This verse depicts the crucial royal summons granting Haman access to the king, while unknowingly ushering him toward his own downfall and ensuring the preservation of the Jews.
They said to the king, “Behold, Haman is standing in the court.” And the king said, “Let him come in.” (v.5) King Xerxes (also called Ahasuerus) ruled from Susa, the royal city in southwestern Persia, stretching from India to Ethiopia (Esther 1:1). In this scene, Haman stands outside, awaiting permission to speak with the king. His intention is to secure a quick execution for Mordecai, but in a profound twist God has orchestrated events so that Xerxes is ready to honor Mordecai for exposing a previous assassination plot (Esther 6:1-4). Xerxes instructs his servants to allow Haman to enter, knowing nothing of Haman’s hateful plans toward the Jews, nor of the cunning scheme Haman wishes to present. Instead, by inviting Haman before him, Xerxes sets the stage for Haman’s humiliation and the elevation of the very man he loathes (Esther 6:7-11). Haman’s eventual downfall reveals the sovereign providence of God at work, since by this time even Haman’s own associates warned that if Mordecai was Jewish, Haman’s quest for destruction would end in certain failure.
Haman likely expected to leave that royal court affirmed in his plan to remove Mordecai (Esther 3:8-9), seeking full support from a monarch whose command could not be revoked (Esther 8:8). Instead, the invitation to “Let him come in” became his undoing. The king’s sleepless night (Esther 6:1) highlighted Mordecai’s unrewarded loyalty, and now Haman arrives at precisely the wrong moment to ask for Mordecai’s death. The verse illustrates how a single choice—allowing Haman to meet with the king—could appear harmless, yet it sparks a reversal in fortunes that ultimately protects God’s covenant people and fulfills His promise of deliverance.
Set to dark mode
Esther 6:5 meaning
They said to the king, “Behold, Haman is standing in the court.” And the king said, “Let him come in.” (v.5) King Xerxes (also called Ahasuerus) ruled from Susa, the royal city in southwestern Persia, stretching from India to Ethiopia (Esther 1:1). In this scene, Haman stands outside, awaiting permission to speak with the king. His intention is to secure a quick execution for Mordecai, but in a profound twist God has orchestrated events so that Xerxes is ready to honor Mordecai for exposing a previous assassination plot (Esther 6:1-4). Xerxes instructs his servants to allow Haman to enter, knowing nothing of Haman’s hateful plans toward the Jews, nor of the cunning scheme Haman wishes to present. Instead, by inviting Haman before him, Xerxes sets the stage for Haman’s humiliation and the elevation of the very man he loathes (Esther 6:7-11). Haman’s eventual downfall reveals the sovereign providence of God at work, since by this time even Haman’s own associates warned that if Mordecai was Jewish, Haman’s quest for destruction would end in certain failure.
Haman likely expected to leave that royal court affirmed in his plan to remove Mordecai (Esther 3:8-9), seeking full support from a monarch whose command could not be revoked (Esther 8:8). Instead, the invitation to “Let him come in” became his undoing. The king’s sleepless night (Esther 6:1) highlighted Mordecai’s unrewarded loyalty, and now Haman arrives at precisely the wrong moment to ask for Mordecai’s death. The verse illustrates how a single choice—allowing Haman to meet with the king—could appear harmless, yet it sparks a reversal in fortunes that ultimately protects God’s covenant people and fulfills His promise of deliverance.