Esther 8:2
in Esther 8The king removed the signet ring he had recovered from Haman and presented it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed Mordecai over the estate of Haman.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.
KJV
And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.
⋯
This verse in Esther 8
Commentary
9 notes on this verseAnd the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai,.... which, with the Persians, was a token of the strongest affection and strictest friendship (z); the Targum calls it his signatory ring, that with which he signed laws, edicts, letters, patents, &c. and so hereby made him keeper of the seals: and Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman; appointed him her steward of the estate of Haman, the king had given her. (z) Alex. ab Alex. Genial. Dier. l. 1. c. 26. & l. 2. c. 19.
This site's exposition
That same day King Xerxes awarded
on Esther 8:1-2
The estate of "Haman, the enemy of the Jews," passes to Esther, and the ring the king gave Haman at 3:10 passes to Mordecai. Mordecai enters the king's presence "because Esther had revealed his relation to her," the secret he charged her to keep at 2:10 and 2:20.
This site's exposition
The king removed the signet ring
The signet ring sealed the empire's decrees, so Mordecai now holds the power Haman once used to seal the order against the Jews. Albert Barnes reads Haman's estate as his whole household, the train of servants attached to a Persian noble's house. Esther makes Mordecai its steward.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church2 voices
The fact that King Ahasuerus gave Queen Esther the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews, clearly signifies that the true king who is our Lord transferred to the holy church all the dignity and honor which the people previously possessed because of their …
So Esther appointed Mordecai over her house, because it serves the beneficial intentions of the holy Church that great numbers of the faithful might be placed under the government of the aforementioned saints to be subjected—in humility and obedience—to the authority of their chosen magistrates.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Ring - That ring which he had formerly given to Haman he now gives to Mordecai, and with it that power whereof this ring was a sign, making him, as Haman had been, the keeper of his signet.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
The king took off his ring - In the ring was the seal of the king. Giving the ring to Mordecai was tantamount to giving him the seal of the kingdom, and constituting him the same as lord chancellor among us.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
His ring - i. e. the royal signet by which the decrees of the government were signed. Over the house of Haman - Not only the building and the furniture, but the household - the vast train of attendants of all kinds that was attached to the residence of a Persian noble.
1 more voice on this verse
Modern Voices1 voice
A commentator
Jane HamonThe House of Haman: Reversals That Position God's People for Influence (2026)
proposed
Esther did not rule Haman's house; she delegated it to Mordecai, who is an example to us of righteous leadership, intercession and authority.
The words behind it
16 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיָּ֨סַר | vaiyasar | and he removed | H5493 → | 299 times |
| הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ | hamelekh | the king | H4428 → | 2525 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| טַבַּעְתּ֗וֹ | taba'to | signet-ring his | H2885 → | 49 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֤ר | ʾasher | which | H834 → | 5497 times |
| הֶֽעֱבִיר֙ | heevir | he had taken away | H5674 → | 556 times |
| מֵֽהָמָ֔ן | mehaman | from Haman | H2001 → | 54 times |
| וַֽיִּתְּנָ֖הּ | vaiyitenah | and he gave it | H5414 → | 2011 times |
| לְמָרְדֳּכָ֑י | lemaredokhai | to Mordecai | H4782 → | 60 times |
| וַתָּ֧שֶׂם | vatasem | and she appointed | H7760 → | 584 times |
| אֶסְתֵּ֛ר | ʾester | Esther | H635 → | 55 times |
| אֶֽת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| מָרְדֳּכַ֖י | maredokhai | Mordecai | H4782 → | 60 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | over | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| בֵּ֥ית | beit | [the] house of | H1004 → | 2046 times |
| הָמָֽן׃ פ | haman | Haman | H2001 → | 54 times |
וַיָּ֨סַרand he removed
vaiyasarH5493 →299 times
הַמֶּ֜לֶךְthe king
hamelekhH4428 →2525 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
טַבַּעְתּ֗וֹsignet-ring his
taba'toH2885 →49 times
אֲשֶׁ֤רwhich
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
הֶֽעֱבִיר֙he had taken away
heevirH5674 →556 times
מֵֽהָמָ֔ןfrom Haman
mehamanH2001 →54 times
וַֽיִּתְּנָ֖הּand he gave it
vaiyitenahH5414 →2011 times
לְמָרְדֳּכָ֑יto Mordecai
lemaredokhaiH4782 →60 times
וַתָּ֧שֶׂםand she appointed
vatasemH7760 →584 times
אֶסְתֵּ֛רEsther
ʾesterH635 →55 times
אֶֽת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
מָרְדֳּכַ֖יMordecai
maredokhaiH4782 →60 times
עַל־over
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
בֵּ֥ית[the] house of
beitH1004 →2046 times
הָמָֽן׃ פHaman
hamanH2001 →54 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Luke 15:22But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
it leads to
- Genesis 41:42
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.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Esther 3:10
So the king removed the signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Genesis 41:42
Through
Psalms 37:34Wait for the LORD and keep His way, and He will raise you up to inherit the land. When the wicked are cut off, you will see it.
it leads to
- Psalms 27:14
Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the LORD!
- Proverbs 20:22
Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will save you.
- Psalms 37:9
For the evildoers will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
- Matthew 24:13
But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
- Psalms 52:5–6
Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin; He will snatch you up and tear you away from your tent; He will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah
- Psalms 27:14
Through
Genesis 41:42Then 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.
it leads to
- Daniel 5:16
But I have heard about you, that you are able to give interpretations and solve difficult problems. Therefore, if you can read this inscription and give me its interpretation, you will be clothed in…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Daniel 5:16
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Esther
Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
- PersonPersian periodEstherHadassah, the orphan exile who became queen of Persia and, at the risk of "if I perish, I perish," stood between her people and Ha…
- PersonPersian periodMordecaiEsther's cousin and guardian at the gate of Susa, who refused to bow to Haman, uncovered the plot against the king, and was raised…
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jane Hamon, The House of Haman: Reversals That Position God's People for Influence; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Keil, The Books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Rabanus Maurus, EXPLANATION ON THE BOOK OF ESTHER 11 and Rabanus Maurus, Commentary on Esther.