[Today’s English Version E.21; Revised Standard Version 16.21]

That God rules over all things is a repeated theme in the Additions to Esther (verses 16, 18; 13.9 [C.2]; 14.12 [C.23]). The specific element in that theme evoked here is “the one holding power [or, lordship] over” (see comments on verse 7). Revised Standard Version says who rules, and Today’s English Version says “who governs” as in verse 18, even though the two Greek verbs are different. Bible en français courant here reads “who reigns over everything that exists.” Traduction œcuménique de la Bible translates “God who exercises his power over the entire universe.” New Jerusalem Bible says “the all-powerful God.”

This verse also highlights two other themes, that of time and that of reversed circumstances (see introduction, “Translating the Book of Esther,” page 3). The focus here is on a day, and instead of a day of destruction it will be a “day of joy,” of “celebration” (Today’s English Version), or of “good cheer.” Each language will have its own idioms and grammatical constructions to express the change that is described. In some it will be like the Greek, “to make this day a day of celebration instead of a day of destruction.” In others the verb may be “to change” or “to turn the day from a day of destruction to be a day of celebration.” Other languages will use a causative verb, “to cause the day of destruction to be a day of celebration.” The day also may be described differently. Day of destruction means “the day when they were to be killed,” “the day when people were going to kill them,” or simply “the day of death.” The day that will be made to be a joy will become a “day when people will be happy,” “a day when people will celebrate,” “a day of festivity,” or simply “a festive day.”

His chosen people: the Jews are described here as the “race, people, generation” that God “chose” (compare 13.15-17 [C.8-10]).

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 .