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 If the headman failed consistently in raids, he was superceded by a better warrior.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 8:7   

Since Mordecai is not mentioned in verses 3-6 as being present with the queen, it is possible that this scene continues from the scene that began in verse 1 (so Anchor Bible). Or, if verse 3 does begin a new scene, then one must assume that Mordecai entered the throne room with Queen Esther.

King Xerxes begins to speak in verse 7. For translations that use quotation marks, the quotation begins with the word Behold. It is not so clear where the quotation ends. Nearly all translations continue the direct quotation through the end of verse 8. New American Bible and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, however, end the quotation in verse 8 after the words “and seal the letter with the royal signet ring.” The final sentence of verse 8 (“for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king’s ring cannot be revoked”) in New American Bible and Biblia Dios Habla Hoy is not a part of the quotation of Xerxes, but is rather an editorial comment to the reader of the Book of Esther. Biblia Dios Habla Hoy places this final sentence within parentheses. Though it is true that Esther knew that an edict of the king could not be revoked, and that the king knew that Esther knew it, these words nevertheless should probably be considered part of Xerxes’ words. The author was concerned with developing the narrative plot; and in that regard, Xerxes’ words are addressed more to the reader than to Esther.

The author refers to each of the participants in a formal way, the king and queen by title, and Mordecai by the usual epithet, but the tone of the quotation itself is almost informal. The king’s remarks are prefaced by the emphatic hinneh, Behold. He announces what he has already done by referring to himself in the first person. Possibly his words indicate that he has done enough to help Esther and Mordecai already, but more likely he is reminding them of his goodwill and desire to help them.

On the house of Haman see 8.1.

They have hanged him on the gallows is translated as “he has been impaled on the stake” by New Jerusalem Bible. See comment on 2.23.

Because he would lay hands on … means “he wanted to kill the Jews” or “he wanted to have them killed” (see comments on “lay hands on” in 2.21). In this context some versions use a verb with a more general range of meaning; for instance, “because Haman attacked the Jews” (New International Version), and “because he was endangering the lives of the Jews” (Bible en français courant). Good News Translation restates to say “for his plot against the Jews.” Compare also New Jerusalem Bible‘s “for scheming against the Jews.”

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 8:7

8:7b

Haman’s estate: See note on 8:1a.

8:7c

hanged on the gallows: See note on 2:23b.

8:7d

because he attacked the Jews: The Hebrew text is more literally “laid hands on the Jews.” Because Haman’s attack on the Jews was still in the future, you may translate this phrase in a different way:

Because Haman was against the Jews (New Century Version)
-or-
Because of his evil plans to kill the Jews (Contemporary English Version)

General Comment about 8:7b–d

It may be more logical in your language to reverse 8:7b and 8:7c–d. Haman was killed at the end of chapter 7, and then the king gave his property to Esther, so you may want to keep that same order here. Good News Translation does this: “I have hanged Haman for his plot against the Jews, and I have given Esther his property.”

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