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Haman הָמָן

Male Persian H2001 1 book

A Persian official who plotted to destroy the Jews.

Biography

Haman is the primary antagonist in the book of Esther. He was an Agagite, a descendant of the Amalekite kings, and a high-ranking official in the Persian Empire during the reign of King Ahasuerus (Xerxes I). Haman was promoted to a position of authority and commanded all the royal officials to bow down to him (Est.3.1-2). However, Mordecai, a Jew, refused to bow to Haman (Est.3.2-4). Enraged, Haman plotted to destroy not only Mordecai but all the Jews in the empire (Est.3.5-6). He convinced the king to issue a decree ordering the extermination of the Jews (Est.3.8-15). Haman also had a gallows built to hang Mordecai (Est.5.14). However, Haman's plans were thwarted by Queen Esther, who revealed her Jewish identity to the king and exposed Haman's plot (Est.7.1-6). The king ordered Haman to be hanged on the very gallows he had prepared for Mordecai (Est.7.7-10). Haman's ten sons were also executed (Est.9.10-14). The king then issued a new decree, allowing the Jews to defend themselves against their enemies (Est.8.1-14). Haman's story serves as a powerful example of how God can use individuals to protect His people and bring about justice, even in the face of great adversity.

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In Scripture

1 biblical book ; 1 with study content
Esther 5 verses
  • Esther 3:1

    "After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes who were with him."

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  • Esther 3:2

    "All the king’s servants who were in the king’s gate bowed down, and paid homage to Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai didn’t bow down or pay him homage."

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  • Esther 3:4

    "Now it came to pass, when they spoke daily to him, and he didn’t listen to them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai’s reason would stand; for he had told them that he was a Jew."

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  • Esther 3:5

    "When Haman saw that Mordecai didn’t bow down, nor pay him homage, Haman was full of wrath."

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  • Esther 3:6

    "But he scorned the thought of laying hands on Mordecai alone, for they had made known to him Mordecai’s people. Therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even Mordecai’s people."

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Names & Aliases

Form Language Script Strong's
Named Hebrew הָמָן H2001
Encyclopedia Article

Haman

ISBE 1915 (Public Domain)

render to him the adoration which was due to him in accordance with Persian custom. Haman's wrath was so inflamed that one man's life seemed too mean a sacrifice, and he resolved that Mordecai's nation should perish with him. This was the cause of Haman's downfall and death. A ridiculous notion, which, though widely accepted, has no better foundation than a rabbinic suggestion or guess, represents him as a descendant of Agag, the king of Amalek, who was slain by Samuel. But the language of Scripture (1Sa 15:33) indicates that when Agag fell, he was the last of his house. Besides, why should his descendants, if any existed, be called Agagites and not Amalekites? Saul's posterity are in no case termed Saulites, but Benjamites or Israelites. But the basis of this theory has been swept away by recent discovery. Agag was a territory adjacent to that of Media. In an inscription found at Khorsabad, Sargon, the father of Sennacherib, says: "Thirty-four districts of Media I conquered and I added them to the domain of Assyria: I imposed upon them an annual tribute of horses. The country of Agazi (Agag) .... I ravaged, I wasted, I burned." It may be added that the name of Haman is not Hebrew, neither is that of Hammedatha his father. "The name of Haman," writes M. Oppert, the distinguished Assyriologist, "as well as that of his father, belongs to the Medo-Persian."

John Urquhart

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ha'-math (chamath; Hemath, Haimath; Swete also has Hemath): The word signifies a defense or citadel, and such designation was very suitable for this chief royal city of the Hittites, situated between their northern and

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