English Standard Version
Esther 3:2
2And 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)All the king’s officials would bow down before Haman to show him respect whenever he passed by, for so the king had commanded. But Mordecai refused to bow down or show him respect.
Context of Esther 3:2
1After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, and advanced him and set his throne above all the officials who were with him. 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. 3Then the king's servants who were at the king's gate said to Mordecai, "Why do you transgress the king's command?" 4And when they spoke to him day after day and he would not listen to them, they told Haman, in order to see whether Mordecai's words would stand, for he had told them that he was a Jew.
Read all of Esther 3Esther 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 2:19Now when the virgins were gathered together the second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate.
- Genesis 41:43And he made him ride in his second chariot. And they called out before him, "Bow the knee!" Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt.
- Philippians 2:10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
- Esther 3:1After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, and advanced him and set his throne above all the officials who were with him.
- Exodus 17:14Then the Lord said to Moses, "Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven."
- Deuteronomy 25:19Therefore when the Lord your God has given you rest from all your enemies around you, in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven; you shall not forget.
- 1 Samuel 15:3Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.'"
- Psalms 15:4in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the Lord; who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
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
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries