Esther 7:9

Esther 7:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon.
• New International Version (NIV)Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, “A pole reaching to a height of fifty cubits stands by Haman’s house. He had it set up for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king.” The king said, “Impale him on it!”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs in attendance on the king, said, "Moreover, the gallows that Haman has prepared for Mordecai, whose word saved the king, is standing at Haman's house, fifty cubits high." And the king said, "Hang him on that."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now Harbonah, one of the eunuchs, said to the king, “Look! The gallows, fifty cubits high, which Haman made for Mordecai, who spoke good on the king’s behalf, is standing at the house of Haman.” Then the king said, “Hang him on it!”

Context of Esther 7:9

7In his fury, the king arose from drinking his wine and went to the palace garden, while Haman stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life, for he realized that the king was planning a terrible fate for him. 8Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining. The king exclaimed, “Would he actually assault the queen while I am in the palace?” As soon as the words had left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. Then Harbonah, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said: “There is a gallows fifty cubits high at Haman’s house. He had it built for Mordecai, who gave the report that saved the king.” “Hang him on it!” declared the king. 10So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the fury of the king subsided.

Esther 7:9 word by word

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר חַ֠רְבוֹנָה אֶחָ֨ד מִן־הַסָּרִיסִ֜ים לִפְנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ גַּ֣ם הִנֵּה־הָעֵ֣ץ אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֪ה הָמָ֟ן לְֽמָרְדֳּכַ֞י אֲשֶׁ֧ר דִּבֶּר־ט֣וֹב עַל־הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ עֹמֵד֙ בְּבֵ֣ית הָמָ֔ן גָּבֹ֖הַּ חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים אַמָּ֑ה וַיֹּ֥אמֶר הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ תְּלֻ֥הוּ עָלָֽיו׃Read the interlinear

• Then Harbonahחַרְבוֹנָאcharbônâ' charbônâh · HarbonaH2726
• oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
• ofמִן־min minnîy minnêy · fromH4480
• the eunuchsסָרִיסsârîys sâris · eunuchH5631
• attendingפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• the kingגַּםgam · alsoH1571
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Thereהִנֵּהhinnêh · beholdH2009
• is a gallowsעֵץ‛êts · tree: stakeH6086
• ·אֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• fiftyחֲמִשִּׁיםchămishshîym · fiftyH2572
• cubitsאַמָּה'ammâh · cubitH520
• highגָּבֹהַּgâbôhha gâbôhha · highH1364
• at Haman’sהָמָןhâmân · HamanH2001
• houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
• had it builtעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to makeH6213
• for Mordecaiמׇרְדֳּכַיmordekay · MordecaiH4782
• gave the reportדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
• that savedטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• that savedעַל‛al · uponH5921
• the kingעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: standH5975
• Hang himתָּלָהtâlâh · to hangH8518

Cross-references for Esther 7:9

• Esther 1:10On the seventh day, when the king’s heart was merry with wine, he ordered the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas—
• Esther 6:14While they were still speaking with Haman, the king’s eunuchs arrived and rushed him to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
• 2 Kings 9:32He looked up at the window and called out, “Who is on my side? Who?” And two or three eunuchs looked down at him.
• Esther 5:14His wife Zeresh and all his friends told him, “Have them build a gallows fifty cubits high, and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go to the banquet with the king and enjoy yourself.” The advice pleased Haman, and he had the gallows constructed.
• Job 27:20Terrors overtake him like a flood; a tempest sweeps him away in the night.
• Psalms 7:15He has dug a hole and hollowed it out; he has fallen into a pit of his own making.
• Psalms 35:8May ruin befall them by surprise; may the net they hid ensnare them; may they fall into the hazard they created.
• Psalms 141:10Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by in safety.
• Proverbs 11:5The righteousness of the blameless directs their path, but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.
• Esther 2:21In those days, while Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the entrance, grew angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.
• Esther 6:2And there it was found recorded that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the eunuchs who guarded the king’s entrance, when they had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.
• Esther 9:25But when it came before the king, he commanded by letter that the wicked scheme which Haman had devised against the Jews should come back upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.
• 1 Samuel 17:51David ran and stood over him. He grabbed the Philistine’s sword and pulled it from its sheath and killed him, and he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran.
• Psalms 9:15The nations have fallen into a pit of their making; their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.
• Psalms 37:35I have seen a wicked, ruthless man flourishing like a well-rooted native tree,
• Psalms 73:19How suddenly they are laid waste, completely swept away by terrors!

Commentaries on Esther 7:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Behold also, the gallows - As if he had said, Besides all he has determined to do to the Jews, he has erected a very high gallows, on which he had determined, this very day, to hang Mordecai, who has saved the king's life. Hang him thereon - Let him be instantly impaled on the same post. "Harm watch, harm catch," says the proverb. Perillus was the first person burnt alive in the brazen bull which he had made for the punishment of others; hence the poet…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-10Verses 7-10 The king was angry: those that do things with self-will, reflect upon them afterward with self-reproach. When angry, we should pause before we come to any resolution, and thus rule our own spirits, and show that we are governed by reason. Those that are most haughty and insolent when in power and prosperity, commonly, like Haman, are the most abject and poor-spirited when brought down. The day is coming when those that hate and persecute God's…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9He had it built for Mordecai: Harbona, one of the king’s seven eunuchs (Esther 1:10), did not seem to be Haman's friend and already knew about Haman’s plot. Hang him on it!: This major reversal of fortunes shows God's guiding hand. For more on impalement, see study note on Esther 2:23.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows--This eunuch had probably been the messenger sent with the invitation to Haman, and on that occasion had seen the gallows. The information he now volunteered, as well it may be from abhorrence of Haman's cold-blooded conspiracy as from sympathy with his amiable mistress, involved with her people in imminent peril.Read the comment

Topics related to Esther 7:9

• Gallows
• Harbona
• Readings, Select

In the dictionaries

• Mordecai
• Banquet
• Esther
• Harbona
• Chamberlain
• Esther, Book of
• Hanging
• Harbona; Harbonah
• Persians
• Punishments

Commentaries on Esther 7

• 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