1Then the prophet Elisha called a member of the company of prophets and said to him, “Gird up your loins; take this flask of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth-gilead.
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)
The different Hebrew 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)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Kings 9:1:
Kupsabiny: “Then one day, the prophet Elisha called (to come) one of the trainee prophets and said to (him), ‘Fold your dress and tie (it), and then take this cow horn of oil and go to Ramoth-gilead.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Elisha called one of the young prophets and said, "Get ready, you are to take this bottle of olive oil and go to Ramoth Gilead.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Elisha called for a member of the group of the prophets and told-him, ‘[You (sing.)] prepare to go to Ramot Gilead, and bring this flask/small-jar of oil.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Meanwhile, the prophet Elisha summoned one of the other prophets. He said to him, ‘Get ready and go to Ramoth city in the Gilead region. Take this jar of olive oil with you.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Eugene Nida wrote the following about the translation of the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek terms that are typically translated with “prophet” in English:
“The tendency in many translations is to use ‘to foretell the future’ for ‘prophesy,’ and ‘one who foretells the future’ for ‘prophet.’ This is not always a recommended usage, particularly if such expressions denote certain special native practices of spirit contact and control. It is true, of course, that prophets of the Bible did foretell the future, but this was not always their principal function. One essential significance of the Greek word prophētēs is ‘one who speaks forth,’ principally, of course, as a forth-teller of the Divine will. A translation such as ‘spokesman for God’ may often be employed profitably.” (1947, p. 234f.)
Following is a list of (back-) translations from other languages (click or tap for details):
Ayutla Mixtec: “one who talks as God’s representative”
Isthmus Mixe: “speaker for God” (source for this and two above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
Mezquital Otomi / Paasaal: “God’s messenger” (source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff. and Fabian N. Dapila in The Bible Translator 2024, p. 415ff.)
Noongar: Warda Marridjiny or “News Traveling” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
Kutu: mtula ndagu or “one who gives the prediction of the past and the future” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
Ebira: ọnịsẹ, a neologism that combines the prefix ọn for “a person” with ịsẹ for “prediction” (source: Scholz /Scholz 2015, p. 49)
French 1985 translation by Chouraqui: inspiré or “inspired one” (“someone in whom God has breathed [Latin: in + spiro]) (source: Watson 2023, p. 45)
In Ixcatlán Mazatec a term is used that specifically includes women. (Source: Robert Bascom)
“In some instances these spiritual terms result from adaptations reflecting the native life and culture. Among the Northern Grebo people of Liberia, a missionary wanted some adequate term for ‘prophet,’ and she was fully aware that the native word for ‘soothsayer’ or ‘diviner’ was no equivalent for the Biblical prophet who spoke forth for God. Of course, much of what the prophets said referred to the future, and though this was an essential part of much of their ministry, it was by no means all. The right word for the Gbeapo people would have to include something which would not only mean the foretelling of important events but the proclamation of truth as God’s representative among the people. At last the right word came; it was ‘God’s town-crier.’ Every morning and evening the official representative of the chief goes through the village crying out the news, delivering the orders of the chief, and announcing important coming events. ‘God’s town-crier’ would be the official representative of God, announcing to the people God’s doings, His commands, and His pronouncements for their salvation and well-being. For the Northern Grebo people the prophet is no weird person from forgotten times; he is as real as the human, moving message of the plowman Amos, who became God’s town-crier to a calloused people.” (source: Nida 1952, p. 20)
In British Sign Language it is is translated with a sign that depicts a message coming from God to a person (the upright finger) and then being passed on to others. (Source: Anna Smith)
“Prophet” in British Sign Language (source: Christian BSL, used with permission)
Then Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets: The transition word Then renders the common Hebrew conjunction. But in many languages it may be important to show that the events related in chapter 9 took place at approximately the same time as those in the previous chapter. Many modern versions omit the conjunction altogether, and others have “One day” (Contemporary English Version, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, Parole de Vie). But the Hebrew word order in the clause here is usually thought to express an action that occurred prior to a previously mentioned action (Hobbs) or one that is simultaneous with a previously mentioned action. Good News Translation has “Meanwhile” and New Century Version introduces the story with “At the same time.” These two versions may be better models to follow in other languages.
For one of the sons of the prophets, see 1 Kgs 20.35 and 2 Kgs 2.3. Since verse 4 indicates that this was a young prophet, some translations introduce that information here in verse 1 (so Good News Translation, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). An ancient Jewish tradition indicates that this was Jonah, the son of Amittai (2 Kgs 14.25), but there is no guarantee that this identification is correct. It should certainly not be a part of the actual translation, but could be included as a footnote if the uncertainty about it is clearly stated.
Gird up your loins: See the comments on this figurative expression in 2 Kgs 4.29. As in 4.29, this may be translated “Get ready” (New Century Version), “Get ready for the road” (Revised English Bible), or “get ready to go” (Contemporary English Version, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy). Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch clearly expresses the meaning with “go as fast as you can.” The New International Version rendering “Tuck your cloak into your belt” is probably too distracting to be a good model except in cultures where this practice is common.
Since Elisha was in authority over the other prophets and since the person he is speaking to is apparently young, he should probably be addressed using the familiar form instead of the more formal or distant term in languages where such a distinction is made.
Take this flask of oil in your hand: The Hebrew word rendered flask may be translated “small bottle” (New Century Version) although the same word is translated “jar” by New Century Version in 1 Sam 10.1. Contemporary English Version has simply “bottle.” This container would probably have been made of clay or stone. The oil that was in it was almost certainly olive oil (see 1 Kgs 1.39). In languages that use different words for vegetable oil and a petroleum-based substance, the term for vegetable oil should be used here. The reason for taking the flask will be stated in verse 3.
The text specifies that the young prophet was to take this container in your hand, although this detail is omitted in Contemporary English Version. The intent of this expression is probably to emphasize the personal responsibility of the young prophet to carry the oil. Some modern versions say simply that the prophet was to take the container of oil “with you” (Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New American Bible). Compare the similar expressions used in 1 Kgs 17.11 and 2 Kgs 4.29.
Ramoth-gilead: See the comments at 1 Kgs 4.13 and 2 Kgs 8.28.
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 .
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