Internet Verse Search Commentaries Word Analysis ITL - draft

Esther 3:2

NETBible	As a result,¹ 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,² nor did he pay him homage.
NIV © biblegateway Est 3:2	All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honour to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honour.
NASB © biblegateway Est 3:2	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.
NLT © biblegateway Est 3:2	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.
MSG © biblegateway Est 3:2	All the king's servants at the King's Gate used to honor him by bowing down and kneeling before Haman--that's what the king had commanded. Except Mordecai. Mordecai wouldn't do it, wouldn't bow down and kneel.
BBE © SABDAweb Est 3:2	And all the king’s servants who were in the king’s house went down to the earth before Haman and gave him honour: for so the king had given orders. But Mordecai did not go down before him or give him honour.
NRSV © bibleoremus Est 3:2	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.
NKJV © biblegateway Est 3:2	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.
[+] More English


KJV	And all the king's <04428> servants <05650>_, that [were] in the king's <04428> gate <08179>_, bowed <03766> (8802)_, and reverenced <07812> (8693) Haman <02001>_: for the king <04428> had so commanded <06680> (8765) concerning him. But Mordecai <04782> bowed <03766> (8799) not, nor did [him] reverence <07812> (8691)_.
NASB © biblegateway Est 3:2	All <03605> the king's <04428> servants <05650> who <0834> were at the king's <04428> gate <08179> bowed <03766> down <03766> and paid <07812> homage <07812> to Haman <02001> ; for so <03651> the king <04428> had commanded <06680> concerning him. But Mordecai <04782> neither <03808> bowed <03766> down <03766> nor <03808> paid <07812> homage <07812> .
LXXM	kai <2532> CONJ pantev <3956> A-NPM oi <3588> T-NPM en <1722> PREP th <3588> T-DSF aulh <833> N-DSF prosekunoun <4352> V-IAI-3P autw <846> D-DSM outwv <3778> ADV gar <1063> PRT prosetaxen <4367> V-AAI-3S o <3588> T-NSM basileuv <935> N-NSM poihsai <4160> V-AAN o <3588> T-NSM de <1161> PRT mardocaiov {N-NSM} ou <3364> ADV prosekunei <4352> V-IAI-3S autw <846> D-DSM
NET [draft] ITL	As a result, all <03605> the king’s <04428> servants <05650> who <0834> were at the king’s <04428> gate <08179> were bowing <03766> and paying homage <07812> to Haman <02001> , for <03588> the king <04428> had so <03651> commanded <06680> . However, Mordecai <04782> did not <03808> bow <03766> , nor <03808> did he pay <07812> him homage <07812> .
HEBREW	hwxtsy <07812> alw <03808> erky <03766> al <03808> ykdrmw <04782> Klmh <04428> wl <0> hwu <06680> Nk <03651> yk <03588> Nmhl <02001> Mywxtsmw <07812> Myerk <03766> Klmh <04428> resb <08179> rsa <0834> Klmh <04428> ydbe <05650> lkw (3:2) <03605>

NETBible

As a result,¹ 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,² nor did he pay him homage.

NET Notes

¹tn Heb “and” (so KJV, NASB, NRSV). Other modern English versions leave the conjunction untranslated here (NAB, NIV, NCV, NLT).

²sn Mordecai did not bow. The reason for Mordecai’s refusal to bow before Haman is not clearly stated here. Certainly the Jews did not refuse to bow as a matter of principle, as though such an action somehow violated the second command of the Decalogue. Many biblical texts bear witness to their practice of falling prostrate before people of power and influence (e.g., 1 Sam 24:8; 2 Sam 14:4; 1 Kgs 1:16). Perhaps the issue here was that Haman was a descendant of the Amalekites, a people who had attacked Israel in an earlier age (see Exod 17:8-16; 1 Sam 15:17-20; Deut 25:17-19).