diff --git a/en_tn_17-EST.tsv b/en_tn_17-EST.tsv index 2af2847ad5..2760376cbc 100644 --- a/en_tn_17-EST.tsv +++ b/en_tn_17-EST.tsv @@ -1,6 +1,6 @@ Book Chapter Verse ID SupportReference OrigQuote Occurrence GLQuote OccurrenceNote -EST front intro d989 0 # Introduction to Esther
## Part 1: General Introduction

### Outline of Esther

1. King Ahasuerus sends away his wife, the queen (1:1–22)
1. Ahasuerus chooses Esther as the new queen (2:1–23)
1. Haman plots to destroy the Jews (3:1–15)
1. Mordecai asks Esther to help her people (4:1–17)
1. Esther pleads with the king for the Jews (5:1–7:10)
1. The result of Haman’s plot to destroy the Jews (8:1–9:16)
1. The Feast of Purim (9:17–32)
1. Conclusion (10:1–3)

### What is the Book of Esther about?

The Book of Esther tells how a young Jewish woman named Esther became the queen of Persia. As queen, she worked to save all the Jews in the Persian Empire from being destroyed.

This book ends by telling why the Jews celebrate the festival of Purim. The name “Purim” comes from the word “pur.” It means “lots” or “dice.” Haman, the enemy of Jews, threw dice to choose when to attack and destroy the Jews. The Jews celebrate Purim to remember how Yahweh rescued his people from being destroyed.

### How should the title of this book be translated?

Translators can use the traditional title of this book, which is “The Book of Esther” or just “Esther.” Or they can choose a clearer title, such as “The Book About Esther.”

## Part 2: Important Religious and Cultural Concepts

### What was the Persian Empire?

King Cyrus the Great conquered and ruled over many kingdoms. This was in the part of the world called Persia, which is now Iran. So people named his kingdom the Persian Empire. When Cyrus conquered Babylonia in 539 B.C., he then controlled the Jews whom the Babylonians had exiled.

### Why were there Jews in Babylonia when the Persians conquered it?

In 586 B.C., the Babylonians conquered and took into exile the people of Judah. These Jews and their descendants were still in Babylon when the Persians conquered it.

### What was meant by “the laws of the Medes and Persians”?

The phrase “the laws of the Medes and Persians” is found in Esther 1:19 and Daniel 6:12. It referred to laws and decrees that could not be changed or removed once they were issued. In the book of Esther, the king made a decree that the people could attack the Jews. Later he regretted that decision but he was not able to change the decree.

The term “Medes” refers to a people group that had formed its own nation, but the Persians conquered them.

## Part 3: Important Translation Issues

### What different levels of language are in the Book of Esther?

In the Book of Esther, people talk to each other in many different situations. There is the polite and stately talk in the Persian court and the words of royal decrees. Friends and close relatives also talk to each other. There are even the words that one uses in speaking to oneself. Translators should use all the ways their own language has to express these different situations in a way that their readers will identify and understand.
-EST 1 intro v1fp 0 # Esther 01 General Notes
## Special concepts in this chapter

### The king’s divorce

The king’s advisers were afraid that husbands would lose their authority when they heard the queen had refused to come to show her beauty to the king’s guests; so the advisers told him to divorce her.
+EST front intro d989 0 # Introduction to Esther
## Part 1: General Introduction

### Outline of Esther

1. King Ahasuerus sends away his wife, the queen (1:1–22)
1. Ahasuerus chooses Esther as the new queen (2:1–23)
1. Haman plots to destroy the Jews (3:1–15)
1. Mordecai asks Esther to help her people (4:1–17)
1. Esther pleads with the king for the Jews (5:1–7:10)
1. The result of Haman’s plot to destroy the Jews (8:1–9:16)
1. The Feast of Purim (9:17–32)
1. Conclusion (10:1–3)

### What is the Book of Esther about?

The Book of Esther tells how a young Jewish woman named Esther became the queen of Persia. As queen, she worked to save all the Jews in the Persian Empire from being destroyed.

This book ends by telling why the Jews celebrate the festival of Purim. The name “Purim” comes from the word “pur.” It means “lots” or “dice.” Haman, the enemy of Jews, threw dice to choose when to attack and destroy the Jews. The Jews celebrate Purim to remember how Yahweh rescued his people from being destroyed.

### How should the title of this book be translated?

Translators can use the traditional title of this book, which is “The Book of Esther” or just “Esther.” Or they can choose a clearer title, such as “The Book About Esther.”

## Part 2: Important Religious and Cultural Concepts

### What was the Persian Empire?

King Cyrus the Great conquered and ruled over many kingdoms. This was in the part of the world called Persia, which is now Iran. So people named his kingdom the Persian Empire. When Cyrus conquered Babylonia in 539 B.C., he then controlled the Jews whom the Babylonians had exiled.

### Why were there Jews in Babylonia when the Persians conquered it?

In 586 B.C., the Babylonians conquered and took into exile the people of Judah. These Jews and their descendants were still in Babylon when the Persians conquered it.

### What was meant by “the laws of the Medes and Persians”?

The phrase “the laws of the Medes and Persians” is found in Esther 1:19 and Daniel 6:12. It referred to laws and decrees that could not be changed or removed once they were issued. In the book of Esther, the king made a decree that the people could attack the Jews. Later he regretted that decision but he was not able to change the decree.

The term “Medes” refers to a people group that had formed its own nation, but the Persians conquered them.

## Part 3: Important Translation Issues

### What different levels of language are in the Book of Esther?

In the Book of Esther, people talk to each other in many different situations. There is the polite and stately talk in the Persian court and the words of royal decrees. Friends and close relatives also talk to each other. There are even the words that one uses in speaking to oneself. Translators should use all the ways their own language has to express these different situations in a way that their readers will identify and understand. +EST 1 intro v1fp 0 # Esther 01 General Notes
## Special concepts in this chapter

### The king’s divorce

The king’s advisers were afraid that husbands would lose their authority when they heard the queen had refused to come to show her beauty to the king’s guests; so the advisers told him to divorce her. EST 1 1 jdr1 writing-newevent וַ⁠יְהִ֖י 1 Now it happened In the Old Testament, this is a standard way of beginning a historical story. Many languages have similar story-opening formulas, and if your language has one, you can use it. But do not use it if it would suggest that the story is not real, only made up. Alternate translation: “This account happened” (See: Introduction of a New Event) (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]]) EST 1 1 zzz2 figs-idiom בִּ⁠ימֵ֣י אֲחַשְׁוֵר֑וֹשׁ 1 In the days of Ahasuerus The term **day** is used figuratively here to refer to a longer period of time. You could just say “during the reign of Ahasuerus,” as UST does. But as an alternative, you could say, “in the time of Ahasuerus” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EST 1 1 qwe1 translate-names אֲחַשְׁוֵר֑וֹשׁ 1 Ahasuerus This is a man’s name. It occurs many times in the story. Be sure to translate it consistently. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) @@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ EST 1 5 fv9y translate-numbers עָשָׂ֣ה הַ⁠מֶּ֡לֶךְ…מִשׁ EST 1 5 mj16 translate-unknown בְּ⁠שׁוּשַׁ֨ן הַ⁠בִּירָ֜ה 1 in Susa the citadel The expression in this case seems to refer specifically to the royal palace or citadel from which the city got its name. This second feast would not have been for everyone in the entire city. It was specifically for the people who served the king in the palace and who had worked so hard over the previous six months hosting the first feast. Alternate translation: “for every man who worked for him in the palace at Susa.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EST 1 5 qet7 figs-idiom הַ⁠נִּמְצְאִים֩ 1 who were found Here **found** is an idiom that means “could be found” or “were there.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EST 1 5 qet9 figs-activepassive הַ⁠נִּמְצְאִים֩ 1 who were found You can say this with an active form. Alternate translation: “who worked for him in” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) -EST 1 5 qey1 figs-merism לְ⁠מִ⁠גָּ֧דוֹל וְ⁠עַד־קָטָ֛ן 1 from the greatest even to the least The person telling this story is referring to the staff of the palace by speaking of two extreme parts of it, the most important and the least important people who worked there, in order to include everyone in between. You could just explain this meaning, as UST does. Alternate translation: “from the most important official to the least important servant” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-merism]]) +EST 1 5 qey1 figs-merism לְ⁠מִ⁠גָּ֧דוֹל וְ⁠עַד־קָטָ֛ן 1 from the greatest even to the least The person telling this story is referring to the staff of the palace by speaking of two extreme parts of it, the most important and the least important people who worked there, in order to include everyone in between. You could just explain this meaning, as UST does. Alternate translation: “from the most important official to the least important servant” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-merism]]) EST 1 5 qey3 שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֑ים 1 for seven days Alternate translation: “another feast that lasted seven days” The story does not suggest that this was an unusually long time by saying “for many days.” But you could also say something like “a whole week” to show that this was a generous gesture of thanks on the part of the king. EST 1 6 qey5 translate-unknown ח֣וּר ׀ כַּרְפַּ֣ס וּ⁠תְכֵ֗לֶת 1 Linens cotton and blue These **linens** were curtains that were hung in the courtyard. “Cotton” refers to the white color of some of them. So this means “white and blue curtains. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown]]) EST 1 6 qey7 ח֣וּר ׀ כַּרְפַּ֣ס וּ⁠תְכֵ֗לֶת 1 Linens cotton and blue You can specify at the start of this verse that the location being described is the same as in the previous verse: “In the courtyard, white and blue curtains.” @@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ EST 1 7 urm7 figs-abstractnouns וְ⁠הַשְׁקוֹת֙ 1 And the serving wa EST 1 7 qru7 ⁠כֵלִ֖ים מִ⁠כֵּלִ֣ים שׁוֹנִ֑ים 1 with vessels different from other vessels This could mean that “no two of them were alike.” But you could also just say that the wine was served in “various kinds of golden cups.” EST 1 7 r6ec figs-explicit וְ⁠יֵ֥ין מַלְכ֛וּת רָ֖ב כְּ⁠יַ֥ד הַ⁠מֶּֽלֶךְ 1 and the wine of royalty was abundant according to the hand of the king This means that King Ahasuerus himself paid for all the wine that the guests drank at his seven-day feast in Susa, and it came from his personal supply. Alternate translation: “the king was very generous with the royal wine” or “the king showed a great willingness to give” or “the king provided all of it” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EST 1 7 qru9 figs-abstractnouns וְ⁠יֵ֥ין מַלְכ֛וּת רָ֖ב כְּ⁠יַ֥ד הַ⁠מֶּֽלֶךְ 1 and the wine of royalty This probably means special fine wine that only the king could acquire and afford. You can translate the abstract noun “royalty” with an adjective. Alternate translation: “royal wine.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]]) -EST 1 7 wpq1 figs-metonymy כְּ⁠יַ֥ד הַ⁠מֶּֽלֶךְ 1 according to the hand of the king Here **hand** refers figuratively to the king himself, viewed through his action of giving. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-hq]]) and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) +EST 1 7 wpq1 figs-metonymy כְּ⁠יַ֥ד הַ⁠מֶּֽלֶךְ 1 according to the hand of the king Here **hand** refers figuratively to the king himself, viewed through his action of giving. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-hq]]) and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) EST 1 8 qtu1 figs-abstractnouns וְ⁠הַ⁠שְּׁתִיָּ֥ה כַ⁠דָּ֖ת 1 the drinking was according to the law The abstract noun **drinking** refers here not to the action of drinking, but to the guidelines for serving drinks that the king had established for the banquet. Alternate translation: “Ahasuerus had established this rule for all his household attendants who served the wine” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]]) EST 1 8 g5gu figs-explicit אֵ֣ין אֹנֵ֑ס 1 There is no compulsion This could mean one of two things. (1) No one would be stopped from drinking, even if the attendants thought they had already had enough. Alternate translation: “There was to be no restriction on drinking.” (2) There would be no requirement to drink. Alternate translation: “No one must be forced to drink.” Either way, this was another sign of the generosity that the king showed as he hosted this banquet to thank the people who worked for him. Either he was (1) allowing them to drink as much as they wanted to, or (2) not requiring them to eat and drink everything that was served at a banquet, as guests of the king would usually have to do. You could say explicitly at the beginning of the verse that the king was giving his guests a special privilege. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EST 1 8 f6px grammar-connect-logic-result כִּי־כֵ֣ן׀ יִסַּ֣ד הַ⁠מֶּ֗לֶךְ עַ֚ל כָּל־רַ֣ב בֵּית֔⁠וֹ לַ⁠עֲשׂ֖וֹת כִּ⁠רְצ֥וֹן אִישׁ־וָ⁠אִֽישׁ 1 for thus the king had established for every overseer of his house, to do according to the desire of man by man Alternate translation: “The king made the attendants who served the wine follow this rule.” This explains why no one had to drink if they did not want to. If it would be clearer in your language, you can give this explanation (the reason) before the result that it accounts for, using a connecting word like “so”: “the king had established for every overseer of his house to do according to the desire of man by man, so the drinking was according to the law, ‘There is no compulsion.’” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]]) @@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ EST 1 12 asf3 figs-explicit וַ⁠תְּמָאֵ֞ן הַ⁠מַּלְכָּ֣ EST 1 12 b57q בִּ⁠דְבַ֣ר הַ⁠מֶּ֔לֶךְ 1 at the word of the king Alternate translation: “at the king’s command” or “what the king wanted” EST 1 12 asf5 figs-metonymy בְּ⁠יַ֣ד הַ⁠סָּרִיסִ֑ים 1 by the hand of the eunuchs Here **hand** refers figuratively to the eunuchs themselves, viewed through their action of telling Vashti what the king had commanded. Alternation translation: “when those servants told Queen Vashti what the king wanted” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-hq]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) EST 1 12 kp6p translate-unknown הַ⁠סָּרִיסִ֑ים 1 the eunuchs See how you translated this term in 1:10. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown]]) -EST 1 12 asf7 figs-parallelism וַ⁠יִּקְצֹ֤ף הַ⁠מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ מְאֹ֔ד וַ⁠חֲמָת֖⁠וֹ בָּעֲרָ֥ה בֽ⁠וֹ 1 the king became very angry, and his rage burned within him These two phrases mean similar things. The repetition is used to emphasize the idea that they are expressing. You could combine them, as UST does: “The king became so angry that he could barely contain himself.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]]) +EST 1 12 asf7 figs-parallelism וַ⁠יִּקְצֹ֤ף הַ⁠מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ מְאֹ֔ד וַ⁠חֲמָת֖⁠וֹ בָּעֲרָ֥ה בֽ⁠וֹ 1 the king became very angry, and his rage burned within him These two phrases mean similar things. The repetition is used to emphasize the idea that they are expressing. You could combine them, as UST does: “The king became so angry that he could barely contain himself.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]]) EST 1 12 bsd5 figs-metaphor וַ⁠חֲמָת֖⁠וֹ בָּעֲרָ֥ה בֽ⁠וֹ 1 and his rage burned within him Here the story uses a metaphor that pictures the king’s anger as a fire that burned inside of him. If your language has a different word picture that it uses to describe extreme anger, you can use that here. If not, you can translate plainly, “his anger continued to increase.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-phenom]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EST 1 13 asf9 לַ⁠חֲכָמִ֖ים 1 to the wise men This means the king’s advisors. You could call them “his advisors” or “the royal advisors.” EST 1 13 g9fe יֹדְעֵ֣י הָֽ⁠עִתִּ֑ים 1 who were knowers of the times This means something like “who knew the right way to do things” or “who understood the culture.” @@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ EST 1 18 afg7 תֹּאמַ֣רְנָה 1 will speak This means that they will EST 1 18 afg9 figs-explicit לְ⁠כֹ֖ל שָׂרֵ֣י הַ⁠מֶּ֑לֶךְ 1 to all the officials of the king This means the husbands of the noblewomen. The implication may be, “They will disobey their husbands, even though they are officials of the king.” You could say that explicitly, as UST does. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EST 1 18 u6d7 וּ⁠כְ⁠דַ֖י בִּזָּי֥וֹן וָ⁠קָֽצֶף 1 and there will be contempt and wrath enough This could mean either that “they will treat their husbands with disrespect, and this will make their husbands angry with them” or that “they will be angry with their husbands and treat them with contempt.” EST 1 18 afh1 figs-explicit וּ⁠כְ⁠דַ֖י 1 and there will be enough This could mean that the husbands will be furious “as much as they can bear.” But it could also mean, “That will be bad enough by itself, even if the news does not spread any farther.” If you think that is the meaning, you can say that explicitly, as UST does. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) -EST 1 19 afh3 figs-idiom אִם־עַל־הַ⁠מֶּ֣לֶךְ ט֗וֹב 1 If it is good to the king This is an idiom that means, “If the king thinks this is a good idea” or “If this advice is pleasing to the king.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) +EST 1 19 afh3 figs-idiom אִם־עַל־הַ⁠מֶּ֣לֶךְ ט֗וֹב 1 If it is good to the king This is an idiom that means, “If the king thinks this is a good idea” or “If this advice is pleasing to the king.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EST 1 19 d8qk figs-123person אִם־עַל־הַ⁠מֶּ֣לֶךְ ט֗וֹב 1 If it is good to the king Memukan speaks to the king in third person as a form of respect. Alternate translation: “If it pleases you” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) EST 1 19 jd25 figs-metonymy יֵצֵ֤א דְבַר־מַלְכוּת֙ מִ⁠לְּ⁠פָנָ֔י⁠ו 1 let a decree of royalty go out from before his face Here **face** figuratively represents the presence of a person. The phrase means that the decree will come from the king himself. Alternate translation: “you should personally issue a royal decree” or “you should write a decree yourself.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-hq]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) EST 1 19 afh5 figs-abstractnouns דְבַר־מַלְכוּת֙ 1 a decree of royalty You can translate the abstract noun **royalty** with the adjective “royal.” Alternate translation: “royal decree” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]]) @@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ EST 1 22 jd41 figs-metonymy כִּ⁠לְשׁוֹנ֑⁠וֹ 1 according to its EST 1 22 jj9n לִ⁠הְי֤וֹת כָּל־אִישׁ֙ שֹׂרֵ֣ר בְּ⁠בֵית֔⁠וֹ 1 that every man should be ruling in his house This meant that that all men should have complete authority over their wives and their children. EST 1 22 jd43 figs-metonymy כִּ⁠לְשׁ֥וֹן עַמּֽ⁠וֹ 1 speaking according to the tongue of his people Here **tongue** figuratively means the language spoken by a person or a group of people. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-hq]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) EST 1 22 agj7 figs-explicit כִּ⁠לְשׁ֥וֹן עַמּֽ⁠וֹ 1 speaking according to the tongue of his people The implication is that the husband ought to be able to give orders to his wife in his own native language and that she should understand and obey him, even if she had to learn his language to do so. If it would be clearer in your language, you can say that explicitly. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) -EST 2 intro eb4q 0 # Esther 02 General Notes
## Special concepts in this chapter

### Esther becomes queen

Esther was humble and took the advice of the royal officials about how to dress for her time with the king. The king chose Esther to be the new queen.

### Mordecai warns the king against a plot

Esther’s cousin, Mordecai, discovered that two men planned to kill the king. He told Esther, who then told the king. She also gave Mordecai credit for telling her.
+EST 2 intro eb4q 0 # Esther 02 General Notes
## Special concepts in this chapter

### Esther becomes queen

Esther was humble and took the advice of the royal officials about how to dress for her time with the king. The king chose Esther to be the new queen.

