Then Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered in grief.
Parallel translations
- WEB Mordecai came back to the king’s gate, but Haman hurried to his house, mourning and having his head covered.
- KJV And Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.
- NKJV Afterward Mordecai went back to the king’s gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered.
- NASB Then Mordecai returned to the king’s gate, while Haman hurried home, mourning, with his head covered.
- NLT Afterward Mordecai returned to the palace gate, but Haman hurried home dejected and completely humiliated.
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
Mordecai returns quietly to the gate, while Haman rushes home mourning with his head covered. Their contrasting responses mark the turning of fortunes.
Overview
Mordecai resumes his post without pride, but Haman hurries home in shame, covering his head as a sign of grief and disgrace. The contrast captures the reversal underway between the humble servant and the falling enemy. It illustrates how God lifts the lowly while the proud are brought to mourning.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- 2 Sam 15:30But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went up. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. And all the people with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went.
- Jer 14:3–4The nobles send their servants for water; they go to the cisterns, but find no water; their jars return empty. They are ashamed and humiliated; they cover their heads.
- Job 20:5the triumph of the wicked has been brief and the joy of the godless momentary?
- 1 Kgs 21:4So Ahab went to his palace, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had told him, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” He lay down on his bed, turned his face away, and refused to eat.
- 2 Chr 26:20When Azariah the chief priest and all the priests turned to him and saw his leprous forehead, they rushed him out. Indeed, he himself hurried to get out, because the LORD had afflicted him.
- Esth 7:8Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining. The king exclaimed, “Would he actually assault the queen while I am in the palace?” As soon as the words had left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.
- Esth 2:19When the virgins were assembled a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate.
- Job 9:24The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He blindfolds its judges. If it is not He, then who is it?
- Ps 131:1–2A song of ascents. Of David. My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty. I do not aspire to great things or matters too lofty for me.
- 1 Sam 3:15Samuel lay down until the morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision,
- 1 Kgs 20:43Sullen and angry, the king of Israel went home to Samaria.
- 2 Sam 17:23When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his affairs in order and hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.
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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 6:12 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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