For someone to be mounted on the king’s own horse and to be wearing the king’s royal robes constitutes a symbolic act: this person is to receive the respect and honor that the king himself receives.
One of the king’s most noble princes: the Hebrew here uses two of the terms found earlier that refer to high-ranking officials and nobility (see comments on “princes” and “nobles” in 1.3). In this context both terms refer to one person. While some versions interpret the use of the two near synonyms, “princes” and “nobles [chief men],” as expressing a superlative idea (Revised Standard Version and Today’s English Version; also New English Bible), other versions are less emphatic. Bible en français courant says “one of your leading functionaries,” while Traduction œcuménique de la Bible says “one of the king’s noble ministers.” LSR stays closer to the original text: “one of the king’s ministers, a dignitary” (also Chouraqui).
The Hebrew verbs array, conduct, and proclaiming are all plural in this verse. However, since the subject of these verbs seems to be singular (one of the noble princes), many translations follow the example of the Septuagint and change the verbs to singular (so Today’s English Version, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible). If the plural forms are kept, they may be understood as impersonal (so Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). New Jerusalem Bible translates the first two verbs as impersonal, and the third as a true plural: “And let the man … be attired and paraded … while they proclaim before him.”
Let him conduct the man on horseback through the open square of the city, proclaiming before him: the word translated as conduct in Revised Standard Version and “lead” in Today’s English Version is almost universally understood as a verb that may express either horizontal or vertical motion, depending on the context. Translations almost always indicate horizontal motion here and in verse 11. The image is one of Haman walking a few steps ahead of the horse ridden by Mordecai. A few interpreters, however, argue that usually this Hebrew verb means “to mount upon something,” that is, it indicates vertical direction. If this interpretation is followed, the image is of Mordecai mounted upon the king’s horse in the town square, with Haman standing in front of the horse holding the bridle, and no motion is indicated. According to this second interpretation, the Hebrew preposition translated as through in Revised Standard Version will be translated “in,” that is, “Let him mount the man on horseback in the open square of the city.” The translator should follow the majority of the versions, which suggest a kind of parade through the city (so also New Jerusalem Bible).
Open square of the city: this is not the square before the king’s palace (compare 4.6), but rather the city center. Some versions translate “the [big] street of the city” (King James Version, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible); New International Version says “the city streets.”
Proclaiming: “calling out, announcing.” The scene is one of an official pronouncement such as that made by the king’s herald or by a town crier. Appropriate language needs to be used to express the announcement that is to be made. In the story the announcement is quoted as direct quotation within direct quotation. Some languages may prefer to use indirect quotation within direct quotation. However, the translator must take care not to lose the impact of the direct quotation as conveyed by the original Hebrew text.
Thus shall it be done: nearly all translations render the verb here in a manner that indicates that anyone whom the king wishes to honor may expect to be treated as Mordecai is being treated (see the Septuagint). The Hebrew verb may be translated, however, as a simple present tense with reference solely to Mordecai: “This is being done to a man whom the king wishes to honor” (Gordis).
Septuagint 6.9
The Greek has singular imperative verbs in the third person here, that is, “let him robe … let him mount him … and let him proclaim….” The agent for these verbs who is referred to by the pronoun him is “one of the friends of the king.”
On the meaning of the king’s … Friends, see comment on LXX 1.3. These friends are described by the adjective honored or “esteemed.”
The person who is to be honored is the one whom the king loves.
Greek adds the word “every” to the proclamation at the end of the verse: “Thus shall it be [done] to [for] every man whom the king honors.”
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 .