### Mordecai warns the king against a plot

Esther’s cousin, Mordecai, discovered that two men planned to kill the king. He told Esther, who then told the king. She also gave Mordecai credit for telling her. EST 2 1 dpc3 writing-newevent אַחַר֙ הַ⁠דְּבָרִ֣ים הָ⁠אֵ֔לֶּה 1 After these things This introduces a new event that happened some time later. You can show this with a phrase like “some time later.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]]) EST 2 1 e4lp כְּ⁠שֹׁ֕ךְ חֲמַ֖ת הַ⁠מֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֑וֹשׁ 1 when the rage of the king Ahasuerus subsided “when King Ahasuerus no longer felt so angry” or “became less angry” EST 2 1 agj9 זָכַ֤ר אֶת־וַשְׁתִּי֙ 1 he remembered Vashti This means that he started to think about Vashti and he probably missed her. @@ -150,9 +150,9 @@ EST 2 2 agk3 translate-unknown נַעֲרֵֽי־הַ⁠מֶּ֖לֶךְ מְש EST 2 2 agk5 figs-explicit יְבַקְשׁ֥וּ לַ⁠מֶּ֛לֶךְ נְעָר֥וֹת 1 Let them seek for the king young women Implicit in this suggestion is the idea, “You should get a new wife for yourself.” You can say that explicitly at the beginning of the advice that the young men give to the king. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EST 2 2 s4hv figs-activepassive יְבַקְשׁ֥וּ 1 Let them seek **Them** means the servants that the king would send to do this. You should express this in a form that shows it is a suggestion, not a command, for example: “You could send some men to look for.” EST 2 2 abt8 figs-123person לַ⁠מֶּ֛לֶךְ 1 for the king The young men speak to the king in the third person as a sign of respect. Alternatively, you could have them say “for yourself” or “on your behalf.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) -EST 2 2 jd45 figs-idiom טוֹב֥וֹת מַרְאֶֽה 1 pleasing of appearance As in 1:11, this is an idiom that means “very beautiful” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) +EST 2 2 jd45 figs-idiom טוֹב֥וֹת מַרְאֶֽה 1 pleasing of appearance As in 1:11, this is an idiom that means “very beautiful” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EST 2 3 g9vp figs-123person וְ⁠יַפְקֵ֨ד הַ⁠מֶּ֣לֶךְ 1 And let the king appoint The young men speak to the king in third person as a sign of respect. Alternatively, you could have them say “you could appoint” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) -EST 2 3 jd47 figs-idiom טוֹבַ֨ת מַרְאֶ֜ה 1 pleasing of appearance As in 1:11, this is an idiom that means “very beautiful” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) +EST 2 3 jd47 figs-idiom טוֹבַ֨ת מַרְאֶ֜ה 1 pleasing of appearance As in 1:11, this is an idiom that means “very beautiful” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EST 2 3 xqf9 translate-unknown שׁוּשַׁ֤ן הַ⁠בִּירָה֙ 1 Susa the citadel In this context, this expression probably means “to the palace here in Susa.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown]]) EST 2 3 j4ka בֵּ֣ית הַ⁠נָּשִׁ֔ים 1 the house of women This means the harem for virgins, the place where the young women would live and receive beauty treatments before they were taken to the king (see verses 13 and 14). EST 2 3 d754 figs-activepassive אֶל־יַ֥ד הֵגֶ֛א סְרִ֥יס הַ⁠מֶּ֖לֶךְ שֹׁמֵ֣ר הַ⁠נָּשִׁ֑ים 1 into the hand of Hegai, the eunuch of the king who is overseer of the women This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “Let Hegai, the king’s official, who is in charge of the women, take care of them” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) @@ -187,8 +187,8 @@ EST 2 7 ccb1 אֵ֥ין לָ֖⁠הּ אָ֣ב וָ⁠אֵ֑ם 1 there was not EST 2 7 jd59 figs-parallelism וְ⁠הַ⁠נַּעֲרָ֤ה יְפַת־תֹּ֨אַר֙ וְ⁠טוֹבַ֣ת מַרְאֶ֔ה 1 Now the young woman was beautiful of form and pleasing of appearance These two phrases mean something similar. Separately they could be saying that Esther was both sexually mature and very attractive. But taken together they mean that overall she was very pleasant to look at. You could combine them, as UST does, and say that she was “exceptionally attractive” Alternate translation: “she had a lovely body and a beautiful face.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]]) EST 2 7 skt5 writing-background וּ⁠בְ⁠מ֤וֹת אָבִ֨י⁠הָ֙ וְ⁠אִמָּ֔⁠הּ לְקָחָ֧⁠הּ מָרְדֳּכַ֛י ל֖⁠וֹ לְ⁠בַֽת 1 And at the death of her father and her mother, Mordecai had taken her for him as a daughter This is background information explaining the relationship between Mordecai and Esther. You can move it to right after the place where Esther is introduced by name, because it describes what happened in the past, before Esther became a beautiful young woman. Alternate translation: “After her father and her mother had died, Mordecai had adopted her as his own daughter” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-background]]) EST 2 8 zxv9 grammar-connect-time-sequential וַ⁠יְהִ֗י 1 So it happened that After providing this background information about Mordecai and Esther in verses 5–7, the story now tells what happened as a result of these facts, when the provincial officers described in verse 3 began sending young women to the harem. That is, the story tells what happened to Esther because her family was living in the Persian empire and she was very attractive. You should indicate in some way that the events are now moving forward from where the story left off. For example, “And so this is what happened.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential]]) -EST 2 8 zcv1 grammar-connect-time-simultaneous בְּ⁠הִשָּׁמַ֤ע דְּבַר־הַ⁠מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ וְ⁠דָת֔⁠וֹ וּֽ⁠בְ⁠הִקָּבֵ֞ץ נְעָר֥וֹת רַבּ֛וֹת 1 when the decree of the king and his law were heard, and when many young women were gathered This indicates that two actions took place at the same time. You should indicate this with a phrase like “at the same time.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-simultaneous]]) -EST 2 8 zcv3 figs-activepassive בְּ⁠הִשָּׁמַ֤ע דְּבַר־הַ⁠מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ וְ⁠דָת֔⁠וֹ וּֽ⁠בְ⁠הִקָּבֵ֞ץ נְעָר֥וֹת רַבּ֛וֹת 1 when the decree of the king and his law were heard You can say this with an active form, and you can say who did the action. For example, “when the messengers proclaimed the king's decree and the scribes published the king's law.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) +EST 2 8 zcv1 grammar-connect-time-simultaneous בְּ⁠הִשָּׁמַ֤ע דְּבַר־הַ⁠מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ וְ⁠דָת֔⁠וֹ וּֽ⁠בְ⁠הִקָּבֵ֞ץ נְעָר֥וֹת רַבּ֛וֹת 1 when the decree of the king and his law were heard, and when many young women were gathered This indicates that two actions took place at the same time. You should indicate this with a phrase like “at the same time.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-simultaneous]]) +EST 2 8 zcv3 figs-activepassive בְּ⁠הִשָּׁמַ֤ע דְּבַר־הַ⁠מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ וְ⁠דָת֔⁠וֹ וּֽ⁠בְ⁠הִקָּבֵ֞ץ נְעָר֥וֹת רַבּ֛וֹת 1 when the decree of the king and his law were heard You can say this with an active form, and you can say who did the action. For example, “when the messengers proclaimed the king's decree and the scribes published the king's law.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) EST 2 8 c52i דְּבַר־הַ⁠מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ 1 the decree of the king This refers to King Ahasuerus banishing Queen Vashti from his presence. EST 2 8 zcv5 וְ⁠דָת֔⁠וֹ 1 and his law This refers to King Ahasuerus commanding that men would have complete authority over their wives. EST 2 8 zcv7 figs-explicit בְּ⁠הִשָּׁמַ֤ע 1 when…were heard You could also say where they did this action. Alternate translation: “Messengers went throughout the empire and proclaimed” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) @@ -196,8 +196,8 @@ EST 2 8 m3ld figs-activepassive וּֽ⁠בְ⁠הִקָּבֵ֞ץ נְעָר֥ EST 2 8 jd65 translate-unknown שׁוּשַׁ֥ן הַ⁠בִּירָ֖ה 1 Susa the citadel Here again this likely means “the capital city of Susa.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown]]) EST 2 8 mbk1 figs-metaphor אֶל־יַ֣ד הֵגָ֑י 1 into the hand of Hegai Here **hand** is a metaphor meaning power, control, or authority. As the overseer of the women, Hegai was responsible for the women in the harem for virgins. You could say that the officers “put them under the custody of Hegai” or that “Hegai began to take care of them.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-hq]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EST 2 8 zcv9 grammar-connect-time-simultaneous וַ⁠יְהִ֗י בְּ⁠הִשָּׁמַ֤ע…וּֽ⁠בְ⁠הִקָּבֵ֞ץ…וַ⁠תִּלָּקַ֤ח 1 So it happened that, when…were heard, and when…were gathered…Esther was taken This means that Esther was brought to the harem of King Ahaserus at the same as other young women were also being brought to the harem. You can say “they brought Esther at the same time” or “they also brought Esther.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-simultaneous]]) -EST 2 8 n3zc figs-activepassive וַ⁠תִּלָּקַ֤ח 1 that…Esther was taken You can say this with an active form. Alternate translation: “they brought Esther” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) -EST 2 8 zcb1 figs-explicit וַ⁠תִּלָּקַ֤ח 1 that…Esther was taken You can explain why this happened, for example, “Because Esther was exceptionally attractive, the officers also brought her” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) +EST 2 8 n3zc figs-activepassive וַ⁠תִּלָּקַ֤ח 1 that…Esther was taken You can say this with an active form. Alternate translation: “they brought Esther” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) +EST 2 8 zcb1 figs-explicit וַ⁠תִּלָּקַ֤ח 1 that…Esther was taken You can explain why this happened, for example, “Because Esther was exceptionally attractive, the officers also brought her” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EST 2 8 zcb3 בֵּ֣ית הַ⁠מֶּ֔לֶךְ 1 the house of the king “the king’s palace” EST 2 8 jd71 figs-metaphor אֶל־יַ֥ד הֵגַ֖י שֹׁמֵ֥ר הַ⁠נָּשִֽׁים 1 into the hand of Hegai As earlier in this verse, this means “under the custody of Hegai” or that “Hegai also began to take care of her.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-hq]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EST 2 8 zcb5 writing-background שֹׁמֵ֥ר הַ⁠נָּשִֽׁים 1 who was overseer of the women This means that Hegai took care of the young women who lived in the harem for virgins.” If it would be clearer in your language, you could move this information to earlier in the verse, when Hegai is first mentioned, because it explains why the young women were brought to him. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-background]]) @@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ EST 2 11 nz1p שְׁל֣וֹם אֶסְתֵּ֔ר 1 the welfare of Esther “ho EST 2 11 abd4 figs-parallelism שְׁל֣וֹם אֶסְתֵּ֔ר וּ⁠מַה־יֵּעָשֶׂ֖ה בָּֽ⁠הּ 1 the welfare of Esther and what was being done with her These two phrases mean similar things. The story is using the repetition to emphasize how concerned Mordecai was for Esther. You could combine them, as UST does. Alternate translation: “how Esther was doing and what was happening with her” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]]) EST 2 12 jcj8 writing-background וּ⁠בְ⁠הַגִּ֡יעַ 1 Now when…came Verses 12 to 14 are background information about how the virgins who were gathered for the king became his concubines. These verses are not specifically about Esther, but about the women in general. Use a connecting word or a phrase such as “This is how virgins became concubines for the king” so that your readers will know that this is background information.(See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-background]]) EST 2 12 jd85 figs-idiom נַעֲרָ֨ה וְ⁠נַעֲרָ֜ה 1 young woman by young woman Alternate translation: “each one of the young women.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) -EST 2 12 abd5 figs-explicit וּ⁠בְ⁠הַגִּ֡יעַ תֹּר֩…לָ⁠ב֣וֹא ׀ אֶל־הַ⁠מֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֗וֹשׁ 1 when the turn came…to go to the king Ahasuerus Each of these young women was going to have sexual relations with the king and, as a result, legally become one of his concubines, that is, one of his secondary wives. As the story has already explained, he would then choose one of them to become his queen and primary wife. But the king would still provide for each of the concubines for the rest of her life. They would not be free to marry anyone else. This is something that the story’s original audience would have understood implicitly. You can say it explicitly if your readers need this information to understand the story: “Each young woman in the harem, one at a time, was going to have sexual relations with King Ahasuerus and become one of his concubines” or “one of his secondary wives.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-symaction]]) +EST 2 12 abd5 figs-explicit וּ⁠בְ⁠הַגִּ֡יעַ תֹּר֩…לָ⁠ב֣וֹא ׀ אֶל־הַ⁠מֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֗וֹשׁ 1 when the turn came…to go to the king Ahasuerus Each of these young women was going to have sexual relations with the king and, as a result, legally become one of his concubines, that is, one of his secondary wives. As the story has already explained, he would then choose one of them to become his queen and primary wife. But the king would still provide for each of the concubines for the rest of her life. They would not be free to marry anyone else. This is something that the story’s original audience would have understood implicitly. You can say it explicitly if your readers need this information to understand the story: “Each young woman in the harem, one at a time, was going to have sexual relations with King Ahasuerus and become one of his concubines” or “one of his secondary wives.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]]) EST 2 12 abd6 מִ⁠קֵּץ֩ הֱי֨וֹת לָ֜⁠הּ…שְׁנֵ֣ים עָשָׂ֣ר חֹ֔דֶשׁ 1 it was after her 12 months This means that before her turn came, each woman received a full year of beauty treatments. EST 2 12 p7i5 translate-unknown כְּ⁠דָ֤ת הַ⁠נָּשִׁים֙ 1 according to the law of women Here **law** probably does not mean so much a legal decree as a regimen that had been developed. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown]]) EST 2 12 abd7 writing-background כִּ֛י כֵּ֥ן יִמְלְא֖וּ יְמֵ֣י מְרוּקֵי⁠הֶ֑ן 1 For thus the days of their beautification would be fulfilled This phrase indicates that the story is now going to provide background information on how these treatments were done. It means, “This is how these women would spend the time preparing to go to the king.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-background]]) @@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ EST 2 12 abd8 figs-explicit שִׁשָּׁ֤ה חֳדָשִׁים֙ בְּ⁠ש EST 2 12 abd9 בְּ⁠שֶׁ֣מֶן הַ⁠מֹּ֔ר 1 by oil of myrrh This likely means “olive oil mixed with myrrh.” EST 2 12 zhd1 translate-unknown וּ⁠בְ⁠תַמְרוּקֵ֖י הַ⁠נָּשִֽׁים 1 and by the ointments of women This means lotions designed for women. In 2:3 and 2:9, this one specific part of the program seems to be used figuratively to mean all of it, and so in those verses it can be translated “beauty treatments.” But it should be translated with a specific term or phrase here, such as “women’s lotions” or “feminine ointments,” because it is named along with oils and perfumes as one component of the treatment. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown]]) EST 2 13 abd0 וּ⁠בָ⁠זֶ֕ה 1 Then at this “After a woman’s year of beauty treatments was completed” -EST 2 13 abe0 הַֽ⁠נַּעֲרָ֖ה בָּאָ֣ה אֶל־הַ⁠מֶּ֑לֶךְ 1 the young woman would go to the king This means that the young woman would go and have sexual relations with the king and thereby become one of his concubines. If your readers need this information to understand the story, you could explain that here, if you did not do so in verse 12. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-symaction]]) +EST 2 13 abe0 הַֽ⁠נַּעֲרָ֖ה בָּאָ֣ה אֶל־הַ⁠מֶּ֑לֶךְ 1 the young woman would go to the king This means that the young woman would go and have sexual relations with the king and thereby become one of his concubines. If your readers need this information to understand the story, you could explain that here, if you did not do so in verse 12. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]]) EST 2 13 abe1 figs-explicit כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֨ר תֹּאמַ֜ר יִנָּ֤תֵֽן לָ⁠הּ֙ 1 Anything that she said would be given to her “Anything” most likely refers to clothing and jewelry. This phrase probably means that a woman could take any of those that she wanted from the harem for virgins and wear them when she went to the king’s palace. You could say that explicitly, for example, “A young woman could take whatever clothing and jewelry she wanted from the harem for virgins and wear them when she went to the king’s palace.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EST 2 13 v133 figs-activepassive כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֨ר תֹּאמַ֜ר יִנָּ֤תֵֽן לָ⁠הּ֙ 1 Anything that she said would be given to her You can say this with an active form. Alternate translation: “she could take whatever she wanted” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) EST 2 13 abe2 מִ⁠בֵּ֥ית הַ⁠נָּשִׁ֖ים 1 the house of women “the harem for virgins” @@ -244,14 +244,14 @@ EST 2 14 lq9h translate-ordinal בֵּ֤ית הַ⁠נָּשִׁים֙ שֵׁנ EST 2 14 yw63 אֶל־יַ֧ד שַֽׁעֲשְׁגַ֛ז סְרִ֥יס הַ⁠מֶּ֖לֶךְ שֹׁמֵ֣ר הַ⁠פִּֽילַגְשִׁ֑ים 1 into the hand of Shaashgaz, the eunuch of the king who was overseer of the concubines “to where Shaashgaz,…concubines would take care of her” EST 2 14 ze74 figs-metaphor אֶל־יַ֧ד שַֽׁעֲשְׁגַ֛ז סְרִ֥יס הַ⁠מֶּ֖לֶךְ שֹׁמֵ֣ר הַ⁠פִּֽילַגְשִׁ֑ים 1 into the hand of Shaashgaz Here **hand** is a metaphor meaning power, control, or authority. Hegai was the overseer of the virgins. As the overseer of the concubines, Shaashgaz would be the one responsible for Esther while she was in the harem for concubines. Alternate translation: “under the custody of Shaashgaz” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-hq]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EST 2 14 q5yx translate-names שַֽׁעֲשְׁגַ֛ז 1 Shaashgaz This is a man’s name. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) -EST 2 14 abe5 translate-unknown סְרִ֥יס הַ⁠מֶּ֖לֶךְ 1 the eunuch of the king See translated this term “eunuch” in 1:10. You could say “royal” instead of “of the king.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown]]) +EST 2 14 abe5 translate-unknown סְרִ֥יס הַ⁠מֶּ֖לֶךְ 1 the eunuch of the king See translated this term “eunuch” in 1:10. You could say “royal” instead of “of the king.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown]]) EST 2 14 abe6 שֹׁמֵ֣ר הַ⁠פִּֽילַגְשִׁ֑ים 1 the overseer of the concubines This means that Shaashgaz was “the official who took care of the concubines” or who was “responsible for the concubines.” EST 2 14 abe7 figs-explicit הַ⁠פִּֽילַגְשִׁ֑ים 1 the concubines As a concubine, the young woman was one of the king’s secondary wives. She would live in this harem for the rest of her life. She was not free to return to her family or to marry anybody else. If it would help your readers to understand the story, you could explain all or part of this to your readers here, if you did not do so in 2:12 or 2:13. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EST 2 14 abe8 לֹא־תָב֥וֹא עוֹד֙ אֶל־הַ⁠מֶּ֔לֶךְ 1 She would not go to the king again Alternate translation: “She would not go and see the king again.” In verse 12, the Note mentioned that “go to the king” meant “have sexual relations with the king.” But for this occurrence of the expression, it is appropriate to use a phrase suggesting that there would be a larger social component to a further visit. The woman would now be a secondary wife, and the king would only send for her if he decided that he enjoyed being with her. EST 2 14 abe9 חָפֵ֥ץ בָּ֛⁠הּ 1 had delighted in her This means that he “had enjoyed being with her” or that she “had pleased the king very much.” EST 2 14 abf0 figs-activepassive וְ⁠נִקְרְאָ֥ה בְ⁠שֵֽׁם 1 and she was called by name You can say this with an active form, for example, “and the king asked for her by name” or “and called for her by name.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) EST 2 15 fiy8 grammar-connect-logic-contrast וּ⁠בְ⁠הַגִּ֣יעַ תֹּר־אֶסְתֵּ֣ר…לָ⁠ב֣וֹא אֶל־הַ⁠מֶּ֗לֶךְ 1 Now when the turn of Esther…came to go to the king The story resumes here after the background information that was provided in verses 12-14 about what the women in the harem did when they became concubines of the king. A contrast is being drawn. A young woman could take any clothing and jewelry she wanted from the harem. But Esther only asked for what Hegai recommended. So it would be good to introduce this episode with a word such as “but” that draws a contrast. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast]]) -EST 2 15 jk51 figs-informremind בַּת־אֲבִיחַ֣יִל דֹּ֣ד מָרְדֳּכַ֡י אֲשֶׁר֩ לָקַֽח־ל֨⁠וֹ לְ⁠בַ֜ת 1 the daughter of Abihail, the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for him as a daughter This background information reminds the reader who Esther was by describing her relationship to Mordecai. You could move this to the end of the verse and put it in parentheses, as UST does, so that you don’t break up the flow of the contrast that is being drawn. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-informremind]]) +EST 2 15 jk51 figs-informremind בַּת־אֲבִיחַ֣יִל דֹּ֣ד מָרְדֳּכַ֡י אֲשֶׁר֩ לָקַֽח־ל֨⁠וֹ לְ⁠בַ֜ת 1 the daughter of Abihail, the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for him as a daughter This background information reminds the reader who Esther was by describing her relationship to Mordecai. You could move this to the end of the verse and put it in parentheses, as UST does, so that you don’t break up the flow of the contrast that is being drawn. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-informremind]]) EST 2 15 mg8y translate-names אֲבִיחַ֣יִל 1 Abihail This man was Esther’s father and Mordecai’s uncle. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EST 2 15 qx3u figs-doublenegatives לֹ֤א בִקְשָׁה֙ דָּבָ֔ר כִּ֠י אִ֣ם אֶת־אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֹאמַ֛ר הֵגַ֥י 1 she did not ask for anything except what Hegai…said You can state this in a positive form: “she asked only for” Alternate translation: “she did not ask for anything else to wear except.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-doublenegatives]]) EST 2 15 vw9r אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֹאמַ֛ר הֵגַ֥י 1 what Hegai…said “what Hegai recommended” or “what Hegai suggested” @@ -271,12 +271,12 @@ EST 2 16 abf7 translate-unknown חֹ֣דֶשׁ טֵבֵ֑ת 1 the month of Tebet EST 2 16 x6yg translate-ordinal בִּ⁠שְׁנַת־שֶׁ֖בַע לְ⁠מַלְכוּתֽ⁠וֹ 1 in the seventh year of his reign Alternate translation: “during the seventh year of the reign of Ahasuerus as king of Persia” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal]]) EST 2 17 p3s7 figs-parallelism וַ⁠יֶּאֱהַ֨ב הַ⁠מֶּ֤לֶךְ אֶת־אֶסְתֵּר֙ מִ⁠כָּל־הַ⁠נָּשִׁ֔ים וַ⁠תִּשָּׂא־חֵ֥ן וָ⁠חֶ֛סֶד לְ⁠פָנָ֖י⁠ו מִ⁠כָּל־הַ⁠בְּתוּלֹ֑ת 1 And the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she lifted both favor and kindness before his face more than all the other virgins These two phrases mean almost the same thing. The information is given twice, in slightly different ways, to emphasize that Ahasuerus was completely convinced that Esther was the one he should make his queen. “More than all the virgins” basically duplicates the meaning of “more than all the women,” so, if this duplication would be confusing in your language, you don’t need to include both phrases (unless you want your translation to capture something of the Hebrew storytelling style). (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]]) EST 2 17 abf8 figs-explicit מִ⁠כָּל־הַ⁠נָּשִׁ֔ים 1 more than all the women This means all the other women who had been brought to the king and become his concubines. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) -EST 2 17 bcu8 figs-idiom וַ⁠תִּשָּׂא־חֵ֥ן וָ⁠חֶ֛סֶד לְ⁠פָנָ֖י⁠ו 1 And she lifted both favor and kindness before his face This is a rare expression in Hebrew, and the exact meaning is uncertain. See how you translated similar phrases in 2:9 and 2:15. Review the explanation there if that would be helpful. In this context, it probably means that King Ahasuerus was very impressed with both Esther’s appearance and her personality. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) -EST 2 17 abf9 figs-doublet וַ⁠תִּשָּׂא־חֵ֥ן וָ⁠חֶ֛סֶד לְ⁠פָנָ֖י⁠ו 1 And she lifted both favor and kindness before his face **Favor** and **kindness** mean similar things and are probably used together here to strengthen a single idea. Alternate translation: “he was very pleased with her” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet]]) +EST 2 17 bcu8 figs-idiom וַ⁠תִּשָּׂא־חֵ֥ן וָ⁠חֶ֛סֶד לְ⁠פָנָ֖י⁠ו 1 And she lifted both favor and kindness before his face This is a rare expression in Hebrew, and the exact meaning is uncertain. See how you translated similar phrases in 2:9 and 2:15. Review the explanation there if that would be helpful. In this context, it probably means that King Ahasuerus was very impressed with both Esther’s appearance and her personality. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) +EST 2 17 abf9 figs-doublet וַ⁠תִּשָּׂא־חֵ֥ן וָ⁠חֶ֛סֶד לְ⁠פָנָ֖י⁠ו 1 And she lifted both favor and kindness before his face **Favor** and **kindness** mean similar things and are probably used together here to strengthen a single idea. Alternate translation: “he was very pleased with her” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet]]) EST 2 17 jd93 figs-metonymy לְ⁠פָנָ֖י⁠ו 1 before his face Here **face** figuratively represents the presence of a person. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-hq]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) EST 2 17 sym3 translate-symaction וַ⁠יָּ֤שֶׂם כֶּֽתֶר־מַלְכוּת֙ בְּ⁠רֹאשָׁ֔⁠הּ 1 So he set a crown of royalty on her head Ahasuerus did this to show that he was making Esther his queen. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]]) EST 2 17 abg0 figs-abstractnouns כֶּֽתֶר־מַלְכוּת֙ 1 a crown of royalty You can use an adjective to translate the abstract noun “royalty,” for example, “a royal crown.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]]) -EST 2 17 abg1 figs-explicit וַ⁠יַּ֨עַשׂ הַ⁠מֶּ֜לֶךְ מִשְׁתֶּ֣ה גָד֗וֹל 1 Then the king made a great feast The king did this to celebrate Esther becoming the queen. You can say this explicitly, for example, “Then, to celebrate her becoming the queen, the king hosted a great feast.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) +EST 2 17 abg1 figs-explicit וַ⁠יַּ֨עַשׂ הַ⁠מֶּ֜לֶךְ מִשְׁתֶּ֣ה גָד֗וֹל 1 Then the king made a great feast The king did this to celebrate Esther becoming the queen. You can say this explicitly, for example, “Then, to celebrate her becoming the queen, the king hosted a great feast.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EST 2 18 b1hd translate-names מִשְׁתֵּ֣ה אֶסְתֵּ֑ר 1 the feast of Esther You should indicate to your readers this is the name that Ahasuerus gave to the feast, for example, “He called it ‘Esther's Feast.’” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EST 2 18 ufm8 translate-unknown וַ⁠הֲנָחָ֤ה לַ⁠מְּדִינוֹת֙ עָשָׂ֔ה 1 And he made a holiday for the provinces This was probably a “tax holiday,” that is, a remission of taxes. For a time, the provinces did not have to send in the usual taxes to the king. You could say something like “he proclaimed a temporary reprieve from taxes for all the provinces of his empire.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown]]) EST 2 18 jd95 figs-metonymy כְּ⁠יַ֥ד הַ⁠מֶּֽלֶךְ 1 according to the hand of the king Here **hand** figuratively represents the action of doing or giving. The phrase means that King Ahasuerus personally gave lavish gifts to the guests at this feast. You could say something like “with royal generosity” or “with great willingness to give” or “with generosity that only a king can give.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-hq]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) @@ -303,12 +303,12 @@ EST 2 22 abh2 וַ⁠יַּגֵּ֖ד לְ⁠אֶסְתֵּ֣ר הַ⁠מַּל EST 2 22 dgp3 figs-idiom בְּ⁠שֵׁ֥ם מָרְדֳּכָֽי 1 in the name of Mordecai This expression means that Esther passed the information along to King Ahasuerus on Mordecai’s behalf or that she told the king the information had come from him. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EST 2 23 abh3 grammar-connect-time-sequential וַ⁠יְבֻקַּ֤שׁ הַ⁠דָּבָר֙ וַ⁠יִּמָּצֵ֔א וַ⁠יִּתָּל֥וּ שְׁנֵי⁠הֶ֖ם עַל־עֵ֑ץ 1 Then the matter was sought out and was found out, and the two of them were hanged on a tree. This verse tells what happened next after Esther gave the information to the king. You should use a word such as “then” to indicate this. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential]]) EST 2 23 ld4y figs-activepassive וַ⁠יְבֻקַּ֤שׁ הַ⁠דָּבָר֙ וַ⁠יִּמָּצֵ֔א 1 Then the matter was sought out and was found out You can say this with an active form, and you can say who did the action, for example, “Then the king investigated Mordecai's report and found out that it was true, and he hanged the two of them on a wooden pole.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) -EST 2 23 abh4 figs-activepassive וַ⁠יִּתָּל֥וּ שְׁנֵי⁠הֶ֖ם עַל־עֵ֑ץ 1 the two of them were hanged on a tree You can say this with an active form, and you can say who did the action. Alternate translation: “the king ordered his servants to impale those two men on wooden poles” or “the king ordered his servants to hang those two men on a gallows” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) +EST 2 23 abh4 figs-activepassive וַ⁠יִּתָּל֥וּ שְׁנֵי⁠הֶ֖ם עַל־עֵ֑ץ 1 the two of them were hanged on a tree You can say this with an active form, and you can say who did the action. Alternate translation: “the king ordered his servants to impale those two men on wooden poles” or “the king ordered his servants to hang those two men on a gallows” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) EST 2 23 y28j figs-metonymy עַל־עֵ֑ץ 1 on a tree Here **tree** figuratively represents some kind of pole or structure made from wood. This would be used to kill a person by suspending them above the ground. This might mean (1) by impaling them, that is, by sticking a sharp point on one end of the pole through their body, or (2) by hanging them with a rope tied around the neck. So you could translate this as “a wooden pole” or “a gallows.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-plants]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown]]) EST 2 23 g9nh figs-activepassive וַ⁠יִּכָּתֵ֗ב 1 And it was written You can say this with an active form, and you can say who did the action, for example, “The king’s scribes recorded an account of this.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) EST 2 23 abh5 figs-idiom בְּ⁠סֵ֛פֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י הַ⁠יָּמִ֖ים 1 the book of the events of days This is an idiom that describes a regular record of the events in a king’s reign. You could call this “the royal chronicles.” Alternate translation: “the daily record book” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EST 2 23 abh6 figs-metonymy לִ⁠פְנֵ֥י הַ⁠מֶּֽלֶךְ 1 before the face of the king Here **face** refers figuratively to the presence of a person. The phrase means that the scribes wrote this account while King Ahasuerus was personally present. You could say that they did this “in the king’s presence.” Alternate translation: “The king watched a scribe write this down.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-hq]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) -EST 3 intro zb26 0 # Esther 03 General Notes
## Special concepts in this chapter

