Esther 6:12
What does Esther 6:12 mean?
A plain-English look at Esther 6:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Esther 6:12 means
After the parade, Mordecai returns to the king’s gate, resuming his ordinary duty. His elevation does not remove him from service; he remains faithful in his station. Haman, by contrast, rushes home in mourning with his head covered—a sign of shame and grief. The honors he coveted have turned to ashes, and his standing has visibly declined. This pairing of calm return and frantic retreat reveals the deeper stability of integrity over ambition. Mordecai’s composure suggests trust beyond circumstance, while Haman’s despair shows how brittle pride becomes when thwarted. Public perception has shifted, and Haman feels it profoundly.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. But Haman hasted to his house, mourning and having his head covered.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. But Haman hasted to his house, mourning and having his head covered.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And Mordecai came back to the king's doorway. But Haman went quickly back to his house, sad and with his head covered.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And Mordecai turneth back unto the gate of the king, and Haman hath been hastened unto his house mourning, and with covered head,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But Mardochai returned to the palace gate: and Aman made haste to go to his house, mourning and having his head covered:
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hasted to his house, mourning and having his head covered.
Context
The procession concluded, the story pauses to display the immediate aftermath in two contrasting portraits. Mordecai quietly goes back to his post; Haman collapses inward. This prepares the scene for counsel at home, where Haman will seek interpretation of his misfortune. The narrative invites readers to see the reversal as more than a bad day; it is the beginning of a fall that others can already discern.
v.11Then 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.
v.12This passage
v.13And Haman recounted unto Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai, before whom thou hast begun to fall, be of the seed of the Jews, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Samuel 15:30
And David went up by the ascent of themount ofOlives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered, and went barefoot: and all the people that were with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
- Psalms 131:1
Jehovah, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty; Neither do I exercise myself in great matters, Or in things too wonderful for me.
- 2 Samuel 17:23
And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home, unto his city, and set his house in order, and hanged himself; and he died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.
- Job 9:24
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He covereth the faces of the judges thereof: Ifit benothe, who then is it?
- 2 Chronicles 26:20
And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out quickly from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because Jehovah had smitten him.
- Job 20:5
That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the godless but for a moment?