Esther

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)


“Esther” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Esther .

king

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Some languages do not have a concept of kingship and therefore no immediate equivalent for the Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Latin that is translated as “king” in English. Here are some (back-) translations:

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  • Piro: “a great one”
  • Highland Totonac: “the big boss”
  • Huichol: “the one who commanded” (source for this and above: Bratcher / Nida)
  • Ekari: “the one who holds the country” (source: Reiling / Swellengrebel)
  • Una: weik sienyi: “big headman” (source: Kroneman 2004, p. 407)
  • Pass Valley Yali: “Big Man” (source: Daud Soesilo)
  • 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 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 If the headman failed consistently in raids, he was superceded by a better warrior.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.”

(Source: Faye Edgerton in The Bible Translator 1962, p. 25ff. )

See also king (Japanese honorifics).

Translation commentary on Esther 4:8   

This verse contains so much information that it may be difficult to state it clearly in one sentence (Revised Standard Version) or even in two sentences (Good News Translation). Translators may need to restructure to make several sentences. The verse recounts both what Mordecai did and what he wanted the messenger to tell Esther to do. Revised Standard Version uses implied speech to indicate the series of deeds that the messenger is to perform, while Good News Translation introduces a verb of speaking, “Mordecai asked him.”

In addition to the numerous acts contained in this verse, there are a number of actors or participants. There are three men, Mordecai, Hathach and the king, plus Esther and her people. The antecedents of the pronouns “he” and “him” in this verse may possibly confuse some readers. Good News Translation makes clear that Esther is to make supplication to the king, not to Hathach, and to entreat the king for her people.

A copy: see comments on 3.14.

Issued in Susa: Good News Translation expands the participle into a relative clause, “that had been issued.” It may be necessary to restate this verb in the active voice, specifying the agent of the action; for example, “that the king had sent out from Susa.”

Their destruction: as Good News Translation makes explicit, the destruction of the Jews is meant (see the end of the previous verse).

It may be surprising that Mordecai instructs Hathach “to order” the queen to go to the king. Good News Translation weakens the force of the verb by saying “have her go.” Traduction œcuménique de la Bible maintains the idea of the Hebrew by saying that he is to “command” Esther to go, and translators in other languages should use an equally strong verb in their language. In fact, in many cultures it would be Mordecai’s right to send an order to Esther because of his social relationship to her.

Esther is to make supplication and entreat the king. The first verb means “to seek [someone’s] active favor,” by which that person will act on behalf of the person making the request. New International Version renders this “beg for mercy.” The second verb is literally “to seek,” but this verb has a wide range of meanings, depending on the context. Here the sense is “to plead with [someone]” (so New International Version), and the two verbs function as synonyms.

For her people: the meaning is not that Esther is to plead in place of her people, that is, to do what they cannot do for themselves. Rather, as Good News Translation makes clear, the meaning is “beg him to have mercy on her people.” It is also possible to say “entreat [or, plead] on behalf of her people.”

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 4:8

4:8a

a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for the destruction of the Jews: That is, a copy of the document which ordered people to kill the Jews.

4:8c

for her people: Mordecai was reminding Esther that she too was a Jew. If there is no distinction between “his” and “her” in your language, you must take care that it is referring clearly to Esther’s people, not the king’s or Hathach’s.

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