Esther 5 · Verse 13

Esther 5:13

Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.
Esther 5:13, King James Version

Esther 5:13 in other translations

BSBYet none of this satisfies me as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”
WEBYet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”
ASVYet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.
YLTand all this is not profitable to me, during all the time that I am seeing Mordecai the Jew sitting in the gate of the king.'
DARBYYet all this is of no avail to me so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.
BBEBut all this is nothing to me while I see Mordecai the Jew seated by the king's doorway.
WebsterYet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.

What does Esther 5:13 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 13 Yet all this availeth me nothing - Pride will ever render its possessor unhappy. He has such a high opinion of his own worth, that he conceives himself defrauded by every one who does not pay him all the respect and homage which he conceives to be his due. The soul was made for God, and nothing but God can fill it and make it happy. Angels could not be happy in glory, when they had cast off their allegiance to their Maker. As soon as his heart had departed from God, Adam would needs go to the forbidden fruit, to satisfy a desire which was only an indication of his having been unfaithful to his God. Solomon, in all his glory, possessing every thing heart could wish, found all to be vanity and vexation of spirit; because his soul had not God for its portion. Ahab, on the throne of Israel, takes to his bed, and refuses to eat bread, not merely because he cannot get the vineyard of Naboth, but because he had not God in his heart, who could alone satisfy its desires. Haman, on the same ground, though the prime favourite of the king, is wretched because he cannot have a bow from that man whom his heart even despised. O, how distressing are the inquietudes of vanity. And how wretched is the man who has not the God of Jacob for his help, and in whose heart Christ dwells not by faith!

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Esther 5:9-14

This account of Haman is a comment upon Pr 21:24. Self-admirers and self-flatterers are really self-deceivers. Haman, the higher he is lifted up, the more impatient he is of contempt, and the more enraged at it. The affront from Mordecai spoiled all. A slight affront, which a humble man would scarcely notice, will torment a proud man, even to madness, and will mar all his comforts. Those disposed to be uneasy, will…

Read the full comment on Esther 5:9-14 →

Esther 5:13 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וְכָל\־ve.kholand allH3605
זֶ֕הzehthisH2088
אֵינֶ֥נּוּ'ei.Ne.nunot itH369
שֹׁוֶ֖הsho.Veh[is] adequateH7737
לִ֑יLifor me
בְּכָל\־be.kholat anyH3605
עֵ֗ת'EttimeH6256
אֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherwhenH834
אֲנִ֤י'a.NiIH589
רֹאֶה֙ro.'Eh[am] seeingH7200
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
מָרְדֳּכַ֣יma.re.do.KhaiMordecaiH4782
הַיְּהוּדִ֔יhai.ye.hu.Dithe JewH3064
יוֹשֵׁ֖בyo.ShevsittingH3427
בְּשַׁ֥עַרbe.Sha.'arat [the] gate ofH8179
הַמֶּֽלֶךְ\׃ha.Me.lekhthe kingH4428

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Esther 5:13

  • Philippians 4:11-12

    Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

  • Job 15:20

    The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, and the number of years is hidden to the oppressor.

  • Job 18:4

    He teareth himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken for thee? and shall the rock be removed out of his place?

  • 1 Kings 21:4-6

    And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread. But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread? And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard.

  • Ecclesiastes 1:2

    Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

  • Esther 5:9

    Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.

  • Ecclesiastes 1:14

    I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Yet all this.Pride will ever render its possessor unhappy. Haman, though possessed of immense riches, glory, and honour, and the prime favourite of his king, is wretched, because he could not have the homage of that man whom his heart even despised! Oh, how distressing are the inquietudes of pride and vanity.
1Ki 21:4-6; Job 15:20; 18:4; Ec 1:2,14; Php 4:11,12

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Esther 5:12

    Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king.

  • Esther 5:13

    Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.

  • Esther 5:14

    Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.

Read all of Esther 5

Esther 5:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas todo esto nada me sirve cada vez que veo al judío Mardochêo sentado á la puerta del rey.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais tout cela ne me sert de rien, aussi longtemps que je vois Mardochée, le Juif, assis à la porte du roi.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Aber dieses alles gilt mir nichts, solange ich Mordokai, den Juden, im Tore des Königs sitzen sehe.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et cum hæc omnia habeam, nihil me habere puto, quamdiu videro Mardochæum Judæum sedentem ante fores regias.