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 name that is transliterated as “Mordecai” in English means “little man,” “bitter bruising,” “bitterly reduced,” “bitterness of my oppression.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )
It is translated in Spanish Sign Language with a sign depicting the tearing of clothes, referring to Esther 4:1. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
The name that is transliterated as “Esther” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with a sign depicting a star on a crown, referring to her being a queen and her name likely meaning “star” (see here ). (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
Hathach, a Persian name, occurs only in this chapter of Esther.
On the king’s eunuchs see 1.10.
To attend her: “to serve her” (New Jerusalem Bible) or “to help her.” Today’s English Version restates this to identify Hathach’s job as being that of a “servant.”
To learn what this was and why it was: Revised Standard Version and Today’s English Version both reflect the elliptical nature of the Hebrew text in expressing what Esther wanted to know. Most translations express the implied Hebrew questions in the form of indirect quotation (Chouraqui is an exception). In translation it may be necessary to specify what the implied questions refer to. Esther did not yet know about Haman’s decree, so she sent Hathach “to find out what this action of Mordecai meant and the reason for it” (New American Bible). One ancient Jewish interpretation understands the words what this was to refer to Mordecai’s loud wailing, and the words why it was to refer to the fact that he had not accepted the clothes that Esther had sent to him. Such an interpretation fits the context well, though it may be more precise than the author intended.
Septuagint 4.5
Several small differences exist between the Hebrew and Greek versions of this verse. The name “Hathach” is given a Greek form: Hachratheus. The eunuch is not explicitly said to be one of the king’s eunuchs, and Esther tells him to get accurate information. This may be stated “she ordered him to learn from Mordecai exactly what was happening.”
For comment on the footnote to this verse in New Revised Standard Version and Today’s English Version, see under verse 6 below.
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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