Esther 6:3 The king inquired, "What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this act?" "Nothing has been done for him," replied the king's attendants.

◄ Esther 6:3 ►

New International Version
“What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?” the king asked. “Nothing has been done for him,” his attendants answered.

New Living Translation
“What reward or recognition did we ever give Mordecai for this?” the king asked. His attendants replied, “Nothing has been done for him.”

English Standard Version
And the king said, “What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” The king’s young men who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.”

Berean Standard Bible
The king inquired, “What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this act?” “Nothing has been done for him,” replied the king’s attendants.

King James Bible
And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.

New King James Version
Then the king said, “What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” And the king’s servants who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.”

New American Standard Bible
Then the king said, “What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” And the king’s servants who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.”

NASB 1995
The king said, “What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” Then the king’s servants who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.”

NASB 1977
And the king said, “What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” Then the king’s servants who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And the king said, “What honor or greatness has been done to Mordecai for this?” Then the king’s young men who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.”

Amplified Bible
The king said, “What honor or distinction has been given Mordecai for this?” Then the king’s servants who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.”

Christian Standard Bible
The king inquired, “What honor and special recognition have been given to Mordecai for this act? ” The king’s personal attendants replied, “Nothing has been done for him.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The king inquired, “What honor and special recognition have been given to Mordecai for this act?” The king’s personal attendants replied, “Nothing has been done for him.”

American Standard Version
And the king said, What honor and dignity hath been bestowed on Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.

Contemporary English Version
the king asked, "What has been done to reward Mordecai for this?" "Nothing, Your Majesty!" the king's servants replied.

English Revised Version
And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The king asked, "How did I reward and promote Mordecai for this?" The king's personal staff replied, "Nothing was done for him."

Good News Translation
The king asked, "How have we honored and rewarded Mordecai for this?" His servants answered, "Nothing has been done for him."

International Standard Version
So the king asked, "What honor and distinction was bestowed on Mordecai for this?" The young men who served the king answered, "Nothing was done for him."

Majority Standard Bible
The king inquired, ?What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this act?? ?Nothing has been done for him,? replied the king?s attendants.

NET Bible
The king asked, "What great honor was bestowed on Mordecai because of this?" The king's attendants who served him responded, "Not a thing was done for him."

New Heart English Bible
The king said, "What honor and dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?" Then the king's servants who attended him said, "Nothing has been done for him."

Webster's Bible Translation
And the king said, What honor and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that ministered to him, There is nothing done for him.

World English Bible
The king said, “What honor and dignity has been given to Mordecai for this?” Then the king’s servants who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And the king says, “What honor and greatness has been done to Mordecai for this?” And the servants of the king, his ministers, say, “Nothing has been done with him.”

Young's Literal Translation
And the king saith, 'What honour and greatness hath been done to Mordecai for this?' And the servants of the king, his ministers, say, 'Nothing hath been done with him.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the king will say, What honor was done and greatness to Mordecai for this? And the young men of the king serving him will say, Not a word was done with him.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And when the king heard this, he said: What honour and reward hath Mardochai received for this fidelity? His servants and ministers said to him: He hath received no reward at all.

Catholic Public Domain Version
When the king had heard this, he said, “What honor and reward has Mordecai been given for this fidelity?” His servants and ministers said to him, “He has received no compensation at all.”

New American Bible
The king asked, “What was done to honor and exalt Mordecai for this?” The king’s attendants replied, “Nothing was done for him.”

New Revised Standard Version
Then the king said, “What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” The king’s servants who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And the king said, What honor and dignity have been conferred upon Mordecai for this? Then the king's servants and his ministers said to him, There is nothing done for him.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the King said: “What honor and greatness has been conferred on Murdacai because of this?” His Servants said to The King and his Ministers: “Nothing has been done for him.”

