What Does Esther 3:3 Mean in the King James?

Then the king’s servants, which were in the king’s gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king’s commandment?

Esther 3:3 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The Hebrew word translated “transgressest” pictures crossing a boundary, making the king’s command a line you can see.

THE MEANING

When a command is set before you, its boundary becomes visible in the moment you cross it. The servants’ question names that movement without yet resolving whether the crossing is right.

THE ROOT

עוֹבֵר

ʿover

GROWS FROM

עבר

To pass over, cross, or go beyond.

“transgressest” in this verse is ʿover. The Hebrew verb carries the motion of passing across or beyond. It lets the command appear as a boundary and the alleged transgression as movement over that line, adding a concrete image to the word “transgress.”

ALSO GROWS

maʿavar: A crossing or ford.

מַעֲבָר

The root names a crossing itself, giving physical shape to the servants’ accusation that Mordecai has crossed the king’s command.

ʿever: Beyond, across, or the other side.

עֵבֶר

This branch keeps the root’s sense of moving across a boundary and makes the idea of “going beyond” audible in the question.

THE PATTERN

When a command is crossed, the act reveals which authority is being treated as final.

But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

Daniel 3:18 · KJVThe king’s command is refused, making clear that his authority is not treated as final.

Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

Acts 5:29 · KJVThe answer names the higher authority that governs when human commands conflict.

THE THREAD

And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.

1 Samuel 15:24 · KJV

The Hebrew pairs the same root, ⁨עבר⁩ (ʿavar, to cross), with ⁨מצוה⁩ (mitzvah, commandment): the command is crossed. Saul’s answer then names the competing voice behind his crossing, opening the servants’ question into a question of whose voice governs the act.

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