The king said to Esther, “In the city of Susa, the Jews have destroyed five hundred people. What do you suppose they have done in the surrounding countryside? Whatever more you ask will be done for you.”
The Hebrew and Greek 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)
Many languages use a “body part tally system” where body parts function as numerals (see body part tally systems with a description). One such language is Angguruk Yali which uses a system that ends at the number 27. To circumvent this limitation, the Angguruk Yali translators adopted a strategy where a large number is first indicated with an approximation via the traditional system, followed by the exact number according to Arabic numerals. For example, where in 2 Samuel 6:1 it says “thirty thousand” in the English translation, the Angguruk Yali says teng-teng angge 30.000 or “so many rounds [following the body part tally system] 30,000,” likewise, in Acts 27:37 where the number “two hundred seventy-six” is used, the Angguruk Yali translation says teng-teng angge 276 or “so many rounds 276,” or in John 6:10 teng-teng angge 5.000 for “five thousand.”
This strategy is used in all the verses referenced here.
And the king said introduces a new development in the narrative. It may be appropriate to indicate this by a major discourse marker in the receptor language; for example, “and then it happened that….” In many languages it will also be expected that a verb of motion will introduce the king’s speech; for example, “Then the king went [or, came] and said to Esther.” But the author does not indicate where or how this encounter between the king and queen took place.
On Susa the capital and five hundred men, see comments on 9.6. The words “in Susa the citadel” are in emphatic position in Hebrew. Today’s English Version brings out this emphasis by adding the word “alone,” that is, “In Susa alone” (so also Anchor Bible and New Jerusalem Bible).
What then have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces!: was the king expressing astonishment or simply asking a question? Revised Standard Version‘s insertion of the word then into the translation of the Hebrew text and the use of an exclamation mark suggests that King Xerxes was appalled at what the Jews must have done in the rest of the countryside (so also New Jerusalem Bible). New Revised Standard Version is perhaps a better translation of the Hebrew: “What have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces?” (so New International Version also). Notice again the formal style of the king’s reference to himself.
What then…? Now what…? And what…?: it may be noted that the question “what” occurs three times in close succession in the king’s words to Esther. In the Hebrew text the “what” is even more striking, because in the king’s first question it occurs toward the end of the sentence, “… what have they done?” The second question follows immediately and begins with “And what…?” The third question follows in the same pattern, “And what…?” The translator should try to emphasize the questions as the Hebrew has done.
Revised Standard Version introduces the king’s requests for Esther’s petitions with an emphatic Now, which translates the Hebrew conjunction “and.” Today’s English Version expresses the same implied contrast by placing “now” at the end of the first request. This contrast is made explicit in the second request by the Hebrew “again, further, yet.” The king here repeats his earlier double question and promise to Esther, except that this time he does not offer the half of his kingdom (see translation and comments on 5.6; 7.2).
Septuagint 9.12
The Greek omits both the title “Queen” before Esther’s name and the words “and also the ten sons of Haman.” It also omits the words “Now what is your petition? It shall be granted you.” As in verse 6 above, the Greek here refers to Susa as “the city.”
The Greek is literally “five hundred men” (so Revised English Bible), though possibly “men” includes women also (so New Revised Standard Version, Today’s English Version). The second sentence in this Greek verse is ambiguous. As in the Hebrew, the king may be asking a question for information (New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible), or it may be a rhetorical question to express amazement (Today’s English Version). This question is followed by another question, “What therefore do you want still?” plus the promise “and it shall be yours.” The basic meaning of the verb in this question is related to the idea of “worthy, fitting”; for example, “What more do you consider fitting [or, appropriate] still?” However, this Greek verb also includes the extended meanings of “to require, to demand,” and it is in that sense that most versions translate it here as “ask” (Revised Standard Version, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Bible en français courant).
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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