Esther 7:6
What does Esther 7:6 mean?
A plain-English look at Esther 7:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Esther 7:6 means
Esther delivers a concise, courageous indictment: “An adversary and an enemy, even this wicked Haman.” She labels him not merely mistaken but morally bent, the active foe of her people. Pointing to Haman in the king’s presence removes all ambiguity. Haman’s fear before the king and queen reveals a conscience cornered and the sudden collapse of his power. He who demanded others bow now trembles. The verse emphasizes the moral clarity that truth brings; once the mask is off, wickedness looks as it is. The courtroom is the banquet hall, and the prosecutor is the queen whose wisdom serves her people.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And Esther said, An adversary and an enemy, even this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And Esther said, An adversary and an enemy, even this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And Esther said, Our hater and attacker is this evil Haman. Then Haman was full of fear before the king and the queen.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And Esther saith, `The man--adversary and enemy--<FI> is<Fi> this wicked Haman;' and Haman hath been afraid at the presence of the king and of the queen.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And Esther said: It is this Aman that is our adversary and most wicked enemy. Aman hearing this was forthwith astonished, not being able to bear the countenance of the king and of the queen.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was terrified before the king and the queen.
Context
This direct accusation answers the king’s demand and shifts the narrative from investigation to sentencing. With the culprit identified, the king’s wrath ignites in the next verse, and Haman’s frantic self-preservation begins. The story’s theme of reversal crystallizes here: the exalted official is unmasked as an enemy, and the previously silent queen becomes the voice of justice. Everything that follows flows from this unveiled reality.
v.5Then spake the king Ahasuerus and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so?
v.6This passage
v.7And the king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine and went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Nehemiah 6:16
And it came to pass, when all our enemies heardthereof, that all the nations that were about us feared, and were much cast down in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.
- Psalms 73:17
Until I went into the sanctuary of God, And considered their latter end.
- Ecclesiastes 5:8
If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a province, marvel not at the matter: for one higher than the high regardeth; and there are higher than they.
- 1 Corinthians 5:13
But them that are without God judgeth. Put away the wicked man from among yourselves.
- Daniel 5:5
In the same hour came forth the fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.
- 1 Samuel 24:13
As saith the proverb of the ancients, Out of the wicked cometh forth wickedness; but my hand shall not be upon thee.