### Haman plots against the Jews

Mordecai considered prostrating himself before Haman. This would be considered to be worship. It was wrong to worship someone other than Yahweh. Because of this, he refused to do it on religious grounds. This made Haman angry so he decided to kill all the Jews in the Persian Empire.
+EST 3 intro zb26 0 # Esther 03 General Notes
## Special concepts in this chapter

### Haman plots against the Jews

Mordecai considered prostrating himself before Haman. This would be considered to be worship. It was wrong to worship someone other than Yahweh. Because of this, he refused to do it on religious grounds. This made Haman angry so he decided to kill all the Jews in the Persian Empire. EST 3 1 mm4c writing-newevent אַחַ֣ר׀ הַ⁠דְּבָרִ֣ים הָ⁠אֵ֗לֶּה 1 After these things This introduces a new event in the story. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]]) EST 3 1 abh7 grammar-connect-time-sequential אַחַ֣ר׀ הַ⁠דְּבָרִ֣ים הָ⁠אֵ֗לֶּה 1 After these things This event happened some time after Esther became queen, and you can show this by using a connecting phrase such as “some time later.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential]]) EST 3 1 ir5v translate-names הָמָ֧ן 1 Haman This is a man’s name. It occurs many times in the story. Be sure to translate it consistently. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) @@ -382,7 +382,7 @@ EST 3 9 abl5 עֹשֵׂ֣י הַ⁠מְּלָאכָ֔ה 1 the doers of the work EST 3 9 abl6 לְ⁠הָבִ֖יא אֶל־גִּנְזֵ֥י הַ⁠מֶּֽלֶךְ 1 to bring into the treasuries of the king This could mean either of two possibilities: (1) This could be indicating that when Haman says he will put the money into the hands of the officers who carry out his plan, he actually means that he will put the money in the royal treasury so that it can be paid out to them. Or, (2) Haman could be saying that all the plunder from the Jews can be brought into the royal treasuries, and that will make the king even richer. EST 3 9 abl7 figs-123person גִּנְזֵ֥י הַ⁠מֶּֽלֶךְ 1 the treasuries of the king Haman speaks to the king in third person as a form of respect. You could also have him speak of “your royal treasuries” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) EST 3 10 abl8 figs-explicit וַ⁠יָּ֧סַר הַ⁠מֶּ֛לֶךְ אֶת־טַבַּעְתּ֖⁠וֹ מֵ⁠עַ֣ל יָד֑⁠וֹ וַֽ⁠יִּתְּנָ֗⁠הּ לְ⁠הָמָ֧ן 1 Then the king removed his signet from on his hand, and he gave it to Haman The implication is that Ahasuerus thought that Haman’s suggestion was a good idea and he agreed to it. You could say that explicitly. Alternate translation: “The king agreed that this was a good idea, so.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) -EST 3 10 abl9 figs-symaction וַ⁠יָּ֧סַר הַ⁠מֶּ֛לֶךְ אֶת־טַבַּעְתּ֖⁠וֹ מֵ⁠עַ֣ל יָד֑⁠וֹ וַֽ⁠יִּתְּנָ֗⁠הּ לְ⁠הָמָ֧ן 1 Then the king removed his signet ring from on his hand Giving the ring to Haman showed that Haman could act on the king’s own authority. If it would be clearer in your language, you can say this explicitly. Alternate translation: “The king gave Haman the power to act on his authority to carry out the plan. To show that, he gave Haman the ring he wore that had his official seal on it.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-symaction]]) +EST 3 10 abl9 translate-symaction וַ⁠יָּ֧סַר הַ⁠מֶּ֛לֶךְ אֶת־טַבַּעְתּ֖⁠וֹ מֵ⁠עַ֣ל יָד֑⁠וֹ וַֽ⁠יִּתְּנָ֗⁠הּ לְ⁠הָמָ֧ן 1 Then the king removed his signet ring from on his hand Giving the ring to Haman showed that Haman could act on the king’s own authority. If it would be clearer in your language, you can say this explicitly. Alternate translation: “The king gave Haman the power to act on his authority to carry out the plan. To show that, he gave Haman the ring he wore that had his official seal on it.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]]) EST 3 10 c9md translate-unknown טַבַּעְתּ֖⁠וֹ 1 his signet ring This was a special ring that could be used to imprint the king’s official seal on a law or decree. This ring had the king’s name or mark on it. When he put a wax seal on important papers, he would press the mark onto the seal. If a paper had this mark on its seal, people would know that what was written on the paper was written with the king’s authority and had to be obeyed. You could describe this as “the ring he wore that had his official seal on it.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown]]) EST 3 10 abm0 בֶּֽן־הַמְּדָ֛תָא הָ⁠אֲגָגִ֖י 1 the son of Hammedatha the Agagite This information about Haman’s identity is repeated to stress that the king giving him the signet ring was an official legal act that transferred power to him. (In the same way, legal documents today often use a person’s full name and other identifying information.) If you repeat this information in your own translation, your readers should see this significance. EST 3 10 abm1 figs-informremind צֹרֵ֥ר הַ⁠יְּהוּדִֽים 1 the adversary of the Jews This phrase gives clarifying information about Haman. It means that he had become “the enemy of the Jews.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-informremind]]) @@ -411,8 +411,8 @@ EST 3 13 abn1 figs-merism מִ⁠נַּ֨עַר וְ⁠עַד־זָקֵ֜ן 1 fr EST 3 13 abn2 טַ֤ף וְ⁠נָשִׁים֙ 1 children and women “including the children and the women” EST 3 13 j35r translate-numbers בְּ⁠י֣וֹם אֶחָ֔ד 1 on one day Alternate translation: “on a single day” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-numbers]]) EST 3 13 abn3 figs-explicit בִּ⁠שְׁלוֹשָׁ֥ה עָשָׂ֛ר 1 on the thirteenth of the twelfth month Implicitly this means “the thirteenth day of the twelfth month of that same year.” If it would be clearer in your language, you can say that explicitly. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) -EST 3 13 g5br translate-ordinal בִּ⁠שְׁלוֹשָׁ֥ה עָשָׂ֛ר 1 on the thirteenth “on day thirteen” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal]]) -EST 3 13 j36r translate-ordinal לְ⁠חֹ֥דֶשׁ שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂ֖ר 1 of the twelfth month “of month twelve” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal]]) +EST 3 13 g5br translate-ordinal בִּ⁠שְׁלוֹשָׁ֥ה עָשָׂ֛ר 1 on the thirteenth “on day thirteen” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal]]) +EST 3 13 j36r translate-ordinal לְ⁠חֹ֥דֶשׁ שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂ֖ר 1 of the twelfth month “of month twelve” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal]]) EST 3 13 i5ur translate-hebrewmonths הוּא־חֹ֣דֶשׁ אֲדָ֑ר 1 which is the month of Adar This is the name of the twelfth month of the Hebrew calendar. See how you decided in 2:16 and 3:7 to express dates that the story gives according to the Hebrew calendar. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-hebrewmonths]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EST 3 13 pbp1 וּ⁠שְׁלָלָ֖⁠ם לָ⁠בֽוֹז 1 and to plunder their spoils This means that the letters also said that those who killed the Jews could take everything that belonged to them. EST 3 14 tj7n figs-activepassive הַ⁠כְּתָ֗ב לְ⁠הִנָּ֤תֵֽן דָּת֙ בְּ⁠כָל־מְדִינָ֣ה וּ⁠מְדִינָ֔ה 1 the writing, to be given as a law in every province by province You can say this with an active form, for example, “The officials in every province made a copy of the letter become the law.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) @@ -423,11 +423,11 @@ EST 3 15 abn4 הָֽ⁠רָצִ֞ים יָצְא֤וּ דְחוּפִים֙ ב EST 3 15 abn5 figs-explicit הָֽ⁠רָצִ֞ים יָצְא֤וּ דְחוּפִים֙ בִּ⁠דְבַ֣ר הַ⁠מֶּ֔לֶךְ 1 The runners went out hurrying by decree of the king You can state explicitly where the couriers brought the letters. Alternate translation: “As the king had commanded, couriers rushed the letters to every province in the empire,” or, “Then, according to what the king commanded, men riding horses took these letter quickly to every province in the empire.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EST 3 15 i12c figs-activepassive וְ⁠הַ⁠דָּ֥ת נִתְּנָ֖ה 1 and the law was given You can say this with an active form, and you can say who did the action, for example, “A herald also proclaimed what the letter said” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) EST 3 15 nlk8 translate-unknown בְּ⁠שׁוּשַׁ֣ן הַ⁠בִּירָ֑ה 1 in Susa the citadel Here this likely means “in the capital city of Susa.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown]]) -EST 3 15 abn6 figs-synecdoche יָשְׁב֣וּ לִ⁠שְׁתּ֔וֹת 1 sat down to drink (1) This could mean that Ahasuerus and Haman had more than just a drink together. This could be a figure of speech in which a part of something is used to mean the whole thing. They may have celebrated with an entire banquet that is being described here by reference to one part of it, the drinks. Alternate translation: “had a celebration feast together.” (2) Another possibility is that this is describing a toast that Ahasuerus and Haman shared to celebrate their plan. “Sat down” would simply be describing how the men would have reclined at a table to drink. Alternate translation: “had a celebration toast” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche]]) -EST 3 15 wm4u figs-explicit נָבֽוֹכָה 1 the city of Susa was in confusion The implication is that the people in Susa were very upset about what was going to happen and they did not know what to do about it. If it would be clearer in your language, you can say that explicitly. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) +EST 3 15 abn6 figs-synecdoche יָשְׁב֣וּ לִ⁠שְׁתּ֔וֹת 1 sat down to drink (1) This could mean that Ahasuerus and Haman had more than just a drink together. This could be a figure of speech in which a part of something is used to mean the whole thing. They may have celebrated with an entire banquet that is being described here by reference to one part of it, the drinks. Alternate translation: “had a celebration feast together.” (2) Another possibility is that this is describing a toast that Ahasuerus and Haman shared to celebrate their plan. “Sat down” would simply be describing how the men would have reclined at a table to drink. Alternate translation: “had a celebration toast” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche]]) +EST 3 15 wm4u figs-explicit נָבֽוֹכָה 1 the city of Susa was in confusion The implication is that the people in Susa were very upset about what was going to happen and they did not know what to do about it. If it would be clearer in your language, you can say that explicitly. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EST 3 15 abn7 figs-metonymy וְ⁠הָ⁠עִ֥יר שׁוּשָׁ֖ן 1 but the city of Susa This does not mean the city itself, but the people who live there. This is a figure of speech in which something is called not by its own name, but by the name of something closely associated with it. So this means “everyone who lived in Susa” or “the people in Susa” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) EST 3 15 abn8 figs-abstractnouns נָבֽוֹכָה 1 was in confusion You can translate the abstract noun “confusion” with a concrete noun phrase such as “a state of great confusion.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]]) -EST 4 intro z7u2 0 # Esther 04 General Notes
## Special concepts in this chapter

### Mordecai warns Esther to act

Mordecai tells Esther she must beg the king for the Jews’ lives, even if she risks her own death.

## Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter

### Implicit information

There is implicit information translators may not understand. “Who knows whether you have come to this royal position for such a time as this?” This means “maybe God made you the queen so you could save the Jews.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
+EST 4 intro z7u2 0 # Esther 04 General Notes
## Special concepts in this chapter

### Mordecai warns Esther to act

Mordecai tells Esther she must beg the king for the Jews’ lives, even if she risks her own death.

## Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter

### Implicit information

There is implicit information translators may not understand. “Who knows whether you have come to this royal position for such a time as this?” This means “maybe God made you the queen so you could save the Jews.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EST 4 1 j37r writing-participants וּ⁠מָרְדֳּכַ֗י יָדַע֙ 1 Now when Mordecai knew Here the story re-introduces Mordecai as the main character in focus. Alternate translation: “When Mordecai found out” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-participants]]) EST 4 1 nya6 כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר נַעֲשָׂ֔ה 1 about all that had been done “about Haman’s plan to kill all the Jews” or “about those letters” EST 4 1 vgy8 translate-symaction וַ⁠יִּקְרַ֤ע מָרְדֳּכַי֙ אֶת־בְּגָדָ֔י⁠ו וַ⁠יִּלְבַּ֥שׁ שַׂ֖ק וָ⁠אֵ֑פֶר 1 he tore his garments and put on sackcloth and ashes These actions demonstrate extreme sadness. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]]) @@ -450,19 +450,19 @@ EST 4 4 abo9 translate-unknown וְ⁠סָרִיסֶ֨י⁠הָ֙ 1 and her eunu EST 4 4 abp0 figs-explicit וַ⁠יַּגִּ֣ידוּ לָ֔⁠הּ 1 and they told her That is, they told her that Mordecai was sitting outside the gate wearing sackcloth. If it would be clearer in your language, you can say that explicitly. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EST 4 4 abp1 figs-activepassive וַ⁠תִּתְחַלְחַ֥ל הַ⁠מַּלְכָּ֖ה מְאֹ֑ד 1 even the queen was seized with extreme fear **The queen** means Esther. You can say this with an active form. Alternate translation: “Esther herself became very afraid” or “this made the queen very distressed" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) EST 4 4 abp2 figs-explicit וַ⁠תִּתְחַלְחַ֥ל הַ⁠מַּלְכָּ֖ה מְאֹ֑ד 1 even the queen was seized with extreme fear The implication is that this happened when she heard what Mordecai was doing. If it would be clearer in your language, you can say that explicitly. Alternate translation: “When she heard about this, Esther herself became very afraid” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) -EST 4 4 y8bc figs-symaction וַ⁠תִּשְׁלַ֨ח בְּגָדִ֜ים לְ⁠הַלְבִּ֣ישׁ אֶֽת־מָרְדֳּכַ֗י 1 she sent garments to clothe Mordecai and to take off his sackcloth from upon him **She** means Esther. This was a way of encouraging Mordecai to be hopeful and act publicly as if whatever situation he was worried about was not completely desperate. Alternate translation: “She sent Mordecai some good clothes to wear instead of the sackcloth” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-symaction]]) -EST 4 4 abp3 figs-symaction וְ⁠לֹ֥א קִבֵּֽל 1 he did not accept Alternate translation: “he refused to put them on” This was Mordecai’s way of replying to Esther that the situation truly was desperate. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-symaction]]) +EST 4 4 y8bc translate-symaction וַ⁠תִּשְׁלַ֨ח בְּגָדִ֜ים לְ⁠הַלְבִּ֣ישׁ אֶֽת־מָרְדֳּכַ֗י 1 she sent garments to clothe Mordecai and to take off his sackcloth from upon him **She** means Esther. This was a way of encouraging Mordecai to be hopeful and act publicly as if whatever situation he was worried about was not completely desperate. Alternate translation: “She sent Mordecai some good clothes to wear instead of the sackcloth” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]]) +EST 4 4 abp3 translate-symaction וְ⁠לֹ֥א קִבֵּֽל 1 he did not accept Alternate translation: “he refused to put them on” This was Mordecai’s way of replying to Esther that the situation truly was desperate. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]]) EST 4 5 abp4 וַ⁠תִּקְרָא֩ אֶסְתֵּ֨ר לַ⁠הֲתָ֜ךְ מִ⁠סָּרִיסֵ֤י הַ⁠מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ 1 So Esther called for Hathak, from the eunuchs of the king “Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king’s officials” EST 4 5 vf4m translate-names לַ⁠הֲתָ֜ךְ 1 for Hathak This is a man’s name. It occurs several times in this chapter. Be sure to translate it consistently. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EST 4 5 lp8m writing-background מִ⁠סָּרִיסֵ֤י הַ⁠מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֶעֱמִ֣יד לְ⁠פָנֶ֔י⁠הָ 1 from the eunuchs of the king whom he had caused to stand before her face Alternate translation: “who was one of the royal guardians whom the king had assigned to serve Esther personally.” You can put this information first because it provides background information. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-background]]) EST 4 5 icg7 translate-unknown מִ⁠סָּרִיסֵ֤י 1 from the eunuchs of See how you translated this term **eunuch** in 1:10. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown]]) EST 4 5 j39r bita-hq לְ⁠פָנֶ֔י⁠הָ 1 before her face Here **face** figuratively represents the presence of a person. This phrase means that the guardians served Esther personally. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-hq]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) EST 4 5 abp5 וַ⁠תְּצַוֵּ֖⁠הוּ עַֽל־מָרְדֳּכָ֑י 1 She commanded him concerning Mordecai “She told him to go out and speak with Mordecai” -EST 4 5 abp6 figs-parallelism לָ⁠דַ֥עַת מַה־זֶּ֖ה וְ⁠עַל־מַה־זֶּֽה 1 to know what this was and on account of what this was These two phrases mean similar things. In both cases, “this” refers to what Mordecai was doing. The repetition is used to emphasize that Esther now knew there must be a very serious reason why Mordecai was wearing sackcloth in such a public place. Alternate translation: “to find out why he was so distressed that he was sitting at the palace gate wearing sackcloth” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]]) +EST 4 5 abp6 figs-parallelism לָ⁠דַ֥עַת מַה־זֶּ֖ה וְ⁠עַל־מַה־זֶּֽה 1 to know what this was and on account of what this was These two phrases mean similar things. In both cases, “this” refers to what Mordecai was doing. The repetition is used to emphasize that Esther now knew there must be a very serious reason why Mordecai was wearing sackcloth in such a public place. Alternate translation: “to find out why he was so distressed that he was sitting at the palace gate wearing sackcloth” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]]) EST 4 6 abp7 figs-explicit וַ⁠יֵּצֵ֥א הֲתָ֖ךְ אֶֽל־מָרְדֳּכָ֑י 1 So Hathak went out to Mordecai Hathak went out specifically to speak with Mordecai and find out why he was so distressed, as Esther had asked him to do. If it would be clearer in your language, you can say that explicitly. Alternate translation: “Hathak went out to speak with Mordecai” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EST 4 6 mgl5 רְח֣וֹב הָ⁠עִ֔יר 1 the open place of the city “the central plaza” EST 4 6 j41r figs-metonymy לִ⁠פְנֵ֥י הַ⁠מֶּֽלֶךְ 1 before the face of Here **face** figuratively represents the front of an object. The phrase means that the open square was in front of the palace gate. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-hq]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) -EST 4 6 abp8 figs-metonymy שַֽׁעַר־הַ⁠מֶּֽלֶךְ 1 the gate of the king Alternate translation: “the citadel gate.” The citadel is being described by reference to something associated with it, the gate that leads into it. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) +EST 4 6 abp8 figs-metonymy שַֽׁעַר־הַ⁠מֶּֽלֶךְ 1 the gate of the king Alternate translation: “the citadel gate.” The citadel is being described by reference to something associated with it, the gate that leads into it. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) EST 4 7 zq3s figs-synecdoche וַ⁠יַּגֶּד־ל֣⁠וֹ מָרְדֳּכַ֔י אֵ֖ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר קָרָ֑⁠הוּ 1 Mordecai reported to him all that had happened to him Alternate translation: “Mordecai told Hathak everything that Haman was planning to do to the Jews.” The story says that this had happened to **him** (Mordecai), but here Mordecai figuratively represents the entire group that he is one member of. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche]]) EST 4 7 abp9 פָּרָשַׁ֣ת הַ⁠כֶּ֗סֶף אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָמַ֤ר הָמָן֙ לִ֠⁠שְׁקוֹל עַל־גִּנְזֵ֥י הַ⁠מֶּ֛לֶךְ בַּיְּהוּדִ֖ים לְ⁠אַבְּדָֽ⁠ם 1 the exact amount of silver that Haman had said to weigh out in the treasuries of the king, against, to destroy them This could mean either of two possibilities: (1) The amount of silver that Haman had said he would contribute to pay for the expenses of the plan to destroy the Jews, or (2) the amount of silver that Haman said the king would get for his treasury from the plunder that the people who destroyed the Jews would take from them. You could say either one as an alternate translation. EST 4 8 j43r פַּתְשֶׁ֣גֶן כְּתָֽב־הַ֠⁠דָּת אֲשֶׁר־נִתַּ֨ן 1 a copy of the writing “a copy of the letter that Haman had sent out” or “a copy of the decree” @@ -474,11 +474,11 @@ EST 4 8 gds6 figs-doublet  לְ⁠הִֽתְחַנֶּן־ל֛⁠וֹ 1 to impl EST 4 8 j47r figs-metonymy מִ⁠לְּ⁠פָנָ֖י⁠ו 1 to go to the king…from before his face Here **face** figuratively represents the presence of a person. In this context, the phrase means that Esther should go into the presence of the king to ask personally for the king’s intervention. Alternate translation: “to go to the king personally” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-hq]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) EST 4 8 abq3 עַל־עַמָּֽ⁠הּ 1 concerning her people “to act mercifully toward her people” EST 4 9 abq4 וַ⁠יָּב֖וֹא הֲתָ֑ךְ וַ⁠יַּגֵּ֣ד לְ⁠אֶסְתֵּ֔ר אֵ֖ת דִּבְרֵ֥י מָרְדֳּכָֽי 1 So Hathak went and told Esther the words of Mordecai. “So Hathak returned to Esther and told her what Mordecai had said.” -EST 4 10 abq5 וַ⁠תֹּ֤אמֶר אֶסְתֵּר֙ לַ⁠הֲתָ֔ךְ וַ⁠תְּצַוֵּ֖⁠הוּ אֶֽל־מָרְדֳּכָֽי 1 Then Esther spoke to Hathak and commanded him to say to Mordecai: “The Esther told Hathak to go back to Mordecai and tell his this:” +EST 4 10 abq5 וַ⁠תֹּ֤אמֶר אֶסְתֵּר֙ לַ⁠הֲתָ֔ךְ וַ⁠תְּצַוֵּ֖⁠הוּ אֶֽל־מָרְדֳּכָֽי 1 Then Esther spoke to Hathak and commanded him to say to Mordecai: “The Esther told Hathak to go back to Mordecai and tell his this:” EST 4 11 abq6 figs-merism כָּל־עַבְדֵ֣י הַ⁠מֶּ֡לֶךְ וְ⁠עַם־מְדִינ֨וֹת הַ⁠מֶּ֜לֶךְ יֽוֹדְעִ֗ים 1 All the servants of the king and the people of the provinces of the king are knowing “All the servants of the king” refers to the royal officials in the palace. “The people of the provinces” refer to those living out in the empire. So this phrase means something like “those both near and far.” Esther is using a figure of speech to refer to something by speaking of two extreme parts of it in order to include everything in between those parts. If it would be clearer in your language, you could combine these phrases and say something like, “everyone in the whole empire knows.” Alternate translation: “All the king's officials and all the people in the empire know this law.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-merism]]) EST 4 11 abq7 כָּל־עַבְדֵ֣י הַ⁠מֶּ֡לֶךְ וְ⁠עַם־מְדִינ֨וֹת הַ⁠מֶּ֜לֶךְ יֽוֹדְעִ֗ים 1 All the servants of the king and the people of the provinces of the king are knowing Esther says this to show that there is no uncertainty about this being the law. You can put this information after the description of the law itself, if that would be clearer in your language, so that it can serve to emphasize how definite the law is that was just described. EST 4 11 d9mh figs-merism כָּל־אִ֣ישׁ וְ⁠אִשָּׁ֡ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר 1 for any man or woman Here Esther once again refers to something figuratively by describing two parts of it. She means all of the people whom Ahasuerus rules as king. If it would be clearer in your language, you could combine these phrases and say something like “anyone.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-merism]]) -EST 4 11 abq8 figs-symaction יָבֽוֹא־אֶל־הַ⁠מֶּלֶךְ֩ אֶל־הֶ⁠חָצֵ֨ר הַ⁠פְּנִימִ֜ית 1 who goes to the king, to the inner court As 5:1 makes clear, this refers to a courtyard right outside the room where King Ahasuerus sat on his throne. He could see out of the entrance to the room into the courtyard and tell if anyone came and stood there. Anyone who did that was asking to speak to the king. Alternate translation: “who goes into the inner courtyard of the palace, where the king can see them” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-symaction]]) +EST 4 11 abq8 translate-symaction יָבֽוֹא־אֶל־הַ⁠מֶּלֶךְ֩ אֶל־הֶ⁠חָצֵ֨ר הַ⁠פְּנִימִ֜ית 1 who goes to the king, to the inner court As 5:1 makes clear, this refers to a courtyard right outside the room where King Ahasuerus sat on his throne. He could see out of the entrance to the room into the courtyard and tell if anyone came and stood there. Anyone who did that was asking to speak to the king. Alternate translation: “who goes into the inner courtyard of the palace, where the king can see them” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]]) EST 4 11 abq9 אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־יִקָּרֵ֗א 1 who has not been called “without being summoned” EST 4 11 abr0 אַחַ֤ת דָּת⁠וֹ֙ 1 his law is one Alternate translation: “This law applies to everyone in the kingdom.” If that would be clearer in your language, you could put this after the explanation of the law itself. EST 4 11 abr1 לְ⁠הָמִ֔ית 1 to cause to die “that person must be executed” @@ -505,7 +505,7 @@ EST 4 16 abs3 אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־כַ⁠דָּ֔ת 1 which is not accordi EST 4 16 abs4 וְ⁠כַ⁠אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָבַ֖דְתִּי אָבָֽדְתִּי 1 and if I perish, I perish “I am prepared to do that even if it costs me my life” EST 4 17 abs5 figs-explicit וַֽ⁠יַּעֲבֹ֖ר מָרְדֳּכָ֑י 1 So Mordecai went The implication is that Mordecai did this after Hathak brought Esther’s reply back to him. If it would be clearer in your language, you can say this explicitly. Alternate translation: “So after Hathak told this to Mordecai, he went” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EST 4 17 abs6 כְּ⁠כֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוְּתָ֥ה עָלָ֖י⁠ו אֶסְתֵּֽר 1 according to the whole charge that Esther had laid upon him “everything that Esther had told him to do” -EST 5 intro k5ff 0 # Esther 05 General Notes
## Structure and formatting

This chapter begins a section about Haman’s fall (Chapters 5-7).

## Special concepts in this chapter

### Esther’s respect
Esther approached the king with the utmost of respect. By doing this, her character became respected by the king. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
+EST 5 intro k5ff 0 # Esther 05 General Notes
## Structure and formatting

This chapter begins a section about Haman’s fall (Chapters 5-7).

## Special concepts in this chapter

### Esther’s respect
Esther approached the king with the utmost of respect. By doing this, her character became respected by the king. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EST 5 1 j53r writing-newevent וַ⁠יְהִ֣י׀ בַּ⁠יּ֣וֹם הַ⁠שְּׁלִישִׁ֗י 1 Now it happened on the third day This introduces a new event in the story. Alternate translation: “Three days later” or “When Esther had been fasting for three days” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]]) EST 5 1 abs7 figs-abstractnouns וַ⁠תִּלְבַּ֤שׁ אֶסְתֵּר֙ מַלְכ֔וּת 1 Esther put on royalty You can use an adjective and a concrete noun to translate the abstract noun “royalty.” Alternate translation: “Esther put on her royal robes” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]]) EST 5 1 abs8 figs-explicit וַ⁠תִּלְבַּ֤שׁ אֶסְתֵּר֙ מַלְכ֔וּת 1 Esther put on royalty It’s clear from the story that before she went to see the king, Esther got a banquet ready so that she could invite him and Haman to come to it right away. You can explain that here. Alternate translation, add: “Esther prepared a grand banquet and then put on her royal robes” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) @@ -520,20 +520,20 @@ EST 5 2 pw4x figs-metonymy נָשְׂאָ֥ה חֵ֖ן בְּ⁠עֵינָ֑י EST 5 2 uu8s translate-symaction וַ⁠יּ֨וֹשֶׁט הַ⁠מֶּ֜לֶךְ לְ⁠אֶסְתֵּ֗ר אֶת־שַׁרְבִ֤יט הַ⁠זָּהָב֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּ⁠יָד֔⁠וֹ 1 And the king held out to her the golden scepter that was in his hand King Ahasuerus did this to show that he would not enforce the law that said Esther should be executed for coming into the king’s inner court without being summoned. See how you translated this in 4:11. Alternate translation: “he extended the gold scepter toward her.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]] EST 5 2 abt3 figs-explicit וַ⁠יּ֨וֹשֶׁט הַ⁠מֶּ֜לֶךְ לְ⁠אֶסְתֵּ֗ר אֶת־שַׁרְבִ֤יט הַ⁠זָּהָב֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּ⁠יָד֔⁠וֹ 1 And the king held out to her the golden scepter that was in his hand King Ahasuerus did this to show that he would not enforce the law that said Esther should be executed. If it would be clearer in your language, you can say this explicitly. Alternate translation: “he extended the gold scepter toward her to signal that he would be glad to talk to her.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EST 5 2 abt4 וַ⁠תִּקְרַ֣ב 1 so…approached “so…came close” or “so…came up to the throne” -EST 5 2 abt5 figs-explicit וַ⁠תִּגַּ֖ע בְּ⁠רֹ֥אשׁ הַ⁠שַּׁרְבִֽיט 1 and touched the head of the scepter This action was probably customary for a king’s subjects in a Persian court, when the king extended the royal scepter. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) +EST 5 2 abt5 figs-explicit וַ⁠תִּגַּ֖ע בְּ⁠רֹ֥אשׁ הַ⁠שַּׁרְבִֽיט 1 and touched the head of the scepter This action was probably customary for a king’s subjects in a Persian court, when the king extended the royal scepter. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EST 5 2 z4mn translate-symaction וַ⁠תִּגַּ֖ע בְּ⁠רֹ֥אשׁ הַ⁠שַּׁרְבִֽיט 1 and touched the head of the scepter This action demonstrated that Esther respected the authority of King Ahasuerus and was thankful for his kindness to her. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]]) EST 5 2 j59r figs-metonymy בְּ⁠רֹ֥אשׁ הַ⁠שַּׁרְבִֽיט 1 the head of the scepter Here **head** is a metonym meaning the top (or uppermost part) of an object or location. This phrase means that Esther touched the top of the king’s scepter on the end that was extended toward her. Alternate translation: “the top of the scepter” or “the tip of the scepter” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-hq]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) -EST 5 3 abt6 מַה־לָּ֖⁠ךְ אֶסְתֵּ֣ר הַ⁠מַּלְכָּ֑ה 1 What is to you, Esther the queen? “What do you want, Queen Esther?” -EST 5 3 abt7 figs-parallelism מַה־לָּ֖⁠ךְ אֶסְתֵּ֣ר הַ⁠מַּלְכָּ֑ה וּ⁠מַה־בַּקָּשָׁתֵ֛⁠ךְ 1 What is to you, Esther the queen? And what is your request? These two phrases mean almost the same thing. Ahasuerus says the same thing twice, in slightly different ways, to show that he is very interested in hearing why Esther has come to see him. You do not need to repeat both phrases in your translation if it would be more natural in your language to combine them into one. Alternate translation: “What do you want, Queen Esther?” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]]) +EST 5 3 abt6 מַה־לָּ֖⁠ךְ אֶסְתֵּ֣ר הַ⁠מַּלְכָּ֑ה 1 What is to you, Esther the queen? “What do you want, Queen Esther?” +EST 5 3 abt7 figs-parallelism מַה־לָּ֖⁠ךְ אֶסְתֵּ֣ר הַ⁠מַּלְכָּ֑ה וּ⁠מַה־בַּקָּשָׁתֵ֛⁠ךְ 1 What is to you, Esther the queen? And what is your request? These two phrases mean almost the same thing. Ahasuerus says the same thing twice, in slightly different ways, to show that he is very interested in hearing why Esther has come to see him. You do not need to repeat both phrases in your translation if it would be more natural in your language to combine them into one. Alternate translation: “What do you want, Queen Esther?” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]]) EST 5 3 j61r figs-hyperbole עַד־חֲצִ֥י הַ⁠מַּלְכ֖וּת וְ⁠יִנָּ֥תֵֽן לָֽ⁠ךְ 1 As much as half of the kingdom, and let it be given to you This was probably a formal and customary expression in the Persian royal court, meant to show honor to the person making a request of the king and to indicate the king’s willingness to be very generous when answering the request. King Ahasuerus was almost certainly not offering to give Esther half of his kingdom. If it would be clearer to your readers, you could express the meaning: “I will give you anything you ask for, no matter how great it is.” Alternate translation: “I will give you what you want, even if you ask me to give you half of my kingdom!” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-hyperbole]]) EST 5 3 c6h7 figs-activepassive וְ⁠יִנָּ֥תֵֽן לָֽ⁠ךְ 1 and let it be given to you You can say this with an active form, and you can say who will do the action. Alternate translation: “I will give you anything you ask for” or “I will give you what you want” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) -EST 5 4 abt8 figs-idiom אִם־עַל־הַ⁠מֶּ֖לֶךְ ט֑וֹב 1 If it is good to the king This is an idiom. See how you translated it in 1:19 and 3:9. Alternate translation: “If it seems like a good idea to you, O king” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) -EST 5 4 m3uy figs-123person אִם־עַל־הַ⁠מֶּ֖לֶךְ ט֑וֹב 1 If it is good to the king Esther speaks to the king in the third person as a sign of respect. Alternate translation: “If it seems like a good idea to you, O king” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) +EST 5 4 abt8 figs-idiom אִם־עַל־הַ⁠מֶּ֖לֶךְ ט֑וֹב 1 If it is good to the king This is an idiom. See how you translated it in 1:19 and 3:9. Alternate translation: “If it seems like a good idea to you, O king” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) +EST 5 4 m3uy figs-123person אִם־עַל־הַ⁠מֶּ֖לֶךְ ט֑וֹב 1 If it is good to the king Esther speaks to the king in the third person as a sign of respect. Alternate translation: “If it seems like a good idea to you, O king” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) EST 5 4 j63r figs-123person יָב֨וֹא הַ⁠מֶּ֤לֶךְ וְ⁠הָמָן֙ 1 let the king come with Haman Esther speaks to the king in the third person as a sign of respect. Alternate translation: “O king, please come with Haman” or “you and Haman come” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) EST 5 4 abt9 figs-123person הַ⁠מִּשְׁתֶּ֖ה אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂ֥יתִי לֽ⁠וֹ 1 the banquet that I have made for him Esther speaks to the king in the third person as a sign of respect. Alternate translation: “the banquet that I have prepared for you” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) EST 5 4 abu0 figs-youdual הַ⁠מִּשְׁתֶּ֖ה אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂ֥יתִי לֽ⁠וֹ 1 the banquet that I have made for him If you decide to translate this as “the banquet that I have prepared for you,” then the word “you” should be singular, since here it refers just to the king. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-youdual]]) EST 5 5 abu1 figs-explicit וַ⁠יֹּ֣אמֶר הַ⁠מֶּ֔לֶךְ 1 Then the king said The king would have said this to his servants, not to Esther. If it would be clearer in your language, you can say that explicitly. Alternate translation: “The king said to his servants” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) -EST 5 5 abu2 מַהֲרוּ֙ אֶת־הָמָ֔ן לַ⁠עֲשׂ֖וֹת אֶת־דְּבַ֣ר אֶסְתֵּ֑ר 1 Bring Haman quickly, in order to do the word of Esther The **word of Esther** means her invitation to the banquet. Alternate translation: “Go and get Haman and bring him quickly to the banquet that Esther has prepared” +EST 5 5 abu2 מַהֲרוּ֙ אֶת־הָמָ֔ן לַ⁠עֲשׂ֖וֹת אֶת־דְּבַ֣ר אֶסְתֵּ֑ר 1 Bring Haman quickly, in order to do the word of Esther The **word of Esther** means her invitation to the banquet. Alternate translation: “Go and get Haman and bring him quickly to the banquet that Esther has prepared” EST 5 5 abu3 עָשְׂתָ֥ה 1 had made “had prepared for them” EST 5 6 abu4 בְּ⁠מִשְׁתֵּ֣ה הַ⁠יַּ֔יִן 1 during the banquet of wine “while they were drinking wine” EST 5 6 d5wr figs-parallelism מַה־שְּׁאֵלָתֵ֖⁠ךְ וְ⁠יִנָּ֣תֵֽן לָ֑⁠ךְ וּ⁠מַה־בַּקָּשָׁתֵ֛⁠ךְ עַד־חֲצִ֥י הַ⁠מַּלְכ֖וּת וְ⁠תֵעָֽשׂ 1 What is your petition? And let it be given to you. And what is your request? As much as half of the kingdom, and let it be done. These two statements mean almost the same thing. Ahasuerus says the same thing twice, in slightly different ways, to show that he is truly disposed to give Esther what she wants. You do not need to repeat both phrases in your translation. Alternate translation: “Now please tell me what you really want. I will do it for you.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]]) @@ -551,12 +551,12 @@ EST 5 8 abu8 figs-idiom וְ⁠אִם־עַל־הַ⁠מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ ט֔ו EST 5 8 j69r figs-doublet לָ⁠תֵת֙ אֶת־שְׁאֵ֣לָתִ֔⁠י וְ⁠לַ⁠עֲשׂ֖וֹת אֶת־בַּקָּשָׁתִ֑⁠י 1 to grant my petition and to perform my request The phrases “to grant my petition” and “to perform my request” mean the same thing. Alternate translation: “to give me what I want” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet]]) EST 5 8 x8hf figs-123person יָב֧וֹא הַ⁠מֶּ֣לֶךְ וְ⁠הָמָ֗ן אֶל־הַ⁠מִּשְׁתֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֣ה לָ⁠הֶ֔ם 1 let the king come with Haman to the banquet that I will make for them Esther speaks to the king in the third person as a sign of respect. Alternate translation: “Please come with Haman to another banquet that I will prepare for you.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) EST 5 8 j71r figs-youdual יָב֧וֹא הַ⁠מֶּ֣לֶךְ וְ⁠הָמָ֗ן אֶל־הַ⁠מִּשְׁתֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֣ה לָ⁠הֶ֔ם 1 let the king come with Haman to the banquet that I will make for them If you decide to translate this as “the banquet that I have prepared for you,” then the word “you” should be dual if your language uses that form, since it refers to the king and Haman, otherwise it should be plural. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-youdual]]) -EST 5 8 abu9 וּ⁠מָחָ֥ר אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֖ה כִּ⁠דְבַ֥ר הַ⁠מֶּֽלֶךְ 1 and tomorrow I will do according to the word of the king The **word of the king** means his request for Esther to tell him what she wants. Alternate translation: “I will answer your question then” +EST 5 8 abu9 וּ⁠מָחָ֥ר אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֖ה כִּ⁠דְבַ֥ר הַ⁠מֶּֽלֶךְ 1 and tomorrow I will do according to the word of the king The **word of the king** means his request for Esther to tell him what she wants. Alternate translation: “I will answer your question then” EST 5 8 gf9b figs-123person כִּ⁠דְבַ֥ר הַ⁠מֶּֽלֶךְ 1 according to the word of the king Esther speaks to the king in the third person as a sign of respect. Alternate translation: “according to your word” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]]) EST 5 9 abv1 וַ⁠יֵּצֵ֤א 1 And…went out “And…left the banquet” EST 5 9 j73r figs-doublet שָׂמֵ֖חַ וְ⁠ט֣וֹב לֵ֑ב 1 joyful and good of heart The word “joyful” and the phrase “good of heart” mean the same thing. These terms are used together to show that Haman was very happy after attending Esther’s banquet with King Ahasuerus. Alternate translation: “feeling very happy” [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet]] EST 5 9 j75r figs-metaphor  וְ⁠ט֣וֹב לֵ֑ב 1 and good of heart Here **heart** figuratively represents the action of thinking or feeling. The phrase means that Haman felt happy. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) -EST 5 9 dkg6 figs-explicit וְ⁠לֹא־קָם֙ 1 that he neither rose up Under other circumstances, officials were expected to bow low to the ground to show respect for Haman. (See 3:2.) But since Mordecai was already sitting on the ground as a sign of mourning, he would have been expected to stand up to show respect. If it would be clearer in your language, you can say this explicitly. Alternate translation: “Mordecai did not stand up to show respect for Haman” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-symaction]]) +EST 5 9 dkg6 figs-explicit וְ⁠לֹא־קָם֙ 1 that he neither rose up Under other circumstances, officials were expected to bow low to the ground to show respect for Haman. (See 3:2.) But since Mordecai was already sitting on the ground as a sign of mourning, he would have been expected to stand up to show respect. If it would be clearer in your language, you can say this explicitly. Alternate translation: “Mordecai did not stand up to show respect for Haman” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]]) EST 5 9 j77r translate-symaction וְ⁠לֹא־זָ֣ע מִמֶּ֔⁠נּוּ 1 nor trembled from him The phrase means that Mordecai was not afraid of Haman or of what Haman might do to him for refusing to show the respect that the king had commanded. Alternate translation: “or tremble fearfully in front of him” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]]) EST 5 9 s47u figs-metaphor וַ⁠יִּמָּלֵ֥א הָמָ֛ן עַֽל־מָרְדֳּכַ֖י חֵמָֽה 1 then Haman was filled with rage on account of Mordecai Here Haman’s rage is described here as something that could fill him up. See how you translated this expression in 3:5. Alternate translation: “Haman became very angry because of Mordecai” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EST 5 10 v5nl grammar-connect-logic-contrast וַ⁠יִּתְאַפַּ֣ק הָמָ֔ן 1 But Haman restrained himself There is a contrast between this sentence and the previous one. Haman felt very much like doing one thing, but he decided it would be better to do something else. The contrast can be indicated with a phrase such as “but even though.” Alternate translation: “But even though Haman was so angry, he kept himself from losing his temper” or “Haman refused to show how angry he was” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast]]) @@ -565,7 +565,7 @@ EST 5 10 abv3 וַ⁠יִּשְׁלַ֛ח וַ⁠יָּבֵ֥א 1 Then he sent EST 5 10 bcn1 translate-names זֶ֥רֶשׁ 1 Zeresh This is a woman’s name. It occurs several times in this chapter and the next. Be sure to translate it consistently. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EST 5 11 abv4 וַ⁠יְסַפֵּ֨ר 1 Then…recounted “Then…boasted” EST 5 11 mvm5 figs-abstractnouns כְּב֥וֹד עָשְׁר֖⁠וֹ 1 the glory of his wealth “Glory” and “wealth” are both abstract nouns. Alternate translation: “Haman told them about how great his wealth was” or “Haman told them about the many great things he owned” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]]) -EST 5 11 j79r figs-symaction וְ⁠רֹ֣ב בָּנָ֑י⁠ו 1 and the multitude of his sons Having many sons was probably seen as a mark of honor and status in Persian culture. This phrase probably means that Haman was boasting about the status he enjoyed in Persian society. Alternate translation: “how many sons he had” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-symaction]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) +EST 5 11 j79r translate-symaction וְ⁠רֹ֣ב בָּנָ֑י⁠ו 1 and the multitude of his sons Having many sons was probably seen as a mark of honor and status in Persian culture. This phrase probably means that Haman was boasting about the status he enjoyed in Persian society. Alternate translation: “how many sons he had” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EST 5 11 abv5 figs-gendernotations בָּנָ֑י⁠ו 1 his sons This word can sometimes be used in Hebrew to mean both male and female children. However, here it clearly refers to male children, so you should translate it that way. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-gendernotations]]) EST 5 11 m7fq גִּדְּל֤⁠וֹ 1 made him great “how the king had promoted him many times” or “how the king had honored him many times by giving him more important work” EST 5 11 b7c5 figs-metaphor נִשְּׂא֔⁠וֹ עַל 1 he had lifted him over Here **lifting** is a metaphor meaning to “advance” or “promote” a person to a higher, more important position than they had previously. Alternate translation: “given him a position more important than” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-humanbehavior]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) @@ -590,7 +590,7 @@ EST 5 14 abw8 grammar-connect-logic-result וּ⁠בֹֽא…אֶל הַ⁠מּ EST 5 14 bbs9 figs-metonymy וַ⁠יִּיטַ֧ב הַ⁠דָּבָ֛ר לִ⁠פְנֵ֥י הָמָ֖ן 1 And the word was good before the face of Haman The **word** was the suggestion that Zeresh and the friends made. Here **face** figuratively represents Haman himself by something associated with him, his face, which showed what he was thinking and feeling. Alternate translation: “Haman decided that he liked this idea” or “That idea pleased Haman very much” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-hq]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonym]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EST 5 14 i8is וַ⁠יַּ֥עַשׂ הָ⁠עֵֽץ 1 and he made the tree Haman most likely did not do this personally. He ordered it to be done. Alternate translation: “he gave his servants orders to set up the pole” or “he told his servants to construct the gallows” EST 5 14 j83r figs-metonymy הָ⁠עֵֽץ 1 the tree You should translate this the same way you did earlier in the verse, “the pole” or “the gallows.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-plants]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown]]) -EST 6 intro i9x7 0 # Esther 06 General Notes
## Structure and formatting

