It will be noted that Good News Translation changes the order of the first two clauses in this verse. The fact that Jezebel would not be buried is shifted forward to the beginning of the verse. This may be the most natural structure in certain other languages. But the transformation of the verbs eat and bury into passive forms by Good News Translation will be unnecessary and unnatural in many cases.

The dogs shall eat Jezebel; that is, they will eat the dead body of Jezebel. The use of the definite article with dogs is probably not intended to refer to any particular group of dogs, but rather to dogs in general. So the article is better left untranslated in most languages. New Living Translation clearly identifies Jezebel as “Ahab’s wife, Jezebel.”

In the territory of Jezreel: Compare 1 Kgs 21.23, but note that the wording is slightly different in that case. Instead of territory, 1 Kgs 21.23 speaks of the “bounds” of Jezreel. According to some commentators, the reference here is to the vineyard that Jezebel had taken from Naboth by having him killed (Cogan and Tadmor). If this is true, then the Contemporary English Version rendering “in the town of Jezreel” is probably too vague. A better translation would be “in the plot of ground at Jezreel” (Revised English Bible) or “in the field of Jezreel” (New Jerusalem Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). For Jezreel see 1 Kgs 18.45 and 21.1.

Then renders the common Hebrew conjunction, but the context may require something stronger in certain languages. Attempts at this by modern English versions are “With that” (Revised English Bible) and “With this” (New Jerusalem Bible). But other languages may require an expression such as “At once” or “Immediately.”

He opened the door, and fled: While the text has only the pronoun he, referring to the young prophetic messenger, it may be necessary in some languages to make it clear that it was not Jehu but the young prophet who left the room so quickly (so Good News Translation).

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 .