Esther 3:2 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.

◄ Esther 3:2 ►

New International Version
All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor.

New Living Translation
All the king’s officials would bow down before Haman to show him respect whenever he passed by, for so the king had commanded. But Mordecai refused to bow down or show him respect.

English Standard Version
And all the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
And all the king’s servants who were within the king’s gate bowed and paid homage to Haman, for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai would not bow or pay homage.

New American Standard Bible
All the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman; for so the king had commanded regarding him. But Mordecai neither bowed down nor paid homage.

NASB 1995
All the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman; for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai neither bowed down nor paid homage.

NASB 1977
And all the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman; for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai neither bowed down nor paid homage.

Legacy Standard Bible
And all the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate were bowing down and prostrating themselves before Haman, for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai would not bow down or prostrate himself.

Amplified Bible
All the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate [in royal service] bowed down and honored and paid homage to Haman; for this is what the king had commanded in regard to him. But Mordecai [a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin] neither bowed down nor paid homage [to him].

Christian Standard Bible
The entire royal staff at the King’s Gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, because the king had commanded this to be done for him. But Mordecai would not bow down or pay homage.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The entire royal staff at the King’s Gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, because the king had commanded this to be done for him. But Mordecai would not bow down or pay homage.

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
and the king had given orders for his officials at the royal gate to honor Haman by kneeling down to him. All of them obeyed except Mordecai.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
All the king's advisers were at the king's gate, kneeling and bowing to Haman with their faces touching the ground, because the king had commanded it. But Mordecai would not kneel and bow to him.

Good News Translation
The king ordered all the officials in his service to show their respect for Haman by kneeling and bowing to him. They all did so, except for Mordecai, who refused to do it.

International Standard Version
All the king's ministers who were in the king's gate would kneel and bow down to Haman, because the king had commanded that Haman be honored in this way. Mordecai, however, would not kneel and would not bow down.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

NET Bible
As a result, all the king's servants who were at the king's gate were bowing and paying homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded. However, Mordecai did not bow, nor did he pay him homage.

New Heart English Bible
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 did not bow down or pay him homage.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
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.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and all servants of the king, who [are] in the gate of the king, are bowing and doing homage to Haman, for so the king has commanded for him; and Mordecai does not bow nor pay respect.

Young's Literal Translation
and all servants of the king, who are in the gate of the king, are bowing and doing obeisance to Haman, for so hath the king commanded for him; and Mordecai doth not bow nor do obeisance.

Smith's Literal Translation
And all the king's servants which were in the king's gate were bowing and worshiping to Haman; for thus the king commanded for him. And Mordecai will not bow, and he will not worship.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And all the king's servants, that were at the doors of the palace, bent their knees, and worshipped Aman: for so the emperor had commanded them, only Mardochai did not bend his knee, nor worship him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And all the king’s servants, who passed by the doors of the palace, bent their knees and adored Haman, for so the ruler had instructed them. Only Mordecai did not bend his knee, nor adore him.

New American Bible
All the king’s servants who were at the royal gate would kneel and bow down to Haman, for that is what the king had ordered in his regard. Mordecai, however, would not kneel and bow down.

New Revised Standard Version
And all the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and did obeisance to Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow down or do obeisance.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And all the king's servants who were at the king's gate bowed down and did obeisance to Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai would not bow nor pay him reverence.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And all the Servants of the King who were at the gate of the King were kneeling and they worshiped Haman, because thus the King commanded concerning him, and Murdacai was not kneeling or worshiping.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed down, and prostrated themselves before Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not down, nor prostrated himself before him.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And all in the palace did him obeisance, for so the king had given orders to do: but Mardochaeus did not do him obeisance.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Haman Plots Against the Jews
1After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him to a position above all the princes who were with him. 2All 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. 3Then the royal servants at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the command of the king?”…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Daniel 3:5-6
As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. / And whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into the blazing fiery furnace.”

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.

Exodus 17:14-16
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as a reminder and recite it to Joshua, because I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” / And Moses built an altar and named it The LORD Is My Banner. / “Indeed,” he said, “a hand was lifted up toward the throne of the LORD. The LORD will war against Amalek from generation to generation.”

1 Samuel 15:2-3
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘I witnessed what the Amalekites did to the Israelites when they opposed them on their way up from Egypt. / Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”

1 Samuel 15:32-33
Then Samuel said, “Bring me Agag king of the Amalekites.” Agag came to him cheerfully, for he thought, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.” / But Samuel declared: “As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women.” And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal.

2 Samuel 14:4
When the woman from Tekoa went to the king, she fell facedown in homage and said, “Help me, O king!”

2 Kings 17:36
Instead, worship the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt with great power and an outstretched arm. You are to bow down to Him and offer sacrifices to Him.

Nehemiah 5:9
So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our foreign enemies?

Psalm 15:4
who despises the vile but honors those who fear the LORD, who does not revise a costly oath,

Psalm 138:6
Though the LORD is on high, He attends to the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar.

Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Isaiah 45:23
By Myself I have sworn; truth has gone out from My mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow before Me, every tongue will swear allegiance.

Matthew 4:9-10
“All this I will give You,” he said, “if You will fall down and worship me.” / “Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus told him. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”

Matthew 23:12
For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Luke 4:7-8
So if You worship me, it will all be Yours.” / But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”

Treasury of Scripture

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.

the king's servants.

Esther 2:19,21
And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate…

bowed.

Genesis 41:43
And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.

Philippians 2:10
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

bowed not.

