Esther 3 - English Standard Version (ESV)

Haman Plots Against the Jews

3 After these things King Ahasuerus (A)promoted Haman (B)the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, (C)and advanced him and set his throne above all the officials who were with him. 2 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. (D)But Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage. 3 Then the king's servants who were (E)at the king's gate said to Mordecai, “Why do you transgress (F)the king's command?” 4 And 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. 5 And when Haman saw that (G)Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage to him, Haman was (H)filled with fury. 6 But he disdained[a] to lay hands on Mordecai alone. So, as they had made known to him the people of Mordecai, Haman sought to destroy[b] all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.

7 In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, (I)they cast Pur (that is, they cast lots) before Haman day after day; and they cast it month after month till the twelfth month, which is (J)the month of Adar. 8 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom. (K)Their laws are different from those of every other people, and they do not keep the king's laws, so that it is not to the king's profit to tolerate them. 9 If it please the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay 10,000 talents[c] of silver into the hands of those who have charge of the king's business, that they may put it into the king's treasuries.” 10 (L)So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman (M)the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, (N)the enemy of the Jews. 11 And the king said to Haman, “The money is given to you, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to you.”

12 (O)Then the king's scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and an edict, according to all that Haman commanded, was written to the king's (P)satraps and to the governors over all the provinces and to the officials of all the peoples, (Q)to every province in its own script and every people in its own language. It was written (R)in the name of King Ahasuerus (S)and sealed with the king's signet ring. 13 Letters were sent (T)by couriers to all the king's provinces with instruction (U)to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all Jews, young and old, women and children, (V)in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, (W)and to plunder their goods. 14 (X)A copy of the document was to be issued as a decree in every province by proclamation to all the peoples to be ready for that day. 15 (Y)The couriers went out hurriedly by order of the king, and the decree was issued in Susa the citadel. And the king and Haman sat down to drink, (Z)but the city of Susa was thrown into confusion.

Footnotes

  1. Esther 3:6 Hebrew disdained in his eyes
  2. Esther 3:6 Or annihilate
  3. Esther 3:9 A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms

Cross references

  1. Esther 3:1 : ch. 5:11
  2. Esther 3:1 : ver. 10; ch. 8:3, 5; 9:24
  3. Esther 3:1 : ch. 5:11
  4. Esther 3:2 : ch. 5:9
  5. Esther 3:3 : See ch. 2:19
  6. Esther 3:3 : ver. 2
  7. Esther 3:5 : [See ver. 2 above]; ch. 5:9
  8. Esther 3:5 : Dan. 3:19
  9. Esther 3:7 : ch. 9:24, 26
  10. Esther 3:7 : Ezra 6:15
  11. Esther 3:8 : [Ezra 4:12, 13; Acts 16:20, 21]
  12. Esther 3:10 : ch. 8:2; Gen. 41:42
  13. Esther 3:10 : ver. 1
  14. Esther 3:10 : ch. 7:6; 8:1; 9:10, 24
  15. Esther 3:12 : ch. 8:9
  16. Esther 3:12 : See Ezra 8:36
  17. Esther 3:12 : ch. 1:22; 8:9
  18. Esther 3:12 : ch. 8:8, 10; [1 Kgs. 21:8]
  19. Esther 3:12 : ch. 8:8, 10
  20. Esther 3:13 : ch. 8:10; [2 Chr. 30:6]
  21. Esther 3:13 : ch. 7:4; 8:11
  22. Esther 3:13 : ch. 8:12; [ch. 9:1]
  23. Esther 3:13 : ch. 8:11
  24. Esther 3:14 : ch. 8:13, 14
  25. Esther 3:15 : [See ver. 13 above]; ch. 8:10; [2 Chr. 30:6]
  26. Esther 3:15 : [ch. 8:15]

You Might Also Like:

