Elijah

The name that is transliterated as “Elijah” in English means “God-LORD,” “strength of the LORD,” “my God is YHWH.” “the LORD God.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In Spanish Sign Language it is translated as “whirlwind” (according to 2 Kings 2:11) (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. )


“Elijah” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

Click or tap here to see how other sign languages are translating “Elijah”

In American Sign Language it is translated with a depiction of being taken up to heaven with a chariot of fire. (Source: ASL Sign Language Directory )


“Elijah” in American Sign Language (source )

Likewise in Estonian Sign Language, but with a different sign (source: Liina Paales in Folklore 47, 2011, p. 43ff.)


“Elijah” in Estonian Sign Language (source )

In Finnish Sign Language it is translated with the sign signifying “fire” (referring to 1 Kings 18:38). (Source: Tarja Sandholm)


“Elijah” in Finnish Sign Language (source )

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

Following is a Russian Orthodox icon of Elijah from the late 13h century.

 
Orthodox Icons are not drawings or creations of imagination. They are in fact writings of things not of this world. Icons can represent our Lord Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the Saints. They can also represent the Holy Trinity, Angels, the Heavenly hosts, and even events. Orthodox icons, unlike Western pictures, change the perspective and form of the image so that it is not naturalistic. This is done so that we can look beyond appearances of the world, and instead look to the spiritual truth of the holy person or event. (Source )

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Elijah .

complete verse (1 Kings 17:15)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Kings 17:15:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then, that lady went and did as Elijah had told her. That lady got food in her house together with Elijah for many days.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “That widow went, she did just like Elijah had said. And Elijah, that woman and her son had enough food to eat for many days.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The woman went-away and she did as Elias said. So there was food everyday for Elias and for the widow and her child.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So the woman did exactly what Elijah told her to do. And she and her son and Elijah had enough food every day,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Kings 17:15

She went: In languages where masculine and feminine pronouns are the same, it may be especially important to translate the pronoun she with the noun phrase “the widow” or “the woman” in order to avoid any possible confusion. The pronoun he later in the verse refers to Elijah, not to her son. For clarity New Living Translation replaces this pronoun with the name “Elijah” and Bible en français courant says “the prophet.”

She, and he, and her household ate for many days: In the Masoretic Text this is literally “she ate, he and she and her household for many days.” Several Hebrew manuscripts, however, read “she ate, she and he and her household…” and the margin of the Masoretic Text says that the text should read this way.

The Septuagint reads “her son” instead of her household and it omits the words for many days. It must be admitted that the mention of her household in the Masoretic Text is surprising since verses 12-13 have mentioned only the widow and her son. The Septuagint reading is followed by New Jerusalem Bible, which reads “they ate the food, she, himself and her son.” Peregrino combines the Hebrew and Greek texts by reading “her son” instead of “her household,” and by keeping the words for many days (similarly New American Bible, Osty-Trinquet).

Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament, however, gives a {B} rating to the Masoretic Text and suggests that since verse 17 calls her “the mistress of the house,” and since the house was large enough to have an upper chamber (verse 19), it is reasonable to think that there were other people living in the house besides the woman and her son. Good News Translation tries to avoid the textual problem here by saying “all of them had enough food for many days,” but this rendering is too free.

For many days is literally “days.” The sense of the plural word “days” is “for many days.” Other acceptable translations include “for a long time” (Revised English Bible), “for a year” (New American Bible), and “for some time” (Anchor Bible). Regarding the length of time that Elijah was at Cherith Brook and in Zarephath, see the comments on verse 7.

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 .

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Kings 17:15

17:15a So she went and did according to the word of Elijah,

So the woman left. She followed Elijah’s instructions
-or-
Then the widow/woman went home and did what Elijah had instructed her to do.

17:15b and there was food every day for Elijah and the woman and her household.

and so there was food ⌊in her home⌋ every day. There was ⌊enough⌋ for her and her household, and for Elijah.
-or-
And day after day, Elijah, the widow/woman, and her family/household had food/bread ⌊to eat⌋.

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