[Today’s English Version F.5; Revised Standard Version 10.8]

The nations (ethnē) refers to the nations in 11.7 (A.6) who were prepared for war against the Jewish people. The verb gathered should therefore be translated as referring to an event in the past within the context of Esther, and not “all those that have gathered,” whether in the past or up to the present (Today’s English Version).

The name of the Jews: in Hebrew thought, one’s name was inseparable from one’s existence. To destroy the name of the Jews was “to destroy the Jews” (so Today’s English Version, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy). This should not be translated in such a way as to refer to “reputation.”

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 .