This verse continues the words of God to the prophet Elijah. Within this quotation are two embedded levels of quotation: first, the words that Elijah is to say to Ahab (Thus says the LORD), and then the words of the LORD (Have you killed …), which are a rhetorical question. All of this is followed by a similar set of embedded quotations. If these quotations are restructured in the receptor language, care will be needed to ensure that all pronoun references are correct and clear. One way to reduce the number of levels of quotation is to introduce the statement with “Give him this message from me, the LORD….”

And you shall say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD: These words occur twice in the Masoretic Text. The second time the Septuagint reads “that is why the Lord says this” (similarly New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Osty-Trinquet). Even if the Masoretic Text is followed here, the Septuagint surely expresses the sense and may be followed for reasons of translation.

Both occurrences of the words you shall say to him are literally “you shall say to him saying.”

Have you killed, and also taken possession?: There is not a direct object after the Hebrew verb rendered Have you killed, but it will be necessary in some languages to supply a noun. The object is, of course, Naboth. Similarly, the Hebrew has no stated object for the verb rendered taken possession. The object is Naboth’s vineyard. Nearly all translations take the sentence here as a question. But the Hebrew adverb at the beginning of this sentence sometimes gives the words that follow the force of an exclamation (so Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie, Nouvelle Bible Segond). These words, therefore, may also be rendered “You have killed and then taken possession!” In languages that require objects for the verbs in this sentence, translators may consider the following model: “You have killed a man and taken control of his property.”

In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick your own blood: The fulfillment of this prophecy is recorded in 1 Kgs 22.38. The fulfillment is not exact, however, since the dogs licked up Naboth’s blood right outside the city of Jezreel, but they licked up Ahab’s blood in Samaria. In order to avoid this lack of agreement in the fulfillment, some interpreters have argued that the two Hebrew words translated In the place where should be translated “instead of.” However, examples of this meaning elsewhere in the Old Testament are far from convincing. Provan accepts this second interpretation with the following translation: “Instead of dogs licking up Naboth’s blood, dogs will lick up your blood—yes, yours!” But such a translation of this Hebrew expression is unusual and is not recommended.

In Hebrew the final four words, rendered your own blood, are emphatic. A more literal rendering is “your blood also yours.” Compare also “your blood, even yours!” (Anchor Bible) and the translation by Provan mentioned above.

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 .