Esther 3:1,5
After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him…

Exodus 17:14,16
And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven…

Deuteronomy 25:19
Therefore it shall be, when the LORD thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it, that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shalt not forget it.

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Bow Bowed Bowing Commanded Gate Haman Homage Honor House King's Kneel Knelt Mordecai Obeisance Officials Paid Pay Prostrated Reverence Reverenced Royal Servants Themselves

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Bow Bowed Bowing Commanded Gate Haman Homage Honor House King's Kneel Knelt Mordecai Obeisance Officials Paid Pay Prostrated Reverence Reverenced Royal Servants Themselves

Esther 3

1. Haman, advanced by the king, and despised by Mordecai, seeks revenge upon the Jews.
7. He casts lots.
8. He obtains by false accusations a decree of the king to put the Jews to death.

Berean Study Bible

All the royal servants at the king’s gate
This phrase sets the scene at the king's gate, a place of significant administrative and judicial activity in ancient Persia. The "royal servants" were likely officials or guards who had duties at the gate, a place where important decisions and transactions occurred. The king's gate was a symbol of authority and governance, and those who served there were expected to uphold the king's decrees. Historically, the king's gate was a place of power, and those who worked there were under the direct influence of the king's commands.

bowed down and paid homage to Haman
The act of bowing down and paying homage was a common practice in ancient Near Eastern cultures, signifying respect, submission, and acknowledgment of authority. Haman, having been elevated by King Xerxes, was given a position that demanded such respect. The Hebrew word for "bowed down" is "kara," which implies a physical act of lowering oneself, while "paid homage" comes from "shachah," meaning to prostrate oneself in worship or reverence. This act was not merely a cultural formality but a recognition of Haman's elevated status, as decreed by the king.

because the king had commanded this
The king's command was absolute in the Persian Empire, and obedience was expected without question. The authority of the king was seen as divinely sanctioned, and his decrees were considered unchangeable. This command to honor Haman would have been communicated throughout the empire, emphasizing the importance of Haman's position. The historical context of Persian rule underlines the power of the king's word, which was law and required strict adherence.

But Mordecai would not bow or pay homage
Mordecai's refusal to bow or pay homage to Haman is a pivotal moment in the narrative. His actions are rooted in his Jewish faith and identity, which forbade the worship or reverence of anyone other than God. The Hebrew word for "would not" is "lo," indicating a firm and resolute decision. Mordecai's defiance is an act of civil disobedience, grounded in his commitment to God's commandments. This stance sets the stage for the conflict that follows and highlights the theme of faithfulness to God over compliance with human authority. Mordecai's courage serves as an inspirational example of standing firm in one's beliefs, even in the face of potential persecution.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(2) Bowed not.--Perhaps, rather, did not prostrate himself, for such was the ordinary Eastern practice (see Herod. iii. 86, vii. 7, 34, 136, viii. 118). The objection on Mordecai's part was evidently mainly on religious grounds, as giving to a man Divine honours (Josephus l.c.), for it elicits from him the fact that he was a Jew (Esther 3:4), to whom such an act of obeisance would be abhorrent. Whether Mordecai also rebelled against the ignominious character of the obeisance, we cannot say.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 2. - All the king's servants. Literally, "the king's slaves" - the lower officers of the court, porters and others, of about the same rank as Mordecai. Bowed and reverenced Haman. i.e. prostrated themselves before him in the usual Oriental fashion. For the king had so commanded. No reason is assigned for this order, which was certainly unusual, since the prostration of an inferior before a superior was a general rule (Herod., 1:134). Perhaps Haman had been elevated from a very low position, and the king therefore thought a special order requisite. Mordecai bowed not. Greeks occasionally refused to prostrate themselves before the Great King himself, saying that it was not their custom to worship men (Herod., 7:136; Plut., 'Vit. Artax.,' § 22; Arrian., 'Exp. Alex.,' 4:10-12, etc.). Mordecai seems to have had the same feeling. Prostration was, he thought, an act of worship, and it was not proper to worship any one excepting God (see Revelation 22:9).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

All
וְכָל־ (wə·ḵāl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the royal
הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

servants
עַבְדֵ֨י (‘aḇ·ḏê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

at the King’s
הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

Gate
בְּשַׁ֣עַר (bə·ša·‘ar)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8179: An opening, door, gate

bowed down
כֹּרְעִ֤ים (kō·rə·‘îm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 3766: To bend the knee, to sink, to prostrate

and paid homage
וּמִֽשְׁתַּחֲוִים֙ (ū·miš·ta·ḥă·wîm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 7812: To depress, prostrate

to Haman,
לְהָמָ֔ן (lə·hā·mān)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 2001: Haman -- to rage, be turbulent

because
כִּי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the king
הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

had commanded
צִוָּה־ (ṣiw·wāh-)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6680: To lay charge (upon), give charge (to), command, order

this
כֵ֖ן (ḵên)
Adverb
Strong's 3651: So -- thus

for him.
ל֣וֹ (lōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

But Mordecai
וּמָ֨רְדֳּכַ֔י (ū·mā·rə·do·ḵay)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4782: Mordecai -- a companion of Zerubbabel, also a cousin of Esther

would not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

bow down
יִכְרַ֖ע (yiḵ·ra‘)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3766: To bend the knee, to sink, to prostrate

or pay homage.
יִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֶֽה׃ (yiš·ta·ḥă·weh)
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7812: To depress, prostrate

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OT History: Esther 3:2 All the king's servants who were (Est Esth. Es)