposed Haman's treacherous plot and his personal vendetta against Mordecai and the Jewish people, Esther and Mordecai now stand in a position of favor. The king's declaration in this verse is not merely a statement of fact but a crucial official acknowledgement. It legitimizes Esther's claim to Haman's house, publicly validates Haman's deserved punishment, and critically, specifies Haman's malice against the Jews as the core reason for his downfall. This royal pronouncement provides the necessary foundation and authority for Esther and Mordecai to proceed with saving their people, transforming their pleas into empowered action within the framework of Persian law where royal decrees are immutable. Historically, Persian kings held absolute power, and their pronouncements carried ultimate legal weight, making the king's explicit justification essential for the ensuing reversal of fortune for the Jews.
Esther 8 7 Word analysis
- Then King Ahasuerus said: This highlights the sovereign authority and finality of the king's words. His direct address signifies an official and definitive declaration that frames all subsequent actions.
- to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew: This dual address confirms their elevated status and collaborative roles in the kingdom. Explicitly mentioning "Mordecai the Jew" underscores his identity as one of the people Haman targeted, validating Haman's downfall for his ethnic hatred.
- 'Behold (הִנֵּה, hinneh): An emphatic interjection. It draws immediate attention to the gravity and certainty of the following statement, signaling a declaration of significant importance and often a turn of events.
- I have given Esther the house of Haman,: This signifies complete restitution and the reversal of Haman's fortunes. "House of Haman" includes his property, wealth, and potentially his administrative position, representing his entire earthly legacy being transferred to the very person whose people he sought to destroy. This is a visible, material manifestation of justice.
- and him they have hanged on the gallows,: Literally "the tree" (עֵץ, ‘ets), which could be a stake or gallows. The passive voice "they have hanged" indicates the swift, collective, and decisive nature of his execution, confirming it was an official act sanctioned by the royal court. The poetic justice is palpable as Haman is executed on the very structure he prepared for Mordecai.
- because he intended to lay hands on the Jews.':
- "because": Establishes the explicit reason and justification for Haman's demise and the reversal of his decree. It’s not just punishment; it's deserved punishment tied directly to his malicious intent.
- "he intended to lay hands on" (מִשְׁלֹחַ יָד, mishloakh yad): A Hebrew idiom meaning to attack, assault, or do violence. It implies deliberate, pre-meditated evil rather than accidental harm. This phrase emphasizes Haman's sinister plot of wholesale destruction targeting an entire ethnic group, giving official royal acknowledgment of his genocidal aims.
- "the Jews": Explicitly names the intended victims, underscoring the ethnic and religious nature of Haman's malice, solidifying that his actions were directed against God's chosen people.
Esther 8 7 Bonus section
- The king's statement effectively rescripts Haman's narrative, redefining him from a favored minister to a wicked plotter justly punished. This is crucial for historical and legal memory within the empire.
- The restitution of Haman's "house" to Esther symbolically erases Haman's existence and influence. In ancient societies, the family home was a representation of one's lineage and power, and its transfer signifies the complete nullification of his legacy and the elevation of Esther's family (including Mordecai).
- Although God is not explicitly mentioned in the Book of Esther, the king's clear pronouncement of cause and effect (Haman’s intent to destroy the Jews resulting in his demise) aligns perfectly with biblical principles of divine justice and God’s covenantal faithfulness to protect His people (e.g., Deut 28:7). The reader can discern the divine hand orchestrating this seemingly secular justice.
Esther 8 7 Commentary
Esther 8:7 serves as the formal pronouncement of royal justice and reversal. King Ahasuerus, now fully informed of Haman's villainy, definitively declares Haman's punishment and the transfer of his wealth. This isn't just news; it's a legal and moral justification for all subsequent actions to protect the Jewish people. The king's statement provides official closure to Haman's threat and opens the way for Esther and Mordecai to actively implement their plan of deliverance. It underscores the theme of poetic justice, where the perpetrator falls into his own trap, and God's unseen hand guides events to protect His people, turning intended evil into good. The clarity of Haman's intent to "lay hands on the Jews" is crucial, legitimizing the king's severe judgment and affirming that the deliverance of the Jews is not merely an act of mercy but an act of righteous justice.