enemy / foe

The Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, Ge’ez, and Latin that is translated as “enemy” or “foe” in English is translated in the Hausa Common Language Bible as “friends of front,” i.e., the person standing opposite you in a battle (source: Andy Warren-Rothlin) and in Apinayé as “person next to one” (source: Patricia Ham in Notes on Translation, August 1965, p. 2).

In North Alaskan Inupiatun it is translated with a term that implies that it’s not just someone who hates you, but one who wants to do you harm (Source: Robert Bascom), in Tarok as ukpa ìkum or “companion in war/fighting,” and in Ikwere as nye irno m or “person who hates me” (source for this and one above: Chuck and Karen Tessaro in this newsletter ).

In Cherokee it is either translated as “the one(s) who reprimand(s) you” or “the one(s) feared.” (Source: Bender / Belt 2025, p. 47)

Translation commentary on Greek Esther 4:34

[Today’s English Version C.17; Revised Standard Version 14.6]

And now we have sinned before thee: though no specific time is mentioned to indicate when Israel sinned against God, the context clearly points to the time when the Jewish people still lived in Palestine, before they were carried off into exile. The Revised Standard Version translation now we have sinned incorrectly suggests that Esther is referring to the sins of the Jews in her own time. Today’s English Version (“we sinned”) more clearly places the time of sinning in the (remote) past. And now is a discourse feature marking a new thought in Esther’s prayer. Today’s English Version therefore begins a new paragraph at this point. Before thee is expressed as “against you” in Today’s English Version (compare Luke 15.18). It means that the Jews had not been faithful to God (so Bible en français courant); they had not obeyed God’s will.

And thou hast given us into the hands of our enemies: as the following words indicate, the conquest of the Jews by their enemies was God’s punishment for worshiping foreign gods. God had now delivered them into the “power” (Biblia Dios Habla Hoy), or the “control,” of their enemies.

Revised Standard Version and Today’s English Version differ in where the division occurs between this verse and the next verse. Translators may choose either division or else follow an established tradition.

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 .