Haman saw: the text as reflected by Revised Standard Version expresses a simple fact, whereas Good News Translation interprets potentiality. Bible en français courant adopts a halfway position, saying “Haman observed that Mordecai was in fact refusing to…” (compare New Jerusalem Bible: “Haman could see for himself that Mordecai did not bow down or prostrate himself in his presence”).

Though the Hebrew does not state explicitly when or where Mordecai did not bow down, the sense apparently is that he did not bow down before Haman whenever Haman passed by. Some translations make this explicit: “in his [Haman’s] presence” (New Jerusalem Bible) or “in his passing by” (Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente).

Though the Hebrew says literally that “rage filled Haman,” some languages find it more natural to use an adjective as in Good News Translation (“Haman was furious”), or a verbal construction as in New Revised Standard Version (“Haman was infuriated”). The final two Hebrew words may be an intentional play on words, since the Hebrew is literally “then was filled Haman [with] rage”: Haman hemah.

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 .