Esther 5:14

KJV1611 – Modern English

Then Zeresh, his wife, and all his friends said to him, Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high, and tomorrow speak to the king that Mordecai may be hanged on it. Then go in merrily with the king to the banquet. And this pleased Haman, and he had the gallows made.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַתֹּ֣אמֶר לוֹ֩ זֶ֨רֶשׁ אִשְׁתּ֜וֹ וְכָל־אֹֽהֲבָ֗יו יַֽעֲשׂוּ־עֵץ֮ גָּבֹ֣הַּ חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים אַמָּה֒ וּבַבֹּ֣קֶר ׀ אֱמֹ֣ר לַמֶּ֗לֶךְ וְיִתְל֤וּ אֶֽת־מָרְדֳּכַי֙ עָלָ֔יו וּבֹֽא־עִם־הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ אֶל הַמִּשְׁתֶּ֖ה שָׂמֵ֑חַ וַיִּיטַ֧ב הַדָּבָ֛ר לִפְנֵ֥י הָמָ֖ן וַיַּ֥עַשׂ הָעֵֽץ

Transliteration

And wattōʾmer to-him zereš ʾištô and-all-ʾōhăbāyw, let-them-yaʿăśû-ʿēṣ gābōah fifty ʾammâ, and-in-the-bōqer ʾĕmōr to-the-melek and-yitlû ʾet-mordŏkay upon-it, and-bōʾ-with-the-melek to the-mišteh śāmēaḥ, and wayyîṭab the-dābār before hāmān and wayyaʿaś the-ʿēṣ

Grammar Details

• *wattōʾmer*: waw-consecutive imperfect, 3fs - and she said
• *zereš*: proper noun - Zeresh
• *ʾištô*: noun, feminine singular + 3ms suffix - his wife
• *ʾōhăbāyw*: participle, masculine plural + 3ms suffix - his friends/lovers
• *yaʿăśû*: imperfect, 3mp - they should make
• *ʿēṣ*: noun, masculine singular - tree/gallows/wood
• *gābōah*: adjective, masculine singular - high/tall
• *ʾammâ*: noun, feminine singular - cubit
• *bōqer*: noun, masculine singular - morning
• *ʾĕmōr*: imperative, ms - say/speak
• *melek*: noun, masculine singular - king
• *yitlû*: imperfect, 3mp - they will hang
• *mordŏkay*: proper noun - Mordecai
• *bōʾ*: imperative, ms - come/go
• *mišteh*: noun, masculine singular - feast/banquet
• *śāmēaḥ*: adjective, masculine singular - joyful
• *wayyîṭab*: waw-consecutive imperfect, 3ms - and it was good
• *dābār*: noun, masculine singular - word/matter
• *hāmān*: proper noun - Haman
• *wayyaʿaś*: waw-consecutive imperfect, 3ms - and he made

Word Meanings

• *yaʿăśû-ʿēṣ*: let them make gallows/prepare wooden pole
• *gābōah ḥămišîm ʾammâ*: fifty cubits high/tall (75-80 feet)
• *yitlû*: hang/impale/execute
• *bōʾ-ʿim-hammelek ʾel-hammišteh śāmēaḥ*: go with the king to the banquet joyful/attend the feast happily
• *wayyîṭab haddābār*: the matter pleased/the suggestion was good
• *wayyaʿaś hāʿēṣ*: he had the gallows made/prepared the wooden structure

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, "Have a gallows constructed, seventy-five feet high, and in the morning suggest to the king that Mordecai be hanged on it. Then go with the king to the banquet and enjoy yourself." This suggestion pleased Haman, and he had the gallows built.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Then said Zerh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Then sayde Seres his wife and all his frendes vnto him: Let the make a galowe of fiftye cubites hie, & tomorow speake thou vnto the kynge, that Mardocheus maye be hanged theron, yf thou comest merely with the kynge vnto the bancket. Aman was well content withall, and caused a galowe to be prepared.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Then sayde Zeresh his wife and all his friends vnto him, Let them make a tree of fiftie cubites hie, and to morowe speake thou vnto the King, that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then shalt thou goe ioyfully with the King vnto the banket; the thing pleased Haman, and he caused to make the tree.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Then saide Zares his wyfe and all his friendes vnto him: Let them make a galous of fiftie cubites hie, and to morowe speake thou vnto the king that Mardocheus may be hanged thereon: then go thou in meryly with the king vnto the banket. And Haman was well content withall, and caused the galous to be made.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends to him, Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak you to the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go you in merrily with the king to the banquet. The thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And Zeresh his wife saith to him, and all his friends, `Let them prepare a tree, in height fifty cubits, and in the morning speak to the king, and they hang Mordecai on it, and go thou in with the king unto the banquet rejoicing;' and the thing is good before Haman, and he prepareth the tree.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, Let a pillar, fifty cubits high, be made ready for hanging him, and in the morning get the king to give orders for the hanging of Mordecai: then you will be able to go to the feast with the king with a glad heart. And Haman was pleased with the suggestion, and he had the pillar made.

