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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Esther 3:2–5

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
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.
Then the king’s servants, which were in the king’s gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king’s commandment?
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.
And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.
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PASSAGE SELECTION

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SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

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From verse 2

  1. Esther 2:21Rank 1 from verse 2
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    21¶ In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king’s gate, two of the king’s chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.

  2. Esther 3:5Rank 2 from verse 2
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    5And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.

  3. Esther 5:9Rank 3 from verse 2
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    9¶ Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.

  4. Psalms 15:4Rank 4 from verse 2
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    4In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.

  5. Deuteronomy 25:19Rank 5 from verse 2
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    19Therefore 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.

  6. Esther 2:19Rank 6 from verse 2
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    19And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king’s gate.

  7. Esther 3:1Rank 7 from verse 2
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    1AFTER 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.

  8. Exodus 17:14Rank 8 from verse 2
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    14And 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.

  9. Exodus 17:16Rank 9 from verse 2
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    16For he said, Because the Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.

  10. Genesis 41:43Rank 10 from verse 2
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    43And 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.

  11. Philippians 2:10Rank 11 from verse 2
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    10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

  12. 1 Samuel 15:3Rank 12 from verse 2
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    3Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.

From verse 3

  1. Esther 3:2Rank 1 from verse 3
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    2And 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.

  2. Exodus 1:17Rank 2 from verse 3
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    17But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.

  3. Esther 2:19Rank 3 from verse 3
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    19And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king’s gate.

  4. Matthew 15:2–3Rank 4 from verse 3
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    2Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

    3But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

From verse 4

  1. Genesis 39:10Rank 1 from verse 4
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    10And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.

  2. Daniel 6:20–28Rank 2 from verse 4
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    20And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?

    21Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.

    22My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

    23Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.

    24¶ And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.

    25¶ Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

    26I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

    27He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

    28So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

  3. Jonah 1:9Rank 3 from verse 4
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    9And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.

  4. Daniel 6:13Rank 4 from verse 4
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    13Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.

  5. Daniel 3:12Rank 5 from verse 4
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    12There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

  6. Daniel 3:16–18Rank 6 from verse 4
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    16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

    17If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

    18But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

  7. Daniel 3:23–30Rank 7 from verse 4
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    23And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

    24Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellers, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.

    25He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

    26¶ Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came forth of the midst of the fire.

    27And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellers, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.

    28Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.

    29Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.

    30Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, in the province of Babylon.

  8. Daniel 3:8–9Rank 8 from verse 4
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    8¶ Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.

    9They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.

  9. Ezra 1:3Rank 9 from verse 4
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    3Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.

From verse 5

  1. Daniel 3:19Rank 1 from verse 5
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    19¶ Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.

  2. Esther 5:9Rank 2 from verse 5
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    9¶ Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.

  3. Esther 3:2Rank 3 from verse 5
    Open

    2And 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.

  4. Proverbs 21:24Rank 4 from verse 5
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    24Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.

  5. Esther 1:12Rank 5 from verse 5
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    12But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.

  6. Genesis 4:5–6Rank 6 from verse 5
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    5But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

    6And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

  7. Job 5:2Rank 7 from verse 5
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    2For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.

  8. Proverbs 12:16Rank 8 from verse 5
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    16A fool’s wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.

  9. Proverbs 19:19Rank 9 from verse 5
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    19A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.

  10. Proverbs 27:3–4Rank 10 from verse 5
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    3A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both.

    4Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Esther 3:2

COMBINED MEANING

king

↗

A sovereign ruler; one exercising royal authority over a kingdom.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

bowed

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of bow. Sense 1: To bend or incline the head, knees, face, or body downward. Sense 2: To make a bodily act of reverence or worship.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

reverence

↗

Sense 1: Respect or honour mingled with fear or awe; an outward act of such respect. Sense 2: To regard or treat with such respect or honour, sometimes shown by bowing.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Esther 3:3

COMBINED MEANING

king

↗

A sovereign ruler; one exercising royal authority over a kingdom.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

which

↗

1. An interrogative or relative pronoun identifying one or more persons or things from a stated or implied set. 2. That which; what.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

transgressest

↗

Second-person singular present form of transgress, meaning to break or pass beyond a law, command, duty, or rightful boundary.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

thou

↗

The singular second-person subject pronoun, meaning you when directly addressing one person, being, or individually treated addressee.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

commandment

↗

Sense 1: An authoritative command, charge, order, or precept to be obeyed. Sense 2: One of the ten commandments.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Esther 3:4

COMBINED MEANING

pass

↗

To go by, through, over, or beyond; to happen, cease, or be transferred.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

spake

↗

The past tense of speak: uttered or expressed words, addressed someone, or communicated a matter in words.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

hearkened

↗

1. Listened attentively or gave heed. 2. Gave regard, consented, or acted in response.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

told

↗

Past-tense or past-participial form of tell (to say, relate, inform, count, or make known).

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

see

↗

Sense 1: To perceive or behold with the eyes or in a vision. Sense 2: To observe, examine, discover, ascertain, consider, understand, know, or recognize. Sense 3: To visit, meet, converse with, or be in the presence of. Sense 4: To experience, undergo, endure, or enjoy. Sense 5: To attend to, take care, ensure, or beware.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

stand

↗

Sense 1: To be upright, rise, stop, remain, endure, take or keep a position, be established, withstand, or present oneself before another. Sense 2: A fixed position or state of stopping, as in ‘at a stand’.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Esther 3:5

COMBINED MEANING

bowed

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of bow. Sense 1: To bend or incline the head, knees, face, or body downward. Sense 2: To make a bodily act of reverence or worship.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

reverence

↗

Sense 1: Respect or honour mingled with fear or awe; an outward act of such respect. Sense 2: To regard or treat with such respect or honour, sometimes shown by bowing.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

wrath

↗

Fierce anger, indignation, displeasure, rage, or the punitive judgment and destructive action that proceed from it.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

READ THE PASSAGE

View in context

Suggested context · Esther 3:1–6

The selected passage is highlighted. Context is a study aid.

3:1AFTER 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.

3:2And 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.

Selected passage

3:3Then the king’s servants, which were in the king’s gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king’s commandment?

Selected passage

3:4Now 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.

Selected passage

3:5And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.

Selected passage

3:6And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.

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