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And the king said: 'What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this?' Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him: 'There is nothing done for him.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the king said, What honour or favour have we done to Mardochaeus? And the king's servants said, Thou hast not done anything to him.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Mordecai is Honored
…2And there it was found recorded that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the eunuchs who guarded the king’s entrance, when they had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. 3The king inquired, “What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this act?” “Nothing has been done for him,” replied the king’s attendants. 4“Who is in the court?” the king asked. Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to ask the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows he had prepared for him.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Genesis 41:41-44
Pharaoh also told Joseph, “I hereby place you over all the land of Egypt.” / Then Pharaoh removed the signet ring from his finger, put it on Joseph’s finger, clothed him in garments of fine linen, and placed a gold chain around his neck. / He had Joseph ride in his second chariot, with men calling out before him, “Bow the knee!” So he placed him over all the land of Egypt. ...

Daniel 5:29
Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel in purple, placed a gold chain around his neck, and proclaimed him the third highest ruler in the kingdom.

1 Samuel 17:25
Now the men of Israel had been saying, “Do you see how this man keeps coming out to defy Israel? To the man who kills him the king will give great riches. And he will give him his daughter in marriage and exempt his father’s house from taxation in Israel.”

2 Samuel 9:1-3
Then David asked, “Is there anyone left from the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for the sake of Jonathan?” / And there was a servant of the house of Saul named Ziba. They summoned him to David, and the king inquired, “Are you Ziba?” “I am your servant,” he replied. / So the king asked, “Is there anyone left of the house of Saul to whom I can show the kindness of God?” Ziba answered, “There is still Jonathan’s son, who is lame in both feet.”

2 Kings 5:1
Now Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man in his master’s sight and highly regarded, for through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. And he was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.

Nehemiah 2:2-8
so the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, though you are not ill? This could only be sadness of the heart.” I was overwhelmed with fear / and replied to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should I not be sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” / “What is your request?” replied the king. So I prayed to the God of heaven ...

Proverbs 3:27
Do not withhold good from the deserving when it is within your power to act.

Proverbs 11:18
The wicked man earns an empty wage, but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward.

Proverbs 22:29
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men.

Ecclesiastes 9:15
Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.

Matthew 6:1-4
“Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. / So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward. / But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ...

Matthew 25:21
His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’

Luke 17:10
So you also, when you have done everything commanded of you, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”

Luke 19:17
His master replied, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, you shall have authority over ten cities.’

John 12:26
If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, My servant will be as well. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

Treasury of Scripture

And the king said, What honor and dignity has been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that ministered to him, There is nothing done for him.

What honour.

Judges 1:12,13
And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife…

1 Samuel 17:25,26
And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel…

1 Chronicles 11:6
And David said, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. So Joab the son of Zeruiah went first up, and was chief.

There is nothing.

Genesis 40:23
Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.

Psalm 118:8,9
It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man…

Ecclesiastes 9:15
Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.

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Attendants Attended Bestowed Dignity Greatness Honor Honour King's Ministered Ministers Mordecai Mor'decai Received Recognition Reward Servants Waiting

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Attendants Attended Bestowed Dignity Greatness Honor Honour King's Ministered Ministers Mordecai Mor'decai Received Recognition Reward Servants Waiting

Esther 6

1. Xerxes, reading of the good service done by Mordecai, takes care for his reward.
4. Haman, coming to ask that Mordecai might be hanged,
10. gives counsel that he might do him honor.
12. Complaining of this, his friends tell him of his final destiny.

Berean Study Bible

The king inquired
This phrase introduces a pivotal moment in the narrative, where King Xerxes (Ahasuerus) takes an active role in seeking justice. The Hebrew root for "inquired" is "שָׁאַל" (sha'al), which means to ask or seek information. This action by the king signifies a turning point, as it reflects his desire to understand and rectify past oversights. In the broader scriptural context, the act of inquiring is often associated with seeking divine wisdom or guidance, as seen in other parts of the Old Testament. Here, it underscores the providential unfolding of events orchestrated by God, even through the decisions of a pagan king.

