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The NET Bible®

Esther 6:4

Then the king said, "Who is that in the courtyard?" Now Haman had come to the outer courtyard of the palace to suggest that the king hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had constructed for him.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Civil Service;   Gallows;   Mordecai;  

Dictionaries:

- Easton Bible Dictionary - Gallows;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Bigthan;   Esther;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Esther, Book of;   Hanging;   Punishments;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Ahasuerus;   Gallows;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for June 30;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
The king asked, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman was just entering the outer court of the palace to ask the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows he had prepared for him.
Hebrew Names Version
The king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak to the king to hang Mordekhai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
King James Version
And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
English Standard Version
And the king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king's palace to speak to the king about having Mordecai hanged on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
New Century Version
The king said, "Who is in the courtyard?" Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king's palace. He had come to ask the king about hanging Mordecai on the platform he had prepared.
Amplified Bible
So the king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king's palace to ask the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows which he had prepared for him.
New American Standard Bible
So the king said, "Who is in the courtyard?" Now Haman had just entered the outer courtyard of the king's palace in order to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the wooden gallows which he had prepared for him.
World English Bible
The king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak to the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And the King sayde, Who is in the court? (Now Haman was come into the inner court of the Kings house, that he might speake vnto the King to hang Mordecai on the tree that he had prepared for him.)
Legacy Standard Bible
So the king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman had entered the outer court of the king's house in order to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows which he had set up for him.
Berean Standard Bible
"Who is in the court?" the king asked. Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to ask the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows he had prepared for him.
Contemporary English Version
About this time, Haman came in to ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on the tower he had built. The king saw him and asked, "Who is that man waiting in front of the throne room?"
Complete Jewish Bible
The king then asked, "Who's that in the courtyard?" For Haman had come into the outer courtyard of the king's palace to speak to the king about hanging Mordekhai on the gallows he had prepared for him.
Darby Translation
And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman had come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak to the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
Easy-to-Read Version
Haman had just entered the outer area of the king's palace. He had come to ask the king to hang Mordecai on the hanging post Haman had commanded to be built. The king said, "Who just came into the courtyard?"
George Lamsa Translation
And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outer court of the kings house to speak to the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
Good News Translation
"Are any of my officials in the palace?" the king asked. Now Haman had just entered the courtyard; he had come to ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on the gallows that was now ready.
Lexham English Bible
And the king asked, "Who is in the courtyard?" Haman had just come to the courtyard of the king's outer palace to tell the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
Literal Translation
And the king said, Who is in the court? And Haman had come into the outer court of the king's house to speak to the king to hang Mordecai on the wooden gallows which he had prepared for him.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And the kynge sayde: Who is in ye courte? (for Aman was gone in to ye courte without before ye kinges house, yt he might speake vnto ye kinge to hange Mardocheus on ye tre, yt he had prepared for him.)
American Standard Version
And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
Bible in Basic English
Then the king said, Who is in the outer room? Now Haman had come into the outer room to get the king's authority for the hanging of Mordecai on the pillar which he had made ready for him.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And the king saide: Who is in the court? (for Haman was come into the court without before the kinges house, that he might speake vnto the king to hang Mardocheus on the tree that he had prepared for him.)
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And the king said: 'Who is in the court?'--Now Haman was come into the outer court of the king's house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.--
King James Version (1611)
And the king said, Who is in the court? (now Haman was come into the outward court of the kings house, to speake vnto the king, to hang Mordecai on the gallons that hee had prepared for him.)
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And while the king was enquiring about the kindness of Mardochaeus, behold, Aman was in the court. And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Aman was come in to speak to the king, that he should hang Mardochaeus on the gallows, which he had prepared.
English Revised Version
And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And anoon the kyng seide, Who is in the halle? Sotheli Aaman hadde entrid in to the ynnere halle of the kyngis hows, to make suggestioun to the kyng, that he schulde comaunde Mardochee to be hangid on the iebat, which was maad redi to him.
Update Bible Version
And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman came into the outward court of the king's house, to speak to the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
Webster's Bible Translation
And the king said, Who [is] in the court? Now Haman had come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak to the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
New King James Version
So the king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king's palace to suggest that the king hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
New Living Translation
"Who is that in the outer court?" the king inquired. As it happened, Haman had just arrived in the outer court of the palace to ask the king to impale Mordecai on the pole he had prepared.
New Life Bible
So the king said, "Who is outside?" Now Haman had just come into the garden outside the king's special house. He wanted to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the tower he had made ready for him.
New Revised Standard
The king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king's palace to speak to the king about having Mordecai hanged on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then said the king, Who is in the court? Now, Haman, had come into the outer court of the kings house, to speak unto the king, to hang Mordecai, upon the gallows which he had prepared for him.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the king said immediately: Who is in the court? for Aman was coming in to the inner court of the king’s house, to speak to the king, that he might order Mardochai to be hanged upon the gibbet, which was prepared for him.
Revised Standard Version
And the king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king's palace to speak to the king about having Mor'decai hanged on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
Young's Literal Translation
And the king saith, `Who [is] in the court?' -- and Haman hath come in to the outer court of the house of the king, to say to the king to hang Mordecai on the tree that he had prepared for him --
THE MESSAGE
The king said, "Is there anybody out in the court?" Now Haman had just come into the outer court of the king's palace to talk to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows he had built for him.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
So the king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king's palace in order to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows which he had prepared for him.

Contextual Overview

4 Then the king said, "Who is that in the courtyard?" Now Haman had come to the outer courtyard of the palace to suggest that the king hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had constructed for him. 5 The king's attendants said to him, "It is Haman who is standing in the courtyard." The king said, "Let him enter." 6 So Haman came in, and the king said to him, "What should be done for the man whom the king wishes to honor?" Haman thought to himself, "Who is it that the king would want to honor more than me?" 7 So Haman said to the king, "For the man whom the king wishes to honor, 8 let them bring royal attire which the king himself has worn and a horse on which the king himself has ridden—one bearing the royal insignia! 9 Then let this clothing and this horse be given to one of the king's noble officials. Let him then clothe the man whom the king wishes to honor, and let him lead him about through the plaza of the city on the horse, calling before him, ‘So shall it be done to the man whom the king wishes to honor!'" 10 The king then said to Haman, "Go quickly! Take the clothing and the horse, just as you have described, and do as you just indicated to Mordecai the Jew who sits at the king's gate. Don't neglect a single thing of all that you have said." 11 So Haman took the clothing and the horse, and he clothed Mordecai. He led him about on the horse throughout the plaza of the city, calling before him, "So shall it be done to the man whom the king wishes to honor!"

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Who is in the court: Proverbs 3:27, Proverbs 3:28, Ecclesiastes 9:10

the outward: Esther 4:11, Esther 5:1

to speak: Esther 3:8-11, Esther 5:14, Esther 7:9, Job 5:13, Psalms 2:4, Psalms 33:19

Reciprocal: Psalms 36:4 - deviseth

Cross-References

Genesis 6:15
This is how you should make it: The ark is to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high.
Genesis 6:20
Of the birds after their kinds, and of the cattle after their kinds, and of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every kind will come to you so you can keep them alive.
Genesis 6:21
And you must take for yourself every kind of food that is eaten, and gather it together. It will be food for you and for them."
Genesis 6:22
And Noah did all that God commanded him—he did indeed.
Genesis 11:4
Then they said, "Come, let's build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens so that we may make a name for ourselves. Otherwise we will be scattered across the face of the entire earth."
Numbers 13:33
We even saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak came from the Nephilim), and we seemed like grasshoppers both to ourselves and to them."
Numbers 16:2
and rebelled against Moses, along with some of the Israelites, 250 leaders of the community, chosen from the assembly, famous men.
Deuteronomy 3:11
Only King Og of Bashan was left of the remaining Rephaites. (It is noteworthy that his sarcophagus was made of iron. Does it not, indeed, still remain in Rabbath of the Ammonites? It is thirteen and a half feet long and six feet wide according to standard measure.)
1 Samuel 17:4
Then a champion came out from the camp of the Philistines. His name was Goliath; he was from Gath. He was close to seven feet tall.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And the king said, who is in the court?.... Being in haste to confer some honour on Mordecai for what he had done:

now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house; though it was early in the morning, being eager to get to the speech of the king before he was engaged in any business, to obtain a grant from him:

to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him; of which he made no doubt of having, and therefore had prepared for it.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Esther 6:4. Who is in the court? — This accords with the dream mentioned by the Targum; and given above.

Now Haman was come — This must have been very early in the morning. Haman's pride and revenge were both on the tenters to be gratified.


 
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