Esther 6:12

Esther 6:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.
• New International Version (NIV)Afterward Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered in grief,
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then Mordecai returned to the king's gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Afterward Mordecai went back to the king’s gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered.

Context of Esther 6:12

10Then the king said to Haman, “Quickly take the royal robe and the horse, as you have said, and do this for Mordecai the Jew, who is sitting at the king’s gate. Leave out nothing of all that you have said.” 11So Haman took the royal robe and the horse and dressed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the open square of the city, proclaiming before him, “This is what shall be done for the man whom the king desires to honor.” Then Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman hurried to his [own] house, mourning and with his head covered [in sorrow]. 13Then Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise counselors and his wife Zeresh said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall in status, is of Jewish heritage, you will not overcome him, but will certainly fall before him.” 14While they were still speaking with him, the king’s eunuchs (attendants) arrived and hurriedly brought Haman to the banquet which Esther had prepared.

Esther 6:12 word by word

וַיָּ֥שָׁב מָרְדֳּכַ֖י אֶל־שַׁ֣עַר הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וְהָמָן֙ נִדְחַ֣ף אֶל־בֵּית֔וֹ אָבֵ֖ל וַחֲפ֥וּי רֹֽאשׁ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Mordecaiמׇרְדֳּכַיmordekay · MordecaiH4782
• came againשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
• to the king’sמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• gateשַׁ֫עַרsha‛ar · gateH8179
• But Hamanהָמָןhâmân · HamanH2001
• hastedדָּחַףdâchaph · to hastenH1765
• to his houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
• mourningאָבֵל'âbêl · mourningH57
• and having his headרֹאשׁrô'sh · headH7218
• coveredחָפָהchâphâh · to coverH2645

Cross-references for Esther 6:12

• Esther 2:19And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate.
• 1 Samuel 3:15So Samuel lay down until morning. Then he opened the doors of the Lord’s house. But Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli.
• Psalms 131:1Lord, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty; Nor do I involve myself in great matters, Or in things too difficult for me.
• 2 Samuel 17:23Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out and went to his home, to his city. Then he put his household in order, and hanged himself. So he died and was buried in the tomb of his father.
• 1 Kings 20:43So the king of Israel went to his house resentful and sullen, and came to Samaria.
• 1 Kings 21:4So Ahab [already upset by the Lord’s message] came into his house [feeling more] resentful and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him; for he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face, and would not eat any food.
• 2 Chronicles 26:20As Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked toward him, behold, he was leprous on his forehead; and they hurried him out of there, and he also hurried to get out because the Lord had stricken him.
• Job 20:5That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the godless is only for a moment?
• Esther 7:8When the king returned from the palace garden to the place where they were drinking wine, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was. Then the king said, “Will he even attempt to assault the queen with me in the palace?” As the king spoke those words, the servants covered Haman’s face [in preparation for execution].
• 2 Samuel 15:30And David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, with his head covered and walking barefoot [in despair]. And all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went.
• Job 9:24The earth is given into the hands of the wicked; He covers the faces of its judges [so that they are blind to justice]. If it is not He, then who is it [that is responsible for all this injustice]?
• Jeremiah 14:3Their nobles have sent their servants for water; They have come to the cisterns and found no water. They have returned with empty vessels; They have been shamed and humiliated, And they cover their heads.

Commentaries on Esther 6:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12Mordecai came again to the king's gate - He resumed his former humble state; while Haman, ashamed to look up, covered his face, and ran home to hide himself in his own house. Covering the head and face was a sign of shame and confusion, as well as of grief, among most people of the earth.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12It is quite consonant with Oriental notions that Mordecai, after receiving the extraordinary honors assigned him, should return to the palace and resume his former humble employment.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-14Verses 12-14 Mordecai was not puffed up with his honours, he returned to his place and the duty of it. Honour is well bestowed on those that do not think themselves above their business. But Haman could not bear it. What harm had it done him? But that will break a proud man's heart, which will not break a humble man's sleep. His doom was, out of this event, read to him by his wife and his friends. They plainly confessed that the Jews, though scattered…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10-12do just as you proposed...to Mordecai the Jew: Haman, completely shocked by this reversal, could only obey the king's command in full detail.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-141. the king ... commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles--In Eastern courts, there are scribes or officers whose duty it is to keep a journal of every occurrence worthy of notice. A book of this kind, abounding with anecdotes, is full of interest. It has been a custom with Eastern kings, in all ages, frequently to cause the annals of the kingdom to be read to them. It is resorted to, not merely as a pastime to while away the tedium of an…Read the comment

Topics related to Esther 6:12

• Mourning

In the dictionaries

• Mordecai
• Dress
• Esther, Book of
• Gesture
• Head

Commentaries on Esther 6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings