Esther 6:3
What does Esther 6:3 mean?
A plain-English look at Esther 6:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Esther 6:3 means
Hearing that Mordecai saved his life, the king immediately asks what recognition was given. Royal protocol in Persia often included public rewards for loyalty, both to encourage service and to display the king’s justice. When the servants answer, “There is nothing done for him,” it exposes a glaring omission. The king’s question is not purely sentimental; unrewarded merit threatens the credibility of the crown. This neglected duty now becomes the king’s agenda. The timing is significant: the king’s renewed concern for honor will collide with Haman’s scheme. Verse 3 highlights the moral logic of the empire—honor should meet faithfulness—even as God’s providence ensures that logic is finally applied.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And the king said, What honor and dignity hath been bestowed on Mordecai for this? Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And the king said, What honor and dignity hath been bestowed on Mordecai for this? Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And the king said, What honour and reward have been given to Mordecai for this? Then the servants who were waiting on the king said, Nothing has been done for him.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And the king saith, `What honour and greatness hath been done to Mordecai for this?' And the servants of the king, his ministers, say, `Nothing hath been done with him.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And when the king heard this, he said: What honour and reward hath Mardochai received for this fidelity? His servants and ministers said to him: He hath received no reward at all.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And the king said, What honour and dignity has been done to Mordecai for this? And the king's servants that attended upon him said, Nothing has been done for him.
Context
This moment follows the rediscovery of Mordecai’s deed and prepares for the sudden entry of Haman. The king’s simple question—what honor has been shown?—creates urgency. A gap must be filled. The narrative now requires an advisor to shape the reward, and the next person to appear will, ironically, be the very man seeking Mordecai’s death. This sets the mechanism for reversal: the king’s obligation and Haman’s ambition will intersect in a way neither anticipates.
v.2And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s chamberlains, of those that kept the threshold, who had sought to lay hands on the king Ahasuerus.
v.3This passage
v.4And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king’s house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ecclesiastes 9:15
Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.
- Psalms 118:8
It is better to take refuge in Jehovah Than to put confidence in man.
- Daniel 5:16
But I have heard of thee, that thou canst give interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.
- 1 Chronicles 11:6
And David said, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. And Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and was made chief.
- Daniel 5:29
Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with purple, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.
- 1 Samuel 17:25
And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father’s house free in Israel.