• World English Bible (2000)

  Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, "Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on it. Then go in merrily with the king to the banquet." This pleased Haman, so he had the gallows made.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Haman’s wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him,“Have a gallows seventy-five feet high built, and in the morning tell the king that Mordecai should be hanged on it. Then go with the king to the banquet contented.” It seemed like a good idea to Haman, so he had the gallows built.

Referenced Verses

• Esth 6:4 : 4 And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman had come into the outer court of the king's house to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows he had prepared for him.
• Esth 7:9-9 : 9 And Harbonah, one of the eunuchs, said before the king, Behold, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, stands in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him on it. 10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king's anger subsided.
• 1 Kgs 21:7 : 7 And Jezebel his wife said to him, Do you now govern the kingdom of Israel? Arise, and eat bread, and let your heart be merry: I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.
• Ps 7:13-16 : 13 He has also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordains his arrows against the persecutors. 14 Behold, he travails with iniquity, and has conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood. 15 He made a pit, and dug it, and has fallen into the ditch he made. 16 His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own crown.
• Ps 37:14 : 14 The wicked have drawn the sword and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay those who are of upright conduct.
• Ps 37:32 : 32 The wicked watch the righteous, and seek to slay him.
• Prov 1:18 : 18 And they lie in wait for their own blood; they lurk secretly for their own lives.
• Prov 4:16 : 16 For they do not sleep unless they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.
• Amos 6:4-6 : 4 Who lie on beds of ivory, and stretch themselves on their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall; 5 Who sing to the sound of the harp, and invent for themselves instruments of music, like David; 6 Who drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the finest ointments: but are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.
• Mark 6:19-24 : 19 Therefore Herodias held a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him; but she could not: 20 For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. 21 And when a convenient day came, that Herod on his birthday made a supper for his lords, high captains, and chief men of Galilee; 22 And when the daughter of Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, Ask of me whatever you wish, and I will give it to you. 23 And he swore to her, Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you, up to half of my kingdom. 24 And she went out, and said to her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.
• Mark 14:10-11 : 10 And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray him to them. 11 And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.
• Acts 23:14-15 : 14 They came to the chief priests and elders and said, We have bound ourselves under a great oath that we will eat nothing until we have killed Paul. 15 Now therefore, you with the council suggest to the chief captain that he bring him down to you tomorrow, as though you would inquire something more accurately about him; and we, before he comes near, are ready to kill him.
• Rom 1:32 : 32 Who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same, but also approve of those who practice them.
• Rom 3:15 : 15 'Their feet are swift to shed blood:'
• Rev 11:10 : 10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwelt on the earth.
• Ps 9:15 : 15 The nations have sunk down in the pit that they made; in the net which they hid, their own foot is taken.
• 1 Kgs 21:25 : 25 But there was none like Ahab, who sold himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.
• 2 Chr 22:3-4 : 3 He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor to do wickedly. 4 Therefore, he did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab, for they were his counselors after the death of his father, leading to his destruction.
• Esth 3:8-9 : 8 And Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; and their laws are different from all people; neither do they keep the king's laws. Therefore, it is not profitable for the king to tolerate them." 9 If it pleases the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who have charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries. 10 And the king took his ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. 11 And the king said to Haman, "The silver is given to you, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to you." 12 Then the king's scribes were called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and it was written according to all that Haman had commanded to the king's lieutenants, and to the governors who were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province, according to its writing and to every people in their language; in the name of King Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring. 13 And the letters were sent by couriers into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them as a prey. 14 A copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published to all people, that they should be ready against that day. 15 The couriers went out, being hastened by the king's commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan was perplexed.
• 2 Sam 13:3-5 : 3 But Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother; and Jonadab was a very cunning man. 4 And he said to him, Why are you, being the king's son, becoming thin from day to day? Will you not tell me? And Amnon said to him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister. 5 And Jonadab said to him, Lie down on your bed, and pretend to be sick: and when your father comes to see you, say to him, Please let my sister Tamar come, and give me some food, and dress it in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it from her hand.
• 2 Sam 16:21-17:4 : 21 And Ahithophel said to Absalom, Go in to your father's concubines, whom he has left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that you are abhorred by your father: then shall the hands of all who are with you be strong. 22 So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel. 23 And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counseled in those days, was as if a man had inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom. 1 Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, Let me now choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight: 2 And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak-handed, and will make him afraid; and all the people who are with him will flee, and I will strike the king only: 3 And I will bring back all the people to you: the man whom you seek is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace. 4 And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.