Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version So the king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. New Living Translation The king agreed, confirming his decision by removing his signet ring from his finger and giving it to Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. English Standard Version So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews. Berean Standard Bible 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. Berean Literal Bible And the king removed his signet ring from upon his hand, and he gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. King James Bible And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy. New King James Version So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. New American Standard Bible Then the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. NASB 1995 Then the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. NASB 1977 Then the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. Legacy Standard Bible Then the king removed his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the adversary of the Jews. Amplified Bible Then the king removed his signet ring from his hand [that is, the special ring which was used to seal his letters] and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. Berean Annotated Bible So the king removed the signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman (magnificent) son of Hammedatha (double), the Agagite (I will overtop), the enemy of the Jews. Christian Standard Bible The king removed his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. Holman Christian Standard Bible The king removed his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jewish people. American Standard Version And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy. Contemporary English Version The king handed his official ring to Haman, who hated the Jews, and the king told him, English Revised Version And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy. GOD'S WORD® Translation At that, the king removed his signet ring and gave it to Haman, the enemy of the Jews. (Haman was the son of Hammedatha and was from Agag.) Good News Translation The king took off his ring, which was used to stamp proclamations and make them official, and gave it to the enemy of the Jewish people, Haman son of Hammedatha, the descendant of Agag. International Standard Version The king removed his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Hammedatha the Agagite's son Haman, the enemy of the Jewish people. NET Bible So the king removed his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, who was hostile toward the Jews. New Heart English Bible The king took his ring from his hand, and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy. Webster's Bible Translation And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews enemy. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleSo the king removed the signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. World English Bible The king took his ring from his hand, and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews’ enemy. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd the king turns aside his signet from off his hand, and gives it to Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, adversary of the Jews; Berean Literal Bible And the king removed his signet ring from upon his hand, and he gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. Young's Literal Translation And the king turneth aside his signet from off his hand, and giveth it to Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, adversary of the Jews; Smith's Literal Translation And the king will remove the signet ring from his hand, and will give it to Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, to press the Jews. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd the king took the ring that he used, from his own hand, and gave it to Aman, the son of Amadathi of the race of Agag, the enemy of the Jews, Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible The king took the signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. New Revised Standard Version So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd the king took his ring from his hand and gave it to Haman the son of Hammadatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated The King took the ring from his hand and he gave it to Haman, son of Hammadath the Aggagite, the enemy of the Jews. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy. Brenton Septuagint Translation And the king took off his ring, and gave it into the hands of Aman, to seal the decrees against the Jews. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Haman Plots Against the Jews…9If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will deposit ten thousand talents of silver into the royal treasury to pay those who carry it out.” 10So the king removed the signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. 11“Keep your money,” said the king to Haman. “These people are given to you to do with them as you please.”… Cross References So the king removed the signet ring from his finger 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. Esther 8:2 The king removed the signet ring he had recovered from Haman and presented it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed Mordecai over the estate of Haman. Jeremiah 22:24 “As surely as I live,” declares the LORD, “even if you, Coniah son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, were a signet ring on My right hand, I would pull you off. and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, 1 Samuel 15:8 He captured Agag king of Amalek alive, but devoted all the others to destruction with the sword. 