Esther 3:11 Meaning and Explanation
“And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The king tells Haman to keep his silver and do as he pleases with the people.
What Does Esther 3:11 Mean?
The king waves away the silver, perhaps as a courtesy, and grants Haman free rein: the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee. A whole people is handed to one man's pleasure with a shrug. The casual phrasing makes the horror worse; mass murder is authorized as if it were a minor favor.
This is power without conscience or curiosity. The king neither asks who the people are nor weighs what is being done. He simply defers, as he always does, to the will of whoever stands before him. The book exposes how easily great evil proceeds when those in authority cannot be bothered to look closely at what their word will do.
Frequently Asked Questions About Esther 3:11
What does Esther 3:11 mean?
The king tells Haman to keep his silver and do as he pleases with the people.