[Today’s English Version A.17; Revised Standard Version 12.6]

Here Haman is introduced to the reader of the Greek version of Esther for the first time, and his importance is briefly alluded to. Enough is said, however, to create anticipation of conflict to come.

Here and in 3.1 the Greek text refers to Haman as a Bougaean. The meaning of this word is uncertain. Scholars have suggested four different explanations of the term: (1) Possibly it is a nickname meaning “Braggart” (so the marginal note in Bible en français courant and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente says here “nicknamed Bougaean, that is the Braggart.” (2) The word Bougaean (Greek Bougaios) may be a scribal error for the word Agagite (Greek agagaios). (3) The word Bougaean may come from a word meaning “god,” specifically the god Mithra. A Bougaean will then be someone who worships the god Mithra. (4) The word Bougaean may be a proper noun. Biblia Dios Habla Hoy says “son of Hammedatha and descendant of Bougai.”

Most recently a new explanation has been suggested in light of manuscript discoveries at Qumran. In 1991 J. T. Milik published a few fragments from 4Q550, a Qumran scroll written in Aramaic. Although the fragments are small and have many omissions in the text, Milik considered this manuscript to have been a source for the biblical book of Esther; and he called the manuscript “Aramaic Proto-Esther.” The second column of fragment d refers to someone named “Bagoshe,” and it has been suggested that Bagoshe may have been the source of the word Bougaean An English translation of these fragments may be found in Florentino Garcia Martinez, k The Dead Sea Scrolls Translated: The Qumran Texts in Englishk* (Leiden: E. J. Brill; and Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans; second edition, 1996), pages 291-292. See also Sidnie White Crawford, “Has Every Book of the Bible Been Found Among the Dead Sea Scrolls?” (k The Bible Reviewk* 12, October 1996, pages 28-33, 56).. But such a suggestion is only speculation.

Since the meaning of this word is not known, it may be better to place the possible meanings in a footnote, as in Bible en français courant and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, rather than in the text, as in Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy.

Some translations simply add the Greek Additions to the Hebrew text rather than translate the Greek text in its entirety; they have kept the name “the Agagite” here instead of “a Bougaean,” in order to harmonize the name in the Greek text with the Hebrew name in the rest of Esther (so New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, La Sainte Bible: La version Etablie par les moines de Maredsous).

At the time the Additions to Esther were written, the Macedonians were enemies of the Jews, just as the Agagites had been in earlier Jewish history. Since Haman is called a “Macedonian” in the Greek text of 9.24 and in 16.10 (Addition E.10), probably the word “Bougaean” was also a term of reproach.

To injure here means “to cause evil to, to do ill to” Mordecai and his people.

His people refers to “the Jews,” as Today’s English Version makes explicit, and not just to his family members. The Greek word here is laos, a word that is frequently used in the New Testament with reference to the Jews (compare A.6, where ethnos is used).

Because of the two eunuchs is an allusion to the fact that it was because of Mordecai that the two eunuchs lost their lives (see Today’s English Version). It is possible that Haman also was involved in the plot (compare E.12).

Those who translate the LXX in its normal order should continue with the text and discussion on page 16.

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 .