He wore a garment of haircloth is literally “[He was] a man master of hair.” This expression has two possible meanings. It may mean that he was a hairy man (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Revised English Bible, New Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, American Bible, An American Translation, Hobbs), that is, he had a long, bushy beard and long, uncut hair. Or it may mean that he was a man wearing a cloak made of hair (Bible en français courant “He wore a garment made of camel hair,” New Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, La Bible du Semeur, Nouvelle version Segond révisée). While it is impossible to be certain which meaning was intended, it is true that the generally recognized sign of a prophet was his wearing of a garment made of hair (Zech 13.4; Matt 3.4).

A girdle of leather: According to several versions, this would have been “a leather belt” (New Revised Standard Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, American Bible), although New Jerusalem Bible has “a leather loincloth” (also Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). The full lexicon by Koehler, Baumgartner, and Stamm (1994–2000, KBS) gives the meaning for girdle here as “the under garment which is taken off last, loincloth.” The word “girdle” has very different connotations in modern English.

About his loins: In more modern English this is translated “around his waist” (New Revised Standard Version) or “around his middle” (Hobbs).

John the Baptist, the “second Elijah,” is described in similar terms in Matt 3.4 and Mark 1.6.

The context may require a more dramatic translation of the verb said to introduce the response of the king. In addition to Good News Translation, New American Bible and Nueva Versión Internacional also have “exclaimed.” Others may find it adequate to say “answered” or “replied.”

The Tishbite: See verse 3. Since this is the second time Elijah is qualified in this way in the same story, it may be considered unnecessary to repeat it here.

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 .