But renders the common Hebrew conjunction. A contrastive conjunction seems to be required here in translation because Naaman did not immediately follow the instructions given by Elisha through his servant.

Saying: In those languages that require translators to indicate an indirect object for this verb, it will be necessary to decide whether Naaman is speaking to himself, to his own servants, or to the messenger who had presented Elisha’s proposed remedy. The Hebrew verb rendered saying may be translated in this context as “grumbling” (Contemporary English Version) or “complaining” (Nueva Versión Internacional).

Behold: The underlying Hebrew particle here is often omitted in translation, but if the receptor language has a way of focusing attention on the statement to follow, it may be used in this case.

I thought that he would surely come out to me: In Hebrew he would surely come out contains two forms of the same verb. This type of expression normally indicates an emphatic statement. By using this form, Naaman shows that he had felt certain that the prophet would come out of his house and perform the healing immediately.

To me has been shifted forward in the rendering of New Revised Standard Version, which says “I thought that for me he would surely come out.” By doing this, it gives a somewhat different meaning to these words. This seems to indicate Naaman’s belief that Elisha should have taken into consideration his high position. This meaning reflects the sense of the Hebrew better.

Call on the name of the LORD his God: See the comments on 1 Kgs 18.24.

Wave his hand over the place: The place may be understood in two different ways. Either it refers to the particular place on the body of Naaman where the disease manifested itself, or it might possibly have been intended to refer more generally to the location where the men were. But most modern commentators agree that it has to do rather with the diseased place or “the places” (Revised English Bible) on Naaman’s body.

Cure the leper: Naaman refers to himself indirectly as the leper. But this may be unnatural or confusing in many languages. Some may prefer to follow the Good News Translation model in saying “cure me.” Others, however, may say “cure the leprosy” (Hobbs), “cured me of the leprosy” (Revised English Bible), or “cure the part that was diseased” (New Jerusalem Bible).

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 .