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 .

complete verse (2 Kings 8:14)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Kings 8:14:

  • Kupsabiny: “After that, Hazael left Elisha and returned to where his king was. As soon as he was arriving, that one was asking (him), ‘What did Elisha tell you?’ Hazael replied, ‘He told me that you will live.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Hazael came back from Elisha’s place to Ben-hadad’s place. The King asked, "Then what did Elisha say?" Hazael replied, "He said that you would surely recover."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Hazael returned to his master Ben Hadad, and Ben Hadad asked him, ‘Well/So, what did- the LORD -tell you?’ Hazael replied, ‘He said to me that you will- very surely -be-cured/healed.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then Hazael left and returned to his master/boss the king, who asked him, ‘What did Elisha say?’
    He replied, ‘He told me that you would certainly recover.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Kings 8:14

He departed from Elisha: Good News Translation leaves this clause implicit since it would almost certainly be understood in most cases. But unless it is awkward to state it explicitly, it should be included. Some Greek manuscripts have “the man of God” in place of the proper name Elisha. But this makes no difference in meaning and the evidence is hardly compelling.

Came to his master; that is, Hazael returned to King Benhadad in the Syrian capital.

You would certainly recover is literally “recovering you will recover,” using the same emphatic structure as in verse 10. Hazael accurately relays the statement of Elisha without giving away the fact that there was much more to his conversation with 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 8:14

8:14a So Hazael left Elisha and went to his master,

Then Hazael left Elisha and went to his master ⌊the king⌋ .

-or-

Hazael then parted from Elisha and came/went back to his master ⌊Ben Hadad⌋ .

-or-

Hazael left Elisha’s house. He traveled back to his master ⌊Ben-Hadad the king of Aram⌋ .

8:14b who asked him, “What did Elisha say to you?”

Ben-Hadad asked him, “What did Elisha tell you?”

-or-

When Ben-Hadad saw him, he asked, “Tell me what Elisha said.”

-or-

The king wanted to know what Elisha had told him.

8:14c And he replied, “He told me that you would surely recover.”

Hazael answered, “The prophet told me that you (sing.) will certainly live.”

-or-

Hazael answered to the king, “He said that of course you will get well.”

-or-

Hazael told the king that Elisha had said that he would make a full recovery.

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