This verse contains so much information that it may be difficult to state it clearly in one sentence (Revised Standard Version) or even in two sentences (Today’s English Version). Translators may need to restructure to make several sentences. The verse recounts both what Mordecai did and what he wanted the messenger to tell Esther to do. Revised Standard Version uses implied speech to indicate the series of deeds that the messenger is to perform, while Today’s English Version introduces a verb of speaking, “Mordecai asked him.”
In addition to the numerous acts contained in this verse, there are a number of actors or participants. There are three men, Mordecai, Hathach and the king, plus Esther and her people. The antecedents of the pronouns “he” and “him” in this verse may possibly confuse some readers. Today’s English Version makes clear that Esther is to make supplication to the king, not to Hathach, and to entreat the king for her people.
A copy: see comments on 3.14.
Issued in Susa: Today’s English Version expands the participle into a relative clause, “that had been issued.” It may be necessary to restate this verb in the active voice, specifying the agent of the action; for example, “that the king had sent out from Susa.”
Their destruction: as Today’s English Version makes explicit, the destruction of the Jews is meant (see the end of the previous verse).
It may be surprising that Mordecai instructs Hathach “to order” the queen to go to the king. Today’s English Version weakens the force of the verb by saying “have her go.” Traduction œcuménique de la Bible maintains the idea of the Hebrew by saying that he is to “command” Esther to go, and translators in other languages should use an equally strong verb in their language. In fact, in many cultures it would be Mordecai’s right to send an order to Esther because of his social relationship to her.
Esther is to make supplication and entreat the king. The first verb means “to seek [someone’s] active favor,” by which that person will act on behalf of the person making the request. New International Version renders this “beg for mercy.” The second verb is literally “to seek,” but this verb has a wide range of meanings, depending on the context. Here the sense is “to plead with [someone]” (so New International Version), and the two verbs function as synonyms.
For her people: the meaning is not that Esther is to plead in place of her people, that is, to do what they cannot do for themselves. Rather, as Today’s English Version makes clear, the meaning is “beg him to have mercy on her people.” It is also possible to say “entreat [or, plead] on behalf of her people.”
Septuagint 4.8
This verse is considerably different in the Greek from the Hebrew. The Greek omits the phrase “and explain it to her,” but it adds the words that Hachratheus is to repeat to Esther. First Mordecai tells Hachratheus to command Esther to go in [to the king], to plead with the king and to beg him on behalf of the laos, that is, her people the Jews (see comment on A.17). This is the summary of the message that Hachratheus is to bring to Esther from Mordecai. Then the author continues in direct quotation with the exact words that the messenger is to repeat to Esther. In the Greek, and in New Revised Standard Version, the words are addressed to Esther in the second person, coming to a conclusion with three dramatic commands. In Today’s English Version this direct speech is signaled by the words “Tell her,” followed by the message itself in indirect quotation.
To go in to the king: the meaning here is that Esther should go in to the king’s presence. Mordecai was commanding Esther to have an audience with the king to make an official plea for her people.
The days when you were an ordinary person: literally “the days of humiliation [or, low condition].” The reference is to the time before Esther became queen. Revised English Bible states this command idiomatically in the negative form: “Do not forget your humble origins.” Regarding Esther’s being brought up under Mordecai’s care, see Septuagint 2.7. Brought up under my care is literally “being fed by my hand.”
Who stands next to the king is literally “who is second to the king” (in the Hebrew of 10.3, Mordecai is said to be “second to the king”). Call upon the Lord means “pray to the Lord” (Today’s English Version). In the Hebrew Hachratheus does not tell Esther to Call upon the Lord.
Lord: The term “God” (theos) has occurred earlier in Septuagint 2.20, but this is the first use of the title “Lord” (kyrios). The translators of the Septuagint used the term kyrios in place of the personal name of God, YHWH, and many modern versions have rendered the Hebrew name as “LORD” in English (so Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, New International Version, Today’s English Version). In this verse, however, there is no reference to God’s name in the Hebrew version. It should therefore be translated without making an attempt to represent the name YHWH. Some languages will have an equivalent term; others will need to use a descriptive construction, “the Great Master,” “the Master of all,” or “the Possessor over all,” for example.
Against us … our death … our behalf … save us: in languages that distinguish between first person plural inclusive and exclusive pronouns, the translator will need to be careful in the choice of pronouns. In the message from Mordecai, Esther is included in the first person pronoun, but the message-bearer is not. Therefore in Revised Standard Version, where Esther is addressed directly, she is included with Mordecai in us and our, while in Today’s English Version, where Hachratheus is addressed, because he is not a Jew he is not included in the pronoun.
Save us from death: the Greek verb used here is often translated “rescue, deliver” and it often refers to being rescued from something. Here it refers to the Jews being rescued from the death that had been planned for them (see also C.25; F.6). Traduction œcuménique de la Bible and Bible en français courant translate it very dramatically, “Snatch us from death!” or “Pull us away from death!” It may be restated idiomatically, “Rescue us from the hand of death!” or “Deliver us so that they do not kill us!”
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 .