Behold, Elijah met him: The Hebrew particle rendered behold draws attention to what follows. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh and Anchor Bible, like Good News Translation, attempt to translate the sense by using the adverb “suddenly.” New Jerusalem Bible tries to convey the meaning by using the idiomatic expression “whom should he meet but Elijah.”

Obadiah recognized him is literally “he recognized him.” Revised Standard Version has inserted the proper name Obadiah for the sake of clarity. The text does not tell how Obadiah recognized Elijah. Perhaps he knew the prophet personally, or perhaps he recognized him from the way he was dressed (see 2 Kgs 1.8).

Fell on his face means that Obadiah bowed down in reverence to Elijah. He shows further respect for Elijah by addressing him as my lord. A literal rendering of my lord will be misleading in many languages. Translators should look for a term of respect appropriate for this situation in the receptor language. While Good News Translation uses the word “sir,” New Century Version has “master.”

The verb said may be better translated “asked” (Good News Translation) since what follows is a question.

Is it you, my lord Elijah?: The writer says Obadiah recognized Elijah. Obadiah’s question, therefore, is not asking whether this is Elijah or someone else. Rather, the question expresses his surprise in meeting Elijah. Good News Translation expresses this in English by adding the word “really.” Compare also “Can it really be you, my lord Elijah?” (Revised English Bible). New Jerusalem Bible turns this question into an exclamation by saying “So it is you, my lord Elijah!” See also the comments on Ahab’s similar question in verse 17.

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 .