Esther 3:2

Esther 3:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And all the king’s servants, that were in the king’s gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.
• New International Version (NIV)All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And all the king's servants who were at the king's gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And all the king’s servants who were within the king’s gate bowed and paid homage to Haman, for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai would not bow or pay homage.

Context of Esther 3:2

1After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him to a position above all the princes who were with him. All the royal servants at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, because the king had commanded that this be done for him. But Mordecai would not bow down or pay homage. 3Then the royal servants at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the command of the king?” 4Day after day they warned him, but he would not comply. So they reported it to Haman to see whether Mordecai’s behavior would be tolerated, since he had told them he was a Jew.

Esther 3:2 word by word

וְכָל־עַבְדֵ֨י הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אֲשֶׁר־בְּשַׁ֣עַר הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ כֹּרְעִ֤ים וּמִֽשְׁתַּחֲוִים֙ לְהָמָ֔ן כִּי־כֵ֖ן צִוָּה־ל֣וֹ הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וּמָ֨רְדֳּכַ֔י לֹ֥א יִכְרַ֖ע וְלֹ֥א יִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֶֽה׃Read the interlinear

• Allכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
• the royalמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• ·אֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• servantsעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• gateשַׁ֫עַרsha‛ar · gateH8179
• bowed downכָּרַעkâra‛ · to bowH3766
• and paid homageשָׁחָהshâchâh · to bowH7812
• to Hamanהָמָןhâmân · HamanH2001
• becauseכִּיkîy · forH3588
• had commandedצָוָהtsâvâh · to commandH6680
• that thisכֵּןkên · soH3651
• But Mordecaiמׇרְדֳּכַיmordekay · MordecaiH4782
• would notלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808

Cross-references for Esther 3:2

• Esther 2:19When the virgins were assembled a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate.
• Genesis 41:43He had Joseph ride in his second chariot, with men calling out before him, “Bow the knee!” So he placed him over all the land of Egypt.
• Philippians 2:10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
• Esther 3:1After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him to a position above all the princes who were with him.
• Exodus 17:14Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as a reminder and recite it to Joshua, because I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.”
• Deuteronomy 25:19When the LORD your God gives you rest from the enemies around you in the land that He is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you are to blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!
• 1 Samuel 15:3Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”
• Psalms 15:4who despises the vile but honors those who fear the LORD, who does not revise a costly oath,

Commentaries on Esther 3:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2The king's servants, that were in the king's gate - By servants here, certainly a higher class of officers are intended than porters; and Mordecai was one of those officers, and came to the gate with the others who were usually there in attendance to receive the commands of the king. Mordecai bowed not - לאיכרע lo yichra . "He did not bow down;" nor did him reverence, ישתחוה ולא velo yishtachaveh, "nor did he prostrate himself." I think it most evident…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2Mordecai probably refused the required prostration, usual though it was, on religious grounds. Hence, his opposition led on to his confession that he was a Jew Esther 3:4.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2People often bowed to those in higher positions (for example, Genesis 33:3). Mordecai worked at the palace's main gate, and Haman entered the king’s court through this gate. This gave Mordecai many chances to disobey the king's order by not bowing to Haman.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman--Large mansions in the East are entered by a spacious vestibule, or gateway, along the sides of which visitors sit, and are received by the master of the house; for none, except the nearest relatives or special friends, are admitted farther. There the officers of the ancient king of Persia waited till they were called, and did obeisance to the all-powerful minister of…Read the comment

Topics related to Esther 3:2

• Decision
• Homage
• King

In the dictionaries

• Mordecai
• Adoration
• India
• Reverence

Commentaries on Esther 3

• 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
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings