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 18:16)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Kings 18:16:

  • Kupsabiny: “Immediately, Obadiah went to meet king Ahab and told him those issues. Ahab went to meet with Elijah.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “So Obadiah went to meet Ahab. And he told him that Elijah had come. Ahab went to meet Elijah.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “So Obadias went to Ahab and he told him that Elias was there, and Ahab went to meet Elias.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So Obadiah went to tell Ahab that Elijah had come. Ahab went to meet with him.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Kings 18:16

Obadiah went to meet Ahab: The Hebrew verb rendered to meet often means “to call” or “to meet.” In this context, however, it may be translated “to find” (Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible) since Obadiah did not know exactly where Ahab was, nor did they apparently have a fixed time scheduled when they would meet again.

What is implied in the words told him may have to be made explicit in certain languages. Some may say “told him what had happened,” “told him where Elijah was” (New Century Version), or “to tell Ahab that Elijah had come” (New Living Translation). However, Revised English Bible is probably more accurate in translating “gave him the message,” since this refers implicitly to the message that Elijah had told Obadiah to give to the king (see verses 8, 11, and 14).

Ahab went to meet Elijah: This second occurrence of the expression went to meet in this verse may be taken as slightly different from the first one even though they are the same in Hebrew. Here Revised English Bible says “went to confront,” which fits this context well.

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 18:16

Section 18:16-46

Elijah challenged Ahab and the prophets of Baal

18:16a So Obadiah went to inform Ahab,

So Obadiah went to meet/see Ahab. He told Ahab ⌊where Elijah was⌋,
-or-
Then Obadiah left ⌊Elijah⌋ to give the/his message to ⌊King⌋ Ahab.

18:16b who went to meet Elijah.

and Ahab went to meet/find Elijah.
-or-

⌊When he heard the message,⌋ Ahab went to talk to Elijah.

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