This verse is presented in the format of two questions with the answer provided immediately at the end of this verse. But in some languages this may not be the most natural way to convey the emotional content of the verse. In certain cases the whole verse may have to be turned around so that it begins with the emphatic statement “It is I, the Holy One of Israel, that you have offended!”

Whom have you mocked and reviled?: The two verbs mocked and reviled each occur earlier in this chapter. Mocked is used in verses 4 and 16, while reviled appears in verse 6. They both speak of the arrogant and offensive attitude of the Assyrian king toward the God of Israel.

The expression raised your voice seems to focus on an impolite or discourteous way of speaking to God, while haughtily lifted your eyes appears to refer more generally to actions other than speaking. New Living Translation translates this second phrase as “At whom did you look in such proud condescension?”

The Holy One of Israel is a common expression in Isaiah (for example, 1.4; 5.19, 24; 10.20). Both Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version translate this as “the holy God of Israel.”

The questions in this verse may be translated as very strong affirmations in some languages since this is certainly the sense. A possible model for the verse as a whole is as follows:

• It is I, the Holy One of Israel, that you have offended!

• You have insulted and ridiculed me.

• You have spoken without respect and acted rudely toward me.

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