The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “eunuch” in English is translated in Low German as “man (or: person) who does not have male strength” (Minsch, de ehr Mannskraft nicht hebt) (translation by Johannes Jessen, publ. 1933, republ. 2006). Similarly, in the German Luther Bible it is translated as Entmannter or “de-masculated.” (Source: Jost Zetzsche)
When the mentioning of “eunuch” does not play an important part of the story, such as in Esther 2:3 or Esther 1:15, the Elhomwe translation uses “servant or “someone working at the palace” “because otherwise element of being castrated too much emphasis.” (Source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Mordecai” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with a sign depicting the tearing of clothes, referring to Esther 4:1. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
Some languages do not have a concept of kingship and therefore no immediate equivalent for the Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Latin that is translated as “king” in English. Here are some (back-) translations:
Ninia Yali: “big brother with the uplifted name” (source: Daud Soesilio in Noss 2007, p. 175)
Nyamwezi: mutemi: generic word for ruler, by specifying the city or nation it becomes clear what kind of ruler (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
Ghomála’: Fo (“The word Fo refers to the paramount ruler in the kingdoms of West Cameroon. He holds administrative, political, and religious power over his own people, who are divided into two categories: princes (descendants of royalty) and servants (everyone else).” (Source: Michel Kenmogne in Theologizing in Context: An Example from the Study of a Ghomala’ Christian Hymn))
Faye Edgerton retells how the term in Navajo (Dinė) was determined:
“[This term was] easily expressed in the language of Biblical culture, which had kings and noblemen with their brilliant trappings and their position of honor and praise. But leadership among the Navajos is not accompanied by any such titles or distinctions of dress. Those most respected, especially in earlier days, were their headmen, who were the leaders in raids, and the shaman, who was able to serve the people by appealing for them to the gods, or by exorcising evil spirits. Neither of these made any outward show. Neither held his position by political intrigue or heredity. If the headman failed consistently in raids, he was superceded by a better warrior. If the shaman failed many times in his healing ceremonies, it was considered that he was making mistakes in the chants, or had lost favor with the gods, and another was sought. The term Navajos use for headman is derived from a verb meaning ‘to move the head from side to side as in making an oration.’ The headman must be a good orator, able to move the people to go to war, or to follow him in any important decision. This word is naat’áanii which now means ‘one who rules or bosses.’ It is employed now for a foreman or boss of any kind of labor, as well as for the chairman of the tribal council. So in order to show that the king is not just a common boss but the highest ruler, the word ‘aláahgo, which expresses the superlative degree, was put before naat’áanii, and so ‘aláahgo naat’áanii ‘anyone-more-than-being around-he-moves-his-head-the-one-who’ means ‘the highest ruler.’ Naat’áanii was used for governor as the context usually shows that the person was a ruler of a country or associated with kings.”
[Today’s English Version A.12; Revised Standard Version 12.1]
There is no transition marking the discourse shift from Mordecai’s dream in 11.2-12 (A.1-11) to the events of 12.1-6 (A.12-17). The time relationship between this verse and the preceding verses is not clear. Now translates the Greek conjunction kai, “and, but,” which does not specify a lapse of time between Mordecai’s dream and the events of 12.1-6. Some translations suggest that there was an unspecified lapse of time. Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, for example, begins with the words “One day Mordecai…,” and Revised English Bible says “Once, while Mordecai….” Other translations continue without beginning a new paragraph here (so La Bible Pléiade), which suggests that the events of 12.1-6 follow immediately after Mordecai’s dream. If the events of 12.1-6 also occurred in the second year of Artaxerxes’ reign (see 11.2 [A.1]), this contradicts the claim in the Hebrew text that this same event occurred in the seventh year of the king’s reign. Nueva Biblia Española places verses 12.1-6 after 2.23 in the Hebrew text. Since the Greek does not suggest any lapse of time, it seems best not to indicate any passing of time between 11.12 and 12.1 (A.11 and A.12). That is, the events of 12.1-2 (A.12-13) seem to take place the next morning, after Mordecai has awakened from his dream, thought about it all day long, and then gone to bed when evening came. In support of this interpretation it may be noted that 11.12 (A.11) ends in Greek with the words “and in every detail [word] he sought to understand it until evening.” Compare Chouraqui: “with all his might, until evening, he sought to understand it. Mordecai slept in the courtyard of the king with Bagathan and Thares.” Translators should use a transitional word or expression that allows the story to move forward without saying exactly when this next event took place; for example, “one day” (Bible en français courant), “then” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible), “later,” or “then it happened that….”
Took his rest translates a word that means “to be quiet” or “to be at rest.” The Today’s English Version translation sounds as if Mordecai was temporarily resting in the courtyard. Revised English Bible adds the word “once” at the beginning of this verse, while Bible en français courant says “One day,” thereby marking the beginning of a new episode. However, the meaning may be that this was where Mordecai lodged on a regular basis (so New American Bible: “Mordecai lodged at the court with Bagathan and Thares”; also Biblia Dios Habla Hoy and Nueva Biblia Española).
The courtyard translates a word that may refer to an enclosed space open to the sky, or it may refer to the palace building itself (so New American Bible “the court,” and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “the palace”), as in 12.5 (Addition A.16) (“at court”; see also 11.3 above [A.2]).
Gabatha and Tharra are the names of the two eunuchs in the Greek, whereas according to the Hebrew text their names were Bigthan and Teresh. The Greek omits the eunuchs’ names in 2.21 (see 1.10 for comments on eunuchs). Some translations such as New American Bible, which follows the Hebrew text while inserting the Greek Additions, harmonize the spelling of these names with the Hebrew form. Other translations such as Revised English Bible and Today’s English Version, which translate the Septuagint text of Esther in its entirety, maintain the form of the names in the Greek text.
Who kept watch means that they were regularly on watch, this was their duty (so New Revised Standard Version and La Sainte Bible: La version Etablie par les moines de Maredsous). It does not mean that they happened to be on guard this one time. That Mordecai was with them means only that he was present in the same place. Mordecai was apparently resting while these two men were on guard duty.
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 .
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