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.

ESTHER 5:14KJV
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Esther 5:14 (KJV)

What does Esther 5:14 mean?

Esther 5:14 describes how Haman’s wife Zeresh and his friends suggest building a very tall gallows, fifty cubits high, so that Haman can ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it the next day. Haman is pleased with this idea and immediately has the gallows constructed.

In this scene, Haman is at home, frustrated by Mordecai’s refusal to honor him. Zeresh, Haman’s wife, and his friends propose a dramatic public execution as a solution to Haman’s anger. The verse highlights how quickly Haman acts on their advice, showing both his eagerness for revenge and the influence of those around him.

The Hebrew behind Esther 5:14

  • The word for “gallows” is עֵץ (‘ets), which literally means “tree” or “wood.” In this context, it refers to a wooden structure for execution, which could be a pole or a scaffold, not necessarily a gallows in the modern sense.
  • “Fifty cubits” uses the words חֲמִשִּׁים (chamishim, “fifty”) and אַמָּה (amah, “cubit”). A cubit is roughly a foot and a half, so the structure would be about 75 feet high—an unusually tall and conspicuous display, emphasizing the intended humiliation.
  • The word for “hanged” is תָּלָה (talah), which means “to hang up” or “to suspend.” In the ancient Persian context, this could mean impalement or hanging, but the main idea is public execution.

Why Esther 5:14 matters

  • Esther 5:14 clarifies that the plan to execute Mordecai was not Haman’s idea alone, but was encouraged by his wife and friends, showing the social pressure and shared hostility toward Mordecai.
  • The extreme height of the gallows underlines the public and humiliating nature of the punishment Haman intended for Mordecai, making the planned execution a spectacle.
  • This verse sets up the dramatic reversal that follows in the story, where the very gallows built for Mordecai become central to Haman’s own downfall.