To bring: although the king ordered his servants to bring the queen, she was able to refuse to come. Therefore the translator must not use a verb bring that implies force; the servants were not sent to carry her to him. They were sent to “fetch” her, or to “lead her,” or to “escort” her.

With her royal crown: as Good News Translation and New Revised Standard Version make clear, Vashti was to come “wearing” her crown. This royal crown, or “diadem” (New Jerusalem Bible; see Septuagint at ESG 1.28[11]), was probably made of blue and white cloth wrapped around the head in the shape of a modern turban, with jewels inset. Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente correctly says “queenly turban.” Since only the crown is mentioned, ancient Jewish interpreters believed that Vashti was not to wear any clothes except the crown, but the meaning is that she was to appear wearing her royal clothing, including the crown. Translators need to make sure that the translation does not imply that Vashti was to appear naked, wearing only her crown. Some languages have expressions such as “bring [her] including her royal crown.”

Where no word for crown exists, a noun compound may be formed or a descriptive phrase may be used to describe a symbol of royalty worn on the head. The king wanted to exhibit the beauty of the queen to the people at the banquet. He wanted to let them see her, he wanted to show her off because, as the writer explains, she was fair to behold. An equivalent expression may be found that expresses great beauty without being vulgar or improper, such as “she captured everybody’s eyes” or “she stood very womanly.”

The peoples and the princes: regarding peoples see comments on 1.5, and for princes see comments on 1.3. The word rendered princes is rendered “governors” in verse 3b.

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 .