When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or pay him homage, he was filled with rage.
Parallel translations
- WEB When Haman saw that Mordecai didn’t bow down, nor pay him homage, Haman was full of wrath.
- KJV And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.
- NKJV When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow or pay him homage, Haman was filled with wrath.
- NASB When Haman saw that Mordecai neither bowed down nor paid homage to him, Haman was filled with rage.
- NLT When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or show him respect, he was filled with rage.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Seeing Mordecai refuse to bow, Haman is filled with rage. His wounded pride turns to murderous fury.
Overview
Haman's wrath reveals a proud heart that cannot bear even one man's defiance. This personal offense will swell into a genocidal plan. The narrative exposes how unchecked pride breeds cruelty, and how the enemy of God's people is driven by hatred, even as God prepares to overturn that hatred for the salvation of the Jews.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Dan 3:19At this, Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He gave orders to heat the furnace seven times hotter than usual,
- Esth 5:9That day Haman went out full of joy and glad of heart. At the king’s gate, however, he saw Mordecai, who did not rise or tremble in fear at his presence. And Haman was filled with rage toward Mordecai.
- Esth 3:2All the royal servants at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, because the king had commanded that this be done for him. But Mordecai would not bow down or pay homage.
- Prov 21:24Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man—of him who acts with excessive pride.
- Prov 12:16A fool’s anger is known at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.
- Job 5:2For resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple.
- Gen 4:5–6but He had no regard for Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell.
- Esth 1:12Queen Vashti, however, refused to come at the king’s command brought by his eunuchs. And the king became furious, and his anger burned within him.
- Prov 19:19A man of great anger must pay the penalty; if you rescue him, you will have to do so again.
- Prov 27:3–4A stone is heavy and sand is a burden, but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.
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Christ at the center
Though God is never named, his hidden hand preserves the people from whom the Messiah will come — a deliverance 'for such a time as this' that anticipates the open deliverance of Christ.
How Esther 3:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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