[Today’s English Version A.4; Revised Standard Version 11.5]

Verses 11.5, 6, and 8 all begin with the dramatic words kai idou, “And behold.” Though no time relationship is indicated in the Greek, probably the events of 11.5 occurred prior to those of 11.6. Today’s English Version makes the time relationship explicit by beginning 11.6 with the word “then,” and Revised English Bible begins 11.5 with the word “first,” and 11.6 with the word “then.”

The five nouns need to be examined more closely. A comparison of various English translation will reveal that there is some overlap of meaning in these Greek terms. The plural noun rendered noise may also be translated “voices,” as the Revised Standard Version footnote indicates; but in this context, a general word such as noise seems preferable. This noun has a wide range of meanings, including the noise of thunder, of wind, of the roaring of water, of musical instruments, and of the wailing cry of sorrow. New Revised Standard Version says “noises,” which is better than the singular form in Revised Standard Version. This noun may also be translated “shouts.”

The second noun, confusion, renders a noun used of the noise and uproar made by excited crowds of people. Osty-Trinquet says “din [or, noise of a crash].” Nueva Biblia Española combines these first two nouns in the expression “an uproar of shouts.”

Thunders, or “peals of thunder” (Revised English Bible), is a plural form, as Revised Standard Version indicates, and refers to the noise of thunder in a storm. The fourth noun, earthquake, translates a noun that usually means earthquake, but it may also refer to “shaking” in general, including the shaking caused by a storm on the sea with high waves. The final noun, rendered tumult in Revised Standard Version, refers to severe mental or emotional unrest or turmoil. This noun includes the idea of dismay and confusion, in addition to anxiety and distress. New American Bible renders this final noun as “confusion.” See also comments on 3.15.

In the Greek 11.5 has no verbs. The staccato effect of the Greek is partially reflected in the format of Traduction œcuménique de la Bible:

Here [were] shouts and tumult,
Rumblings and earthquake,
Confusion on the earth.

To render the Today’s English Version restructuring more emphatic, one may say “Behold, in his dream he saw….”

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 .