Esther 3:4

Now it came to passe, when they spake daily vnto him, and he hearkened not vnto them; that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai his matters would stand, for he had told them that he was a Iewe. Esther 3:4 (KJV)

Esther 3:4 is a verse from the Book of Esther in the Old Testament. To understand the context of this verse, let us consider the story leading up to it. The Book of Esther tells the story of a Jewish girl named Esther who becomes queen of Persia. Haman, an Agagite, was appointed as the prime minister under King Ahasuerus (also known as Xerxes I). Haman was a proud and ambitious man who expected others to bow down and pay homage to him. Mordecai, a Jew who sat at the king’s gate, refused to bow down before Haman. Mordecai’s refusal angered Haman, and he noticed that Mordecai’s actions were not isolated but persisted daily. Haman’s pride was wounded, and he was filled with wrath not only against Mordecai but against all the Jews, as he learned of Mordecai’s Jewish heritage. In Esther 3:4 we see that Haman’s associates noticed Mordecai’s persistent refusal to bow and told Haman, asking whether Mordecai’s matters would stand. They wanted to see whether Mordecai’s defiance and loyalty to his Jewish identity would be tolerated or punished. This verse therefore sets the stage for the subsequent events in the book, leading to Haman’s plot to exterminate all the Jews in the Persian Empire, a plot that Esther and Mordecai must thwart to save their people. Although the name of God is not explicitly mentioned in Esther, the narrative displays God’s providential care, working through the bravery and wisdom of Esther, Mordecai, and others to bring about deliverance for the Jewish people. In summary, Esther 3:4 showcases the growing tension between Haman and Mordecai, the persistent refusal of Mordecai to bow, and the ensuing danger to the Jewish community, while also highlighting God’s providence and the courage of His people.