Haman is there: this statement includes the Hebrew hinneh, “Behold, Haman standing….” This is more an announcement of Haman’s presence than an answer to the question in the preceding verse, as Today’s English Version seems to suggest (so also Chouraqui). However, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy renders this clause “ ‘It is Haman,’ replied the servants,” in keeping with the Biblia Dios Habla Hoy translation of verse 4, that the king hears someone in the outer court and asks who is walking there (see comments on verse 4).

Haman was standing in the outer court when the king requested that he come in to the inner court. Today’s English Version interprets Haman’s “waiting” in the court as a sign that he wants an audience with the king.

Let him come in is a single verb in the Hebrew, “He-will-go,” meaning Haman should advance to the inner court. “Show him in,” is an idiomatic expression that is used in English in such contexts. Many versions translate the Hebrew third person singular verb as a command, “May he come [or, enter]” (so LSR, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). New English Bible expresses the command in the form of a non-quotation, “The king bade him enter.” Some languages may wish to restate the king’s command in the form of indirect quotation; for example, “the king said that he should come in.” This may be done if it does not diminish the impact of the direct quotation of the original text.

Septuagint 6.5

Similarly to the Hebrew, the servants’ answer in the Greek version is an announcement of Haman’s presence in the courtyard. Today’s English Version reinterprets the answer and paraphrases to provide an answer to the specific question posed in the preceding verse. The fact of Haman’s presence is signaled by idou, “Behold Haman…,” as in the preceding verse. Here, however, the equivalent hinneh occurs in the Hebrew version of this verse. It did not occur in verse 4. With no real change of meaning, the Greek says “the king said, ‘Call him.’ ”

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 .