[Today’s English Version D.6; Revised Standard Version 15.6]
All the doors refers to the various entryways in the palace through which Esther had to pass in order to come into the king’s presence.
Royal throne: see comments on the Hebrew of 5.1.
As Esther had appeared “majestically adorned” (verses 2-3), the king was also adorned in all the apparel of his majesty or of his royalty. The full array of his majesty: the word translated majesty means “appearance” or “manifestation.” A literal translation is “every [long, flowing] robe of appearance.” Compare New American Bible (and similarly New Jerusalem Bible), “clothed in full robes of state.” Osty-Trinquet (similarly Traduction œcuménique de la Bible) preserves a more literal form, “dressed in all the distinguishing marks of his official appearances.” In this context, “of appearance” clearly suggests that this was the robe he wore when he appeared publicly as king, and that it was magnificent in appearance.
All covered with gold and precious stones: the ornaments and jewelry associated with royalty were gold and precious stones, that is, “little stones that cost very much” or “shining little stones that were very valuable” (see also comments on 1.6). According to Today’s English Version it was not the king himself who was all covered but rather his royal robes. If that is the case it may be necessary in some languages to say that the gold and precious stones were sewn onto the king’s robes. But the Greek and a number of translations make all covered to refer to the king (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, La Sainte Bible: La version Etablie par les moines de Maredsous, Bible en français courant). In many languages this may be the natural way to say it, namely, that “he was all bedecked in gold and precious stones.” New Jerusalem Bible says he was “glittering with gold and precious stones.”
He was: in Greek the verb has no explicit subject. The subject may be the king (“he”) or it may be the general view, including the room and the throne in addition to the appearance of the king (“it”). Revised Standard Version and many translations apply the last comment to the king, while some, like Today’s English Version and New Jerusalem Bible, take it in a more general sense, though this seems less likely. The meaning is that Esther was standing before something that was very frightening, namely, the king on his throne.
Most terrifying: this adjective has the active sense of “causing fear.” Some, like Today’s English Version, take the major component of meaning to be “awe,” or “awesomeness.” Compare New American Bible “so that he inspired great awe.” Though the king must certainly have been “awe-inspiring,” in this context the meaning is more likely that he caused Esther great fear (so New Revised Standard Version, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible).
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 .