What honor or dignity
The words "honor" and "dignity" are translated from the Hebrew words "יָקָר" (yaqar) and "גְּדוּלָּה" (gedullah), respectively. "Yaqar" conveys the idea of value, preciousness, or esteem, while "gedullah" refers to greatness or majesty. These terms highlight the king's concern for recognizing and rewarding meritorious service. In the historical context of the Persian Empire, where the narrative is set, it was customary for kings to lavishly reward those who had served them well, as a means of ensuring loyalty and demonstrating the king's magnanimity. This inquiry into what honor or dignity has been bestowed reflects the king's awareness of the importance of acknowledging and rewarding loyalty and bravery.

has been bestowed on Mordecai
Mordecai, a Jew living in exile in Persia, is the central human figure in this verse. His name, derived from the Hebrew "מָרְדֳּכַי" (Mordekhai), is thought to be related to the Babylonian god Marduk, indicating the cultural and religious syncretism of the time. Mordecai's earlier act of loyalty in uncovering a plot against the king had gone unrewarded, a significant oversight in the context of Persian court customs. The mention of his name here is crucial, as it sets the stage for the dramatic reversal of fortunes that follows. Historically, this moment underscores the theme of divine providence and justice, as God orchestrates events to protect His people and elevate those who are faithful to Him.

for this act?
The "act" refers to Mordecai's previous revelation of a conspiracy to assassinate King Xerxes, an act of loyalty and courage. The Hebrew word "דָּבָר" (dabar) used here can mean word, matter, or thing, emphasizing the significance of Mordecai's deed. In the broader biblical narrative, acts of faithfulness and righteousness are often highlighted as being worthy of recognition and reward. This inquiry by the king not only serves as a narrative device to advance the plot but also as a theological reminder of the biblical principle that God sees and rewards the righteous acts of His people, even when they seem to go unnoticed by the world.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(3) What honour and dignity hath been done.--The names of those who were thought worthy of being accounted "royal benefactors" were enrolled on a special list, and they were supposed to be suitably rewarded, though not necessarily at the time. The reward however was. in theory at any rate, a thing to which the "benefactor" had a distinct claim, and an almost legal right.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 3. - The king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? The discoverer of a conspiracy against the life of the king would in any country have been regarded as entitled to some reward. In Persia, where "royal benefactors" formed a distinct class, and had their names inscribed on a special list (Herod., 8:85), it was especially incumbent on the monarch to see that every such person received a return proportioned to the value of his service. Ahasuerus seems to have supposed that some honour or dignity must have been conferred upon Mordecai, though he could not recollect what it was; and it is difficult to understand how the omission to reward him had occurred, unless there was a prejudice against him among the high court officials, who may have known that he was a Jew, though his fellow-servants did not (Esther 3:4).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

The king
הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

inquired,
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“What
מַֽה־ (mah-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

honor
יְקָ֧ר (yə·qār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3366: Value, wealth, costliness, dignity

or dignity
וּגְדוּלָּ֛ה (ū·ḡə·ḏūl·lāh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1420: Greatness, mighty acts

has been bestowed
נַּעֲשָׂ֞ה (na·‘ă·śāh)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

on Mordecai
לְמָרְדֳּכַ֖י (lə·mā·rə·do·ḵay)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4782: Mordecai -- a companion of Zerubbabel, also a cousin of Esther

for
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

this act?”
זֶ֑ה (zeh)
Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

“Nothing
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

has been done
נַעֲשָׂ֥ה (na·‘ă·śāh)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

for him,”
עִמּ֖וֹ (‘im·mōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

replied
וַיֹּ֨אמְר֜וּ (way·yō·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

the king's
הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

attendants.
נַעֲרֵ֤י (na·‘ă·rê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 5288: A boy, lad, youth, retainer

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OT History: Esther 6:3 The king said What honor and dignity (Est Esth. Es)