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 some time, King Xerxes gave one of his officers greater authority. The officer's name was Haman. He was the son of Hammedatha, a descendant of Agag. Haman became the most important officer who served the king. The king commanded that all the royal officers at the king's gate must bend down low down to Haman. So they all gave Haman honour when he passed them. Only Mordecai would not bend down and give honour to Haman. 3The officers at the king's gate asked Mordecai, ‘Why do you not obey the king's command?’ 4They warned Mordecai every day. But he would not agree to bend down low to Haman. So the officers told Haman about this. Mordecai had told them that he was a Jew. So they wanted to know if Haman would let Mordecai do this.

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• And all the king’sמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• servantsעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• gateשַׁ֫עַרsha‛ar · gateH8179
• bowedכָּרַעkâra‛ · to bowH3766
• and reverencedשָׁחָהshâchâh · to bowH7812
• Hamanהָמָןhâmân · HamanH2001
• had so commandedצָוָהtsâvâh · to commandH6680
• concerning him. But Mordecaiמׇרְדֳּכַיmordekay · MordecaiH4782

Cross-references for Esther 3:2

• Esther 2:19Some time later, the young women all came together again in the harem. At this time, Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate, as one of his officers.
• Genesis 41:43Pharaoh gave Joseph a chariot to ride in. It showed that Joseph was Pharaoh's most important officer. Only Pharaoh had more authority. As Joseph travelled, his servants shouted to the people, ‘Bend your knees to respect Joseph!’ In this way Pharaoh gave Joseph authority over everything in the land of Egypt.
• Philippians 2:10As a result, when people hear Jesus' name, they must worship him. Everyone will have to go down on their knees in front of him. That includes everything that is in heaven, everything on the earth and everything under the earth.
• Esther 3:1After some time, King Xerxes gave one of his officers greater authority. The officer's name was Haman. He was the son of Hammedatha, a descendant of Agag. Haman became the most important officer who served the king.
• Exodus 17:14Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Write down what happened here in a book. Then people will remember it. Read it aloud for Joshua to hear. Say that I will completely destroy all the Amalekites. Nobody in the whole world will remember them any more.’
• Deuteronomy 25:19But the Lord your God will chase away all your enemies. He will give you a safe place to rest in the land that he is giving to you as your new home. When he does that, do not forget to destroy all the Amalekites. Make sure that nobody in the whole world will remember them any more.
• 1 Samuel 15:3Now go and attack the Amalekites. Completely destroy everything that they have. Do not save anything. Kill the men and women, as well as their children and babies. Kill their cows, sheep, camels and donkeys.” ’
• Psalms 15:4He does not respect wicked people, but he does respect people who serve the Lord. When he promises to do something, he always does it.

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