The beginning of this verse contains both textual and grammatical difficulties. First, the name Esther does not appear in the Hebrew but is thought to be implied, just as the name “Haman” does not appear in the Greek. The textual problem is that, while the Hebrew text has a feminine participle (the word translated as when [Esther] came in Revised Standard Version), the Septuagint has a masculine participle, which refers to Haman. New Jerusalem Bible follows the Septuagint text: “when he went back to the king to ask him to order the hanging of Mordecai.”

Hebrew Old Testament Text Project gives an “A” evaluation to the feminine form of the participle. Those translations that follow the Hebrew text instead of the Septuagint must decide whether the feminine ending of the participle refers to Esther (so Good News Translation, New Revised Standard Version, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible) or to the feminine noun plot (so New International Version, “But when the plot came to the king’s attention”; also Revised English Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). Since Esther was last mentioned in 9.13 and is not otherwise mentioned in this part of the letter, there is strong argument for the reading of New International Version.

Another possibility is that the Hebrew text is a corrupt abbreviation of Hebrew words meaning “when Queen Esther came” (so Anchor Bible), but this does not agree with Hebrew Old Testament Text Project‘s evaluation of the Hebrew text.

He gave orders refers to the king.

The words he and his in the phrase his wicked plot which he had devised refer to Haman and not to the king, though the use of the masculine pronouns in the Revised Standard Version translation may be confusing to some readers. To avoid any ambiguity or confusion, many translations such as Good News Translation and Revised English Bible use the name “Haman” rather than the pronouns.

In this verse the author underscores the irony of Haman’s fate by stating explicitly that what he had planned for the Jews should come upon his own head. The meaning here is not that “it ought to” but that the king gave the command that “it come upon his head.” The translator will need to make clear the king’s command here expressed in the third person. Many languages will have an expression such as “return upon Haman himself,” “fall upon his own head,” “take Haman himself,” or some other similar idiom. Typical of the author’s style, he draws attention to Haman’s fate in a general way and then expands by recalling the specific end of Haman and his sons on the gallows that had been intended for Mordecai.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Noss, Philip A. A Handbook on Esther (The Hebrew Text). (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .