9Haman went out that day happy and in good spirits, but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate and observed that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was infuriated with Mordecai;
The Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek that is typically translated in English as “joy” or “happiness” is translated in the HausaCommon Language Bible idiomatically as farin ciki or “white stomach.” In some cases, such as in Genesis 29:11, it is also added for emphatic purposes.
Other languages that use the same expression include Southern Birifor (pʋpɛl), Dera (popolok awo), Reshe (ɾipo ɾipuhã). (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)
The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Mordecai” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with a sign depicting the tearing of clothes, referring to Esther 4:1. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Haman” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with a sign for “stuck up,” exemplified in Esther 5:11. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Esther 5:9:
Kupsabiny: “Haman was happy that day while he was going home. As Haman was going outside, he saw Mordecai sitting down by the gate instead of standing/getting up. When he saw that Mordecai was not respecting him, it pained him a lot.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “That day Haman came back from the king, happy and rejoicing. But seeing Mordecai at the main gate of the palace, standing without trembling before him, he became very angry.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “That day, Haman was happy coming-out of the palace. But he was very angry when he saw Mordecai at the entrance/gate of the palace who did- not even -stand-up or showed respect to him.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
Eastern Bru: “When Haman went out from that feast, he felt very happy in his heart and in his thought. But when he was going home, he saw Mordecai sitting in the gate going into the house of the king. And when he passed Mordecai and Mordecai did not stand up and show him respect, he felt angry and resentful in his heart toward Mordecai.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
English: “Haman was feeling very happy as he left the banquet. But then he saw Mordecai sitting at the gate of the palace. Mordecai did not stand up and tremble fearfully in front of Haman, so Haman became extremely angry.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
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:
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 (Dinė) 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.”
Haman was delighted that Esther had invited him to eat with the king again, since it was a great honor. But on his way home, he became angry when Mordecai once more refused to show him the respect he thought he was owed, and, taking his friends’ advice, he decided to kill him.
Paragraph 5:9–14
5:9a
full of joy and glad of heart: This means extremely pleased. Try to find an idiom or vivid expression in your language to express this meaning.
5:9b
the king’s gate: See note at 2:19b. Again, here this refers literally to the entrance to the king’s palace.
5:9c
did not rise or tremble in fear: In 3:2, Mordecai had refused to bow down to Haman. Here he refuses to show respect by standing up or to appear to be afraid. The word translated “fear” can also mean “respect.”
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