Esther 3:6
What does Esther 3:6 mean?
A plain-English look at Esther 3:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Esther 3:6 means
Haman views it as beneath him to target only Mordecai. Learning that Mordecai represents a broader people, he seeks to destroy all Jews across the entire empire. Personal pride metastasizes into genocidal ambition. The scope is chilling: “throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus,” no distinction by sex or age implied here, simply the people themselves. The verse lays bare a hatred that is both irrational and total, fed by the collision of identity and imperial hubris. One man’s refusal becomes the pretext for erasing a nation. The text alerts us that the coming danger is not local or limited, but systemic, bureaucratically enabled, and deadly.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had made known to him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had made known to him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But it was not enough for him to make an attack on Mordecai only; for they had made clear to him who Mordecai's people were; so Haman made it his purpose to put an end to all the Jews, even Mordecai's people, through all the kingdom of Ahasuerus.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and it is contemptible in his eyes to put forth a hand on Mordecai by himself, for they have declared to him the people of Mordecai, and Haman seeketh to destroy all the Jews who <FI>are<Fi> in all the kingdom of Ahasuerus--the people of Mordecai.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And he counted it nothing to lay his hands upon Mardochai alone: for he had heard that he was of the nation of the Jews, and he chose rather to destroy all the nation of the Jews that were in the kingdom of Assuerus.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But he scorned to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had made known to him the people of Mordecai; therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were in all the kingdom of Ahasuerus — the people of Mordecai.
Context
This follows Haman’s wrath (v. 5) and explains its deadly expansion. Having learned of Mordecai’s people, Haman chooses a maximal solution. This sets up the mechanics of his plan in the next verses: first choosing a time (v. 7), then persuading the king (vv. 8–9), and finally issuing an empire-wide decree (vv. 12–14). The narrative widens from the gate to the whole Persian realm.
v.5And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not down, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.
v.6This passage
v.7In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Revelation 12:12
Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe for the earth and for the sea: because the devil is gone down unto you, having great wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time.
- Psalms 83:4
They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; That the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.