SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 2000 – Page 16

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 5:8

5:8a

if it pleases the king: See note on 1:19a.

5:8b

banquet: See note on 1:9.

© 2000 by SIL International®
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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 8:5

8:5a

This part of the verse contains four main clauses:

1. If it pleases the king

2. and if I have found favor in his sight

3. and the matter seems proper to the king

4. and I am pleasing in his sight

Clause 1, If it pleases the king, is similar in meaning to clause 3, and the matter seems proper to the king, and clause 2, and if I have found favor in his sight, is similar in meaning to clause 4, and I am pleasing in his sight.

You need to decide in your translation whether you should translate each clause separately or whether you should combine clauses. Any of these ways is acceptable, so you can choose the one that can be most easily translated into your language. Good News Translation has translated clauses 1 and 3 separately but combined 2 and 4. You could also combine 1 and 3, then combine 2 and 4, as in the Contemporary English Version:

I know you will do the right thing, and that you really love me

8:5b

letters: See note on 1:22a.

Agagite: See note on 3:1a.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 9:24

9:24a

For: This introduces a summary of the first eight chapters of Esther. It gives once more the reason for the festival of Purim and why it had that name. It may be what Mordecai wrote in his account (see 9:20).

Agagite: See note on 3:1a.

9:24b

Pur: See note on 3:7b.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 2:2

2:2a

the king’s attendants: This is the same expression as the Berean Standard Bible translated “who served him” in 1:10b. See note there.

2:2b

Once more the servants were speaking directly to the king. You need to consider how it would be appropriate for them to address him.

virgins: This is a woman who has not had sexual relations with a man.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 3:15

3:15a

The couriers: See note on 3:13a.

spurred on by the king’s command: Since the king himself authorized the order, it was especially important, so it had to be distributed quickly. The verb which the Berean Standard Bible translates spurred on means “to drive, hasten.”

3:15b

the edict: See note on 1:20a.

the citadel of Susa: See note on 1:2.

3:15c

but: The action of the king and Haman, sitting calmly drinking, contrasts very strongly with the confusion among the people of the city.

the city of Susa: This refers to the people living in the city.

in confusion: The text does not explain why the people were in confusion. Most likely it was because they did not understand the reason for the edict and so were upset and confused. Another possibility is that it referred only to the Jews in the city, who were naturally upset because of the content of the edict.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 6:6

-7

6:6a

the king is delighted to honor: The king is again referring to himself as “the king” not “I.” Translate this in the same way as you have done before. See note on 1:15b.

6:6b

Haman thought to himself:

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 8:16

8:16

the Jews: This probably refers to the Jews in Susa. Verse 17 refers to the rest of the Jews.

light and gladness, of joy and honor: You should choose words that express the joy and relief that the Jews felt when they heard that they were allowed to defend themselves if people attacked them. The words light, gladness, and joy all have similar meanings.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 10:3

10:3b

preeminent among the Jews: Literally “great to the Jews.” The versions understand this in two ways:

(1) It means “great among the Jews,” that is, he was a great leader among the Jews.

(2) It means that the Jews considered him great. It then has a similar meaning to 10:3c. For example, the Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures has:

and was highly regarded by the Jews

It is recommended that you follow the first interpretation (1), like the majority of English versions.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 2000