But: There is no obvious reason for translating the common Hebrew conjunction here in this way even though New Revised Standard Version and New Jerusalem Bible also do the same. The verse actually begins with the form of the verb “to be” that is often translated “And it came to pass” or “And it happened.” Here it introduces a new and unexpected element in the story. Revised English Bible attempts to reflect this with “it chanced that.”

One is literally “the one” with a definite article as in verse 3. This may be more clearly translated “one of the prophets.”

Was felling a log: While the Hebrew word for log or “beam” (New Jerusalem Bible) is found in the text (as in verse 2), it seems to be used in anticipation of what the tree would become after it was cut down and trimmed. Here the meaning is “was chopping down a tree.” Several English versions avoid the anticipatory use of “beam” and translate “tree” instead (Good News Translation, New International Version, New Century Version). The Hebrew has the definite article with the noun for log, probably because verse 2 already refers to a log. But in English the sense is expressed better without the definite article since the context does not refer to a specific log.

His axe head fell into the water: In the Hebrew text the direct object marker occurs before the word rendered axe head even though this word is the subject of the verb fell and not the direct object. Some interpreters think that the presence of the direct object marker is an error. Others think that it is used to place emphasis on the axe head. It is not clear whether the Good News Translation rendering with the word “suddenly” is an attempt to show this emphasis in the Hebrew or whether “suddenly” is added simply because it may be assumed that the axe head fell suddenly and unexpectedly rather than slowly with the possibility that someone could catch it before it fell into the water.

His axe head is literally “the iron.” The writer here uses the Hebrew word for the same material that is mentioned in 1 Kgs 6.7; 8.51; 22.11. The same word is translated “the iron” in the following verse. In quite a few languages of the world, this more literal rendering will be simpler and much more natural than looking for an exact equivalent for axe head. Others may have very different idioms to speak of the metal part of the axe; for example, they may refer to it as “the blade” or “the metal.”

Cried out: As in 2 Kgs 2.12 and 4.1, the Hebrew verb rendered here is used of someone speaking in a loud voice. In this particular case there is also the idea of despair because of the misfortune that had occurred. It may be translated “yelled” (New Century Version) or “shouted” (Contemporary English Version).

Alas: This somewhat archaic English term is surprisingly retained in New Revised Standard Version, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, and New Jerusalem Bible. But in Revised English Bible, Contemporary English Version, New International Version and New Century Version, it is replaced by “Oh.” Good News Translation translates it as a question: “What shall I do…?” The same term is translated by Revised Standard Version in Jeremiah (1.6; 4.10; 14.13; 32.17) and Ezekiel (4.14; 9.8; 11.13; 20.49) as “Ah.” Translators should ask themselves what kind of cry of despair a person would pronounce in a similar situation and then use the same form here in translation.

My master is translated “my lord” in New Jerusalem Bible. But since this is a title of respect, the more natural equivalent in modern English may be “sir” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, Hobbs).

It was borrowed: This passive expression will have to be made active in some languages. The meaning may easily be expressed by saying “another person loaned it to me,” “it does not belong to me, but to someone else,” or “I had borrowed it from another person, so it was not mine.” In some parts of the world today, an axe is not very expensive, but iron instruments were not so common in ancient Israel. So this member of the group of prophets would have had great difficulty in replacing the borrowed axe.

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 .