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)
Some languages do not have a concept of kingship and therefore no immediate equivalent for the Greek, Hebrew, Ge’ez, Aramaic, and Latin that is translated as “king” in English. Here are some (back-) translations:
Ninia Yali: “big brother with the uplifted name” (source: Daud Soesilio in Noss 2007, p. 175)
Nyamwezi: mutemi: generic word for ruler, by specifying the city or nation it becomes clear what kind of ruler (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
Ghomála’: Fo (“The word Fo refers to the paramount ruler in the kingdoms of West Cameroon. He holds administrative, political, and religious power over his own people, who are divided into two categories: princes (descendants of royalty) and servants (everyone else).” (Source: Michel Kenmogne in Theologizing in Context: An Example from the Study of a Ghomala’ Christian Hymn))
Faye Edgerton retells how the term in Navajo (Dinė) was determined:
“[This term was] easily expressed in the language of Biblical culture, which had kings and noblemen with their brilliant trappings and their position of honor and praise. But leadership among the Navajos is not accompanied by any such titles or distinctions of dress. Those most respected, especially in earlier days, were their headmen, who were the leaders in raids, and the shaman, who was able to serve the people by appealing for them to the gods, or by exorcising evil spirits. Neither of these made any outward show. Neither held his position by political intrigue or heredity. If the headman failed consistently in raids, he was superceded by a better warrior. If the shaman failed many times in his healing ceremonies, it was considered that he was making mistakes in the chants, or had lost favor with the gods, and another was sought. The term Navajos use for headman is derived from a verb meaning ‘to move the head from side to side as in making an oration.’ The headman must be a good orator, able to move the people to go to war, or to follow him in any important decision. This word is naat’áanii which now means ‘one who rules or bosses.’ It is employed now for a foreman or boss of any kind of labor, as well as for the chairman of the tribal council. So in order to show that the king is not just a common boss but the highest ruler, the word ‘aláahgo, which expresses the superlative degree, was put before naat’áanii, and so ‘aláahgo naat’áanii ‘anyone-more-than-being around-he-moves-his-head-the-one-who’ means ‘the highest ruler.’ Naat’áanii was used for governor as the context usually shows that the person was a ruler of a country or associated with kings.”
For …: by means of two parallel clauses, verse 4 provides the reason why non-Jews were afraid of Mordecai in verse 3.
In the king’s house: as in 2.13 and 4.13, this means the royal palace (so Today’s English Version). That Mordecai was great in the palace means that he had much influence. He was a “big” man or a “heavy” man.
His fame spread: fame is what one hears, one’s reputation or one’s renown, and Mordecai’s renown literally “went” throughout the empire. This is a stronger, more active statement than Today’s English Version‘s “It was well-known.”
Only a very literal translation may say the man Mordecai. Traduction œcuménique de la Bible modifies slightly to say “this man, Mordecai.” In Revised Standard Version as in the Hebrew text, this is the second occurrence of Mordecai’s name within a single sentence. It may be more natural to restructure the verse as Today’s English Version has done. Instead of saying he grew more and more powerful, it may be necessary to restate and say “he gained more and more power,” or “he continued to find [or, acquire] more power,” or “he went forward and forward in power.” The translation should make clear Mordecai’s progression or advancement in prestige and importance.
Septuagint 9.4
Verse 4 is quite different from the Hebrew; and as the note states in New Revised Standard Version, the meaning of the Greek verse is uncertain. The Greek is literally “For the decree of the king fell upon to be named in all the kingdom.” The word “For” links verse 4 to the previous verse by providing the reason why the non-Jews of verse 3 were afraid of Mordecai. In this context “the name” apparently refers to Mordecai’s name, and “to be named” means “to be known and honored.” Revised English Bible says “for they had received the king’s decree that his name should be honoured throughout the kingdom.” Though the Today’s English Version interpretation is possible (similarly Bible en français courant and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible), the sense of the Greek verse is probably more accurately translated in New Revised Standard Version and Revised English Bible.
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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