harem

The Hebrew that is translated as “harem” in English is translated in North Alaskan Inupiatun as relating to a group of women rather than a place.

eunuch

The Hebrew and Greek that is translated as “eunuch” in English is translated in Low German as “man (or: person) who does not have male strength” (Minsch, de ehr Mannskraft nicht hebt) (translation by Johannes Jessen, publ. 1933, republ. 2006).

In Bislama it is “a person who has been castrated.” (Source: Bill Camden in The Bible Translator 1995, p. 240ff.)

fat, oil

The different Hebrew and Greek terms that are translated as “(olive) oil” and “(animal) fat” in English are translated in Kwere with only one term: mavuta. (Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

king

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

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  • Piro: “a great one”
  • Highland Totonac: “the big boss”
  • Huichol: “the one who commanded” (source for this and above: Bratcher / Nida)
  • Ekari: “the one who holds the country” (source: Reiling / Swellengrebel)
  • Una: weik sienyi: “big headman” (source: Kroneman 2004, p. 407)
  • Pass Valley Yali: “Big Man” (source: Daud Soesilo)
  • Ninia Yali: “big brother with the uplifted name” (source: Daud Soesilio in Noss 2007, p. 175)
  • Nyamwezi: mutemi: generic word for ruler, by specifying the city or nation it becomes clear what kind of ruler (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
  • Ghomála’: Fo (“The word Fo refers to the paramount ruler in the kingdoms of West Cameroon. He holds administrative, political, and religious power over his own people, who are divided into two categories: princes (descendants of royalty) and servants (everyone else).” (Source: Michel Kenmogne in Theologizing in Context: An Example from the Study of a Ghomala’ Christian Hymn))

Faye Edgerton retells how the term in Navajo was determined:

“[This term was] easily expressed in the language of Biblical culture, which had kings and noblemen with their brilliant trappings and their position of honor and praise. But leadership among the Navajos is not accompanied by any such titles or distinctions of dress. Those most respected, especially in earlier days, were their headmen, who were the leaders in raids, and the shaman, who was able to serve the people by appealing for them to the gods, or by exorcising evil spirits. Neither of these made any outward show. Neither held his position by political intrigue or heredity. If the headman failed consistently in raids, he was superceded by a better warrior. If the shaman failed many times in his healing ceremonies, it was considered that he was making mistakes in the chants, or had lost favor with the gods, and another was sought. The term Navajos use for headman is derived from a verb meaning ‘to move the head from side to side as in making an oration.’ The headman must be a good orator, able to move the people to go to war, or to follow him in any important decision. This word is naat’áanii which now means ‘one who rules or bosses.’ It is employed now for a foreman or boss of any kind of labor, as well as for the chairman of the tribal council. So in order to show that the king is not just a common boss but the highest ruler, the word ‘aláahgo, which expresses the superlative degree, was put before naat’áanii, and so ‘aláahgo naat’áanii ‘anyone-more-than-being around-he-moves-his-head-the-one-who’ means ‘the highest ruler.’ Naat’áanii was used for governor as the context usually shows that the person was a ruler of a country or associated with kings.”

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

Translation commentary on Esther 2:3   

Let the king appoint officers: in Hebrew the word officers comes from the same root as the verb appoint. These officers were appointed or commissioned for this task. New American Bible calls them “commissaries,” that is, someone delegated by a superior to perform a duty. In some languages the expression “let the king place people” will express the meaning “appoint,” since the specific task for which they are placed is stated.

The provinces: see comments on 1.1.

To gather all the beautiful young virgins to the harem: on virgins see comments on verse 2. It is not clear whether these young virgins, including Esther, were forced to participate in this beauty contest, or whether they did so by choice. A verb should be used for “gather” or “assemble” that does not connote the use of force.

The word harem of Revised Standard Version as well as Good News Translation translates the Hebrew expression “house [of] the women.” If a special term corresponding to harem exists, it may be used; otherwise an expression similar to the Hebrew, or “dwelling place of the women,” may be used. For the status of the women who lived in the harem, see the comments on 2.14 below.

Susa the capital is “the citadel of Susa” (New Revised Standard Version) as in 1.2.

Under custody of Hegai: according to the Hebrew version the virgins were to be placed “into [or, under] the hand of Hegai.” Traduction œcuménique de la Bible says they were to be placed “under the authority of Hegai,” while New International Version says “in the care of Hegai.” It may be possible to find an idiom similar to the Hebrew that includes the two components of care and authority.

Hegai the king’s eunuch: see comments on 1.10 concerning the translation of eunuch. The precise relationship between the words king and eunuch is not specified in Hebrew. Since this verse states that Hegai was in charge of the women, it does not appear that Hegai’s relationship to the king was that of a personal servant to the king himself. He was the eunuch who was in charge of the women in the king’s harem and was therefore called the king’s eunuch. Some translations call him “the royal eunuch” (New American Bible, Nueva Biblia Española).

Let their ointments be given them: this passive construction may need to be restated; for example, “tell Hegai to give their ointments to them.”

The ointments translates a word whose root meaning is “to rub” or “to polish.” The ointments were used during the year-long preparation before the women were taken to the king (see 2.12). The meaning in English is perhaps captured better in Good News Translation (“beauty treatment”) and in New Revised Standard Version (“cosmetic treatments”). Perhaps a translation such as “rubbing oils [ointments, fats]” or “oils for rubbing on oneself” may be used to imply a beauty treatment for women (see also 2.9, 12).

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