Esther 6:11
What does Esther 6:11 mean?
A plain-English look at Esther 6:11 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Esther 6:11 means
Haman obeys the king’s order, clothing Mordecai, leading him on horseback, and proclaiming the honor through the city. The man who sought applause now supplies it for another. The enemy of the Jews becomes the herald of a Jew’s dignity. Mordecai does not aggrandize himself; he receives what the king decreed. The public nature of the parade legitimizes Mordecai in the eyes of Susa and erodes Haman’s fearsome image. This verse displays a quiet patience in Mordecai and a forced submission in Haman. The honor belongs to the king to bestow, and he uses Haman’s voice to publish it. The humiliation is proportionate to Haman’s pride.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and caused him to ride through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honor.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and caused him to ride through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honor.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Then Haman took the robes and the horse, and dressing Mordecai in the robes, he made him go on horseback through the streets of the town, crying out before him, So let it be done to the man whom the king has delight in honouring.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And Haman taketh the clothing, and the horse, and clothed Mordecai, and causeth him to ride in a broad place of the city, and calleth before him, `Thus it is done to the man in whose honour the king hath delighted.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752So Aman took the robe and the horse, and arraying Mardochai in the street of the city, and setting him on the horse, went before him, and proclaimed: This honour is he worthy of, whom the king hath a mind to honour.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And Haman took the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and caused him to ride through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honour!
Context
Following the king’s charge, the prescribed ceremony is carried out exactly. The narrative shows the reversal not just as a decision but as an event witnessed by the city. This changes the social landscape: Mordecai is now publicly honored, complicating Haman’s plans. The next verse contrasts their responses—Mordecai’s return to his post and Haman’s retreat in grief—highlighting character and foreshadowing outcomes.
v.10Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king’s gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.
v.11This passage
v.12And Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. But Haman hasted to his house, mourning and having his head covered.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Esther 8:15
And Mordecai went forth from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a robe of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan shouted and was glad.
- Luke 1:52
He hath put down princes from their thrones, And hath exalted them of low degree.
- Ezra 6:13
Then Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and their companions, because that Darius the king had sent, did accordingly with all diligence.
- Revelation 3:9
Behold, I give of the synagogue of Satan, of them that say they are Jews, and they are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
- Esther 9:3
And all the princes of the provinces, and the satraps, and the governors, and they that did the king’s business, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai was fallen upon them.
- Isaiah 60:14
And the sons of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee The city of Jehovah, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.