Bible Strands
Esther 5:11
Haman recounted to them his glorious wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored and promoted him over the other officials and servants.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Haman speaks to his friends and wife Zeresh immediately after returning home from the king’s banquet. He delivers this report at the precise moment he seeks human validation for his status before the next day’s feast.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַיְסַפֵּר (va.yəsap̄p̄ēr) means “and he recounted,” marking a deliberate, itemized narration. It is paired with כְּבוֹד (kəḇōḏ), literally “splendor” or “glory,” to frame Haman’s own account of his wealth and promotion.
The thread — This motif of self-reported exaltation appears in Esther 3:1, where the king elevates Haman above other officials, and parallels Genesis 31:1, where Laban’s sons measure their father’s loss against Jacob’s gain. The narrative thread consistently tracks how human boasting precedes its reversal.
Why it lands — The text records Haman’s exact claims without commentary, allowing his words to stand as self-evidence of his pride. It asks the reader to observe how unexamined self-promotion obscures the actual direction of divine sovereignty.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.
Cross-references
- Esther 9:7 including Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha,
- Esther 3:1 After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him to a position above all the princes who were with him.
- Genesis 31:1 Now Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were saying, “Jacob has taken away all that belonged to our father and built all this wealth at our father’s expense.”
- Luke 12:19 Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’
- 1 Timothy 6:17 Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy.
- Esther 1:4 And for a full 180 days he displayed the glorious riches of his kingdom and the magnificent splendor of his greatness.
- Esther 9:12 who said to Queen Esther, “In the citadel of Susa the Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men, including Haman’s ten sons. What have they done in the rest of the royal provinces? Now what is your petition? It will be given to you. And what further do you request? It will be fulfilled.”
- Job 27:14 Though his sons are many, they are destined for the sword; and his offspring will never have enough food.
- Job 31:24 If I have put my trust in gold or called pure gold my security,
- Psalms 49:6 They trust in their wealth and boast in their great riches.