[Today’s English Version B.4; Revised Standard Version 13.4]

In the Greek this verse and the preceding verse are a single long sentence consistent with the deliberate style of the royal letter. Today’s English Version restructures and expands to make the verse more readable and the meaning clear.

The two charges that are made against the Jews here basically repeat the charges from 3.8, although using different words, but, as in 3.8, the accused are not identified by name.

The Greek text gives no direct indication of the time when Haman told the king and his counselors about these “hostile people.” However, on the basis of the immediate context, and for good style at the opening of this sentence, Today’s English Version adds the word “recently” at the beginning of this verse.

As noted above on 13.1 (B.1), the change to the first person plural verbs in this verse through the end of the king’s proclamation may be a change in style only and not a change in reference. Bible en français courant and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy begin verse 4 this way: “He informed me” (rather than “he informed us”); and they continue in the first person singular through verse 6.

Pointed out translates a Greek verb with a range of meanings such as “to exhibit,” “to display,” “to show,” and “to prove.” Here it does not express the idea that Haman actually displayed or showed an object of some kind. Rather as New American Bible states, he “brought it to our attention.” Translators should use an expression that would be appropriate in the language of the king. Some languages would say, “he reminded us.”

There is scattered a certain hostile people: the meaning is not that a certain people had been scattered or dispersed, but rather that there was a certain people that was “mixed” among them. New Jerusalem Bible translates “mingled among all the tribes of the earth.” The Jews are not referred to here by the term ethnos, “nation,” that had been used before (see 11.7 [A.6] and comments on “nation”). The term laos is used (see comments on “people” in 12.6 [A.17]), and they are said to be hostile, meaning that they are ill-willed toward people not of their own race (Anchor Bible “antagonistic”).

The English word certain translates an indefinite pronoun in Greek. This Greek pronoun is used to refer to someone who is not known or not mentioned by name, whereas the English word certain refers to someone definite. New American Bible captures the sense by stating “throughout the world, there is one people of bad will.”

The laws contrary to those of every nation are the laws (nomos) of Moses, but the ordinances of kings are identified by a different word not previously used in the book (diatagma; see also comments on nomos in LXX 3.8). The Greek does not state that the Jews have laws contrary to those [laws] of every nation. Rather it says that this nation is “opposed in its laws to every nation” (Revised English Bible). The sense is that the laws of the Jews place them in a hostile relationship to other nations, not simply that the laws of the Jews are different from those of other countries. Ordinances comes from a verb meaning “to command” or “to order.” Unlike the word used for the laws of the Jews (nomos), this noun expresses the idea of a law given by command of the king. English translations that express this meaning are “edicts,” “decrees” (New American Bible), “ordinances” (Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible) or “commands.”

So that at the end of the verse expresses the result in English (Today’s English Version “as a result”). That is, the words so that introduce the result of the fact that a “hostile people” live scattered among the other peoples of the empire. Because of these people, it is not possible for the king to establish the kind of single administration that he is aiming toward. He implies that he should not be blamed for failure to succeed in his good intentions. However, the Greek words here more likely express purpose. Traduction œcuménique de la Bible provides a good model: “a people who continually reject the royal ordinances in order that the united government that we control with honesty and without reproach may not be established.” In other words the king is claiming that these people deliberately intend to prevent a unified government. That is the purpose of their behavior and not merely the result.

The unifying of the kingdom translates a single Greek noun meaning “joint administration,” or “joint government.” Revised English Bible says “the unified administration of the empire.” The sense seems to be that the king wishes to establish laws and regulations that are accepted and followed in all parts of his empire. Perhaps this phrase may be translated “that the kingdom [or, reign] may be one.”

Honorably renders a word often translated as “blamelessly.” Some languages may say “what we try to do in our good thinking.” Compare New American Bible: “so that the unity of empire blamelessly designed by us cannot be established.” Some translations interpret this phrase to refer to the king’s governing at that time and not to his efforts for the future (New Jerusalem Bible and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). Bible en français courant reads “they endanger the unity of the power that I exercise correctly for the satisfaction of all.” Translators should choose according to the tradition they have selected for their translation.

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 .