This chapter continues the story of Haman’s fall.

## Special concepts in this chapter

### Approaching the king
It was not possible for a person to easily approach the king. Normally, access to him was very limited. There are several events in this chapter which show the layers of protection surrounding the king.
+EST 6 intro i9x7 0 # Esther 06 General Notes
## Structure and formatting

This chapter continues the story of Haman’s fall.

## Special concepts in this chapter

### Approaching the king
It was not possible for a person to easily approach the king. Normally, access to him was very limited. There are several events in this chapter which show the layers of protection surrounding the king. EST 6 1 j85r writing-newevent בַּ⁠לַּ֣יְלָה הַ⁠ה֔וּא 1 That night This introduces a new event in the story. Use a natural way of introducing a new event in your language. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]]) EST 6 1 abw9 figs-personification נָדְדָ֖ה שְׁנַ֣ת הַ⁠מֶּ֑לֶךְ 1 the sleep of the king fled away Here **sleep** is spoken of as if it were a living thing that could flee away. Alternate translation: “the king was unable to sleep” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-personification]]) EST 6 1 abx1 figs-explicit וַ⁠יֹּ֗אמֶר לְ⁠הָבִ֞יא 1 And he said to bring **He** means the king. The implication is that he told the young men who attended him to do this. Verses 3 and 5 indicate this. If it would be clearer in your language, you can say this explicitly. “So he told the young men who attended him to bring in” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) @@ -662,16 +662,16 @@ EST 6 13 aca2 figs-explicit וַ⁠יֹּ֩אמְרוּ֩ ל֨⁠וֹ חֲכָמ EST 6 13 aca3 חֲכָמָ֜י⁠ו 1 his wise men See how you translated this expression in 1:13. Alternate translation: “his advisors” EST 6 13 fd5k figs-metaphor אִ֣ם…מָרְדֳּכַ֞י אֲשֶׁר֩ הַחִלּ֨וֹתָ לִ⁠נְפֹּ֤ל לְ⁠פָנָי⁠ו֙ 1 If Mordecai, before whose face you have begun to fall This could mean either of two possibilities: (1) The action of falling could refer to bowing down and it could be a metaphor meaning to be dishonored and defeated. Haman wanted Mordecai to bow down in front of him. But instead, the story would be saying, Haman is starting to bow down (in a metaphorical sense) in front of Mordecai. Alternate translation: “Mordecai has begun to humiliate you. If he…” (2) “Fall” could be a figurative way of saying “be killed in battle.” In that case Zeresh would be comparing Haman and Mordecai to two soldiers who are fighting. She is saying that Haman has already “begun to fall,” that is, he is losing the battle, and he is likely to be killed. Alternate translation: “Mordecai has begun to defeat you” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EST 6 13 j3d3 figs-metaphor לְ⁠פָנָי⁠ו֙ 1 before…face Here **face** figuratively represents the front of a person. The phrase either means (1) that Haman has already begun to fall down (bow down) in front of Mordecai figuratively, or (2) that Haman and Mordecai are facing one another figuratively in hand-to-hand combat. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-hq]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) -EST 6 13 figs-metaphor מִ⁠זֶּ֣רַע הַ⁠יְּהוּדִ֡ים 1 from the seed of the Jews Here **seed** is a metaphor meaning “offspring.” It is a comparison: Just as plants produce seeds that grow into many more plants, so people can have many offspring. Alternate translation: “one of the Jewish people” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-plants]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) +EST 6 13 figs-metaphor מִ⁠זֶּ֣רַע הַ⁠יְּהוּדִ֡ים 1 from the seed of the Jews Here **seed** is a metaphor meaning “offspring.” It is a comparison: Just as plants produce seeds that grow into many more plants, so people can have many offspring. Alternate translation: “one of the Jewish people” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-plants]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EST 6 13 nan5 figs-metaphor לֹא־תוּכַ֣ל ל֔⁠וֹ 1 you will not prevail against him Here Haman’s wife and friends are again speaking figuratively as if Haman is in a battle with Mordecai. Alternate translation: “you will not win against him” or “you will not have greater honor than he has” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EST 6 13 j3d5 grammar-connect-logic-contrast כִּֽי 1 but This conjunction indicates a contrast between the actions of prevailing (in the previous clause) and falling. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast]]) EST 6 13 j3d7 figs-metaphor נָפ֥וֹל תִּפּ֖וֹל 1 you will surely fall Here the action of **falling** (1) either refers once again to prostrating oneself, and is a metaphor meaning to be dishonored and defeated, or (2) Haman’s wife and friends are saying that defeat will be the outcome of the figurative battle for him. Alternate translation: “he will certainly defeat you” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EST 6 13 j3d9 figs-metaphor לְ⁠פָנָֽי⁠ו 1 before his face Here **face** figuratively represents the front of a person. The phrase either means (1) that Haman will figuratively fall down (bow down) entirely in front of Mordecai, or (2) that figuratively Mordecai will kill Haman in face-to-face combat. Alternate translation: “he will certainly defeat you”(See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-hq]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) -EST 6 14 j4d1 grammar-connect-time-background עוֹדָ⁠ם֙ מְדַבְּרִ֣ים עִמּ֔⁠וֹ 1 They were still speaking with him when the eunuchs of the king arrived This phrase indicates something that happened after Haman’s wife and friends started talking with Haman and while they were still talking. You should indicate this with a phrase such as “while.” Alternate translation: “While they were still talking together, the king’s eunuchs arrived.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-background]]) +EST 6 14 j4d1 grammar-connect-time-background עוֹדָ⁠ם֙ מְדַבְּרִ֣ים עִמּ֔⁠וֹ 1 They were still speaking with him when the eunuchs of the king arrived This phrase indicates something that happened after Haman’s wife and friends started talking with Haman and while they were still talking. You should indicate this with a phrase such as “while.” Alternate translation: “While they were still talking together, the king’s eunuchs arrived.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-background]]) EST 6 14 aca4 translate-unknown וְ⁠סָרִיסֵ֥י הַ⁠מֶּ֖לֶךְ 1 when the eunuchs of the king See how you decided to translate this term in 1:10. Alternate translation: “some of the royal guardians” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown]]) EST 6 14 aca5 וַ⁠יַּבְהִ֨לוּ֙ לְ⁠הָבִ֣יא אֶת־הָמָ֔ן 1 And they hurried to bring Haman “they wanted to bring Haman quickly” -EST 6 14 aca6 אֲשֶׁר־עָשְׂתָ֥ה אֶסְתֵּֽר 1 that Esther had made “that Esther had prepared” -EST 7 intro x4w3 0 # Esther 07 General Notes
## Structure and formatting

The story of Haman’s fall concludes in this chapter.

## Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter

### Covering Haman’s face

When “the servants covered Haman’s face,” they were showing that he had been condemned to be executed. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/condemn]])
+EST 6 14 aca6 אֲשֶׁר־עָשְׂתָ֥ה אֶסְתֵּֽר 1 that Esther had made “that Esther had prepared” +EST 7 intro x4w3 0 # Esther 07 General Notes
## Structure and formatting

The story of Haman’s fall concludes in this chapter.

## Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter

### Covering Haman’s face

When “the servants covered Haman’s face,” they were showing that he had been condemned to be executed. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/condemn]]) EST 7 1 n8vb figs-synecdoche וַ⁠יָּבֹ֤א הַ⁠מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ וְ⁠הָמָ֔ן לִ⁠שְׁתּ֖וֹת עִם־אֶסְתֵּ֥ר הַ⁠מַּלְכָּֽה 1 So the king came with Haman to drink with Esther the queen. Esther hosted Ahasuerus and Haman for more than just drinks. This is a figure of speech in which a part of something is used to mean the whole thing. An entire banquet is being described here by reference to one part of it, the drinks. Alternate translation: “So the king and Haman went to the second banquet that Queen Esther had prepared.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche]]) EST 7 2 xt9f translate-ordinal בַּ⁠יּ֤וֹם הַ⁠שֵּׁנִי֙ 1 on the second day Alternate translation: “at that second banquet” or “on that second day of feasting” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal]]) EST 7 2 s5ae  בְּ⁠מִשְׁתֵּ֣ה הַ⁠יַּ֔יִן 1 during the banquet of wine “while they were drinking wine” or “while the servants were pouring the wine and giving it to them” @@ -684,28 +684,28 @@ EST 7 3 aca7 figs-hendiadys וַ⁠תַּ֨עַן…וַ⁠תֹּאמַ֔ר 1 Th EST 7 3 k27c figs-idiom אִם־מָצָ֨אתִי חֵ֤ן בְּ⁠עֵינֶ֨י⁠ךָ֙ 1 If I have found favor in your eyes **Favor** means the approval or acceptance of another person. Alternate translation: “if you evaluate me and approve” or “if you are pleased with me” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EST 7 3 aca8 figs-metonymy אִם־מָצָ֨אתִי חֵ֤ן בְּ⁠עֵינֶ֨י⁠ךָ֙ 1 If I have found favor in your eyes Here **eyes** figuratively represent seeing, and seeing is a metaphor for knowledge, notice, attention, or judgment. Alternate translation: “if you evaluate me and approve” or “if you are pleased with me” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-hq]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EST 7 3 j4d7 הַ⁠מֶּ֔לֶךְ 1 O king In this case Esther is addressing Ahasuerus directly as “O king,” not speaking about him in the third person as a sign of respect, as she and others often do elsewhere in the story. So it would be good to include this phrase in your translation. -EST 7 3 aca8 figs-idiom וְ⁠אִם־עַל־הַ⁠מֶּ֖לֶךְ ט֑וֹב 1 and if it is good to the king This is an idiom that also appears in 1:19, 3:9, 5:4, and 5:8. The suggested translation in those cases was, “If it seems like a good idea to you, O king.” That was suitable for the deferential tone the speakers were using. But here Esther has just addressed the king directly with “O king” and she is pleading urgently for the survival of her whole people. So an alternate translation here could be something more like, “I hope you will be willing to do what I ask.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) -EST 7 3 aca9 figs-parallelism תִּנָּֽתֶן־לִ֤⁠י נַפְשִׁ⁠י֙ בִּ⁠שְׁאֵ֣לָתִ֔⁠י וְ⁠עַמִּ֖⁠י בְּ⁠בַקָּשָׁתִֽ⁠י 1 let my life be given to me at my petition, and my people at my request These two phrases mean similar things. The repetition is used to emphasize the idea that they are expressing. You could combine them. Alternate translation: “Please spare my life, and save my people” or “my request is that you spare my life and the lives of my people.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]]) -EST 7 3 j4d9 figs-activepassive תִּנָּֽתֶן־לִ֤⁠י נַפְשִׁ⁠י֙ 1 let my life be given to me You can say this with an active form. Alternate translation: “Please spare my life” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) +EST 7 3 aca8 figs-idiom וְ⁠אִם־עַל־הַ⁠מֶּ֖לֶךְ ט֑וֹב 1 and if it is good to the king This is an idiom that also appears in 1:19, 3:9, 5:4, and 5:8. The suggested translation in those cases was, “If it seems like a good idea to you, O king.” That was suitable for the deferential tone the speakers were using. But here Esther has just addressed the king directly with “O king” and she is pleading urgently for the survival of her whole people. So an alternate translation here could be something more like, “I hope you will be willing to do what I ask.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) +EST 7 3 aca9 figs-parallelism תִּנָּֽתֶן־לִ֤⁠י נַפְשִׁ⁠י֙ בִּ⁠שְׁאֵ֣לָתִ֔⁠י וְ⁠עַמִּ֖⁠י בְּ⁠בַקָּשָׁתִֽ⁠י 1 let my life be given to me at my petition, and my people at my request These two phrases mean similar things. The repetition is used to emphasize the idea that they are expressing. You could combine them. Alternate translation: “Please spare my life, and save my people” or “my request is that you spare my life and the lives of my people.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]]) +EST 7 3 j4d9 figs-activepassive תִּנָּֽתֶן־לִ֤⁠י נַפְשִׁ⁠י֙ 1 let my life be given to me You can say this with an active form. Alternate translation: “Please spare my life” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) EST 7 3 bvi1 figs-abstractnouns בִּ⁠שְׁאֵ֣לָתִ֔⁠י 1 at my petition The abstract noun “petition” can be expressed with the verb “ask for.” Alternate translation: “That is what I am asking for” or “That is what I want” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]]) EST 7 3 acb0 וְ⁠עַמִּ֖⁠י 1 and my people “and save my people” EST 7 3 j5d1 figs-abstractnouns בְּ⁠בַקָּשָׁתִֽ⁠י 1 at my request The abstract noun “request” can be expressed with the verb “ask for.” Alternate translation: “That is what I am asking for” or “That is what I want” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]]) EST 7 4 acb1 figs-metaphor כִּ֤י נִמְכַּ֨רְנוּ֙ 1 For we have been sold As Esther points out later in the verse, the Jews actually have not been exchanged for money. Rather, **sell** is a figurative way of saying “turn over to.” If it would be clearer in your language, you could express this meaning by saying something like, “For someone has turned us over to our enemies” Alternatively, you could use the same figure, but show that it is a comparison. Alternate translation: “It is as though I and my people are cattle that have been sold to be slaughtered.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EST 7 4 fhs7 figs-activepassive כִּ֤י נִמְכַּ֨רְנוּ֙ 1 For we have been sold You can say this with an active form. Alternate translation: “For someone has sold us” or “For someone has put us in danger of our enemies” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) EST 7 4 e9cx figs-doublet לְ⁠הַשְׁמִ֖יד לַ⁠הֲר֣וֹג וּ⁠לְ⁠אַבֵּ֑ד 1 for annihilation, for slaughter, and for destruction As in 3:13, these words mean the same thing and are used together to emphasize the completeness of the destruction. Alternate translation: “and they are going to destroy us completely” (A “doublet” can involve the use of more than two words.) (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet]]) -EST 7 4 acb2 וְ֠⁠אִלּוּ לַ⁠עֲבָדִ֨ים וְ⁠לִ⁠שְׁפָח֤וֹת נִמְכַּ֨רְנוּ֙ 1 if we had been sold as slaves and female servants “if the men and even the women had been sold into slavery” +EST 7 4 acb2 וְ֠⁠אִלּוּ לַ⁠עֲבָדִ֨ים וְ⁠לִ⁠שְׁפָח֤וֹת נִמְכַּ֨רְנוּ֙ 1 if we had been sold as slaves and female servants “if the men and even the women had been sold into slavery” EST 7 4 acb3 הֶחֱרַ֔שְׁתִּי 1 I would have kept silent “I would not have said anything about that to you” EST 7 4 j5d3 figs-123person אֵ֥ין הַ⁠צָּ֛ר שֹׁוֶ֖ה בְּ⁠נֵ֥זֶק הַ⁠מֶּֽלֶךְ 1 the distress would not have been equal to a burden of the king Esther is speaking very deferentially and no doubt with some exaggeration. She is saying that it would have been worthless to her to see her people rescued from slavery than it would have been to see the king spared the trouble of intervening on their behalf. (Haman uses the expression of “not equal” in this same sense in 5:13.) Alternate translation: “that would have been a matter too small to bother you with” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-hyperbole]]) EST 7 4 acb4 figs-hyperbole הַ⁠מֶּֽלֶךְ 1 the king Esther addresses King Ahasuerus in the third person as a way of showing respect. Alternate translation: “you” EST 7 5 acb5 וַ⁠יֹּ֨אמֶר֙…וַ⁠יֹּ֖אמֶר 1 Then…spoke and said “responded” -EST 7 5 acb6 figs-parallelism מִ֣י ה֥וּא זֶה֙ וְ⁠אֵֽי־זֶ֣ה ה֔וּא 1 Who is he, this man? And where is this man These two phrases mean similar things. They both ask about the identity of the man who is trying to destroy the Jews. King Ahasuerus uses the repetition to emphasize how outraged he is. If the repetition would be confusing in your language, you could combine the two phrases. However, from another perspective, both the man’s identity and his location are important to know so that his plot can be stopped. So, for that reason, you could also decide to include both phrases in your translation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]]) +EST 7 5 acb6 figs-parallelism מִ֣י ה֥וּא זֶה֙ וְ⁠אֵֽי־זֶ֣ה ה֔וּא 1 Who is he, this man? And where is this man These two phrases mean similar things. They both ask about the identity of the man who is trying to destroy the Jews. King Ahasuerus uses the repetition to emphasize how outraged he is. If the repetition would be confusing in your language, you could combine the two phrases. However, from another perspective, both the man’s identity and his location are important to know so that his plot can be stopped. So, for that reason, you could also decide to include both phrases in your translation. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]]) EST 7 5 acb7 מִ֣י ה֥וּא זֶה֙ וְ⁠אֵֽי־זֶ֣ה ה֔וּא 1 Who is he, this man? “Who has done this?” EST 7 5 dl4b figs-metaphor וְ⁠אֵֽי־זֶ֣ה ה֔וּא אֲשֶׁר־מְלָא֥⁠וֹ לִבּ֖⁠וֹ לַ⁠עֲשׂ֥וֹת כֵּֽן 1 And where is this man, he whose heart is full to do thus? Here the concept of a **full heart** uses two metaphors at once. “Heart” figuratively represents the action of thinking or feeling. Saying that the “heart” is “full” is a figurative way of saying that someone is daring to do something that should not be done. Alternate translation: “Where is the man who has dared to do such a thing?” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EST 7 6 j5d5 figs-doublet אִ֚ישׁ צַ֣ר וְ⁠אוֹיֵ֔ב 1 A man, and adversary, and an enemy These words mean the same thing. They emphasize Haman’s complete hostility towards the Jews. Alternate translation: “The one who is our bitter enemy” (A “doublet” can involve the use of more than two words. See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet]]) EST 7 6 j5d7 הָמָ֥ן הָ⁠רָ֖ע הַ⁠זֶּ֑ה 1 this evil Haman “this evil man Haman” EST 7 6 ar4f נִבְעַ֔ת 1 was terrified “was extremely afraid” EST 7 6 j5d9 figs-metonymy נִבְעַ֔ת מִ⁠לִּ⁠פְנֵ֥י 1 terrified from before the face of Here **face** figuratively means the presence of a person. The phrase means that Haman was now extremely afraid to be in the presence of King Ahasuerus and Queen Esther. Alternate translation: “This made Haman terrified to be in the presence of the king and the queen” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-hq]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) -EST 7 7 bzd4 figs-idiom וְ⁠הַ⁠מֶּ֜לֶךְ קָ֤ם בַּ⁠חֲמָת⁠וֹ֙ מִ⁠מִּשְׁתֵּ֣ה הַ⁠יַּ֔יִן 1 Then the king rose up in his rage from the banquet of wine Here “in his rage” is an idiom meaning to be extremely angry. Alternate translation: “The king was extremely angry and got up” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) +EST 7 7 bzd4 figs-idiom וְ⁠הַ⁠מֶּ֜לֶךְ קָ֤ם בַּ⁠חֲמָת⁠וֹ֙ מִ⁠מִּשְׁתֵּ֣ה הַ⁠יַּ֔יִן 1 Then the king rose up in his rage from the banquet of wine Here “in his rage” is an idiom meaning to be extremely angry. Alternate translation: “The king was extremely angry and got up” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EST 7 7 j6d1 figs-explicit קָ֤ם…אֶל־גִּנַּ֖ת הַ⁠בִּיתָ֑ן 1 rose up…to the garden of the palace The implication is that Ahasuerus went outside to absorb the shock that a man he had promoted to the highest position in his empire was plotting to destroy his queen and her whole people. Ahasuerus needed to sort out his conflicting loyalties and decide what to do about this. You can say explicitly why he went outside. Alternate translation: “He went outside into the palace garden to decide what to do.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EST 7 7 uaq6 figs-metaphor לְ⁠בַקֵּ֤שׁ עַל־נַפְשׁ⁠וֹ֙ 1 in order to seek for his life Here **seeking** figuratively means to beg or plead urgently for something. This phrase means that Haman wanted to beg Esther to persuade the king not to order his execution. Alternate translation: “to beg Queen Esther to save his life” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EST 7 7 qz1m figs-metaphor כִּ֣י רָאָ֔ה 1 for he saw Here **seeing** is a metaphor for knowledge, notice, attention, or judgment. Alternate translation: “he realized” or “he understood” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-humanbehavior]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) @@ -724,7 +724,7 @@ EST 7 8 adq6 figs-idiom הַ⁠דָּבָ֗ר יָצָא֙ מִ⁠פִּ֣י ה EST 7 8 acc2 grammar-connect-time-background הַ⁠דָּבָ֗ר…וּ⁠פְנֵ֥י הָמָ֖ן חָפֽוּ 1 The word was going out…when they covered the face of Haman The king spoke, and then the servants covered Haman’s face. One action followed upon another. However, this happened so quickly that almost no time seemed to pass in between. You can indicate this with a phrase like “as soon as.” Alternate translation: “As soon as the king said this, they covered Haman’s face” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-time-background]]) EST 7 8 ju8q figs-explicit וּ⁠פְנֵ֥י הָמָ֖ן חָפֽוּ 1 when they covered the face of Haman Apparently they did this because they understood that the king wanted Haman to be killed. Alternate translation: “the servants covered Haman’s face as a sign that he would be killed” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EST 7 8 j6d9 figs-explicit וּ⁠פְנֵ֥י הָמָ֖ן חָפֽוּ 1 when they covered the face of Haman The implication is that some the king’s servants who were present did this, and they did it because they understood that the king wanted Haman to be executed. Alternate translation: “some of his servants covered Haman’s face as a sign that he would be executed” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) -EST 7 8 acc3 figs-symaction וּ⁠פְנֵ֥י הָמָ֖ן חָפֽוּ 1 when they covered the face of Haman Covering the face, in this culture as in many others, was a sign that a person had been condemned to death. Alternate translation: “some of his servants covered Haman’s face as a sign that he would be executed” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-symaction]]) +EST 7 8 acc3 translate-symaction וּ⁠פְנֵ֥י הָמָ֖ן חָפֽוּ 1 when they covered the face of Haman Covering the face, in this culture as in many others, was a sign that a person had been condemned to death. Alternate translation: “some of his servants covered Haman’s face as a sign that he would be executed” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]]) EST 7 9 a7ic translate-names חַ֠רְבוֹנָה 1 Harbona This is a man’s name. See how you translated it in 1:10. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EST 7 9 j7d1 bita-hq אֶחָ֨ד מִן־הַ⁠סָּרִיסִ֜ים לִ⁠פְנֵ֣י הַ⁠מֶּ֗לֶךְ 1 one from the eunuchs before the face of the king Here **face** figuratively represents the presence of a person. This phrase means that Harbona was one of the eunuchs who served King Ahasuerus personally. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-hq]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) EST 7 9 acc4 translate-unknown הַ⁠סָּרִיסִ֜ים לִ⁠פְנֵ֣י הַ⁠מֶּ֗לֶךְ 1 the eunuchs before the face of the king See how you translated this term and this phrase in 1:10. Alternate translation: “the guardians who served the king personally” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown]]) @@ -739,15 +739,15 @@ EST 7 9 acc7 figs-explicit תְּלֻ֥⁠הוּ עָלָֽי⁠ו 1 Hang him on EST 7 10 j8d3 figs-metonymy הָ⁠עֵ֖ץ 1 the tree As in the previous verse, this refers to a wooden pole or gallows. See how you translated the term there. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-plants]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown]]) EST 7 10 acc8 הֵכִ֣ין 1 he had prepared “he had set up” EST 7 10 umd4 figs-metaphor וַ⁠חֲמַ֥ת הַ⁠מֶּ֖לֶךְ שָׁכָֽכָה 1 and the rage of the king subsided Here the story figuratively compares the king’s anger to floodwaters, which can cause great destruction. “Subside” means for waters to drain away and for their level to go down. You could express the meaning by saying something like, “Then the king’s rage lessened,” or “Then the king was not so angry.” Or you could use a different metaphor that would be meaningful in your language, such as, “Then the king cooled off.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-phenom]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) -EST 8 intro z6j7 0 # Esther 08 General Notes
## Special concepts in this chapter

### God’s protection
Yahweh is at work in this chapter preventing the Jews from possible destruction. God used Esther and Mordecai to protect their people.
+EST 8 intro z6j7 0 # Esther 08 General Notes
