Esther 3:11
What does Esther 3:11 mean?
A plain-English look at Esther 3:11 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Esther 3:11 means
The king tells Haman that both the silver and “the people” are given to him to do as seems good. He declines the bribe but grants full discretion, which is worse: lives are put at Haman’s disposal. The casual phrasing underscores chilling detachment; the king treats a people as an object to be managed. This abdication shows power without moral anchor. By empowering Haman’s will, Ahasuerus effectively endorses genocide without asking who, why, or what justice requires. It is a portrait of authority yielding to convenience and flattery, and it clears the path for the machinery of death to begin its work.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And the king said to Haman, The money is yours, and the people, to do with them whatever seems right to you.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and the king saith to Haman, `The silver is given to thee, and the people, to do with it as <FI>it is<Fi> good in thine eyes.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And he said to him: As to the money which thou promisest, keep it for thyself: and as to the people, do with them as seemeth good to thee.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And the king said to Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as seems good to thee.
Context
With the ring already handed over (v. 10), this statement grants Haman carte blanche regarding both funds and the targeted group. The narrative now moves to implementation. Verses 12–13 describe the scribes drafting the edict, its imperial sealing, and the deadly command it carries. The scene shifts from court permission to administrative action that will touch every province and household.
v.10And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy.
v.11This passage
v.12Then were the king’s scribes called in the first month, on the thirteenth day thereof; and there was written according to all that Haman commanded unto the king’s satraps, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the princes of every people, to every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and it was sealed with the king’s ring.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Jeremiah 40:4
And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which are upon thy hand. If it seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come, and I will look well unto thee; but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear: behold, all the land is before thee; whither it seemeth good and right unto thee to go, thither go.
- Jeremiah 26:14
But as for me, behold, I am in your hand: do with me as is good and right in your eyes.
- Psalms 73:7
Their eyes stand out with fatness: They have more than heart could wish.
- Luke 23:25
And he released him that for insurrection and murder had been cast into prison, whom they asked for; but Jesus he delivered up to their will.