She said: In the context of this dialogue, the verb said may be better translated “replied” (New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) or “answered” (Contemporary English Version, Good News Translation) in certain languages.

As the LORD your God lives: See the comments on 1 Kgs 1.29.

I have nothing baked: Baked translates a Hebrew word whose meaning is uncertain. It may come from a root meaning “to bake” or from a root meaning “to be round.” Revised Standard Version follows the first interpretation; but if the second interpretation is followed, the sense is “I have no pancakes [or, griddle cakes].” Holladay defines the Hebrew word here as meaning “supply, provision.” Good News Translation avoids the difficulty by saying “I don’t have any bread” (also New International Version, Bible en français courant).

Only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a cruse: Meal refers to the material from which bread is normally made. It is made by grinding grain (usually wheat or barley). The majority of modern English translations render this word “flour” (Good News Translation, New International Version, Revised English Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). See the comments on 1 Kgs 4.22.

The words jar and cruse translate two different Hebrew nouns. The jar, or “jug” (Anchor Bible), was probably made of clay and was large enough to hold two or three gallons of water. King James Version calls this a “barrel,” but the English word “barrel” will suggest to most readers a much larger jar than is intended. The Hebrew word here rendered jar is not the same as the word also rendered “jar” in 1 Kgs 14.3.

A cruse was a narrow earthen flask from 7.5 to 15 centimeters (3-6 inches) tall. It was normally used to hold liquids. In 1 Sam 26.11-12, 16 and 1 Kgs 19.6, it contained water.

For oil see the comments on this noun in 1 Kgs 1.39. In this context New Living Translation calls it “cooking oil.”

And now is literally “and behold” (New American Standard Bible). These words render the common conjunction and the focusing particle in Hebrew. They fix the attention of the listener on what the woman is about to say. However, Good News Translation omits these words for the sake of naturalness.

A couple of sticks is literally “two sticks,” but the number “two” should perhaps not be taken literally. For this reason New International Version translates “a few sticks” (similarly Contemporary English Version). See the comments on sticks in verse 10.

That we may eat it: The pronoun we refers to the woman and her son and does not include the prophet. So in those languages that distinguish between inclusive and exclusive pronouns, the exclusive form should be used here.

And die: The context clearly implies that death will be from starvation, not from food poisoning or some other cause. For this reason Good News Translation says “and then we will starve to death.” In some languages it will be prudent to translate this as a separate sentence. One language has done so as follows: “When we finish eating that, we can do nothing but wait for death.”

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 .