Esther 3 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

3 After these things hath the king Ahasuerus exalted Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and lifteth him up, and setteth his throne above all the heads who [are] with him, 2 and all servants of the king, who [are] in the gate of the king, are bowing and doing obeisance to Haman, for so hath the kin...
Read More

Esther 3 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

3 After these things king Ahasuerus enhanced Haman, the son of Hammedatha, that was of the kindred of Agag, and the king set his throne above all the princes that he had. (And after these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha, who was a descendant of Agag, and the enemy of the ...
Read More

Esther 3 - World English Bible (WEB)

3 After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes who were with him. 2 All the king’s servants who were in the king’s gate bowed down, and paid homage to Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him....
Read More

Esther 3 - The Voice (VOICE)

The Persians execute their criminals by impaling them on a sharpened pole.3 A little while later, according to King Ahasuerus’ wishes, Haman (son of Hammedatha, an Agagite) was promoted to a rank above all his fellow nobles in the kingdom. 2 The officials at the king’s gate all bowed down before Ha...
Read More

Esther 3 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Haman Hates the Jews3 Some time later King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, son of Hammedatha the Agagite, elevating him and setting his chair above all the officials who were with him. 2 All the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded it....
Read More

Esther 3 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Haman Undertakes to Destroy the Jews3 After these things King Ahasu-e′rus promoted Haman the Ag′agite, the son of Hammeda′tha, and advanced him and set his seat above all the princes who were with him. 2 And all the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and did obeisance to Haman; ...
Read More

Esther 3 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Haman Undertakes to Destroy the Jews3 After these things King Ahasu-e′rus promoted Haman the Ag′agite, the son of Hammeda′tha, and advanced him and set his seat above all the princes who were with him. 2 And all the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and did obeisance to Haman; ...
Read More

Esther 3 - Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB)

3 After these things did HaMelech Achashverosh promote Haman ben Hamdata the Agagi [Num 24:7], and advanced him, and set his rank above all the other sarim (nobles). 2 And all the avadim of HaMelech, that were in the Sha’ar HaMelech, bowed, and paid homage to Haman, for HaMelech had so commanded con...
Read More

Esther 3 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Haman Undertakes to Destroy the Jews3 After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him and set his seat above all the officials who were with him. 2 And all the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and did obeisance to Haman; for the...
Read More

Esther 3 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Haman Undertakes to Destroy the Jews3 After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him and set his seat above all the officials who were with him. 2 And all the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and did obeisance to Haman; for the...
Read More

Esther 3 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Haman Undertakes to Destroy the Jews3 After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite and advanced him and set his seat above all the officials who were with him. 2 And all the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and did obeisance to Haman, for the k...
Read More

Esther 3 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Haman’s Plot against the Jews3 Some time later King Xerxes promoted Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite over all the other nobles, making him the most powerful official in the empire. 2 All the king’s officials would bow down before Haman to show him respect whenever he passed by, for so the king ha...
Read More

Esther 3 - New Life Version (NLV)

Haman Wants to Destroy the Jews3 After these things King Ahasuerus raised Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, to a more important duty. He was made to rule over all the princes who were with him. 2 All the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and gave honor to Haman, for the...
Read More

Esther 3 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Haman’s Conspiracy Against the Jews3 After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the (A)Agagite, and (B)advanced him and set his seat above all the princes who were with him. 2 And all the king’s servants who were (C)within the king’s gate bowed and paid homage to Haman,...
Read More

Esther 3 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Haman’s plot to destroy the Jews3 After these events, King Xerxes honoured Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honour higher than that of all the other nobles. 2 All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honour to Haman, for the king had...
Read More

Esther 3 - New International Version (NIV)

Haman’s Plot to Destroy the Jews3 After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite,(A) elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles. 2 All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had ...
Read More

Esther 3 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Haman Plans to Destroy the Jews3 After those events, King Xerxes honored Haman. Haman was the son of Hammedatha. He was from the family line of Agag. The king gave Haman a higher position than he had before. He gave him a seat of honor. It was higher than the positions any of the other nobles had. ...
Read More