SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 4:11

4:11a

All the royal officials and the people of the king’s provinces: That is, everyone throughout the kingdom.

royal officials: See note on 1:3a.

the inner court: This was the part of the palace where the king met with people.

without being summoned: That is, without the king inviting them to come.

4:11b

the gold scepter: This was the special stick that the king often held in his hand. It indicated the king’s authority to rule. It was made of gold.

© 2000 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 4:12

-13

Paragraph 4:12–14

© 2000 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unles

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 4:14

4:14a

from another place: There are two different possibilites to interpret where the other place where help will come from:

(1) The help will come from someone else. For example, the New Century Version has:

someone else will come to help and save the Jewish people

(Berean Standard Bible, New Century Version, New International Version, New Living Translation (2004), English Standard Version)

(2)help will come from heaven

It is recommended that you follow the first option, there is nothing in the text to suggest Mordecai was referring to God.

4:14b

you and your father’s house: The Contemporary English Version includes Mordecai with those who would be saved in 4:14a (“we will somehow get help”). But Mordecai was part of Esther’s father’s family, so he was surely including himself in those who would die if Esther didn’t speak to the king.

4:14c

you have come to the kingdom: That is, “you have become queen.”

for such a time as this: That is, that Esther had been made queen at this particular time in order to be able to prevent the killing of the Jews.

© 2000 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 4:15

Paragraph 4:15–17

© 2000 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 4:16

-17

4:16a

Go: The Hebrew word leḵ literally means “go.” However, when this word precedes another command, it usually makes the second command more emphatic and so should not be translated literally. In English, “go” can be used

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 5:1

Section 5:1–8

Esther went to talk to the king

After Esther had finished fasting, she went to the inner rooms of the palace. The king was pleased to see her and promised to grant any request she might make. So she asked that the king and Haman should come and eat a special meal that she would get her servants to prepare for them. The king agreed.

Paragraph 5:1–4

5:1a

On the third day: That is, on the last day of the fast.

5:1b

the king’s quarters: The word translated “quarters” is literally “house.” The expression “house of the king” can mean the whole palace, but here it probably refers to the room where the king would sit on his throne to receive visitors.

5:1c

his royal throne: A throne is the special chair a king or queen sits on, especially when greeting visitors or during other special occasions. It may have been made of, or decorated with, gold.

© 2000 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 5:2

5:2b

the gold scepter: See note on 4:11b.

5:2c

touched the tip of the scepter: The text does not describe whether Esther touched the scepter with her hand or her lips (that is, she kissed it; see Keil-Delitzsch, p. 355). If you can use a general verb, like the English versions, and not specify how she touched the scepter, you should do so. If it is necessary in your language to say how she touched the scepter, it is recommended that you say “with her hand,” since this is the most natural meaning of the Hebrew verb.

© 2000 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 5:3

5:3a

Queen Esther: You need to decide the best way for King Xerxes to address Esther in your language. In Hebrew, he uses her title “queen” and her name “Esther.” Maybe it would be better for you just to use her name, or just her title or even to not use either one.

© 2000 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.