[Today’s English Version E.7; Revised Standard Version 16.7]

The king does not need to cite examples of abuse of power from earlier times. He can give the example of Haman, who tried to destroy the king, the Jewish people, and the Persian empire. As Today’s English Version indicates with the word “examples,” verses 7-14 provide a specific example of the misuse of power that verses 2-6 talk about in abstract terms.

Wickedly accomplished: that is, “done in an unholy manner.” Revised English Bible says “The evil brought about.” La Sainte Bible: La version Etablie par les moines de Maredsous describes these acts as “criminal deeds,” and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible calls them “desecrations.”

Pestilent behavior: these two words translate a single Greek word that is related to the noun “pestilence,” that is, an infectious deadly disease. The adjective pestilent refers to something that is deadly or harmful. The translation “outrageous things” (Today’s English Version) is perhaps too general. “Destructive behavior” is a more accurate translation of the meaning. The expression “pestilential influence” (New American Bible) better preserves the sense of the Greek, but the language is on too high a level. Using a simile may enable the translator to express the basic meaning of the original; for example, “their deeds are like a plague” or “their actions have the same results as a deadly disease.”

Exercise authority: the king refers in a number of ways to rulers. In verse 5 above it is “those in authority,” in verse 6 it is “those who rule over,” and here it is “those who hold power.” The use of near synonyms, a frequent occurrence in the Hebrew version of Esther, is also a feature of the Greek Additions. The translator should not merely combine two such words into one but should try to find ways of expressing the variations of meaning of the different words in the receptor language.

Unworthily refers to the manner in which people like Haman exercise the authority that the king has granted to them. Though they received authority, their behavior shows that they are undeserving of such authority. The sense is not that the king made an error in appointing such persons.

The Greek construction expressed as can be seen not so much … as from will need to be expressed differently in some languages. It may be something like “We don’t have to look at ancient records to find out about people whose deeds are destructive like a plague. Instead we can look today at people in our midst who exercise authority in a way they should not.” Or else “The ancient records tell us about… But we don’t have to look at them. It is easier for us to look at people today and what they are doing….”

Which we hand on: since the king is referring to ancient records that had been transmitted from generation to generation, many translations restate the verb to say “which have been handed on to us” (Today’s English Version, Revised English Bible). Today’s English Version makes explicit the fact that these ancient records have been handed down from earlier generations, but it does not indicate that these records will continue to be passed on to future generations, that is, which we hand on. Bible en français courant attempts to present both aspects, “in the accounts of the past transmitted by our tradition,” and this may be a useful model in other languages. Records should be translated as “written accounts” and not as “stories” (Today’s English Version), which may be understood to mean folklore.

Close at hand is literally “at [your] feet,” that is, “before your very eyes” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible) or “among you” (Today’s English Version).

The translator may need to restructure the content of the verse to render its logic and its meaning clear. In fact in this verse it is Today’s English Version that is closer to the order of the Greek. Revised Standard Version has reversed the order of the two halves of the Greek verse. Biblia Dios Habla Hoy may provide a useful model for some languages: “This can be seen not only in the ancient accounts that have been passed on to us, but [it can be seen] also now. All you have to do is open your eyes in order to become aware of the number of crimes committed by this plague of undeserving governors.”

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 .