The Hebrew that is translated as “bow to the ground” or similar in English is translated in Kwere as “bowing knees and face touching the ground.” (Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
Elisha
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)
“Elisha” in Finnish Sign Language (source )
In American Sign Language it is translated with the sign for “bald,” referring to 2 Kings 2:23. This is a sign that was adapted from Kenyan Sign Language. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Elisha” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with with the sign depicting “putting on mantel” referring to 2 Kings 2:13. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
“Elisha” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España
Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Elisha .
For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .
Jericho
The name that is transliterated in English as “Jericho” means “city of the moon,” “a fragrant place.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )
In Hungarian Sign Language it is translated with a sign that alludes to the walls of Jericho coming tumbling down (see Joshua 6:20). (Source: Jenjelvi Biblia and HSL Bible Translation Group)
“Jericho” in Hungarian Sign Language — note that only the first part refers to “Jericho,” the second parts refer to “town” (source )
See also The Fall of Jericho.
Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Jericho .
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 .
prophet
Eugene Nida wrote the following about the translation of the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek terms that are typically translated with “prophet” in English:
“The tendency in many translations is to use ‘to foretell the future’ for ‘prophesy,’ and ‘one who foretells the future’ for ‘prophet.’ This is not always a recommended usage, particularly if such expressions denote certain special native practices of spirit contact and control. It is true, of course, that prophets of the Bible did foretell the future, but this was not always their principal function. One essential significance of the Greek word prophētēs is ‘one who speaks forth,’ principally, of course, as a forth-teller of the Divine will. A translation such as ‘spokesman for God’ may often be employed profitably.” (1947, p. 234f.)
Following is a list of (back-) translations from other languages (click or tap for details):
- San Blas Kuna: “one who speaks the voice of God”
- Central Pame and Vai: “interpreter for God”
- Kaqchikel, Navajo (Dinė), Yaka: “one who speaks for God”
- Northern Grebo: “God’s town crier” (see more about this below)
- Sapo: “God’s sent-word person”
- Shipibo-Conibo, Ngäbere: “one who speaks God’s word”
- Copainalá Zoque: “one who speaks-opens” (a compound meaning “one who discloses or reveals”)
- Sierra Totonac: “one who causes them to know” (in the sense of “revealer”)
- Batak Toba: “foreteller” (this and all the above acc. to Nida 1961, p. 7)
- Western Bukidnon Manobo: “one who is inspired of God” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
- Alekano: “the true man who descended from heaven” (source: Ellis Deibler in Notes on Translation June 1986, p. 36ff.)
- Aguaruna: “teller of God’s word” (source: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125)
- Ekari: “person who speaks under divine impulse”
- Mandarin Chinese: 先知 xiānzhī — “one who foreknows” (or the 1946/1970 translation by Lü Zhenzhong: 神言人 shényánrén — “divine-word-man”)
- Uab Meto: “holy spokesman” (source for this and two above: Reiling / Swellengrebel)
- Kouya: Lagɔɔ gbʋgbanyɔ — “the one who seeks God’s affairs” (source: Saunders, p. 269)
- Kafa: “decide for God only” (source: Loren Bliese)
- Martu Wangka: “sit true to God’s talk” (source: Carl Gross)
- Eastern Highland Otomi: “word passer” (source: John Beekman in Notes on Translation November 1964, p. 1-22)
- Obolo: ebi nriran: “one with power of divine revelation” (source: Enene Enene)
- Mairasi: nonondoai nyan: “message proclaimer” (source: Enggavoter 2004)
- Highland Totonac: “speaker on God’s behalf”
- Central Tarahumara: “God’s preacher” (source for this and above: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)
- Coatlán Mixe: “God’s word-thrower”
- Ayutla Mixtec: “one who talks as God’s representative”
- Isthmus Mixe: “speaker for God” (source for this and two above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
- Mezquital Otomi / Paasaal: “God’s messenger” (source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff. and Fabian N. Dapila in The Bible Translator 2024, p. 415ff.)
- Noongar: Warda Marridjiny or “News Traveling” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
- Kutu: mtula ndagu or “one who gives the prediction of the past and the future” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
- Ebira: ọnịsẹ, a neologism that combines the prefix ọn for “a person” with ịsẹ for “prediction” (source: Scholz /Scholz 2015, p. 49)
- French 1985 translation by Chouraqui: inspiré or “inspired one” (“someone in whom God has breathed [Latin: in + spiro]) (source: Watson 2023, p. 45)
In Ixcatlán Mazatec a term is used that specifically includes women. (Source: Robert Bascom)
About the translation into Northern Grebo:
“In some instances these spiritual terms result from adaptations reflecting the native life and culture. Among the Northern Grebo people of Liberia, a missionary wanted some adequate term for ‘prophet,’ and she was fully aware that the native word for ‘soothsayer’ or ‘diviner’ was no equivalent for the Biblical prophet who spoke forth for God. Of course, much of what the prophets said referred to the future, and though this was an essential part of much of their ministry, it was by no means all. The right word for the Gbeapo people would have to include something which would not only mean the foretelling of important events but the proclamation of truth as God’s representative among the people. At last the right word came; it was ‘God’s town-crier.’ Every morning and evening the official representative of the chief goes through the village crying out the news, delivering the orders of the chief, and announcing important coming events. ‘God’s town-crier’ would be the official representative of God, announcing to the people God’s doings, His commands, and His pronouncements for their salvation and well-being. For the Northern Grebo people the prophet is no weird person from forgotten times; he is as real as the human, moving message of the plowman Amos, who became God’s town-crier to a calloused people.” (source: Nida 1952, p. 20)
In American Sign Language it is a person who sees into the future:
“Prophet” in American Sign Language (source )
In British Sign Language it is is translated with a sign that depicts a message coming from God to a person (the upright finger) and then being passed on to others. (Source: Anna Smith)
“Prophet” in British Sign Language (source: Christian BSL, used with permission)
See also prophesy and prophesy / prophetic frenzy.