## Special concepts in this chapter

### God’s protection
Yahweh is at work in this chapter preventing the Jews from possible destruction. God used Esther and Mordecai to protect their people. EST 8 1 j8d5 writing-newevent בַּ⁠יּ֣וֹם הַ⁠ה֗וּא 1 On that day This could mean one of three things. (1) A new series of events is now being described, but the story wants to make clear that they happened on the same day as the second banquet. While it must have been some time later in the day, the idea is when Haman lost his life, and his property with it, Esther gained what her enemy had lost. Alternate translation: “That same day” (2) The expression could also be an idiom that means “as of that day.” This would refer to the effective date for the transfer of Haman’s property to Esther. Alternate translation: “As of that day.” (3) The term “day” could also be used figuratively to mean around the same time. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonym]]) EST 8 1 j8d7 figs-metonymy נָתַ֞ן הַ⁠מֶּ֤לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ֙ לְ⁠אֶסְתֵּ֣ר הַ⁠מַּלְכָּ֔ה אֶת־בֵּ֥ית הָמָ֖ן 1 the king Ahasuerus gave to Esther the queen the house of Haman Here **house** figuratively represents all the household and property of Haman. The story could be referring to all the property by naming one part of it, the house. Or “house” could be a metonym for “property,” meaning everything a person owns and keeps in their house, and by extension everything they own beyond the house as well. Alternate translation: “King Ahasuerus declared that everything that Haman had owned would now belong to Queen Esther” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-manmade]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche]]) EST 8 1 nm3u figs-informremind צֹרֵ֣ר הַיְּהוּדִ֑ים 1 the adversary of the Jews This phrase gives clarifying information about Haman. Alternate translation: “the enemy of the Jews” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-informremind]]) -EST 8 1 acc9 figs-explicit וּ⁠מָרְדֳּכַ֗י בָּ֚א לִ⁠פְנֵ֣י הַ⁠מֶּ֔לֶךְ 1 Mordecai came before the face of the king The implication is that when the king learned how Mordecai was related to Esther, he summoned him into his presence. If it would be clearer in your language, you can say this explicitly. Alternate translation: “When he learned that, the king summoned Mordecai to come into his presence” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) +EST 8 1 acc9 figs-explicit וּ⁠מָרְדֳּכַ֗י בָּ֚א לִ⁠פְנֵ֣י הַ⁠מֶּ֔לֶךְ 1 Mordecai came before the face of the king The implication is that when the king learned how Mordecai was related to Esther, he summoned him into his presence. If it would be clearer in your language, you can say this explicitly. Alternate translation: “When he learned that, the king summoned Mordecai to come into his presence” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EST 8 1 j8d9 figs-metonymy לִ⁠פְנֵ֣י הַ⁠מֶּ֔לֶךְ 1 before the face of the king Here **face** figuratively represents the presence of a person. This phrase indicates that Mordecai was allowed to come into the king’s presence. Alternate translation: “into his presence” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-hq]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) EST 8 1 acd0 הִגִּ֥ידָה אֶסְתֵּ֖ר מַ֥ה הוּא־לָֽ⁠הּ 1 Esther told what he was to her Alternate translation: “how he was related to her” You can say this before saying that the king summoned Mordecai, since it happened first. EST 8 1 j9d1 figs-explicit הִגִּ֥ידָה אֶסְתֵּ֖ר מַ֥ה הוּא־לָֽ⁠הּ 1 Esther told what he was to her Esther told this to the king. She would likely have explained not just how she and Mordecai were related, but that he had raised her after her parents died. Alternate translation: “Esther told the king that Mordecai was her cousin and that he had been like a father to her” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) -EST 8 2 m5hz figs-symaction וַ⁠יָּ֨סַר הַ⁠מֶּ֜לֶךְ אֶת־טַבַּעְתּ֗⁠וֹ…וַֽ⁠יִּתְּנָ֖⁠הּ לְ⁠מָרְדֳּכָ֑י 1 the king removed his signet ring…and he gave it to Mordecai Giving the ring to Mordecai showed that Mordecai could now act on the king’s own authority, and it enabled him to do that. If it would be clearer in your language, you can say this explicitly. Alternate translation: “The king now gave this ring to Mordecai, to show that he had the power to act on his authority.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-symaction]]) +EST 8 2 m5hz translate-symaction וַ⁠יָּ֨סַר הַ⁠מֶּ֜לֶךְ אֶת־טַבַּעְתּ֗⁠וֹ…וַֽ⁠יִּתְּנָ֖⁠הּ לְ⁠מָרְדֳּכָ֑י 1 the king removed his signet ring…and he gave it to Mordecai Giving the ring to Mordecai showed that Mordecai could now act on the king’s own authority, and it enabled him to do that. If it would be clearer in your language, you can say this explicitly. Alternate translation: “The king now gave this ring to Mordecai, to show that he had the power to act on his authority.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]]) EST 8 2 acd1 translate-unknown טַבַּעְתּ֗⁠וֹ 1 signet ring See how you translated this in 3:10. Review the explanation there if that would be helpful. Alternate translation: “the ring that had his official seal on it” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown]]) EST 8 2 j9d3 figs-explicit אֲשֶׁ֤ר הֶֽעֱבִיר֙ מֵֽ⁠הָמָ֔ן 1 that he had caused to pass from Haman This means that the king had taken back his signet ring from Haman. He would have done this when he sentenced Haman to death. If it would be clearer in your language, you can say that explicitly. Alternate translation: “The king had given Haman the ring that had his official seal on it. But he had taken it back from him when he sentenced him to death, and he was wearing it again.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EST 8 2 acd2 figs-events אֲשֶׁ֤ר הֶֽעֱבִיר֙ מֵֽ⁠הָמָ֔ן 1 that he had caused to pass from Haman You can put this information first in the verse because it happened before everything else. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-events]]) @@ -757,7 +757,7 @@ EST 8 2 d2tj figs-metonymy בֵּ֥ית הָמָֽן 1 the house of Haman See th EST 8 3 j9d5 writing-newevent וַ⁠תּ֣וֹסֶף אֶסְתֵּ֗ר וַ⁠תְּדַבֵּר֙ לִ⁠פְנֵ֣י הַ⁠מֶּ֔לֶךְ 1 Then Esther repeated her action, and she spoke before the face of the king Here the exact meaning of the progression of verbs is uncertain, but this verse probably begins a new event in the story separate from what happened in the previous verse. Alternate translation: “Then Esther again spoke in the king’s presence” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]]) EST 8 3 j9d7 figs-metonymy לִ⁠פְנֵ֣י הַ⁠מֶּ֔לֶךְ 1 before the face of the king Here **face** figuratively represents the presence of a person. Alternate translation: “while she was in his presence” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-hq]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) EST 8 3 j9d9 figs-metonymy וַ⁠תִּפֹּ֖ל לִ⁠פְנֵ֣י רַגְלָ֑י⁠ו 1 And she fell before the face of his feet Here **falling** is an idiom referring to the action of bowing down or prostrating oneself, and **face** figuratively represents the front of a person, place, or object. Alternate translation: “and she bowed down” or “and she prostrated herself” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) -EST 8 3 acd4 figs-symaction וַ⁠תִּפֹּ֖ל לִ⁠פְנֵ֣י רַגְלָ֑י⁠ו 1 And she fell before the face of his feet This may actually mean that Esther put her face right on top of the feet of King Ahasuerus. This would have been an act of humility and desperation by which she showed that her need was very great and that she believed the king had great power to help her. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-symaction]]) +EST 8 3 acd4 translate-symaction וַ⁠תִּפֹּ֖ל לִ⁠פְנֵ֣י רַגְלָ֑י⁠ו 1 And she fell before the face of his feet This may actually mean that Esther put her face right on top of the feet of King Ahasuerus. This would have been an act of humility and desperation by which she showed that her need was very great and that she believed the king had great power to help her. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]]) EST 8 3 acd5 figs-explicit וַ⁠תִּפֹּ֖ל לִ⁠פְנֵ֣י רַגְלָ֑י⁠ו 1 And she fell before the face of his feet Esther’s action was probably a recognized sign of pleading in this culture. However, it would likely still have been remarkable for a queen to fall at the feet of her husband, the king. You can show this by introducing the information with a phrase like “in fact.” Alternate translation: “In fact, to show how desperately she was pleading, Esther got down and put her face right on top of his feet.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EST 8 3 j1r1 figs-metonymy לִ⁠פְנֵ֣י רַגְלָ֑י⁠ו 1 before the face of his feet Here **face** is a metonym meaning the front of a person, place, or object. This phrase means that Esther prostrated herself in front of the feet of King Ahasuerus. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-hq]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) EST 8 3 uh2a וַ⁠תֵּ֣בְךְּ וַ⁠תִּתְחַנֶּן־ל֗⁠וֹ 1 and wept and implored favor from him “and cried as she begged him” @@ -765,7 +765,7 @@ EST 8 3 jmn7 לְ⁠הַֽעֲבִיר֙ אֶת־רָעַת֙ הָמָ֣ן הָ EST 8 3 acd6 figs-idiom לְ⁠הַֽעֲבִיר֙ אֶת־רָעַת֙ הָמָ֣ן הָֽ⁠אֲגָגִ֔י 1 to take away the evil of This expression means to prevent a wrong action from happening. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EST 8 3 bp22 translate-names הָֽ⁠אֲגָגִ֔י 1 the Agagite This is the name of Haman’s people group. See how you translated this in 3:1. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EST 8 3 c2hw  מַֽחֲשַׁבְתּ֔⁠וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר חָשַׁ֖ב 1 his plot that he had plotted “the plot that he had invented” or “the plot that Haman invented” -EST 8 4 xh24 figs-symaction וַ⁠יּ֤וֹשֶׁט הַ⁠מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ לְ⁠אֶסְתֵּ֔ר אֵ֖ת שַׁרְבִ֣ט הַ⁠זָּהָ֑ב 1 And the king held out to Esther the scepter of gold As in 5:2, King Ahasuerus did this to show that Esther had his favor. In that earlier episode, this indicated that he would not enforce the law that said Esther should be executed for coming into the inner court without being summoned. But since Esther was apparently already in the king’s presence on this occasion, it seems that the gesture could also be used generally to show that the king was positively disposed towards a person and would grant their request. Alternate translation: “The king held out his golden scepter to Esther.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]] +EST 8 4 xh24 translate-symaction וַ⁠יּ֤וֹשֶׁט הַ⁠מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ לְ⁠אֶסְתֵּ֔ר אֵ֖ת שַׁרְבִ֣ט הַ⁠זָּהָ֑ב 1 And the king held out to Esther the scepter of gold As in 5:2, King Ahasuerus did this to show that Esther had his favor. In that earlier episode, this indicated that he would not enforce the law that said Esther should be executed for coming into the inner court without being summoned. But since Esther was apparently already in the king’s presence on this occasion, it seems that the gesture could also be used generally to show that the king was positively disposed towards a person and would grant their request. Alternate translation: “The king held out his golden scepter to Esther.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]] EST 8 4 acd7 translate-unknown שַׁרְבִ֣ט הַ⁠זָּהָ֑ב 1 the scepter of gold See how you translated this in 4:11. If it would be helpful, review the explanation of what this object was. Alternate translation: “golden scepter” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown]]) EST 8 4 acd8 וַ⁠תָּ֣קָם אֶסְתֵּ֔ר 1 so Esther rose up “Esther got up off the floor” EST 8 4 j1r5 figs-metonymy לִ⁠פְנֵ֥י הַ⁠מֶּֽלֶךְ 1 before the face of the king Here **face** figuratively represents the front of a person, place, or object. This phrase means the Esther now stood facing King Ahasuerus. Alternate translation: “and stood facing the king” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-hq]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) @@ -806,7 +806,7 @@ EST 8 8 acf5 כְתָ֞ב…אֵ֥ין לְ⁠הָשִֽׁיב 1 there is none EST 8 8 acf6 figs-explicit כְתָ֞ב אֲשֶׁר־נִכְתָּ֣ב בְּ⁠שֵׁם־הַ⁠מֶּ֗לֶךְ וְ⁠נַחְתּ֛וֹם בְּ⁠טַבַּ֥עַת הַ⁠מֶּ֖לֶךְ 1 a writing that has been written in the name of the king and has been sealed with the signet ring of the king The king is describing a general situation, but he has Haman’s letter specifically in mind. If it would be clearer in your language, you can say that explicitly. Alternate translation: “Haman wrote his letter with my authority, and he sealed it with the ring that has my official seal on it. No one can revoke a letter like that.” (The story explained in 1:19 that the king’s laws could not be changed once they had been made and proclaimed.) (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EST 8 9 acf7 grammar-connect-logic-result וַ⁠יִּקָּרְא֣וּ סֹפְרֵֽי־הַ⁠מֶּ֣לֶךְ 1 So…were called This indicates that what is described in this verse was done because of what the king said in the previous verse. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]]) EST 8 9 s4ue figs-activepassive וַ⁠יִּקָּרְא֣וּ סֹפְרֵֽי־הַ⁠מֶּ֣לֶךְ 1 So the scribes of the king were called You can say this with an active form, and you can say who did the action. Alternate translation: “the king called his scribes” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) -EST 8 9 acf8 וַ⁠יִּקָּרְא֣וּ סֹפְרֵֽי־הַ⁠מֶּ֣לֶךְ 1 So the scribes of the king were called If you use an expression such as “called,” make sure your readers will understand that the king likely sent an official to go and bring the scribes back with him. The king did not call out in a loud voice to get them to come. +EST 8 9 acf8 וַ⁠יִּקָּרְא֣וּ סֹפְרֵֽי־הַ⁠מֶּ֣לֶךְ 1 So the scribes of the king were called If you use an expression such as “called,” make sure your readers will understand that the king likely sent an official to go and bring the scribes back with him. The king did not call out in a loud voice to get them to come. EST 8 9 j4r1 translate-ordinal בַּ⁠חֹ֨דֶשׁ הַ⁠שְּׁלִישִׁ֜י 1 in the third month “in month three” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal]]) EST 8 9 acf9 figs-explicit בַּ⁠חֹ֨דֶשׁ הַ⁠שְּׁלִישִׁ֜י 1 in the third month Alternate translation: “in the third month of the year.” It would still be the same year as in 3:7, the twelfth year that Ahasuerus reigned as king of Persia. If it would be clearer in your language, you can say that explicitly. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EST 8 9 j356 translate-hebrewmonths הוּא־חֹ֣דֶשׁ סִיוָ֗ן 1 which is the month of Sivan “Sivan” is the name of the third month of the Hebrew calendar. Alternate translation: “the month of Sivan” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-hebrewmonths]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) @@ -822,11 +822,11 @@ EST 8 9 bj5s כִּ⁠כְתָבָ֔⁠הּ 1 according to its writing “using EST 8 9 j4r7 figs-idiom וְ⁠עַ֥ם וָ⁠עָ֖ם 1 and people by people This expression means “every people group.” Alternate translation: “and to each people group” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EST 8 9 j4r9 figs-metonymy כִּ⁠לְשֹׁנ֑⁠וֹ 1 according to its tongue Here **tongue** figuratively means the language spoken by a person or a group of people. Alternate translation: “in its own language” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-hq]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) EST 8 9 j5r1 וְ⁠אֶ֨ל־הַ⁠יְּהוּדִ֔ים כִּ⁠כְתָבָ֖⁠ם וְ⁠כִ⁠לְשׁוֹנָֽ⁠ם 1 and to the Jews according to their writing and according to their tongue The Jews would have been included among all the people groups in the empire in the phrase “people by people.” So this seems to be saying, “and especially to the Jews.” Verse 11 explains that it was particularly important for the Jews to read the letter because it gave them the right to defend themselves. Alternate translation: “They wrote especially to the Jews, in their own script and in their own language.” -EST 8 10 acg5 וַ⁠יִּכְתֹּ֗ב…וַ⁠יַּחְתֹּ֖ם 1 And he wrote…and he sealed **He** means Mordecai. You can use his name here in your translation. +EST 8 10 acg5 וַ⁠יִּכְתֹּ֗ב…וַ⁠יַּחְתֹּ֖ם 1 And he wrote…and he sealed **He** means Mordecai. You can use his name here in your translation. EST 8 10 ijp2 figs-metaphor בְּ⁠שֵׁם֙ הַ⁠מֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵרֹ֔שׁ 1 in the name of King Ahasuerus Here **name** is a metaphor meaning authority. Alternate translation: “Mordecai wrote with the authority of King Ahasuerus” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EST 8 10 jf31 figs-explicit וַ⁠יַּחְתֹּ֖ם בְּ⁠טַבַּ֣עַת הַ⁠מֶּ֑לֶךְ 1 and he sealed with the signet ring of the king This means that Mordecai sealed the letters with this ring. If it would be clearer in your language, you can say that explicitly. Alternate translation: “and he sealed the letters with the ring that had the king’s official seal on it” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EST 8 10 yt4j figs-metaphor בְּ⁠יַד֩ הָ⁠רָצִ֨ים בַּ⁠סּוּסִ֜ים 1 by the hand of runners on horses As in 3:13, **hand** could mean two different things. 1) It could literally mean “hand,” meaning that the runners carried the letters in their hands. 2) It could also be a metaphor for power, control, or authority, meaning that runners were the ones who delivered the letters to all the provinces throughout the empire. Alternate translation: “Couriers on horseback delivered the letters” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) -EST 8 10 acg6 רֹכְבֵ֤י הָ⁠רֶ֨כֶשׁ֙ הָֽ⁠אֲחַשְׁתְּרָנִ֔ים בְּנֵ֖י הָֽ⁠רַמָּכִֽים 1 riders of the royal pack horses, sons of the mares “They rose fast horses that were used in the king’s service. These horses had been bred in the king’s stables.” +EST 8 10 acg6 רֹכְבֵ֤י הָ⁠רֶ֨כֶשׁ֙ הָֽ⁠אֲחַשְׁתְּרָנִ֔ים בְּנֵ֖י הָֽ⁠רַמָּכִֽים 1 riders of the royal pack horses, sons of the mares “They rose fast horses that were used in the king’s service. These horses had been bred in the king’s stables.” EST 8 10 p9uc figs-metonymy בְּנֵ֖י הָֽ⁠רַמָּכִֽים 1 sons of the mares Here **sons** is a metonym meaning the offspring of royal livestock, probably either horses or donkeys. Alternate translation: “the offspring of the king’s horses” or “the offspring of the king’s donkeys” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonym]]) EST 8 11 ig7u נָתַ֨ן הַ⁠מֶּ֜לֶךְ לַ⁠יְּהוּדִ֣ים 1 the king gave to the Jews “The letters said that the king had given the Jews…permission” EST 8 11 j5r5 figs-idiom בְּ⁠כָל־עִיר־וָ⁠עִ֗יר 1 in every city by city This expression means “in each and every city.” It is possibly referring to the entire empire by naming one part of it, its cities. The story says in 9:19 that Jews living in rural areas also defended themselves, not just Jews living in cities. It is likely that the messengers only published the news in the cities and not the entire countryside, but the news was certainly intended for everyone, not only people living in the cities. Alternate translation: “throughout the empire” or “in each and every city” or “in every single city” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) @@ -839,7 +839,7 @@ EST 8 12 ach0 בְּ⁠י֣וֹם אֶחָ֔ד 1 on one day “on the same day EST 8 12 ach1 בְּ⁠כָל־מְדִינ֖וֹת הַ⁠מֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֑וֹשׁ 1 in all of the provinces of the king Ahasuerus “in every province throughout the empire” EST 8 12 j6r3 translate-ordinal בִּ⁠שְׁלוֹשָׁ֥ה עָשָׂ֛ר 1 on the thirteenth Alternate translation: “on day 13” or “on the thirteenth day” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal]]) EST 8 12 hi2y translate-ordinal לְ⁠חֹ֥דֶשׁ שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂ֖ר 1 of the twelfth month Alternate translation: “of month 12” or “of the twelfth month” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal]]) -EST 8 12 ach2 figs-explicit לְ⁠חֹ֥דֶשׁ שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂ֖ר 1 of the twelfth month Implicitly this means “the twelfth month of that same year.” If it would be clearer in your language, you can say that explicitly. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) +EST 8 12 ach2 figs-explicit לְ⁠חֹ֥דֶשׁ שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂ֖ר 1 of the twelfth month Implicitly this means “the twelfth month of that same year.” If it would be clearer in your language, you can say that explicitly. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EST 8 12 j6r3 translate-hebrewmonths הוּא־חֹ֥דֶשׁ אֲדָֽר 1 which is the month of Adar This is the name of the twelfth and last month of the Hebrew calendar. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-hebrewmonths]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EST 8 13 ach3 הַ⁠כְּתָ֗ב 1 the writing “the letter” EST 8 13 j6r5 figs-activepassive לְ⁠הִנָּ֤תֵֽן דָּת֙ 1 was to be given as a law You can say this with an active form. Alternate translation: “so that people would know that the king had commanded this” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) @@ -878,7 +878,7 @@ EST 8 17 aci7 וְ⁠רַבִּ֞ים מֵֽ⁠עַמֵּ֤י הָ⁠אָ֨רֶ EST 8 17 aci8 figs-idiom מֵֽ⁠עַמֵּ֤י הָ⁠אָ֨רֶץ֙ 1 from the peoples of the land The **peoples of the land** were the non-Jewish people groups within the empire. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EST 8 17 r3qf figs-metaphor נָפַ֥ל פַּֽחַד־הַ⁠יְּהוּדִ֖ים עֲלֵי⁠הֶֽם 1 dread of the Jews had fallen on them Here **falling** is a metaphor meaning to become very afraid. Alternate translation: “they had become very afraid of the Jews” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EST 8 17 aci9 figs-events נָפַ֥ל פַּֽחַד־הַ⁠יְּהוּדִ֖ים עֲלֵי⁠הֶֽם 1 dread of the Jews had fallen upon them To present the events in chronological order, you can say this before saying that the people from the other groups became Jews themselves. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-events]]) -EST 9 intro yty1 0 # Esther 09 General Notes
## Special concepts in this chapter

