complete verse (2 Kings 4:15)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Kings 4:15:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then Elisha said to Gehazi, ‘Please go and call here again to come.’ Then, when she was called, she came again and stood by the door/entrance.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then Elisha said, "Call her again!" Gehazi called that woman. She came and stood near his door.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Elisha said, ‘Call her again.’ So Gehazi called her, and she stood in the doorway.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Elisha told Gehazi, ‘Call her back again.’ So Gehazi went and called her. And when the woman returned, as she stood in the doorway,” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Kings 4:15

He said: Translators should ensure that readers understand that Elisha is speaking to Gehazi again. Some modern translations say “Elisha said” (Nouvelle Bible Segond) or “Elisha ordered” (Good News Translation).

Call her: This seems to confirm the fact that the woman was not “standing before” Elisha in verse 12 since she had to be called into his presence at this point. Nevertheless, if verse 12 is translated in such as way as to have her standing before Elisha at that point, then this would have to be rendered “Call her back” (Revised English Bible). The direct quotation here may also be rendered as indirect speech in some languages as follows: “Elisha commanded his servant to call her back.”

He had called her; that is, “Gehazi called her” (Nouvelle Bible Segond).

She stood in the doorway: Good News Translation inserts the implied information that the woman came to the guest chamber before standing in the doorway. She did not approach any closer to the prophet either because of modesty or out of respect for the prophet.

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 4:15

4:15a “Call her,” said Elisha.

Elisha said, “Call her ⌊over here⌋ .”

-or-

Elisha said ⌊to Gehazi⌋ , “Call her ⌊to me⌋ .”

-or-

Elisha told Gehazi to ask the woman to come closer.

4:15b So Gehazi called her,

So Gehazi called her over ⌊to them⌋ ,

-or-

So Gehazi did/called.

4:15c and she stood in the doorway.

and she ⌊came and⌋ stood by the door ⌊to Elisha’s room⌋ .

-or-

The woman ⌊came over/near⌋ and stood at the entrance ⌊of Elisha’s room⌋ .

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