19So he set out from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat, who was plowing. There were twelve yoke of oxen ahead of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle over him.
The Hebrew that is translated as “cloak,” “shirt,” or “mantle” or similar in English is translated in Newari as gā (गा), the Nepali shawl wrapped around upper part of body, used by both men and women. (Source: Newari Back Translation)
The name that is transliterated as “Elisha” in English means “God the Savior,” “to whom God is salvation,” “God of salvation,” “God is Savior.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )
In Finnish Sign Language it is translated with the sign signifying “help + prophet.” (Source: Tarja Sandholm)
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 )
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 )
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Kings 19:19:
Kupsabiny: “Elijah got up at that point/time and set off. And/But later, he went to find Elisha the son of Shafat who was in the field plowing. There was 12 pairs of oxen (he/they) who was/were plowing. Elisha was plowing with the twelfth pair. Then, Elijah passed by where Elisha was and then he threw his outer dress over his shoulders to show that he had anointed/installed him to become prophet.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “So Elijah went from there and found Elisha, son of Shaphat who was plowing a field with oxen. There were 12 teams of oxen in front of him. As for him, he was plowing the field with the last twelfth pair of oxen. Elijah taking off his own shawl draped it over Elisha.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Elias left from there and he saw Elisha the child of Shafat who was-plowing. There were eleven pairs of cows in-front/ahead of Elisha that were-being- used-for-plowing by his companions, and he (was) the-(one) plowing the twelfth pair of cow(s) Elias came-near to him, and Elias covered his cloak on/upon Elisha.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “So Elijah went to Syria and found Elisha as he was plowing a field with a team of oxen. There were eleven other men who were in front of him, plowing with teams of oxen in the same field. Elijah went to Elisha, and took off his own coat and put it on Elisha, to show Elisha that he wanted him to take his place as a prophet. Then he started to walk away.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
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