[Today’s English Version F.3; Revised Standard Version 10.6]

Having said that everything has come true, Mordecai begins to cite what he saw in his dream (see 11.10-11 [A.9-10]), but then he breaks off and begins giving the interpretation of his dream. Revised Standard Version indicates this break by suspending the sentence with a dash; Today’s English Version makes a new sentence.

The tiny spring which became a river … the river is Esther: this is metaphor, and some languages will prefer to say “the river represents Esther” (Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente) or “the river shows Esther.” However, the metaphorical language of the dream should be retained if at all possible. The style is dramatic, it is literary, it is not mere statement of fact.

And there was light and the sun and abundant water: the interpretation of these images or symbols is not given. The Greek terms for light, sun, and abundant water are the same as those occurring in 11.10, 11 (A.9, 10).

For queen see 1.9 and 2.17.

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 .