The Hebrew has no transition word at the beginning of this verse. Some interpreters consider verse 10 to introduce a new episode in the discourse and begin a new paragraph here (Today’s English Version, Revised English Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). In order to mark that transition, Today’s English Version inserts the word “Now” and then restructures the verse to make it easier to read.

Translators should note that English uses the pluperfect tense in this verse. This makes it clear that the author is explaining what had taken place earlier. There is no indication when Mordecai gave this advice to Esther, but it is important in understanding the development of the story of how Esther became queen and how she saved her people.

Her people or her kindred translates two Hebrew words. The first word refers to one’s race or nationality; the second refers to one’s family or parentage. Some interpreters do not believe that a real distinction is made with these two words, but rather consider the point to be that Esther did not reveal that she was Jewish (so Today’s English Version and Bible en français courant). However, many translations do maintain the distinction here and in 2.20 between the two Hebrew words: Revised English Bible “her race or family”; New American Bible “her nationality or family”; New Jerusalem Bible “her race or parentage.” For Esther to reveal that she is Jewish would not necessarily be to reveal that she is a relative of Mordecai, so translators may want to maintain the distinction found in the Hebrew.

Had charged translates a Hebrew verb meaning “to give an order,” “to command.” The rendering in Today’s English Version, “on the advice of,” does not adequately express the sense that Mordecai had ordered Esther not to tell. Compare Revised English Bible, “because Mordecai had forbidden her to do so.” The writer does not explain why Mordecai instructed Esther to keep her race and relationship to him a secret. However, this secret is an important literary device, since the relationship becomes significant later in the development of the story. If keeping something “secret” has negative connotations, it may be preferable to follow the Hebrew as Revised Standard Version has done. An appropriate synonym may be used, “not to reveal” (New International Version), “not to divulge” (New Jerusalem Bible), or “not to disclose” (Septuagint; New Revised Standard Version).

Septuagint 2.10

Both New Revised Standard Version and Today’s English Version introduce this parenthetical comment with the adverbial discourse marker Now. The Greek sentence begins with the conjunction kai, unlike the Hebrew, which has no explicit connection between this verse and the preceding verse. In translation an equivalent discourse marker should be used that will set off the information in this verse from what precedes and from what follows.

The Septuagint says that Esther had not made known her “race or country” (Revised English Bible). In this she was following instructions that Mordecai had previously given to her. The translator must take care to keep the sequence of events in the correct order.

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 .