complete verse (2 Kings 2:25)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Kings 2:25:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then Elisha left there, and he continued to the mountain of Carmel. After that, he returned to Samaria.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “From there he went to Mount Carmel, afterwards he went from there back to Samaria.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Then Elisha went to Mount Carmel, and afterwards he returned to Samaria.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Elisha left Bethel and went to Carmel Mountain, and after that he returned to Samaria city.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Kings 2:25

From there; that is, from the place where the incident with the disrespectful youths had occurred.

The prophet went to Mount Carmel and after the passage of an undetermined amount of time, he went to Samaria. It is difficult to understand the use of the verb returned in this verse since, according to the first verse of this chapter, Elisha started out from Gilgal. The only thing that can be said is that the prophet must have been in Samaria at some time previously and for this reason the writer chose the word returned. There seems to be no legitimate reason to translate otherwise in the receptor language.

For Mount Carmel, see the comments on 1 Kgs 18.19; for Samaria see the introductory comments on 1 Kgs 16.21-28.

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 2:25

2:25a And Elisha went on to Mount Carmel

From there Elisha went on to Mount Carmel,

-or-

Then Elisha continued on to Carmel mountain/hill.

2:25b and from there he returned to Samaria.

and from there he traveled to Samaria ⌊city⌋ .

-or-

Later/Afterwards he went back to Samaria ⌊city⌋ .

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