King James Version

What Does Esther 7:6 Mean?

Esther 7:6 in the King James Version says “And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen. The ...” — study this verse from Esther chapter 7 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen. The adversary: Heb. The man adversary before: or, at the presence of”

Esther 7:6 · KJV

Fear & Courage

Context

4

For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage. to be destroyed: Heb. that they should destroy, and kill, and cause to perish

5

Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so? that: Heb. whose heart hath filled him

6

And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen. The adversary: Heb. The man adversary before: or, at the presence of

7

And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.

8

Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face. before me: Heb. with me

Read Esther 7 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen. When the king demanded to know who dared decree the queen's destruction (v. 5), Esther identified Haman: "The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman." The threefold description—"adversary" (tsar, צָר), "enemy" (oyev, אֹיֵב), and "wicked" (ra, רָע)—piles up condemnatory terms. Pointing to Haman at the banquet table—the intimate setting where he thought himself honored—created devastating shock. Haman's response: "afraid before the king and queen" demonstrates he immediately recognized his danger. The man who wielded power to decree genocide now trembles before those he had threatened. This reversal demonstrates how quickly pride falls and power dissolves when God moves.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

The banquet setting made Haman's unmasking particularly dramatic. He had attended two feasts thinking himself specially honored (5:12), only to discover he was being set up for exposure and judgment. Ancient Near Eastern banquets created obligations of hospitality and protection—violating a guest was serious offense. Yet Haman had violated the queen herself through his decree, superseding any protection the banquet setting might provide. His fear was justified—kings dealt harshly with threats to the royal family, and Haman's decree threatened not only the queen but exposed the king to potential guilt for authorizing his wife's murder.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does Haman's sudden reversal from honored guest to condemned enemy illustrate how quickly God can overthrow the proud and powerful?
  2. What does the banquet setting teach about how divine justice sometimes operates through ironic reversals in the very places enemies feel secure?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 13 words
וַתֹּ֣אמֶר1 of 13

“said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֶסְתֵּ֔ר2 of 13

“And Esther”

H635

ester, the jewish heroine

אִ֚ישׁ3 of 13

“The adversary”

H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

צַ֣ר4 of 13
H6862

a pebble (as in h6864)

וְאוֹיֵ֔ב5 of 13

“and enemy”

H341

hating; an adversary

וְהָמָ֣ן6 of 13

“Haman”

H2001

haman, a persian vizier

הָרָ֖ע7 of 13

“is this wicked”

H7451

bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

הַזֶּ֑ה8 of 13
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

וְהָמָ֣ן9 of 13

“Haman”

H2001

haman, a persian vizier

נִבְעַ֔ת10 of 13

“was afraid”

H1204

to fear

מִלִּפְנֵ֥י11 of 13

“before”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ12 of 13

“the king”

H4428

a king

וְהַמַּלְכָּֽה׃13 of 13

“and the queen”

H4436

a queen

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Esther. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Esther 7:6 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Esther 7:6 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Job 18:5-121 Corinthians 5:13Psalms 139:19-222 Thessalonians 2:8Psalms 73:5-9Nehemiah 6:16

Test Your Knowledge

Esther 7 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterEsther Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read Esther 7 with CommentaryAll Esther ChaptersComplete Esther QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes