Esther 3:2

¹ After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him to a position above all the princes who were with him.

All the royal servants at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, because the king had commanded that this be done for him. But Mordecai would not bow down or pay homage.

³ Then the royal servants at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the command of the king?”

⁴ Day after day they warned him, but he would not comply. So they reported it to Haman to see whether Mordecai’s behavior would be tolerated, since he had told them he was a Jew.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: All the royal servants at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, because the king had commanded that this be done for him. But Mordecai would not bow down or pay homage.
KJV: And all the king’s servants, that were in the king’s gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.
WEB: All the king’s servants who were in the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai didn’t bow down or pay him homage.
ASV: And all the king`s servants, that were in the king`s gate, bowed down, and did reverence to Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not down, nor did him reverence.
DARBY: And all the king's servants that were in the king's gate bowed and did Haman reverence, for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did [him] reverence.
BLB: And all the servants of the king who [were] at the gate of the king [were] bowing and prostrating themselves to Haman, for thus the king had commanded concerning him; and Mordecai would not bow and would not prostrate himself.

ÅB: Og alle kongens tjenere som var i kongens port, falt på kne og kastet seg ned for Haman, for så hadde kongen befalt om ham; men Mordekai falt ikke på kne og kastet seg ikke ned for ham.
OTB: Alle kongens tjenere ved kongens port bøyde seg og viste Haman ære, for kongen hadde befalt dette om ham. Men Mordekai bøyde seg verken ned eller viste ham ære.
B1930: Og alle kongens tjenere som var i kongens port, falt på kne og kastet sig ned for Haman, for så hadde kongen befalt om ham; men Mordekai falt ikke på kne og kastet sig ikke ned for ham.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Esther 2:21
In those days, while Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who guarded the entrance, grew angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.
Read in context
Psalms 15:4
who despises the vile but honors those who fear the LORD, who does not revise a costly oath,
Read in context
Esther 3:5
When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or pay him homage, he was filled with rage.
Read in context
Esther 5:9
That day Haman went out full of joy and glad of heart. At the king’s gate, however, he saw Mordecai, who did not rise or tremble in fear at his presence. And Haman was filled with rage toward Mordecai.
Read in context
Esther 3:1
After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him to a position above all the princes who were with him.
Read in context
Philippians 2:10
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
Read in context
Genesis 41:43
He had Joseph ride in his second chariot, with men calling out before him, “Bow the knee!” So he placed him over all the land of Egypt.
Read in context
Deuteronomy 25:19
When the LORD your God gives you rest from the enemies around you in the land that He is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you are to blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!
Read in context