The common Hebrew conjunction at the beginning of this verse may be translated But in order to show the contrast between the king’s command and the prophet’s refusal. But most modern versions leave it untranslated.
Elijah answered the captain of fifty: The object of the verb answered may be left entirely implicit as in some translations (Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, Nueva Versión Internacional), or it may be reduced to “the captain” (New American Bible, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible), omitting the words of fifty. The translation here will depend on what is considered most natural in the receptor language.
If I am a man of God: These words should not be taken as an indication that Elijah had doubts about his own calling as a prophet. Rather, he takes up the title used by the royal messenger and uses it to challenge the king’s authority. The events that follow prove that Elijah is indeed a man of God and that he is not to be ordered around by an earthly king. Bible en français courant translates “Since I am a prophet of God.”
Let fire come down from heaven: A literal rendering of this clause may make it sound as if Elijah is asking the captain to allow fire to come down from heaven. The sense is rather that he is asking God to cause fire to descend. The Hebrew text contains a play on words since the Hebrew word for man (ʾish) is similar to the word for fire (ʾesh). Fire in the Old Testament is a traditional symbol of God’s active presence. In some languages it will be more natural to say “may God send down fire…” or “I ask that God might send fire down….” In some languages the image of fire falling from heaven will automatically be understood correctly as lightning from the sky. See the comments on 1 Kgs 18.38.
The verb consume, which is used twice in this verse, has the primary meaning of “to eat.” The result of fire “eating” a person or group of people is that they are killed. For this reason the verb may be correctly translated in this context as “kill” (Good News Translation) or “burn up” (New Century Version). But in some languages there are special verbs used to describe the action of burning a person to death. Where such terms exist, they may be used quite naturally here.
The last sentence in Revised Standard Version begins with the connector Then, which translates the common Hebrew conjunction. The context seems to justify the Good News Translation rendering “At once.” Contemporary English Version conveys the same meaning with the adverb “immediately.”
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 .