Esther 6:13
What does Esther 6:13 mean?
A plain-English look at Esther 6:13 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Esther 6:13 means
Haman recounts the humiliation to Zeresh and his friends. Their response is sobering: if Mordecai is of the seed of the Jews, Haman will not prevail but will surely fall before him. These advisers, earlier voices of ambition, now read the signs differently. They recognize an irreversible shift—an omen of Haman’s downfall linked to Mordecai’s identity as a Jew. Even the enemies perceive that a protective favor rests upon this people and their advocate. What has begun cannot be stopped by power or plots. The confession from Haman’s own circle becomes a verdict: his trajectory has turned from ascent to inevitable ruin.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And Haman gave his wife Zeresh and all his friends an account of what had taken place. Then his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, If Mordecai, who is starting to get the better of you, is of the seed of the Jews, you will not be able to do anything against him, but you will certainly go down before him.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and Haman recounteth to Zeresh his wife, and to all his friends, all that hath met him, and his wise men say to him, and Zeresh his wife, `If Mordecai <FI>is<Fi> of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou art not able for him, but dost certainly fall before him.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And he told Zares his wife, and his friends, all that had befallen him. And the wise men whom he had in counsel, and his wife answered him: If Mardochai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou canst not resist him, but thou shalt fall in his sight.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And Haman recounted to Zeresh his wife and to all his friends all that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife to him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but wilt certainly fall before him.
Context
Following Haman’s grief, the counsel at home interprets events. The shift in tone is crucial: earlier confidence gives way to fatalism about Haman’s chances against Mordecai. This prepares the reader for the rapid advance toward judgment. Before Haman can process or respond, the king’s attendants will arrive, pulling him toward Esther’s banquet, where his exposure and sentence await in the next chapter.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Daniel 5:26
This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and brought it to an end.
- Genesis 41:8
And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.
- Job 15:24
Distress and anguish make him afraid; They prevail against him, as a king ready to the battle.
- 1 Samuel 28:19
Moreover Jehovah will deliver Israel also with thee into the hand of the Philistines; and to-morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: Jehovah will deliver the host of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.
- Genesis 40:19
within yet three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.
- Esther 5:10
Nevertheless Haman refrained himself, and went home; and he sent and fetched his friends and Zeresh his wife.