1 Samuel 15:33 But Samuel declared: “As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women.” And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal. Numbers 24:7 Water will flow from his buckets, and his seed will have abundant water. His king will be greater than Agag, and his kingdom will be exalted. the enemy of the Jews. Deuteronomy 25:17-19 Remember what the Amalekites did to you along your way from Egypt, / how they met you on your journey when you were tired and weary, and they attacked all your stragglers; they had no fear of God. / When the LORD your God gives you rest from the enemies around you in the land that He is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you are to blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget! Exodus 17:14-16 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as a reminder and recite it to Joshua, because I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” / And Moses built an altar and named it The LORD Is My Banner. / “Indeed,” he said, “a hand was lifted up toward the throne of the LORD. The LORD will war against Amalek from generation to generation.” Numbers 24:20 Then Balaam saw Amalek and lifted up an oracle, saying: “Amalek was first among the nations, but his end is destruction.” Daniel 6:17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that nothing concerning Daniel could be changed. 1 Kings 21:8 Then Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city. Genesis 41:40-44 You shall be in charge of my house, and all my people are to obey your commands. Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” / 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. … Esther 8:8 Now you may write in the king’s name as you please regarding the Jews, and seal it with the royal signet ring. For a decree that is written in the name of the king and sealed with the royal signet ring cannot be revoked.” Esther 8:10 Mordecai wrote in the name of King Xerxes and sealed it with the royal signet ring. He sent the documents by mounted couriers riding on swift horses bred from the royal mares. Esther 8:15 Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal garments of blue and white, with a large gold crown and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced. Esther 9:24-25 For Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them and had cast the Pur (that is, the lot) to crush and destroy them. / But when it came before the king, he commanded by letter that the wicked scheme which Haman had devised against the Jews should come back upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. Treasury of Scripture And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy. took. Esther 8:2,8 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… Genesis 41:42 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; enemy. Esther 7:6 And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen. Jump to Previous Adversary Agagite Ag'agite Enemy Finger Haman Hammedatha Hammeda'tha Hand Hater Jews Ring Signet TurnethJump to Next Adversary Agagite Ag'agite Enemy Finger Haman Hammedatha Hammeda'tha Hand Hater Jews Ring Signet TurnethEsther 3 1. Haman, advanced by the king, and despised by Mordecai, seeks revenge upon the Jews.7. He casts lots. 8. He obtains by false accusations a decree of the king to put the Jews to death. So the king removed the signet ring from his finger The signet ring was a symbol of royal authority and power. In ancient Persia, the king's signet ring was used to seal official documents, signifying the king's approval and making the decree irrevocable. This act of removing the ring and giving it to another person was a significant transfer of authority. In the biblical context, it shows the king's trust in Haman and his willingness to delegate significant power to him. This act is reminiscent of Pharaoh giving his signet ring to Joseph in Genesis 41:42, symbolizing a similar transfer of authority. and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite the enemy of the Jews Persons / Places / Events 1. King Ahasuerus (Xerxes I)The Persian king who reigned over a vast empire. He is known for his impulsive decisions, such as giving Haman the authority to act against the Jews. 2. Haman The son of Hammedatha, identified as an Agagite. He is the antagonist in the account, harboring deep hatred for the Jews, particularly Mordecai. 3. The Signet Ring A symbol of authority and power. By giving it to Haman, King Ahasuerus essentially granted him the power to act on behalf of the king. 4. The Jews The people of God living in exile in Persia. They are the target of Haman's plot due to his personal vendetta against Mordecai. 5. Agagite This term connects Haman to Agag, the king of the Amalekites, historical enemies of Israel. This background adds depth to Haman's enmity towards the Jews. Teaching Points The Danger of Unchecked PowerThe king's decision to give Haman his signet ring without questioning his motives shows the potential dangers of unchecked authority. Believers should be cautious about whom they empower and ensure accountability in leadership. Historical Enmity and Spiritual Warfare Haman's identity as an Agagite reminds us of the spiritual battles that often have historical roots. Christians should be aware of the spiritual warfare that persists and rely on God's strength to overcome. God's Sovereignty in Adversity Despite the dire situation, God's hand is at work. Believers can trust in God's sovereignty, knowing that He can turn even the most challenging circumstances for His glory and our good. The Importance of Identity Haman's hatred for the Jews was partly due to their distinct identity. Christians are called to maintain their identity in Christ, even when facing opposition. The Role of Intercession The unfolding events in Esther highlight the importance of intercession. Believers are encouraged to pray fervently for God's intervention in times of crisis. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Esther 3:10?2. How does the king's signet ring symbolize authority in Esther 3:10? 