Who Was Haman in the Bible — In Biblical Context
Haman was the Agagite official whose plot to annihilate the Jews was foiled by Esther and Mordecai, leading to his own execution.
Haman was the Agagite official whose plot to annihilate the Jews was foiled by Esther and Mordecai, leading to his own execution.
"And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath. And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone: for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai." — Esther 3:5-6 (KJV)
The Biblical Context
Haman was an Agagite — a descendant of Agag, king of the Amalekites whom Saul had failed to destroy. King Ahasuerus promoted Haman above all his other officials and commanded everyone to bow before him. But Mordecai the Jew refused. Enraged, Haman determined not merely to punish Mordecai but to destroy all the Jews throughout the Persian Empire. He cast lots (purim) to choose a date and convinced the king to issue a decree of genocide. Haman even built a gallows fifty cubits high on which to hang Mordecai. But through Esther's courage and the king's favor, the plot was exposed. Haman was hanged on the very gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. His ten sons were also executed, and his estate was given to Esther. Haman stands as a biblical type of the ultimate enemy of God's people — proud, anti-Semitic, and self-destroyed by his own schemes.
Where It Sits in Scripture
The core passage for this question, Esther 3:5-6, sits inside Esther 3. To grasp the full meaning, read the surrounding paragraph — the verses before set up the thought, the verses after carry it forward.
"And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath. And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone: for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai."
Supporting Passages
"And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen."
"So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified."
Explore this question from another angle
Related Reading
Continue your study with related content from across our library:
Who Was Melchizedek in the Bible?
People & Characters
Who Was Abraham in the Bible?
People & Characters
Who Was Moses?
People & Characters
Bible Characters Quiz
Patriarchs, prophets, kings, and disciples — how well do you know them?
Queen Esther Saves Her People
Esther 1-10 • Kings & Prophets
Bible Verses About Dealing with Difficult People
10 curated KJV verses
Keep Going
Continue Exploring Scripture
You've found one resource — here are more ways to go deeper into God's Word.
Today's Verse
Start each day with a hand-picked KJV verse and reflection.
Verses by Topic
Find what the Bible says about love, anxiety, strength, and 500+ more topics.
Bible Miracles
Discover the signs and wonders of God recorded in Scripture.
Angels & Spiritual Warfare
Angels, demons, and the armor of God — what the KJV really teaches about the unseen battle.
Bible Genealogies & Family Trees
Visual KJV family trees — the line of Jesus, the sons of Noah, the twelve tribes, and more.
Women of the Bible
Eve, Sarah, Ruth, Esther, Mary — the matriarchs, prophetesses, queens, and disciples of Scripture.