Haman is there: this statement includes the Hebrew hinneh, “Behold, Haman standing….” This is more an announcement of Haman’s presence than an answer to the question in the preceding verse, as Good News Translation seems to suggest (so also Chouraqui). However, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy renders this clause “ ‘It is Haman,’ replied the servants,” in keeping with the Biblia Dios Habla Hoy translation of verse 4, that the king hears someone in the outer court and asks who is walking there (see comments on verse 4).

Haman was standing in the outer court when the king requested that he come in to the inner court. Good News Translation interprets Haman’s “waiting” in the court as a sign that he wants an audience with the king.

Let him come in is a single verb in the Hebrew, “He-will-go,” meaning Haman should advance to the inner court. “Show him in,” is an idiomatic expression that is used in English in such contexts. Many versions translate the Hebrew third person singular verb as a command, “May he come [or, enter]” (so Segond, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). New English Bible expresses the command in the form of a non-quotation, “The king bade him enter.” Some languages may wish to restate the king’s command in the form of indirect quotation; for example, “the king said that he should come in.” This may be done if it does not diminish the impact of the direct quotation of the original text.

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 .