complete verse (Esther 5:12)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Esther 5:12:

  • Kupsabiny: “And furthermore, not only that, I am the only one whom Esther has invited today that I go with the king to eat/celebrate a feast, and she has also called me to go and eat another feast tomorrow.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Haman said, "No only that, Only the king and I were invited to eat at a feast prepared by Queen Esther. And tomorrow I have also been invited to eat at a feast with the king.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “He still said, ‘Not only that; but-rather I alone was-invited by Queen Ester to accompany the king to the dinner/supper that she had-prepared. And she invited me again to have-dinner/supper tomorrow with the king.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru: “And Haman said: "But more than this, the queen Esther made a feast for king Xerxes and me. And the queen has invited the king and me to go again tomorrow.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • English: “Then Haman added, ‘And that is not all! Queen Esther invited just two of us, the king and me, to a banquet she prepared for us today. And she is inviting only the two of us to another banquet that she will prepare tomorrow!’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

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 .

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

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 (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.”

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

See also king (Japanese honorifics).

Translation commentary on Esther 5:12   

The author here shifts to direct quotation to emphasize what Haman is saying. This verse begins with the words “And said Haman also.” Revised Standard Version renders the adverb “also” as added. Good News Translation says that Haman “went on,” that is, he continued listing things to boast about. The Hebrew form of this verse expresses emphasis, which Revised Standard Version expresses with the word Even, and Good News Translation with the phrase “What is more.” The emphasis and focus of the remainder of the verse is, however, more faithfully expressed by Revised Standard Version. Haman points specifically to himself in the context of both banquets. This may perhaps be restated in an affirmation something like “It is I alone….”

In some languages a dual pronoun may be used, if Haman’s reference to himself and the king is expressed by a pronoun.

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 .