fat, oil

The different Hebrew, Ge’ez, and Greek terms that are translated as “(olive) oil” and “(animal) fat” in English are translated in Kwere with only one term: mavuta. (Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

complete verse (2 Kings 4:6)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Kings 4:6:

  • Kupsabiny: “When the oil had filled every bottle, the woman said to her son, ‘Please bring me another bottle.’ That son answered his mother, ‘There are no more.’ The oil stopped so that it no longer flowed.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “After all the jars had been filled, she said to one of her sons, "Bring another jar."
    But he replied, "Now there is not even a single Jar left." Just at that time the oil stopped coming.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “When all the containers were full, she said to her child, ‘Give me more containers.’ Her child replied, ‘There-are-no now/[more] containers.’ And then the flowing of the oil stopped.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Soon all the jars were full. So she said to one of her sons, ‘Bring me another jar!’ But he replied, ‘There are no more jars!’ And then the olive oil stopped flowing.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Kings 4:6

In Hebrew this verse begins with the verbal transition that is sometimes rendered “And it came to pass” (so King James Version, Jewish Publication Version). However, it is ignored by most modern versions since it serves only to move the story along to the next stage.

When the vessels were full: Some other possibilities for conveying the meaning of this clause are “when the last container was full” and “when all the containers had been filled.”

Her son refers to “one of her sons” (Contemporary English Version, Parole de Vie) since verse 1 clearly states that she had two sons.

Bring me another vessel: The woman was obviously unaware that all the containers had been filled. Good News Translation transforms this into indirect discourse and slightly alters the meaning. But the result is the same; the woman is told that there are no more containers available.

Then the oil stopped flowing: In some cases translators may wish to say “Then the increase of oil ceased” or “Then there was no more olive oil to pour out.” One African language says “At that the oil came to stand.”

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 4:6

4:6a When all the jars were full,

When all the containers/vessels were full ⌊of oil⌋ ,

-or-

The woman filled the last pot.

-or-

Finally none of the jars could hold/contain/receive any more oil.

4:6b she said to her son,

she said to one of her sons,

-or-

Then she said to one of her sons,

-or-

⌊Not knowing this,⌋ the woman asked one of her sons

4:6c “Bring me another.”

“Bring me another container/vessel.”

-or-

“Bring me another pot.”

-or-

to bring/fetch her another jar.

4:6d But he replied, “There are no more jars.”

But her son answered, “There are no more containers/vessels.”

-or-

But the boy said, “The ⌊empty⌋ pots are all gone/finished.”

-or-

Her son told her that they did not have any more ⌊empty⌋ jars.

4:6e Then the oil stopped flowing.

Then the oil stopped coming/pouring out.

-or-

At that point/time the ⌊olive⌋ oil came to an end too.

-or-

⌊Only⌋ then did the flow of oil stop/end.

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