3. What can we learn about trust from the king's actions in Esther 3:10? 4. How does Esther 3:10 connect with God's sovereignty throughout the Bible? 5. How should Christians respond to unjust authority, as seen in Esther 3:10? 6. What role does discernment play in leadership decisions, according to Esther 3:10? 7. Why did King Xerxes give Haman his signet ring in Esther 3:10? 8. What does the signet ring symbolize in Esther 3:10? 9. How does Esther 3:10 reflect the theme of authority and power? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Esther 3? 11. Esther 3:10–15 – Why is there no mention in Persian archives or other sources of this monumental royal decree to annihilate an entire ethnic group? 12. Who was Haman the Agagite in biblical history? 13. What evidence exists that supports Mordecai’s elevation to high authority in Esther 8:2, considering Persian records rarely reference Jewish officials? 14. How did Esther save her people from Xerxes' decree? What Does Esther 3:10 Mean So the king removed the signet ring from his finger– The signet ring was the ancient equivalent of a royal signature; whatever bore its imprint carried the king’s unquestioned authority (Genesis 41:42; Esther 8:8; Daniel 6:17). – By physically taking the ring off, Xerxes/Ahasuerus signaled a deliberate, conscious transfer of power, not a hurried mistake. He knew exactly what he was doing—even if he did not grasp the full consequences. – Scripture records the event as fact, reminding us that earthly rulers often hand over authority without discerning how it will be used (Proverbs 21:1). – Practical takeaway: Positions and symbols of influence can be misused when separated from godly wisdom and accountability. and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite – Handing the ring to Haman granted him unchecked legislative and financial control (Esther 3:11; 8:2). – “Agagite” links Haman to Agag, king of the Amalekites—Israel’s ancient foe (1 Samuel 15:8–33; Exodus 17:16). The text signals that old enmities are resurfacing in a new generation. – Haman did not seize power; the king bestowed it. That detail underscores how evil often advances through official channels when leaders abdicate moral responsibility (Romans 13:3–4 warns rulers to reward good and punish evil). – For believers, this scene cautions us to vet counselors and delegate authority wisely (Proverbs 13:20; 25:5). the enemy of the Jews – Scripture labels Haman upfront: “the enemy.” The Spirit wants readers to feel the threat before the plot unfolds (Esther 3:13). – The title recalls other foes who tried to eradicate God’s people—Pharaoh (Exodus 1:15–17), the Midianites (Judges 6:1–6), and later Antiochus IV (Daniel 8:24). God preserved Israel every time, showcasing His covenant faithfulness (Jeremiah 31:35–37). – Haman’s hostility prefigures the ongoing spiritual warfare against all who belong to God (Revelation 12:17; John 10:10). – The verse therefore reassures believers that opposition, though real, never escapes the Lord’s notice or overruns His plan (Psalm 121:4). summary Esther 3:10 records a literal moment when King Xerxes handed his sovereign seal to Haman, an Amalekite descendant bent on destroying the Jews. The verse warns how precipitous delegation can empower evil, reminds us of the age-long conflict between God’s people and their adversaries, and sets the stage for God’s dramatic deliverance. Though the king’s ring left his hand, the King of heaven never relinquishes control. Verse 10. - The king took his ring from his hand. Rather, "took his signet from his hand." This may have been a ring, for signet-rings were known to the Persians, but is perhaps more likely to have been a cylinder, like that of Darius, his father, which is now in the British Museum ('Ancient Monarchies,' vol. 4. p. 182). And gave it unto Haman. Thus giving him the power of making whatsoever edicts he pleased, since nothing was requisite to give authority to an edict but the impression of the royal seal (see Herod., 3:128). For similar acts of confidence see Genesis 41:42; Esther 8:2. The Jews' enemy. Rather, "persecutor."Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew So the kingהַמֶּ֛לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4428: A king removed וַיָּ֧סַר (way·yā·sar) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5493: To turn aside the signet ring טַבַּעְתּ֖וֹ (ṭab·ba‘·tōw) Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 2885: A seal, signet, a ring of any kind from מֵעַ֣ל (mê·‘al) Preposition-m Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against his finger יָד֑וֹ (yā·ḏōw) Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 3027: A hand and gave וַֽיִּתְּנָ֗הּ (way·yit·tə·nāh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular Strong's 5414: To give, put, set it to Haman לְהָמָ֧ן (lə·hā·mān) Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 2001: Haman -- to rage, be turbulent son בֶּֽן־ (ben-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 1121: A son of Hammedatha, הַמְּדָ֛תָא (ham·mə·ḏā·ṯā) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 4099: Hammedatha including the article the Agagite, הָאֲגָגִ֖י (hā·’ă·ḡā·ḡî) Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 91: Agagite -- a descriptive term for Haman the enemy צֹרֵ֥ר (ṣō·rêr) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 6887: To bind, tie up, be restricted, narrow, scant, or cramped of the Jews. הַיְּהוּדִֽים׃ (hay·yə·hū·ḏîm) Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural Strong's 3064: Jews -- Jewish Links Esther 3:10 NIVEsther 3:10 NLT Esther 3:10 ESV Esther 3:10 NASB Esther 3:10 KJV Esther 3:10 BibleApps.com Esther 3:10 Biblia Paralela Esther 3:10 Chinese Bible Esther 3:10 French Bible Esther 3:10 Catholic Bible OT History: Esther 3:10 The king took his ring from his (Est Esth. 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