When Haman entered, the king gave him no opportunity to say why he had come. Instead, he asked his own question. As in 1.15, he asked advice on what was right to do.

What shall be done to the man: in English to do something to someone usually has a negative connotation. Since the king wants to do something good here, Today’s English Version and New Revised Standard Version both say “for” the man. Speaking as king he refers to himself in the third person. Today’s English Version uses a very casual style in this verse, which may not be appropriate.

Although Revised Standard Version says delights, this may be translated as “wants very much” (compare Today’s English Version) or as “desires” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). A word appropriate to the wishes of a king should be used.

The translator may encounter at least three problems with Haman’s question. The first is that the author uses direct quotation to reveal what Haman said “in his heart.” The second is that Haman’s thoughts take the form of a rhetorical question. That is, they are not a real question because Haman thought he already knew the answer. The third problem is the comparative construction, more than me.

For the first, Today’s English Version also uses direct quotation, which it introduces by saying “thought to himself.” In the case of the second problem, Today’s English Version makes explicit the answer to Haman’s question, “Me, of course.” The third problem is restated to eliminate the comparison. Some languages may prefer a pattern that is closer to the original Hebrew, “The king would wish to do honor to whom besides me?” or “Whom would the king wish to honor if not me?” or perhaps “Whom would the king want to honor surpass me?” Sometimes a rhetorical question may be replaced by an emphatic statement; for example, “Surely the king would want to honor no one but me!”

Translators should not make explicit in this verse that it is Mordecai whom the king wants to honor, since Haman’s rhetorical question makes sense only if he does not know that the king is thinking of Mordecai. Haman’s plight is both humorous and tragic.

Septuagint 6.6

Since the Greek omits the words “So Haman came in,” it makes explicit to whom the king spoke: “Then the king said to Haman.” It is not clear whether Today’s English Version has followed a Greek manuscript that has the words “So Haman came in,” or whether it makes explicit in its translation of the Greek what is explicit in Hebrew. It is preferable for the translator to follow the Greek style and not introduce what is not in the text, if this is not confusing to the reader.

More than me: the Greek says “if not me” (see comments on Hebrew version above).

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