Arisai אֲרִיסַי
Son of Haman, enemy of the Jews
Who is Arisai in the Bible?
Arisai was one of the ten sons of Haman mentioned in the book of Esther (9:9). He is significant primarily as a casualty of the Jews' defensive stand against their persecutors in ancient Persia. When Haman's plot to destroy all the Jews was exposed by Queen Esther, the king granted the Jewish people permission to defend themselves against their enemies. During the resulting conflict in Susa, the capital city, Arisai and his nine brothers were killed along with five hundred other men who had sought to harm the Jews. Their deaths marked the complete destruction of Haman's family line and represented the final consequence of Haman's hatred toward the Jewish people.
Biography
Arisai is mentioned in the book of Esther as one of the ten sons of Haman, the chief antagonist in the story. Haman, a high-ranking official in the Persian court, plotted to destroy all the Jews in the empire due to his hatred for Mordecai, a Jew who refused to bow down to him. However, Haman's plan was thwarted by Queen Esther, who revealed her Jewish identity to King Ahasuerus and exposed Haman's evil scheme.
As a result, Haman was hanged on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai, and the king issued a decree allowing the Jews to defend themselves against their enemies. On the appointed day, the Jews throughout the empire fought against those who sought to harm them. In Susa, the capital, they killed five hundred men and also killed Haman's ten sons, including Arisai (Est.9.9).
After this victory, Queen Esther requested that the bodies of Haman's sons be hanged on the gallows, further emphasizing the complete defeat of Haman and his family (Est.9.13-14). The mention of Arisai and his brothers' deaths serves to underscore the reversal of fortune and the triumph of the Jewish people over their enemies, as well as the downfall of those who sought to destroy them.
Family
Parents
Siblings
- Parshandatha MaleSon of HamanSon of Haman killed by the JewsView full profile →
- Dalphon MaleSon of HamanSon of Haman, enemy of the JewsView full profile →
- Aspatha MaleSon of HamanOne of the ten sons of HamanView full profile →
- Poratha MaleSon of HamanSon of Haman, enemy of the JewsView full profile →
- Adalia MaleSon of HamanSon of Haman, enemy of the JewsView full profile →
- Aridatha MaleSon of HamanSon of Haman, enemy of the JewsView full profile →
- Parmashta MaleSon of HamanSon of Haman, killed by the JewsView full profile →
- Aridai MaleSon of HamanSon of Haman, enemy of the JewsView full profile →
- Vaizatha MaleSon of HamanSon of Haman, enemy of the JewsView full profile →
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentEsther 1 verse
- Esther 9:9
"Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vaizatha."
Study Esther →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | אֲרִיסַי |
Arisai
r'-kus (Aristarchos, "best ruler"): He was one of those faithful companions of the apostle Paul who shared with him his labors and sufferings. He is suddenly mentioned along with Gaius as having been seize