[Today’s English Version C.24; Revised Standard Version 14.13]
Eloquent speech is literally “rhythmical language.” Some translations, like Revised Standard Version, take it in this sense (“melodious language” Traduction œcuménique de la Bible), while others interpret as Today’s English Version has done (so Chouraqui). Similar to Today’s English Version, but less general, are New Jerusalem Bible and Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente: “persuasive words.” The meaning is probably not “flattering speech.”
King Artaxerxes (or “Xerxes” in Today’s English Version) is called the lion, and Haman is called the man who is fighting against us. Today’s English Version adds both the king’s name and Haman’s name to make the reference clear.
The symbolic meaning of lion is not clear, although it may represent power and authority (Ezek 32.2). Elsewhere in the Old Testament the lion stands for anger (Pro 19.12), overpowering strength (Jer 49.19), boldness (2 Sam 17.10), fierceness (Psa 7.2; Pro 20.2) and danger (Amos 5.19). Perhaps the meaning is that Esther is fearful to approach the king, just as one would be afraid of facing a “savage lion” (Today’s English Version) in its den. Revised English Bible says “when I enter this lion’s den.”
The translator should make it clear that the lion is the king. At the same time care must be taken that the image does not become an insult, as may be the case if the lion is characterized as “savage” or as being in a den. In languages that do not have a word for lion, translators may use a more general term such as “wild beast” (so Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). Some languages will have a general term for large carnivores that may be acceptable in this context.
Turn his heart to hate the man: the verb turn means “to alter” or “to change something into something else.” This idea is clearly expressed in Biblia Dios Habla Hoy: “Make his hatred toward us turn into hatred toward our enemy.” Other possible models are “Change the thoughts in his heart [or, liver]” or “turn his entrails to be against….”
Without mentioning Haman by name Esther prays that there will be an end of him and those who agree with him. The participle “the ones being of one mind, being in harmony with” should not be interpreted with the strong negative connotations of “gang” (Today’s English Version). New Jerusalem Bible provides a good model while avoiding the overly negative emphasis in Today’s English Version: “and all those like him!”
The noun end means “completion,” “bringing to an end.” In this context the sense seems to be “destruction” and may be rendered “so that he may perish” (Nueva Biblia Española) or “may be destroyed” (Biblia Dios Habla Hoy). Esther is praying that Haman and his friends may be killed, not simply that they be removed from political power, and this may be made explicit in translation.
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 .