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

7Enraged, the king got up from the banquet of wine and withdrew to the palace garden. But Haman stayed behind to plead with Queen Esther for his life, for he realized that the king had determined a catastrophic end for him. 8When the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the same couch where Esther was. The king exclaimed, “Will he also assault the queen while she is with me in the palace?” As soon as these words came out of the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. Harbonah, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, “Look, a gallows fifty cubits high is standing next to Haman’s house. Haman himself made it for Mordecai, who spoke good on behalf of the king!” The king said, “Hang him on it!” 10So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s rage 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

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 heart of the king was merry from the wine, he commanded Mehuman, Bizzetha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Carcas—the seven eunuchs who attended Ahasuerus the king—
• Esther 6:14While they were still talking with him, the king’s eunuchs came and hurried Haman along to the banquet Esther had prepared.
• 2 Kings 9:32Then he lifted up his face to the window and called out, “Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three eunuchs looked down toward him.
• Esther 5:14Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, “Let them set up a gallows 50 cubits high, and in the morning ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go happily with the king to the banquet.” This idea delighted Haman and he ordered the gallows to be built.
• Job 27:20Terrors overtake him like a flood; a storm sweeps him away at night.
• Psalms 7:15Look! The one pregnant with trouble conceives mischief and brings forth deceit.
• Psalms 35:8Let ruin come upon him by surprise. Let the net he hid entangle himself —into that same pit let him fall.
• Psalms 141:10Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by safely.
• Proverbs 11:5The righteousness of the blameless man makes his way straight, but the wicked man is brought down by his 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 doorway, became angry and conspired to assassinate King Ahasuerus.
• Esther 6:2It was found recorded there that Mordecai had revealed that Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the door, had conspired to kill King Ahasuerus.
• Esther 9:25But when it came to the king’s attention, he issued a written edict that the wicked scheme Haman had devised against the Jews should come back on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. (
• 1 Samuel 17:51David ran, stood over the Philistine, picked up his sword, drew it from its sheath, slew him and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.
• Psalms 9:15Then I will tell all your praises in the gates of the daughter of Zion, rejoicing in Your salvation.
• Psalms 37:35I have seen a wicked, ruthless man flourishing like a leafy tree in native soil.
• Psalms 73:19How suddenly they became a ruin— terminated, consumed 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
• 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