And: It may not be necessary to translate the common Hebrew conjunction that links this verse to the previous one if a new paragraph is started here. But in order to mark the change of scene and to express the sense of the Hebrew grammar, some versions render it “Meanwhile” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version).

The messenger refers to the official mentioned in verse 9.

The official introduces his statement with the particle Behold in an attempt to direct attention on the importance of what he is about to say. If a similar device exists in the receptor language, it will be appropriate here.

With one accord is literally “one mouth” (so Osty-Trinquet).

Let your word be like the word of one of them: The particle of entreaty occurs here in this clause and also after the word Behold in Hebrew, but neither Revised Standard Version nor Good News Translation expresses it. It may be appropriate to include at some point the word “please” or the polite request “I beg you” when the appeals are made at the end of this verse. New Jerusalem Bible says “I hope you will say the same thing as they do.”

Speak favorably is literally “speak good.”

A part or all of the direct quotation in this verse may be made indirect if it is more natural to do so. Moffatt, for example, turns the first part of the official’s message into indirect speech by translating the verse as follows: “The messenger who went for Micaiah told him that the prophets with one consent were predicting good for the king; ‘pray let your message be like any one of theirs; say a good word.’ ”

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 .