OET interlinear EST 2:15

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

וּ⁠בְ⁠הַגִּ֣יעַ תֹּר־אֶסְתֵּ֣ר & לָ⁠ב֣וֹא אֶל־הַ⁠מֶּ֗לֶךְ

and,in/on/at/with,came turn ʼEştēr & to,go to/towards the=king

The story resumes here after the background information that was provided in verses 12–14 about what the women in the harem did when they became concubines of the king. A contrast is being drawn. A young woman could take any clothing and jewelry she wanted from the harem. But Esther only asked for what Hegai recommended. So it would be good to introduce this episode with a word such as “but,” which draws a contrast.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / distinguish

בַּת־אֲבִיחַ֣יִל דֹּ֣ד מָרְדֳּכַ֡י אֲשֶׁר֩ לָקַֽח־ל֨⁠וֹ לְ⁠בַ֜ת

daughter_of Abihail uncle Mārəddəkay which/who adopted to=him/it as,daughter

This background information reminds the reader who Esther was by describing her relationship to Mordecai. You could make this a separate sentence and move it later in the verse to keep from breaking up the flow of the first sentence about what Esther did.

Note 3 topic: translate-names

אֲבִיחַ֣יִל

Abihail

This man was Esther’s father and Mordecai’s uncle.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / doublenegatives

לֹ֤א בִקְשָׁה֙ דָּבָ֔ר כִּ֠י אִ֣ם אֶת־אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֹאמַ֛ר הֵגַ֥י

not asked_for anything that/for/because/then/when if DOM which/who advised Hegai

You can state this in a positive form by saying, “she asked only for.” Alternate translation: “she did not ask for anything else to wear except”

אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֹאמַ֛ר הֵגַ֥י

which/who advised Hegai

Alternate translation: “what Hegai recommended” or “what Hegai suggested”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֹאמַ֛ר הֵגַ֥י

which/who advised Hegai

As the king’s personal servant, Hegai would have known what kind of clothing and jewelry Ahasuerus found attractive on a woman. By following his advice, Esther showed that she trusted Hegai. This is implicit information that you could make explicit if it would help the reader to understand the story. You might say, for example, “Hegai knew the king’s preferences because he was his personal servant. Esther had come to trust Hegai and so she followed his advice.” This could go at the end of the verse or in a footnote.

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / distinguish

סְרִיס־הַ⁠מֶּ֖לֶךְ שֹׁמֵ֣ר הַ⁠נָּשִׁ֑ים

eunuch the=king he/it_was_watching the,women

This is saying that Hegai was the royal official responsible for the women in the harem for virgins. This is background information that reminds the reader who Hegai was by describing his responsibilities. You could also move this to the end of the verse and put it in parentheses.

Note 7 topic: translate-unknown

סְרִיס־הַ⁠מֶּ֖לֶךְ

eunuch the=king

See how you decided to translate the term eunuch in 1:10. You could say “royal” for “of the king.”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

נֹשֵׂ֣את חֵ֔ן בְּ⁠עֵינֵ֖י כָּל־רֹאֶֽי⁠הָ

gained graciousness/kindness/favour/beauty in/on=both_eyes_of all/each/any/every saw,her

This is a rare expression in Hebrew, and the exact meaning is uncertain. In this context, the expression probably means that everyone who saw Esther dressed in the clothes she would wear for her visit to the king was very impressed with the way she looked. Alternate translation: “pleased all who saw her”

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

בְּ⁠עֵינֵ֖י

in/on=both_eyes_of

Here, eyes is a metonym for seeing, and seeing is a metaphor for knowledge, notice, attention, or judgment. In this context, the phrase probably means that everyone who saw Esther thought that she was either an attractive woman or a pleasant person, or both. Alternate translation: “in the judgment of”

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

כָּל־רֹאֶֽי⁠הָ

all/each/any/every saw,her

This phrase can mean either every man or every person who saw her. Alternate translation: “every man who saw her”