EST 3:2 Parallel View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible. This view is only designed for doing comparisons of different translations. Click on the version abbreviation to see the verse in more of its context.

The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

OET (OET-RV) Then the king commanded that all his other officials had to bow down in front of Haman to honour him, and they were doing this at the king’s gate, except for Mordekai who refused to bow down to reverence Haman.

Key: yellow:verbs, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT And all the servants of the king who were at the gate of the king were bowing down and prostrating themselves to Haman, for thus the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai would neither bow down nor would he prostrate himself.

UST The king wanted to show that he had given Haman an important position. So he commanded all of his other servants who were at the king’s gate to bow down all the way to the ground to honor Haman whenever he walked by. But Mordecai refused to bow down to Haman, because as a Jew he would not worship anyone except Yahweh.

BSB 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.

OEB All the king’s courtiers who were in the king’s gate used to bow down before Haman, for so the king had commanded, but Mordecai did not bow down nor prostrate himself.

WEB 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.

MSG ^(1-4)Some time later, King Xerxes promoted Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, making him the highest-ranking official in the government. 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.

NET 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.

LSV 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.

FBV All the officials in royal employment bowed down and showed respect to Haman, for this is what the king had commanded. But Mordecai would not bow down and show respect to him.

T4T Then the king commanded that all the other officials had to bow down in front of Haman to honor him when he walked by. But Mordecai refused to bow down to Haman.

LEB And all of the king’s servants who were at the gate of the king were kneeling and bowing down to Haman; for so the king had commanded concerning him, but Mordecai did not kneel and bow down.

BBE 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.

MOF No MOF EST book available

JPS 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.

ASV 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.

DRA 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.

YLT 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.

DBY And all the king's servants that were in the king's gate bowed and did Haman reverence, for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did [him] reverence.

RV 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.

WBS 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.

KJB 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.
(And all the king’s servants, that were in the king’s gate, bowd, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowd not, nor did him reverence. )

BB And al the kinges seruauntes that were in the kinges gate, bowed their knees, and reuerenced Haman, for the king had so commaunded concerning hym: But Mardocheus bowed not the knee, neither dyd hym reuerence.
(And all the kings servants that were in the kings gate, bowd their knees, and reuerenced Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him: But Mordecai bowd not the knee, neither did him reuerence.)

GNV And all the Kings seruants that were at the Kings gate, bowed their knees, and reuerenced Haman: for the King had so commanded concerning him: but Mordecai bowed not the knee, neither did reuerence.
(And all the Kings servants that were at the Kings gate, bowd their knees, and reuerenced Haman: for the King had so commanded concerning him: but Mordecai bowd not the knee, neither did reuerence. )

CB And all the kynges seruauntes that were in the gate, bowed their knees, and dyd reuerence vnto Aman: for the kinge had so comaunded. But Mardocheus bowed not the knee, and worshipped him not.
(And all the kings servants that were in the gate, bowd their knees, and did reuerence unto Aman: for the kinge had so commanded. But Mordecai bowd not the knee, and worshipped him not.)

WYC And alle the seruauntis of the kyng, that lyuyden in the yatis of the paleis, kneliden, and worschipiden Aaman; for the emperour hadde comaundid so to hem; Mardochee aloone bowide not the knees, nethir worschipide hym.
(And all the servants of the king, that lyuyden in the yatis of the paleis, kneliden, and worshippedn Aaman; for the emperour had commanded so to hem; Mordecai alone bowide not the knees, neither worshipped him.)

LUT Und alle Knechte des Königs, die im Tor des Königs waren, beugten die Kniee und beteten Haman an; denn der König hatte es also geboten. Aber Mardachai beugete die Kniee nicht und betete nicht an.
(And all Knechte the kings, the in_the goal/doorway the kings waren, beugten the Kniee and beteten Haman an; because the king had it also geboten. But Mardachai beugete the Kniee not and betete not an.)

CLV Cunctique servi regis, qui in foribus palatii versabantur, flectebant genua, et adorabant Aman: sic enim præceperat eis imperator: solus Mardochæus non flectebat genu, neque adorabat eum.
(Cunctique servi king, who in foribus palatii versabantur, flectebant genua, and adorabant Aman: so because præceperat eis imperator: solus Mardochæus not/no flectebat genu, neque adorabat him. )

BRN No BRN EST book available

BrLXX No BrLXX EST book available

TTN Tyndale Theme Notes:

Ethnic Hatred

Selfish pride, a desire to maintain power, and hatred for those who stand in the way have often been the basis for the persecution of racial or religious groups. Many people have died through the centuries because of such hatred.

