Esther 3:1
What does Esther 3:1 mean?
A plain-English look at Esther 3:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Esther 3:1 means
This verse reports a dramatic promotion: king Ahasuerus elevates Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite above all other princes. It signals a shift in power at court and introduces the chief antagonist. The title “Agagite” likely connects him with Israel’s ancient enemies, marking him as a foe to God’s people. Being set “above all the princes” gives Haman sweeping influence, the kind that can shape imperial policy. The text wants us to feel the weight of one man’s favor in a vast empire. Authority concentrated in a proud heart becomes dangerous, especially when it is unmoored from justice or wisdom and backed by the king’s seal and resources.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.
KJV
King James Version · 1611After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949After these things, by the order of the king, Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, was lifted up and given a position of honour and a higher place than all the other captains who were with him.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862After 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 <FI>are<Fi> with him,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752After these things, king Assuerus advanced Aman, the son of Amadathi, who was of the race of Agag: and he set his throne above all the princes that were with him.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890After these things king Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.
Context
“After these things” ties this to the previous chapter’s events, where Esther became queen and Mordecai uncovered a plot against the king. Yet the one advanced now is not Mordecai but Haman. This sets the stage for tension between Haman’s newfound authority and Mordecai’s presence at the gate. The next verses will show that the king commands public reverence for Haman, and Mordecai’s refusal will become the spark that ignites the chapter’s central conflict.
v.1This passage
v.2And all the king’s servants, that were in the king’s gate, bowed down, and did reverence to Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not down, nor did him reverence.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Esther 5:11
And Haman recounted unto them the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.
- Esther 7:6
And Esther said, An adversary and an enemy, even this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.
- 1 Samuel 15:33
And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before Jehovah in Gilgal.
- 1 Samuel 15:8
And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.
- Esther 3:10
And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy.
- Psalms 12:8
The wicked walk on every side, When vileness is exalted among the sons of men.