This verse needs to be read in light of the first part of 1 Kgs 14.11, which says “Any one belonging to Jeroboam who dies in the city the dogs shall eat; and any one who dies in the open country the birds of the air shall eat.”

Any one belonging to Ahab refers to any of Ahab’s family members. See the comments at 1 Kgs 14.11 and 16.4. Since Good News Translation assumes that Elijah continues to speak to Ahab here, it changes the third person reference to him to second person by saying “Any of your relatives” (similarly Bible en français courant, La Bible du Semeur).

The birds of the air: This literal expression is accurately translated in most languages as simply “birds” (so New Century Version), but in this context it clearly refers to those birds that eat the flesh of people and animals. It is for this reason that some modern versions translate “vultures” (Good News Translation, New Living Translation, Contemporary English Version, Bible en français courant, Parole de Vie).

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 .