Christian Standard Bible
Esther 7:9
9Harbona, one of the king’s eunuchs, said, “There is a gallows seventy-five feet tall at Haman’s house that he made for Mordecai, who gave the report that saved the king.” The king said, “Hang him on it.”
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
7The king arose in anger and went from where they were drinking wine to the palace garden. Haman remained to beg Queen Esther for his life because he realized the king was planning something terrible 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 violate the queen while I am in the house?” As soon as the statement left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. Harbona, one of the king’s eunuchs, said, “There is a gallows seventy-five feet tall at Haman’s house that he made for Mordecai, who gave the report that saved the king.” The king said, “Hang him on it.” 10They hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s anger subsided.
Read all of Esther 7Esther 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
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Harbonahחַרְבוֹנָאcharbônâ' charbônâh · HarbonaH2726
- oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
- of the chamberlainsסָרִיסsârîys sâris · eunuchH5631
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- Behold also, the gallowsעֵץ‛êts · tree: stakeH6086
- fiftyחֲמִשִּׁיםchămishshîym · fiftyH2572
- cubitsאַמָּה'ammâh · cubitH520
- highגָּבֹהַּgâbôhha gâbôhha · highH1364
- which Hamanהָמָןhâmân · HamanH2001
- had madeעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to makeH6213
- for Mordecaiמׇרְדֳּכַיmordekay · MordecaiH4782
- who had spokenדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
- goodטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
- standethעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: standH5975
- in the houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
- Hangתָּלָהtâlâh · to hangH8518
Cross-references for Esther 7:9
- Esther 1:10On the seventh day, when the king was feeling good from the wine, Ahasuerus commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas — the seven eunuchs who personally served him —
- Esther 6:14While they were still speaking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and rushed Haman to the banquet Esther had prepared.
- 2 Kings 9:32He looked up toward the window and said, “Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three eunuchs looked down at him,
- Esther 5:14His wife Zeresh and all his friends told him, “Have them build a gallows seventy-five feet tall. Ask the king in the morning to hang Mordecai on it. Then go to the banquet with the king and enjoy yourself.” The advice pleased Haman, so he had the gallows constructed.
- Job 27:20Terrors overtake him like a flood; a storm wind sweeps him away at night.
- Psalms 7:15He dug a pit and hollowed it out but fell into the hole he had made.
- Psalms 35:8Let ruin come on him unexpectedly, and let the net that he hid ensnare him; let him fall into it — to his ruin.
- Psalms 141:10Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by safely.
- Proverbs 11:5The righteousness of the blameless clears his path, but the wicked person will fall because of his wickedness.
- Esther 2:21During those days while Mordecai was sitting at the King’s Gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the entrance, became infuriated and planned to assassinate King Ahasuerus.
- Esther 6:2They found the written report of how Mordecai had informed on Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the entrance, when they planned to assassinate King Ahasuerus.
- Esther 9:25But when the matter was brought before the king, he commanded by letter that the evil plan Haman had devised against the Jews return on his own head and that he should be hanged with his sons on the gallows.
- 1 Samuel 17:51David ran and stood over him. He grabbed the Philistine’s sword, pulled it from its sheath, and used it to kill him. Then he cut off his head. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they fled.
- Psalms 9:15The nations have fallen into the pit they made; their foot is caught in the net they have concealed.
- Psalms 37:35I have seen a wicked, violent person well-rooted, like a flourishing native tree.
- Psalms 73:19How suddenly they become a desolation! They come to an end, 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
In the dictionaries
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
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