Esther 6:8
What does Esther 6:8 mean?
A plain-English look at Esther 6:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Esther 6:8 means
Haman proposes unmistakable royal symbols: the very garments the king wears and the horse the king rides, with a royal crown set on its head. These are not mere tokens; they publicly associate the honoree with the king’s own majesty and authority. In Persian culture, wearing the king’s apparel and riding his horse signaled intimate favor and near-royal status. The crown on the horse highlights ceremonial splendor without confusing the throne itself. Haman craves identification with sovereignty, not just reward. His request reveals how deeply he longs for recognition that borders on adoration. He designs an honor that exalts the recipient as a living emblem of the king’s glory.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000let royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and on the head of which a crown royal is set:
KJV
King James Version · 1611Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901let royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and on the head of which a crown royal is set:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Let them take the robes which the king generally puts on, and the horse on which the king goes, and the crown which is on his head:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862let them bring in royal clothing that the king hath put on himself, and a horse on which the king hath ridden, and that the royal crown be put on his head,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Ought to be clothed with the king's apparel, and to be set upon the horse that the king rideth upon, and to have the royal crown upon his head,
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890let the royal apparel be brought with which the king arrays himself, and the horse that the king rides upon, and on the head of which the royal crown is set;
Context
Continuing his plan, Haman moves from general honor to specific regalia. The emphasis shifts to visibility and symbolism—garments and horse that belong to the king. This raises the stakes dramatically: whoever receives such honors will be seen as uniquely close to Ahasuerus. The proposal prepares the public spectacle Haman wants, which will make the reversal more dramatic when Mordecai is named. Next, Haman will add the element of public procession and proclamation.
v.7And Haman said unto the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honor,
v.8This passage
v.9and let the apparel and the horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that they may array the man therewith whom the king delighteth to honor, and cause him to ride on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honor.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Luke 15:22
But the father said to his servants, Bring forth quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
- Esther 1:11
to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to show the peoples and the princes her beauty; for she was fair to look on.
- 1 Samuel 18:4
And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his apparel, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
- Esther 2:17
And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained favor and kindness in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.
- 1 Kings 1:33
And the king said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon: