complete verse (Esther 9:17)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Esther 9:17:

  • Kupsabiny: “Those things happened on the thirteenth day in the twelfth month, but after sunrise on the fourteenth day, they rested and celebrated with happiness.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “This 13th day of the month of Adar, however, they killed [their enemies]. Then on the 14th day they rested. And that day was a day of joy, a family festival for them.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “In the previous day, the Jews who were in the different parts of the kingdom gathered-together in-order to defend and save themselves from their enemies. They have-killed 75,000 men, but they did- not -take-away the properties of their enemies. The next day, on the 14th day, they rested and celebrated a feast with joy/gladness.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Eastern Bru: “These things happened on the thirteenth day of the month Adar. But on the 14th, all the people living outside Susa, they did not still kill people. And they made a fest to celebrate.” (Source: Bru Back Translation)
  • English: “That occurred on March 7th, and on the following day they rested and celebrated.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Esther 9:17   

This was on the thirteenth day refers to the events of verse 16.

They rested translates the same Hebrew verb translated in the preceding verse as “got relief.” Good News Translation makes it explicit that the “relief” was from killing, but it may not be necessary to be this specific. There was no more danger, they were at peace, and they made that a day of feasting and gladness. It may be helpful to restate this as “they dedicated that day to feasting and joy” or “they made [or, cut] that day a day of joy and a day of feasting.”

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 .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Esther 9:17

9:17a

Adar: See note on 3:7d.

9:17c

a day of feasting and joy: It was a day when the Jews held feasts and joyfully celebrated their victory over their enemies.

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