Learn more on Bible Odyssey: How to Recognize a Biblical Prophet .
See also seer.
complete verse (2 Kings 2:15)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Kings 2:15:
- Kupsabiny: “When those trainees who came from Jericho saw what had happened, they said, ‘Elisha has received the power which Elijah had.’ Those people went to where Elisha was and knelt before him touching the ground with their faces.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
- Newari: “Seeing him, the prophets who had come from Jericho said, "The spirit of Elijah has come down upon Elisha." And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
- Hiligaynon: “When the group of the prophets who came-from Jerico saw what happened, they said, ‘The power of Elias is with Elisha.’ So they came-to-met-with Elisha and they knelt-down in respect to him.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
- English: “When the group of prophets from Jericho saw what happened, they exclaimed, ‘Elisha now has the power that Elijah had!’ They walked over to him and bowed down in front of him.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Translation commentary on 2 Kings 2:15
The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho: See verse 3 for the sons of the prophets. Some interpreters suggest that the two Hebrew words translated who were at Jericho were not part of the original text but were added in order to identify these prophets with those in verse 5 (so New Jerusalem Bible). However, Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament gives an {A} rating to the reading of the Hebrew text. In some cases it may be wise to translate in such a way as to make it clear that this is a reference to the fifty members of the prophetic guild who had followed Elijah and Elisha from Jericho (verse 7). The translation should not give the misleading impression that they were at Jericho (Revised Standard Version/New Revised Standard Version) or “in Jericho” (New American Bible) at this point in the story. They were rather “from Jericho” (Good News Translation, Revised English Bible). It is possible therefore to translate “the other [fifty] prophets from Jericho” or “the other members of the group of prophets who had come from Jericho.”
Over against them: This reflects the same Hebrew word as found in verse 7, where it is left untranslated in Revised Standard Version (just before “at some distance”). Here this word has been the source of much speculation by biblical scholars. The most obvious meaning seems to be “on the other side of the Jordan River.” New American Bible translates “who were on the other side,” and American Bible has “from the other side.” Yet New Revised Standard Version reads “at a distance,” and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh has “from a distance.” Perhaps the meaning is “who were watching” (New International Version, Revised English Bible) as in verse 7. The Hebrew literally means “on the other side,” but since the following words state that these prophets came to meet him, they must have been at least a short distance away, so the context allows any of these translations.
They said: The members of the group of prophets were in all likelihood saying this to each other and not to Elisha or to any bystanders. In those languages where an object is required, the following model may be helpful: “they said to each other” (Contemporary English Version). Most likely, the prophets were excited, and did not calmly speak to one another. Good News Translation, therefore, uses an exclamation point at the end of their quotation to indicate the excitement with which they probably spoke. Nueva Versión Internacional says “They exclaimed.”
The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha: In making this statement, the other members of the prophetic band acknowledge that Elisha is indeed the successor of Elijah because he obviously has the same miraculous powers. Contemporary English Version translates “Elisha now has Elijah’s power,” and Nouvelle Bible Segond says “The breath of Elijah rests on Elisha.” See the comments on spirit in verse 9 and also on “the Spirit of the LORD” in the next verse.
They came to meet him: It should be clear in translation that these other prophets did not meet Elisha in the middle of the river. They merely approached him where he was standing after having crossed the Jordan.
Bowed to the ground before him: See the comments on 1 Kgs 1.16, 23.
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
SIL Translator’s Notes on 2 Kings 2:15
2:15a When the sons of the prophets who were facing him from Jericho saw what had happened, they said,
The group of prophets from Jericho saw ⌊this⌋ and said,
-or-
When the fifty prophets from Jericho saw how he had crossed the river, they said ⌊to one another⌋ ,
-or-
The members of Jericho’s prophetic community saw what happened. They exclaimed,
2:15b “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.”
“The spirit of Elijah has come upon Elisha.”
-or-
“The spirit of ⌊Yahweh⌋ that was in Elijah is now upon Elisha.”
-or-
“Elisha now has the ⌊powerful⌋ spirit that Elijah had!”
2:15c And they went to meet him and bowed down to the ground before him.
Then they came over to meet him. They kneeled down on the ground in front of him.
-or-
They walked toward him and bowed low before him ⌊to honor him⌋ .
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