Esther 3:3

3 Then the royal officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the king’s command?”

Esther 3:3 in Other Translations

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

3 Then the king's servants who were at the king's gate said to Mordecai, "Why do you transgress the king's command?"

3 Then the palace officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why are you disobeying the king’s command?”

3 The king's servants at the King's Gate asked Mordecai about it: "Why do you cross the king's command?"

3 The members of the royal staff at the King's Gate asked Mordecai, "Why are you disobeying the king's command?"

Esther 3:3 Meaning and Commentary

Esther 3:3

Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate
Observing the behaviour of Mordecai towards Haman from time to time:

said unto Mordecai, why transgressest thou the king's commandment?
of giving reverence to Haman, which they knew he could not be ignorant of.

Esther 3:3 In-Context

1 After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles.

2 All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor.

3 Then the royal officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the king’s command?”

4 Day after day they spoke to him but he refused to comply. Therefore they told Haman about it to see whether Mordecai’s behavior would be tolerated, for he had told them he was a Jew.

5 When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged.

Cross References

• 1. Esther 5:9; Daniel 3:12