Esther 3:4

2 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?”

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.

5 When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or pay him homage, he was filled with rage.

6 And when he learned the identity of Mordecai’s people, he scorned the notion of laying hands on Mordecai alone. Instead, he sought to destroy all of Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the kingdom of Xerxes.

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
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.
KJV
Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai’s matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.
WEB
Now it came to pass, when they spoke daily to him, and he didn’t listen to them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai’s reason would stand; for he had told them that he was a Jew.
ASV
Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai`s matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.
DARBY
And it came to pass as they spoke daily to him, and he hearkened not to them, that they informed Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand; for he had told them that he was a Jew.
BLB
And it came to pass, in their speaking to him day by day, and he would not listen to them. And they declared [it] to Haman, to see if the words of Mordecai would stand, for he had declared to them that he [was] a Jew.
ÅB
Og da de dag etter dag hadde sagt så til ham, og han ikke hørte på dem, så meldte de det til Haman for å se om den grunn Mordekai gav, ville bli tatt for god: for han hadde sagt dem at han var jøde.
OTB
Dag etter dag talte de til ham, men han nektet å høre. Derfor rapporterte de det til Haman for å se om Mordekais grunn ville bli tolerert, for han hadde fortalt dem at han var jøde.
B1930
Og da de dag efter dag hadde sagt så til ham, og han ikke hørte på dem, så meldte de det til Haman for å se om den grunn Mordekai gav, vilde bli tatt for god: for han hadde sagt dem at han var jøde.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Genesis 39:10

    Although Potiphar’s wife spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be near her.

    Read in context
  • Daniel 6:20–28

    When he reached the den, he cried out in a voice of anguish, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”

    Read in context
  • Jonah 1:9

    “I am a Hebrew,” replied Jonah. “I worship the LORD, the God of the heavens, who made the sea and the dry land.”

    Read in context
  • Daniel 6:13

    Then they told the king, “Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, shows no regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed. He still makes his petition three times a day.”

    Read in context
  • Daniel 3:23–30

    And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, firmly bound, fell into the blazing fiery furnace.

    Read in context
  • Daniel 3:12

    But there are some Jews you have appointed to manage the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—who have ignored you, O king, and have refused to serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.”

    Read in context
  • Ezra 1:3

    Whoever among you belongs to His people, may his God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the LORD, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem.

    Read in context
  • Daniel 3:8–9

    At this time some astrologers came forward and maliciously accused the Jews,

    Read in context