remember

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “remember” in English is translated in Mairasi as “it is (or: place it) in your liver’s crack” (source: Enggavoter 2004) and in Noongar as barrang-dwangka, literally “ear-hold” (source: Portions of the Holy Bible in the Nyunga language of Australia, 2018).

In Kalmyk, there is no equivalent to “remember,” so the translation there is “don’t forget.” (Source: David Clark in The Bible Translator 2015, p. 117ff. )

See also forget, wisdom, God remembered Noah and Seat of the Mind / Seat of Emotions.

Translation commentary on Greek Esther 10:12

[Today’s English Version F.9; Revised Standard Version 10.12]

Two recurring concepts are again found in this verse, “remember” and “just, righteous.”

God remembered: this does not mean that God had previously forgotten his people. In the Old Testament, for God “to remember” is for him “to act.” When God remembers, it is not necessarily a recalling of the past. It may also be an action on behalf of someone. God acted in response to Esther’s plea to “Remember us” (see 14.12 [C.23]). Today’s English Version makes explicit that God’s people were his “chosen” people. Bible en français courant says “his own people.”

Vindicated his inheritance: “to vindicate” is “to render justice to” (Bible en français courant, La Sainte Bible: La version Etablie par les moines de Maredsous, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible) or “to judge in favor of” (New Jerusalem Bible, Today’s English Version). As in 14.15-17 (Addition C.8-10), the people of Israel are God’s inheritance.

Biblia Dios Habla Hoy provides a helpful model for the entire verse: “And God remembered his people, Israel, which is his property [or, possession], and he judged in favor of them.”

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 .