The LORD hearkened to the voice of Elijah: A more modern equivalent for the verb hearkened is “listened” (New Revised Standard Version) or “heard” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). In common English speech, the whole clause is translated “The LORD answered Elijah’s prayer” by Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version.

The soul of the child came into him again: The translation of this expression should follow the decision made about how to render the similar expression in the previous verse.

He revived: The addition of the verb revived is somewhat redundant, but in most cases the repetition of this idea serves to emphasize this surprising turn of events. In some languages this may be translated by saying “he was healed.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .