Esther 5:12
What does Esther 5:12 mean?
A plain-English look at Esther 5:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Esther 5:12 means
Haman adds the pinnacle of his honors: Queen Esther’s banquet had admitted no one with the king but him, and he is invited again for tomorrow. To Haman, this signals singular favor and confirms his inflated self-importance. He reads Providence as personal endorsement, not as God’s mysterious working. The narrative lets us see the trap forming: the very invitation that feeds his pride will place him where his downfall will be exposed. Haman’s words drip with self-congratulation, yet they also betray insecurity—he must keep rehearsing his status to feel significant.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to-morrow also am I invited by her together with the king.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to-morrow also am I invited by her together with the king.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And Haman said further, Truly, Esther the queen let no man but myself come in to the feast which she had made ready for the king; and tomorrow again I am to be her guest with the king.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And Haman saith, `Yea, Esther the queen brought none in with the king, unto the feast that she made, except myself, and also for to-morrow I am called to her, with the king,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And after this he said: Queen Esther also hath invited no other to the banquet with the king, but me: and with her I am also to dine to morrow with the king:
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And Haman said, Yea, Esther the queen let no man come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to-morrow also I am invited to her with the king.
Context
This verse crowns Haman’s boasting from verse 11, immediately before the confession that all these honors mean nothing to him because of Mordecai (verse 13). The contrast heightens the theme of pride’s emptiness and prepares the reader for the extreme counsel his circle will soon propose in verse 14: remove the irritant by executing Mordecai at once.
v.11And 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.
v.12This passage
v.13Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Proverbs 27:1
Boast not thyself of to-morrow; For thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
- Job 20:5
That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the godless but for a moment?
- Psalms 37:35
I have seen the wicked in great power, And spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil.
- Job 8:12
Whilst it is yet in its greenness, and not cut down, It withereth before any other herb.
- Luke 21:34
But take heed to yourselves, lest haply your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come on you suddenly as a snare:
- 1 Thessalonians 5:3
When they are saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall in no wise escape.