In the book of Esther, Haman hated Mordecai because Mordecai would not bow down as everyone else did when Haman passed by (Esth 3:1-5). Haman thus despised a man of integrity who would not obey laws that were against his convictions. This personal hatred of Mordecai the Jew developed into a murderous desire to destroy all Jews (3:6). His charge against the Jewish people was what he hated in Mordecai: They did not assimilate with other people, they had unique laws and customs, and they did not obey some of the laws of the king (3:8).

The Spanish Inquisition (1400s) and the Holocaust in Nazi Germany (1930s–40s) were other terrible attempts to wipe the Jewish people off the face of the earth. Religious and ethnic hatred still leads to diabolical plans today.

God disapproves of such hatred against any ethnic or religious group, and he will eventually hold accountable those who attempt to carry out such plots (see Deut 30:7; Pss 21:7-11; 34:19-21; 44:7). God has repeatedly saved the Jewish people and defeated their enemies, for God is faithful to all his promises (see Rom 9–11). He will similarly preserve his church through all persecution (see Matt 16:18; Rom 8:26-39).

Passages for Further Study

Gen 46:33-34; Deut 7:1-6; 23:3-8; Esth 3:1-9; Matt 15:22-28; Luke 4:27; Acts 10:34-35; Rom 9:1–11:36; Gal 3:26-29; Eph 2:14

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

וְ⁠כָל־עַבְדֵ֨י הַ⁠מֶּ֜לֶךְ אֲשֶׁר־בְּ⁠שַׁ֣עַר הַ⁠מֶּ֗לֶךְ

and=all servants the=king which/who in/on/at/with,gate the=king

Here, the gate of the king, probably the entrance to the citadel, may represent the citadel itself, the place where these people served the king. The citadel, in turn, would represent everyone who served the king. So you could say just “all the king’s other servants.” However, this may also be a reference to the specific group of officials who were stationed at the gate, the way Mordecai was. Alternate translation: “the royal officials who were stationed at the palace gate”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

וְ⁠כָל־עַבְדֵ֨י הַ⁠מֶּ֜לֶךְ & כֹּרְעִ֤ים וּ⁠מִֽשְׁתַּחֲוִים֙ לְ⁠הָמָ֔ן

and=all servants the=king & bowed_down and,paid_homage to,Haman

The servants were required to do this as a way of honoring him whenever Haman walked by. If it would be helpful in your language, you could say this explicitly, as in the UST.

Note 3 topic: translate-symaction

כֹּרְעִ֤ים וּ⁠מִֽשְׁתַּחֲוִים֙

bowed_down and,paid_homage

This means that the other officials humbled themselves and lay flat on the ground before Haman. These actions represented recognition and respect for the very high position that the king had given him in the Persian government.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

כֹּרְעִ֤ים וּ⁠מִֽשְׁתַּחֲוִים֙

bowed_down and,paid_homage

These two phrases mean basically the same thing. The repetition is used to emphasize that the officials knew how important it was to obey the king’s command and honor Haman in this way. You could combine them as UST does and say something like “bow down all the way to the ground.” Alternate translation: “bowing and lying down on the ground”

וּ⁠מִֽשְׁתַּחֲוִים֙

and,paid_homage

This means bowing down all the way to the ground.

Note 5 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

כִּי־כֵ֖ן צִוָּה־ל֣⁠וֹ

that/for/because/then/when so commanded to=him/it

If it would be helpful in your language, you could put this information first in the verse because it explains the reason why all the other officials were bowing to Haman. See the UST.

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

כִּי־כֵ֖ן צִוָּה־ל֣⁠וֹ

that/for/because/then/when so commanded to=him/it

The king did this as a sign of Haman’s new position. You can state this here or in a separate sentence, as in the UST. Alternate translation: “the king had commanded them to do this in order to show that he had given Haman such a high position”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

וּ⁠מָ֨רְדֳּכַ֔י לֹ֥א יִכְרַ֖ע וְ⁠לֹ֥א יִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֶֽה

and,Mordecai not bow_down and=not pay_homage

These two phrases mean basically the same thing. The repetition is used to emphasize how serious an offense this was against the king’s command and how much determination it took for Mordecai to remain standing. You could combine these phrases as UST does and say, “But Mordecai refused to bow down to Haman.” Alternate translation: “Mordecai did not bow down or lie on the ground”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

וּ⁠מָ֨רְדֳּכַ֔י לֹ֥א יִכְרַ֖ע וְ⁠לֹ֥א יִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֶֽה

and,Mordecai not bow_down and=not pay_homage

It appears that as a Jew, Mordecai considered it wrong to worship anyone other than Yahweh, and that he believed he would be worshiping Haman if he bowed down low to the ground to honor him. So, on religious grounds, Mordecai refused to bow down. If it would be helpful in your language, you could say this explicitly.

Parallel EST 3:2