As soon as I have gone from you is literally “And it will happen I am gone from you.” Obadiah is expressing here his fear of what might happen if he does as the prophet has instructed him to do. In some languages it may be appropriate to introduce this speculation by saying something like “I am afraid this will happen: I will leave you and then….”
The Spirit of the LORD: Some translations capitalize the word Spirit (so New International Version, New Living Translation, La Bible du Semeur), but others do not (so New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible). Use of the capitalized word Spirit will suggest the third person of the Trinity to many readers. Since the Trinity belongs to Christian theology, it is better here to follow the model of Good News Translation. Translators will observe, however, that Revised Standard Version is inconsistent. Revised Standard Version sometimes says Spirit and sometimes “spirit” (see, for example, 1 Sam 10.6). The Hebrew noun translated Spirit may also be translated “breath” (Nouvelle Bible Segond).
Will carry you whither I know not is fairly literal, but it is not idiomatic English. New Revised Standard Version uses a slightly more contemporary English style by saying “will carry you I know not where.” It should be noted that some translations may give the impression that the place will be a place with which Obadiah is not familiar. New American Bible, for example, says “will carry you to some place I do not know,” and Good News Translation has “carries you off to some unknown place.” The intended sense, however, is that Obadiah will not know where Elijah has been taken. Compare New Jerusalem Bible: “will carry you away and I shall not know where.”
Although translates the common Hebrew conjunction (also An American Translation). Revised English Bible and New Jerusalem Bible similarly link this final clause to what precedes with the word “Yet.” Obadiah’s words that follow indicate why he thinks he should not have to do what Elijah has told him to do. He too, like Elijah, worships Yahweh; so Elijah should not ask him to risk his life.
I your servant have revered the LORD from my youth is literally “your servant has revered the LORD from my youth.” For reasons of English style and clarity, Revised Standard Version has inserted the pronoun I before the words your servant although the same was not done in verse 9.
Regarding revered, see the comments on this word in verse 3.
The expression from my youth probably indicates a fairly early stage in Obadiah’s life. Youth renders the same Hebrew word translated “child” in 1 Kgs 14.3 (see the comments there). Alternative renderings are “from boyhood” (Revised English Bible) and “since I was a child” (God’s Word). New Living Translation uses a common English hyperbole, saying “all my life.”
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .