complete verse (Esther 3:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Esther 3:4:

  • Kupsabiny: “Those people used to talk to Mordecai everyday/always like that so that he might turn around and follow the word of the king, but he completely refused. Then those people reported Mordecai. They told Haman how Mordecai was acting so that they could see whether Haman would accept Mordecai’s words/excuse that he was a Jew so that he could not bow to/kneel to/worship any person/human.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “They would just question him like this day after day. But he paid no attention to their matter. They went to report this matter of Mordecai’s refusal to obey in order to learn whether Haman would tolerate it or not. For Mordecai had told them, "I am a Jew."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “He answered that he was a Jew. Everyday his fellow officers convince him but he would never listen. So they told Haman about him so-that they will-know if Haman would just tolerate him.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru: “Every day they came to bring him to obey the kings word, but he did not agree to do it. And he said: "I am a Jew. I cannot bow to Haman." So they went and told Hamand this thing, wanting to know whether Haman could bear or not Mordecai doing this.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • English: “Mordecai told them that he was a Jew, and that Jews would bow down only to God. Day after day the other officials spoke to Mordecai about that, but he still refused to obey. So they told Haman about it, to see if Haman would tolerate it.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Esther 3:4   

The verse opens with wayyehi, “and it came to pass,” just as the first verse of the book (see comments on 1.1). It is in this verse that the two men are openly placed in opposition to each other.

He would not listen to them means that Mordecai would not do what the others said he should do; he would not give homage to Haman.

To see whether Mordecai’s words would avail: literally “to see if Mordecai’s words would stand [firm]”; this phrase is ambiguous and its relation to the following clause can be taken two different ways. This is because the Hebrew word can be translated words or “actions.” The first interpretation is: would his words be vindicated or would he be destroyed? Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente says “They denounced him to Haman to see if this excuse was valid.” Though Good News Translation is not a literal translation, it seems to follow this same interpretation: “wondering if he would tolerate Mordecai’s conduct.” A second interpretation is that of Bible en français courant and New Jerusalem Bible, and footnotes in Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible: “to see whether he would persist in his conduct.”

The translator may wish to give a footnote to explain alternative interpretations, but explanation within the text should be avoided. “To see whether Mordecai’s words would stand” or “to see whether Mordecai’s words had a basis” may be possible translations of the Hebrew text.

For he had told them that he was a Jew may imply that as a Jew he could bow before no one but God. But in light of verse 1, which identifies Haman as the son of Hammedatha, a descendant of Agag, it is more probable that these words mean that as a Jew Mordecai could not bow down before an Agagite (see comments on 3.1). This is the interpretation of Good News Translation.

In the original text for he had told them that he was a Jew is an explanation that is consistent with the author’s style. It is a report of speech in indirect speech. Good News Translation restates to highlight what would have been the original words in the form of direct quotation.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Noss, Philip A. A Handbook on Esther (The Hebrew Text). (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 3:4

3:4

There are several different ways to rearrange this verse and connect the various phrases. The Display follows Good News Translation. Both Contemporary English Version and New Century Version have other models you could follow.

since he had told them he was a Jew: See note on 3:2c.

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