For …: by means of two parallel clauses, verse 4 provides the reason why non-Jews were afraid of Mordecai in verse 3.

In the king’s house: as in 2.13 and 4.13, this means the royal palace (so Today’s English Version). That Mordecai was great in the palace means that he had much influence. He was a “big” man or a “heavy” man.

His fame spread: fame is what one hears, one’s reputation or one’s renown, and Mordecai’s renown literally “went” throughout the empire. This is a stronger, more active statement than Today’s English Version‘s “It was well-known.”

Only a very literal translation may say the man Mordecai. Traduction œcuménique de la Bible modifies slightly to say “this man, Mordecai.” In Revised Standard Version as in the Hebrew text, this is the second occurrence of Mordecai’s name within a single sentence. It may be more natural to restructure the verse as Today’s English Version has done. Instead of saying he grew more and more powerful, it may be necessary to restate and say “he gained more and more power,” or “he continued to find [or, acquire] more power,” or “he went forward and forward in power.” The translation should make clear Mordecai’s progression or advancement in prestige and importance.

Septuagint 9.4

Verse 4 is quite different from the Hebrew; and as the note states in New Revised Standard Version, the meaning of the Greek verse is uncertain. The Greek is literally “For the decree of the king fell upon to be named in all the kingdom.” The word “For” links verse 4 to the previous verse by providing the reason why the non-Jews of verse 3 were afraid of Mordecai. In this context “the name” apparently refers to Mordecai’s name, and “to be named” means “to be known and honored.” Revised English Bible says “for they had received the king’s decree that his name should be honoured throughout the kingdom.” Though the Today’s English Version interpretation is possible (similarly Bible en français courant and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible), the sense of the Greek verse is probably more accurately translated in New Revised Standard Version and Revised English 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 .

[Today’s English Version F.4; Revised Standard Version 10.7]

The statement is a very striking metaphor, literally “and the two dragons I am and Haman.” In Greek both the personal pronoun “I” and the verb “I am” are used for emphasis. The order of presentation is the speaker first and then the other person spoken about (so Anchor Bible “the two dragons represent me and Haman”; so also New American Bible, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). Following the custom in some cultures of mentioning oneself last, English and French translations reverse the order of reference from the Greek “me and Haman” to Haman and myself or “Haman and me” (so Bible en français courant and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). In cultures where this form of courtesy is not maintained, the Greek order should be kept. In some languages the plural first person pronoun will be used, since two of “us” are being spoken about, “we and Haman,” meaning “Haman and me.” In order to keep the emphasis of the Greek text, La Sainte Bible: La version Etablie par les moines de Maredsous says “Haman and me, there are the two dragons.”

Today’s English Version says that the two dragons “represent” Haman and Mordecai, though in the previous verse Today’s English Version does not say that the river “represents” Esther. In some languages it will be possible to use the verb “to be” as Revised Standard Version has done. In others it will be necessary to make a verb explicit as in Today’s English Version; for example, “the two dragons show me and Haman” or “the two dragons mean Haman and myself.” The translator will need to adopt a style that is appropriate and that can be maintained consistently. See Addition A.5 (11.6) for dragons.

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 .