### Purim
The events of this chapter were so significant, the Jews celebrated these events every year after this. It is known as “Purim.”

## Important figures of speech in this chapter

### Ironic Situation
The day that was supposed to bring great victory to the enemies of the Jews became a day of great victory for the Jews. This is a type of irony.
+EST 9 intro yty1 0 # Esther 09 General Notes
## Special concepts in this chapter

### Purim
The events of this chapter were so significant, the Jews celebrated these events every year after this. It is known as “Purim.”

## Important figures of speech in this chapter

### Ironic Situation
The day that was supposed to bring great victory to the enemies of the Jews became a day of great victory for the Jews. This is a type of irony. EST 9 1 j8r7 writing-newevent וּ⁠בִ⁠שְׁנֵים֩ עָשָׂ֨ר חֹ֜דֶשׁ 1 Now in the twelfth month This introduces a new event. This verse provides a summary of everything that happens in this chapter. So even though it describes the final outcome, you do not need to move it to the end of the chapter to present the events in chronological order. An opening summary like this is a characteristic device of Hebrew storytelling, and by leaving it in place, you will allow your readers to experience the story somewhat the way the original audience did. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]]) EST 9 1 acj0 figs-explicit וּ⁠בִ⁠שְׁנֵים֩ עָשָׂ֨ר חֹ֜דֶשׁ הוּא־חֹ֣דֶשׁ אֲדָ֗ר בִּ⁠שְׁלוֹשָׁ֨ה עָשָׂ֥ר יוֹם֙ בּ֔⁠וֹ 1 Now in the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day of it The implication is that this happened in the twelfth month of the same year that the letters were sent out. If it would be clearer in your language, you can say that explicitly. Alternate translation: “on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month of that year, the month of Adar” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EST 9 1 j8r9 translate-ordinal וּ⁠בִ⁠שְׁנֵים֩ עָשָׂ֨ר חֹ֜דֶשׁ 1 Now in the twelfth month Alternate translation: “Now in month 12” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal]]) @@ -903,7 +903,7 @@ EST 9 3 acj8 שָׂרֵ֨י הַ⁠מְּדִינ֜וֹת וְ⁠הָ⁠אֲח EST 9 3 acj9 וְ⁠עֹשֵׂ֤י הַ⁠מְּלָאכָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לַ⁠מֶּ֔לֶךְ 1 and those doing the work that was for the king “anyone the king had trusted with his affairs” EST 9 2 ack0 figs-metaphor מְנַשְּׂאִ֖ים אֶת־הַ⁠יְּהוּדִ֑ים 1 were lifting up the Jews Here **lifting up** is a figurative way of saying “helping.” The picture is likely of someone helping a tired or injured person to stand or walk by holding them up. Alternate translation: “helped the Jews” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-humanbehavior]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EST 9 3 q2ue figs-metaphor נָפַ֥ל פַּֽחַד־מָרְדֳּכַ֖י עֲלֵי⁠הֶֽם 1 dread of Mordecai had fallen on them Here **falling** is a metaphor meaning to become very afraid. Alternate translation: “they became very afraid of Mordecan” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) -EST 9 4 j9r5 grammar-connect-logic-result כִּֽי 1 For This term introduces the reason why the officials and satraps and governors were becoming afraid of Mordecai. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]]) +EST 9 4 j9r5 grammar-connect-logic-result כִּֽי 1 For This term introduces the reason why the officials and satraps and governors were becoming afraid of Mordecai. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]]) EST 9 4 xd49 figs-explicit גָ֤דוֹל מָרְדֳּכַי֙ בְּ⁠בֵ֣ית הַ⁠מֶּ֔לֶךְ 1 Mordecai was great in the palace of the king The implication is that this is why all the other officials were afraid of Mordecai. If it would be clearer in your language, you can say this explicitly. Alternate translation, add: “They were afraid of him because” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EST 9 4 ack1 figs-metonymy גָ֤דוֹל מָרְדֳּכַי֙ בְּ⁠בֵ֣ית הַ⁠מֶּ֔לֶךְ 1 Mordecai was great in the palace of the king **The palace of the king** is a figurative way of describing the king’s administration by referring to the place where it was headquartered. Alternate translation: “was very important in the king’s palace” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) EST 9 4 ack2 גָ֤דוֹל מָרְדֳּכַי֙ בְּ⁠בֵ֣ית הַ⁠מֶּ֔לֶךְ 1 Mordecai was great **Great** here is the same term that, as a verb, describes promotion within the king’s service in in 3:1 and 5:11. Alternate translation: “Mordecai was a very important royal official” @@ -945,7 +945,7 @@ EST 9 13 acl3 figs-activepassive יִנָּתֵ֣ן 1 let it be given You can sa EST 9 13 nz41 גַּם־מָחָ֗ר לַ⁠יְּהוּדִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּ⁠שׁוּשָׁ֔ן לַ⁠עֲשׂ֖וֹת כְּ⁠דָ֣ת הַ⁠יּ֑וֹם 1 also tomorrow to the Jews who are in Susa to do according to the law of today “all the Jews who live in Susa to obey today’s decree tomorrow also” or “to do tomorrow also what was decreed that they should do today” EST 9 13 j43d בְּ⁠שׁוּשָׁ֔ן 1 in Susa “in the capital city of Susa” EST 9 13 acl4 עֲשֶׂ֥רֶת בְּנֵֽי־הָמָ֖ן יִתְל֥וּ 1 let the ten sons of Haman hang The request is not for the king to allow the bodies to be impaled (or hanged), but for the king to order this. Alternate translation: “and have the bodies of Haman’s ten sons impaled [or hanged]” -EST 9 13 acl5 figs-symaction עֲשֶׂ֥רֶת בְּנֵֽי־הָמָ֖ן יִתְל֥וּ 1 let the ten sons of Haman hang The purpose of this would not be to kill the sons, since they are already dead, but to demonstrate publicly that the enemies of the Jews had been completely defeated. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-symaction]]) +EST 9 13 acl5 translate-symaction עֲשֶׂ֥רֶת בְּנֵֽי־הָמָ֖ן יִתְל֥וּ 1 let the ten sons of Haman hang The purpose of this would not be to kill the sons, since they are already dead, but to demonstrate publicly that the enemies of the Jews had been completely defeated. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]]) EST 9 13 acl6 figs-explicit עֲשֶׂ֥רֶת בְּנֵֽי־הָמָ֖ן יִתְל֥וּ 1 the ten sons of Haman It is implicit that since Haman’s sons are already dead, what Esther is actually asking for is for their bodies to be impaled or hanged. If it would be clearer in your language, you can say this explicitly. Alternate translation: “the bodies of Haman’s ten sons” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EST 9 13 nr1p translate-numbers עֲשֶׂ֥רֶת בְּנֵֽי 1 ten sons Alternate translation: “10 sons” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-numbers]]) EST 9 13 qyu8 figs-metonymy הָ⁠עֵֽץ 1 the tree See how you translated this term in 2:23 and its other occurrences. Review the explanation in the note to 2:23 if that would be helpful. Alternate translation: “wooden pole” or “gallows.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-plants]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown]]) @@ -992,7 +992,7 @@ EST 9 19 j83d translate-ordinal י֣וֹם אַרְבָּעָ֤ה עָשָׂר֙ EST 9 19 j85d translate-hebrewmonths לְ⁠חֹ֣דֶשׁ אֲדָ֔ר 1 of the month of Adar “Adar” is the name of the twelfth and last month of the Hebrew calendar. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-hebrewmonths]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-names]]) EST 9 19 j87d figs-hendiadys שִׂמְחָ֥ה וּ⁠מִשְׁתֶּ֖ה 1 for rejoicing and for feasting As in verses 17 and 18, this means “by celebrating joyfully” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-hendiadys]]) EST 9 19 j89d figs-idiom וְ⁠י֣וֹם ט֑וֹב 1 and a good day This expression generally means a day of happiness or celebration. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) -EST 9 19 acn3 figs-symaction וּ⁠מִשְׁל֥וֹחַ מָנ֖וֹת אִ֥ישׁ לְ⁠רֵעֵֽ⁠הוּ 1 and for the sending of gifts, a man to his friend Giving gifts, in this culture as in many cultures, was a way of acknowledging a special occasion. Alternate translation: “and by giving gifts to one another” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-symaction]]) +EST 9 19 acn3 translate-symaction וּ⁠מִשְׁל֥וֹחַ מָנ֖וֹת אִ֥ישׁ לְ⁠רֵעֵֽ⁠הוּ 1 and for the sending of gifts, a man to his friend Giving gifts, in this culture as in many cultures, was a way of acknowledging a special occasion. Alternate translation: “and by giving gifts to one another” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]]) EST 9 19 j91d figs-idiom אִ֥ישׁ לְ⁠רֵעֵֽ⁠הוּ 1 a man to his friend Here “a man” means “a person.” The term “friend” would include family members and neighbors as well as social friends. Alternate translation: “to one another” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-gendernotations]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EST 9 20 acn4 וַ⁠יִּכְתֹּ֣ב…הַ⁠דְּבָרִ֖ים הָ⁠אֵ֑לֶּה 1 And…wrote these things “wrote down everything that had happened” EST 9 20 acn5 כָּל־הַ⁠יְּהוּדִ֗ים אֲשֶׁר֙ בְּ⁠כָל־מְדִינוֹת֙ הַ⁠מֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֔וֹשׁ 1 all the Jews who were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus “all the Jews throughout the empire” @@ -1008,12 +1008,12 @@ EST 9 22 acn9 וְ⁠הַ⁠חֹ֗דֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר֩ 1 and as the month wh EST 9 22 aco1 figs-parallelism נֶהְפַּ֨ךְ לָ⁠הֶ֤ם מִ⁠יָּגוֹן֙ לְ⁠שִׂמְחָ֔ה וּ⁠מֵ⁠אֵ֖בֶל לְ⁠י֣וֹם ט֑וֹב 1 it had turned for them from sorrow into joy and from mourning into a good day These two phrases mean similar things. The repetition is used to emphasize how dramatic and wonderful the change was. If it would be clearer in your language, you could combine these phrases and say something like “they became very happy.” Alternate translation: “they changed from being very sorrowful to being very joyful, from crying to celebrating.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]]) EST 9 22 aco3 figs-explicit נֶהְפַּ֨ךְ לָ⁠הֶ֤ם מִ⁠יָּגוֹן֙ לְ⁠שִׂמְחָ֔ה וּ⁠מֵ⁠אֵ֖בֶל לְ⁠י֣וֹם ט֑וֹב 1 it had turned for them from sorrow into joy and from mourning into a good day It’s implicit that the Jews were deeply distressed because they were being threatened with destruction, and they became very happy once they were safe from all their enemies. Alternate translation: “Everything had changed for them. They had been deeply distressed because they were threatened with destruction. But they became very happy once they were safe from all their enemies.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EST 9 22 nch1 figs-metaphor נֶהְפַּ֨ךְ לָ⁠הֶ֤ם מִ⁠יָּגוֹן֙ לְ⁠שִׂמְחָ֔ה 1 it had turned for them from sorrow into joy **Turning** figuratively represents changing. Alternate translation: “they changed from being very sad to being joyful” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-humanbehavior]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) -EST 9 22 aco4 figs-abstractnouns מִ⁠יָּגוֹן֙ לְ⁠שִׂמְחָ֔ה 1 from sorrow into joy The abstract nouns **sorrow** and **joy** can be expressed with adjectives such as “distressed” and “happy.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]]) +EST 9 22 aco4 figs-abstractnouns מִ⁠יָּגוֹן֙ לְ⁠שִׂמְחָ֔ה 1 from sorrow into joy The abstract nouns **sorrow** and **joy** can be expressed with adjectives such as “distressed” and “happy.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]]) EST 9 22 j113 לַ⁠עֲשׂ֣וֹת אוֹתָ֗⁠ם יְמֵי֙ 1 in order to make them days of “So Mordecai told them to observe those days with” EST 9 22 j115 figs-hendiadys מִשְׁתֶּ֣ה וְ⁠שִׂמְחָ֔ה 1 feasting and rejoicing As in verses 17, 18, and 19, this phrase expresses a single idea by using two words connected with “and.” The word “rejoicing” tells how the celebrating was to be done. Alternate translation: “joyful celebration” or “feasting joyfully” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-hendiadys]]) -EST 9 22 aco5 וּ⁠מִשְׁל֤וֹחַ מָנוֹת֙ אִ֣ישׁ לְ⁠רֵעֵ֔⁠הוּ 1 and sending of gifts, a man to his friend See how you translated this in verse 19. Review the notes there if that would be helpful. Alternate translation: “and by giving gifts to one another” +EST 9 22 aco5 וּ⁠מִשְׁל֤וֹחַ מָנוֹת֙ אִ֣ישׁ לְ⁠רֵעֵ֔⁠הוּ 1 and sending of gifts, a man to his friend See how you translated this in verse 19. Review the notes there if that would be helpful. Alternate translation: “and by giving gifts to one another” EST 9 22 j117 figs-idiom אִ֣ישׁ לְ⁠רֵעֵ֔⁠הוּ 1 a man to his friend Here “a man” means “a person.” The term “friend” would include family members and neighbors as well as social friends. Alternate translation: “to one another” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/gendernotations]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) -EST 9 22 aco6 figs-symaction וּ⁠מַתָּנ֖וֹת לָֽ⁠אֶבְיוֹנִֽים 1 and gifts to the needy In this culture as in many others, helping the poor was also a way of acknowledging a special occasion. The idea was that no one should be miss out on the benefits of the wonderful thing that God had done. Alternate translation: “Mordecai also told them they should help the poor on those days.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-symaction]]) +EST 9 22 aco6 translate-symaction וּ⁠מַתָּנ֖וֹת לָֽ⁠אֶבְיוֹנִֽים 1 and gifts to the needy In this culture as in many others, helping the poor was also a way of acknowledging a special occasion. The idea was that no one should be miss out on the benefits of the wonderful thing that God had done. Alternate translation: “Mordecai also told them they should help the poor on those days.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction]]) EST 9 23 aco7 figs-explicit וְ⁠קִבֵּל֙…אֲשֶׁר־כָּתַ֥ב מָרְדֳּכַ֖י אֲלֵי⁠הֶֽם 1 And…accepted…what Mordecai had written to them The implication seems to be that the Jews were glad to do what Mordecai had instructed, because they had already been doing it. You can add a word such as “readily” to indicate this. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EST 9 23 aco8 וְ⁠קִבֵּל֙ 1 And…accepted “agreed” EST 9 23 ib25 figs-events אֲשֶׁר־הֵחֵ֖לּוּ לַ⁠עֲשׂ֑וֹת 1 what they had begun to do Alternate translation: “The Jews were already celebrating those days that way.” You can put this information first, to present the events in logical and chronological order. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-events]]) @@ -1026,7 +1026,7 @@ EST 9 24 j127 figs-hendiadys לְ⁠הֻמָּ֖⁠ם וּֽ⁠לְ⁠אַבְּ EST 9 25 m8x3 figs-explicit וּ⁠בְ⁠בֹאָ⁠הּ֮ לִ⁠פְנֵ֣י הַ⁠מֶּלֶךְ֒ 1 But when she came before the face of the king **She** means Esther. In this summary, many details are communicated implicitly. You can make them explicit. Alternate translation: “But Esther dared to come into the king’s presence without being summoned, and she won his favor.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EST 9 25 j129 bita-hq לִ⁠פְנֵ֣י הַ⁠מֶּלֶךְ֒ 1 before the face of the king Here **face** is a metonym meaning the presence of a person. This phrase means that Esther came into the king’s presence. Alternate translation: “into the king’s presence” or “before the king” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-hq]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) EST 9 25 acp1 figs-explicit אָמַ֣ר עִם־הַ⁠סֵּ֔פֶר 1 he said with the letter Once again much of the information is implicit here. Alternate translation: “The king gave Mordecai the authority to send a letter throughout the empire saying that the Jews could defend themselves against their enemies” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) -EST 9 25 y57b figs-idiom יָשׁ֞וּב מַחֲשַׁבְתּ֧⁠וֹ הָ⁠רָעָ֛ה אֲשֶׁר־חָשַׁ֥ב עַל־הַ⁠יְּהוּדִ֖ים עַל־רֹאשׁ֑⁠וֹ 1 Let his evil plot that he plotted concerning the Jews return on his head **His** and **he** refer to Haman. **Return on his head** is an idiom that means that what a person was planning to do to someone else happened to them instead. Alternate translation: “the wicked plan Haman developed against the Jews should be done to him” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) +EST 9 25 y57b figs-idiom יָשׁ֞וּב מַחֲשַׁבְתּ֧⁠וֹ הָ⁠רָעָ֛ה אֲשֶׁר־חָשַׁ֥ב עַל־הַ⁠יְּהוּדִ֖ים עַל־רֹאשׁ֑⁠וֹ 1 Let his evil plot that he plotted concerning the Jews return on his head **His** and **he** refer to Haman. **Return on his head** is an idiom that means that what a person was planning to do to someone else happened to them instead. Alternate translation: “the wicked plan Haman developed against the Jews should be done to him” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EST 9 25 acp2 figs-personification וְ⁠תָל֥וּ אֹת֛⁠וֹ וְ⁠אֶת־בָּנָ֖י⁠ו עַל־הָ⁠עֵֽץ 1 and let them hang him and his sons on the tree The letter did not actually say this. The story is summarizing the events in compressed form. It is speaking of the letter as if it were something that could take action and give commands like this. Alternate translation: “The king also ordered his servants to impale Haman on a wooden pole [or hang Haman on a gallows]. When the Jews in Susa killed his ten sons, the king had their bodies impaled [or hanged] as well.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-personification]]) EST 9 25 j129 bita-plants הָ⁠עֵֽץ 1 the tree See how you translated this term in 2:23 and its other occurrences. Review the explanation in the note to 2:23 if that would be helpful. Alternate translation: “wooden pole” or “gallows.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-plants]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown]]) EST 9 26 j131 grammar-connect-logic-result עַל־כֵּ֡ן 1 Therefore This introduces the reason why the Jews gave the name “Purim” to this celebration. Alternate translation: “For that reason” or “That is why” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]]) @@ -1036,9 +1036,9 @@ EST 9 26 buf1 writing-background עַל־שֵׁ֣ם הַ⁠פּ֔וּר 1 on acc EST 9 26 yq8m figs-explicit שֵׁ֣ם הַ⁠פּ֔וּר 1 the name of Pur. It can be stated clearly what “Pur” means. Alternate translation: “the word Pur, which means ‘lot.’” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) EST 9 26 j133 grammar-connect-logic-result עַל־כֵּ֕ן 1 Therefore The story has just given the reason why the holiday is called Purim. Now it is going to give another reason. It will be explaining why the Jews added this holiday to their calendar, in addition to the festivals that were commanded in the Law of Moses. The next verse describes them adding the holiday. This verse gives the reasons why they did that. Alternate translation: “Because” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result]]) EST 9 26 acp4 עַל־כָּל־דִּבְרֵ֖י הָ⁠אִגֶּ֣רֶת הַ⁠זֹּ֑את 1 on account of all the words of this letter This is a reference to the letter that Mordecai wrote, as described in verses 20–22. Alternate translation: “Mordecai wrote to them to tell them to observe this holiday” -EST 9 26 acp5 figs-parallelism וּ⁠מָֽה־רָא֣וּ עַל־כָּ֔כָה וּ⁠מָ֥ה הִגִּ֖יעַ אֲלֵי⁠הֶֽם 1 and what they had seen concerning this and what had come upon them These two phrases mean similar things. The repetition is used to emphasize what a vivid experience it was to live through the events that this story describes. You can combine the phrases. Alternate translation: “what had happened to them” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]]) -EST 9 26 acp6 figs-explicit וּ⁠מָֽה־רָא֣וּ עַל־כָּ֔כָה וּ⁠מָ֥ה הִגִּ֖יעַ אֲלֵי⁠הֶֽם 1 and what they had seen concerning this and what had come upon them These phrases say generally “this” and “what,” but they are referring to the specific events the story has related. You can describe these things specifically. Alternate translation: “Because the Jews had been able to destroy the enemies who had wanted to destroy them.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) -EST 9 26 acp7 וּ⁠מָֽה־רָא֣וּ עַל־כָּ֔כָה וּ⁠מָ֥ה הִגִּ֖יעַ אֲלֵי⁠הֶֽם 1 and what they had seen concerning this and what had come upon them You can put this first, before the information about Mordecai’s letter, because it happened first. You can say “then” when you tell about the letter. +EST 9 26 acp5 figs-parallelism וּ⁠מָֽה־רָא֣וּ עַל־כָּ֔כָה וּ⁠מָ֥ה הִגִּ֖יעַ אֲלֵי⁠הֶֽם 1 and what they had seen concerning this and what had come upon them These two phrases mean similar things. The repetition is used to emphasize what a vivid experience it was to live through the events that this story describes. You can combine the phrases. Alternate translation: “what had happened to them” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]]) +EST 9 26 acp6 figs-explicit וּ⁠מָֽה־רָא֣וּ עַל־כָּ֔כָה וּ⁠מָ֥ה הִגִּ֖יעַ אֲלֵי⁠הֶֽם 1 and what they had seen concerning this and what had come upon them These phrases say generally “this” and “what,” but they are referring to the specific events the story has related. You can describe these things specifically. Alternate translation: “Because the Jews had been able to destroy the enemies who had wanted to destroy them.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) +EST 9 26 acp7 וּ⁠מָֽה־רָא֣וּ עַל־כָּ֔כָה וּ⁠מָ֥ה הִגִּ֖יעַ אֲלֵי⁠הֶֽם 1 and what they had seen concerning this and what had come upon them You can put this first, before the information about Mordecai’s letter, because it happened first. You can say “then” when you tell about the letter. EST 9 26 j135 figs-idiom וּ⁠מָ֥ה הִגִּ֖יעַ אֲלֵי⁠הֶֽם 1 and what had come upon them This expression means “what had happened to them.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EST 9 27 acp8 קִיְּמ֣וּ וְקִבְּל֣וּ הַ⁠יְּהוּדִים֩ ׀ עֲלֵי⁠הֶ֨ם ׀ וְ⁠עַל־זַרְעָ֜⁠ם וְ⁠עַ֨ל כָּל־הַ⁠נִּלְוִ֤ים עֲלֵי⁠הֶם֙…לִ⁠הְי֣וֹת עֹשִׂ֗ים אֵ֣ת שְׁנֵ֤י הַ⁠יָּמִים֙ הָ⁠אֵ֔לֶּה 1 The Jews set up and accepted for themselves, and for their seed, and for all those who unite themselves to them…to be making these two days “The Jews said that they would tell their descendants and those people who became Jews to be certain to celebrate this festival” EST 9 27 acp9 figs-doublet קִיְּמ֣וּ וְקִבְּל֣וּ הַ⁠יְּהוּדִים֩ ׀ עֲלֵי⁠הֶ֨ם ׀ וְ⁠עַל־זַרְעָ֜⁠ם וְ⁠עַ֨ל כָּל־הַ⁠נִּלְוִ֤ים עֲלֵי⁠הֶם֙…לִ⁠הְי֣וֹת עֹשִׂ֗ים אֵ֣ת שְׁנֵ֤י הַ⁠יָּמִים֙ הָ⁠אֵ֔לֶּה 1 The Jews set up and accepted “Set up” and “accepted” mean basically the same thing. The repetition is used to emphasize that the Jews definitely agreed to do this. If it would be clearer in your language, you could combine these words. Alternate translation: “agreed to establish” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet]]) @@ -1054,7 +1054,7 @@ EST 9 27 acq4 figs-doublet  וְ⁠הַ⁠יָּמִ֣ים הָ֠⁠אֵלֶּ EST 9 28 hc8s figs-activepassive  וְ⁠הַ⁠יָּמִ֣ים הָ֠⁠אֵלֶּה נִזְכָּרִ֨ים וְ⁠נַעֲשִׂ֜ים 1 So these days are remembered and are made This expression uses two passive forms, but you could say the same thing using active forms. Alternate translation: “The Jews were to celebrate and observe these days” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) EST 9 28 j145 figs-idiom בְּ⁠כָל־דּ֣וֹר וָ⁠ד֗וֹר 1 in every generation by generation This expression means “each and every generation.” Alternate translation: “in every single generation” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EST 9 28 j147 figs-idiom מִשְׁפָּחָה֙ וּ⁠מִשְׁפָּחָ֔ה 1 family by family This expression means “every family.” Alternate translation: “every Jewish family” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) -EST 9 28 acq5 figs-merism מְדִינָ֥ה וּ⁠מְדִינָ֖ה וְ⁠עִ֣יר וָ⁠עִ֑יר 1 province by province, and city by city This could be a figure of speech that refers to something by speaking of two extreme parts of it in order to include everything in between those parts. Generally speaking, a province would be the largest division of the empire that would identify a person’s location, and a city would be the smallest. Particularly since the Jews continued to celebrate Purim after they were living in the Persian empire with its division into provinces, you might choose to express the meaning of this figure of speech. Alternate translation: “everywhere they have lived” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-merism]]) +EST 9 28 acq5 figs-merism מְדִינָ֥ה וּ⁠מְדִינָ֖ה וְ⁠עִ֣יר וָ⁠עִ֑יר 1 province by province, and city by city This could be a figure of speech that refers to something by speaking of two extreme parts of it in order to include everything in between those parts. Generally speaking, a province would be the largest division of the empire that would identify a person’s location, and a city would be the smallest. Particularly since the Jews continued to celebrate Purim after they were living in the Persian empire with its division into provinces, you might choose to express the meaning of this figure of speech. Alternate translation: “everywhere they have lived” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-merism]]) EST 9 28 j149 figs-idiom מְדִינָ֥ה וּ⁠מְדִינָ֖ה 1 province by province This expression means “every province.” Alternate translation: “in every single province” (See: Idiom) EST 9 28 j151 figs-idiom וְ⁠עִ֣יר וָ⁠עִ֑יר 1 and city by city This expression means “every city.” Alternate translation: “in every single city” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) EST 9 28 j153 figs-idiom וִ⁠ימֵ֞י הַ⁠פּוּרִ֣ים הָ⁠אֵ֗לֶּה לֹ֤א יַֽעַבְרוּ֙ מִ⁠תּ֣וֹךְ הַ⁠יְּהוּדִ֔ים וְ⁠זִכְרָ֖⁠ם לֹא־יָס֥וּף מִ⁠זַּרְעָֽ⁠ם 1 these days of Purim will not pass away from the midst of the Jews and their remembrance will not come to an end from their seed This expression means that the Jews will never stop celebrating the feast of Purim every year. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom]]) @@ -1078,7 +1078,7 @@ EST 9 31 acr5 figs-explicit וְ⁠כַ⁠אֲשֶׁ֛ר קִיְּמ֥וּ עַ EST 9 31 rl2s figs-metaphor וְ⁠עַל־זַרְעָ֑⁠ם 1 and concerning their seed Here **seed** is a metaphor meaning the offspring or descendants of the Jews. Alternate translation: “and for their descendants” or “and for their offspring” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-plants]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EST 9 32 acr6 וּ⁠מַאֲמַ֣ר אֶסְתֵּ֔ר קִיַּ֕ם דִּבְרֵ֥י הַ⁠פֻּרִ֖ים הָ⁠אֵ֑לֶּה 1 And the decree of Esther set up these matters of Purim “Esther also issued a decree establishing Purim as a holiday for the Jews” EST 9 32 acr7 figs-activepassive וְ⁠נִכְתָּ֖ב בַּ⁠סֵּֽפֶר 1 and it was written in the book You can say this with an active form, and you can say who did the action. Alternate translation: “and the royal scribes made an official record of it” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]]) -EST 10 intro h4m4 0 # Esther 10 General Notes
## Special concepts in this chapter

### Mordecai’s new position

Through the power of Yahweh, Mordecai was given a new position in the Persian Empire. Mordecai was now the second in command in the kingdom of Persia and he used his position to help other Jews.
+EST 10 intro h4m4 0 # Esther 10 General Notes
## Special concepts in this chapter

### Mordecai’s new position

Through the power of Yahweh, Mordecai was given a new position in the Persian Empire. Mordecai was now the second in command in the kingdom of Persia and he used his position to help other Jews. EST 10 1 j157 writing-newevent וַ⁠יָּשֶׂם֩ הַ⁠מֶּ֨לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֧וֹשׁ 1 Then the king Ahasuerus set This introduces a new event in the story. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/writing-newevent]]) EST 10 1 b5ht וַ⁠יָּשֶׂם֩…מַ֛ס 1 Then…set a tribute “Then…imposed a tax” EST 10 1 acr8 figs-explicit עַל־הָ⁠אָ֖רֶץ וְ⁠אִיֵּ֥י הַ⁠יָּֽם 1 on the land and the islands of the sea The purpose of this chapter is to describe the greatness of Mordecai. It does that by showing that he was second in command to a very powerful emperor. The phrase “the islands of the sea” likely refers to the fact that the Persian kings had conquered territories reaching all the way to the Mediterranean Sea. If it would be clearer in your language, you can say that explicitly. Alternate translation: “which reached all the way to the Mediterranean Sea.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]]) @@ -1099,8 +1099,8 @@ EST 10 3 acs9 מִשְׁנֶה֙ לַ⁠מֶּ֣לֶךְ אֲחַשְׁוֵר֔ EST 10 3 act0 וְ⁠גָדוֹל֙ לַ⁠יְּהוּדִ֔ים 1 and great among the Jews “and a leader among his own people” EST 10 3 act1 וְ⁠רָצ֖וּי לְ⁠רֹ֣ב אֶחָ֑י⁠ו 1 favored by the multitude of his brothers “All of his fellow Jews respected him” EST 10 3 iui7 figs-gendernotations אֶחָ֑י⁠ו 1 his brothers Here **brothers** is a figurative way of describing fellow members of the same people group. Alternate translation: “fellow Jews” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-gendernotations]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) -EST 10 3 act2 figs-parallelism דֹּרֵ֥שׁ טוֹב֙ לְ⁠עַמּ֔⁠וֹ וְ⁠דֹבֵ֥ר שָׁל֖וֹם לְ⁠כָל־זַרְעֽ⁠וֹ 1 seeking good for his people and speaking peace to all its seed These two phrases basically mean the same thing. The repetition is used to emphasize how hard Mordecai worked for the good of his people. If it would be clearer in your language, you could combine these phrases and say something like, “He worked hard so his people and their descendants would prosper.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]]) -EST 10 3 act3 figs-abstractnouns דֹּרֵ֥שׁ טוֹב֙ לְ⁠עַמּ֔⁠וֹ וְ⁠דֹבֵ֥ר שָׁל֖וֹם לְ⁠כָל־זַרְעֽ⁠וֹ 1 seeking good for his people and speaking peace to all its seed The abstract nouns **good** and **peace** refer in this context to prosperity and security. You could translate these ideas with verbs, for example, “He worked hard to make sure that his people would prosper and their descendants would be secure.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]]) +EST 10 3 act2 figs-parallelism דֹּרֵ֥שׁ טוֹב֙ לְ⁠עַמּ֔⁠וֹ וְ⁠דֹבֵ֥ר שָׁל֖וֹם לְ⁠כָל־זַרְעֽ⁠וֹ 1 seeking good for his people and speaking peace to all its seed These two phrases basically mean the same thing. The repetition is used to emphasize how hard Mordecai worked for the good of his people. If it would be clearer in your language, you could combine these phrases and say something like, “He worked hard so his people and their descendants would prosper.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism]]) +EST 10 3 act3 figs-abstractnouns דֹּרֵ֥שׁ טוֹב֙ לְ⁠עַמּ֔⁠וֹ וְ⁠דֹבֵ֥ר שָׁל֖וֹם לְ⁠כָל־זַרְעֽ⁠וֹ 1 seeking good for his people and speaking peace to all its seed The abstract nouns **good** and **peace** refer in this context to prosperity and security. You could translate these ideas with verbs, for example, “He worked hard to make sure that his people would prosper and their descendants would be secure.” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns]]) EST 10 3 wte9 figs-metaphor  דֹּרֵ֥שׁ טוֹב֙ לְ⁠עַמּ֔⁠וֹ 1 seeking good for his people **Seeking** is a figurative way to describe working hard for something. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EST 10 3 s8f8 figs-metaphor וְ⁠דֹבֵ֥ר שָׁל֖וֹם לְ⁠כָל־זַרְעֽ⁠וֹ 1 and speaking peace to all its seed **Speaking** is a figurative way to describe wanting to bring something about. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]]) EST 10 3 j161 figs-metaphor לְ⁠כָל־זַרְעֽ⁠וֹ 1 to all its seed Here **seed** figuratively means “descendants.” Even if you combine the two parallel phrases, you can still convey the idea of “down through the generations” with a work such as “always.” Alternate translation: “and for their descendants” or “and for their offspring” (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/bita-plants]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])