When Haman saw that Mordecai didn’t bow down, nor pay him homage, Haman was full of wrath.
Parallel translations
- KJV And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.
- BSB When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or pay him homage, he was filled with rage.
- 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 3:19Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his appearance was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He spoke, and commanded that they should heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.
- Esth 5:9Then Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart, but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he didn’t stand up nor move for him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai.
- Esth 3:2All 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. But Mordecai didn’t bow down or pay him homage.
- Prov 21:24The proud and haughty man, “scoffer” is his name; he works in the arrogance of pride.
- Prov 12:16A fool shows his annoyance the same day, but one who overlooks an insult is prudent.
- Job 5:2For resentment kills the foolish man, and jealousy kills the simple.
- Gen 4:5–6but he didn’t respect Cain and his offering. Cain was very angry, and the expression on his face fell.
- Esth 1:12But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by the eunuchs. Therefore the king was very angry, and his anger burned in him.
- Prov 19:19A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you must do it again.
- Prov 27:3–4A stone is heavy, and sand is a burden; but a fool’s provocation is heavier than 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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