It will be recalled that the pronoun I refers to the Assyrian king since Revised Standard Version retains the quotation within a quotation. But if this is transformed into an indirect quotation, it will be necessary to say “the king,” “our ruler,” or something similar. Since there are three levels of quotation at the end of this verse, adjustments must be made in some languages. A model for verses 31-32 will be given at the end of the discussion on this verse.
Until I come and take you away …: Even though the Assyrian king promises to let the people of Judah return to their own homes that day, he has deportation in mind for them in the future. New Living Translation says “Then I will arrange to take you….”
A land like your own land …: What follows sounds like the promises of a clever politician. The people of Judah are assured that even in defeat they will be no worse off than under Hezekiah.
The expressions a land of grain and wine and a land of bread and vineyards are parallel in meaning. Bread comes from grain and vineyards are the source of wine. Good News Translation combines the two expressions and shows more clearly the relationship between the different parts. This might provide a good model for some other languages. The Hebrew noun rendered grain occurs frequently in the Old Testament. It has a wide range of meaning and may include beans and peas as well as crops like wheat and barley. The English word grain expresses the general, broad meaning of this Hebrew term. In languages that do not have such a general word, a land of grain may be rendered “a land with much food growing on it.” The Hebrew noun translated wine in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation refers to freshly produced wine. Revised English Bible and Osty-Trinquet say “new wine.” For vineyards see the comments on 1 Kgs 21.1.
Olive trees: See the comments on “beaten oil” at 1 Kgs 5.11. The Hebrew expression here is literally “olive trees of olive oil.” Some interpreters understand this to mean both olives and olive oil. Compare “olives, fine oil” (Revised English Bible) and “olives, oil” (New American Bible).
Honey: See the comments at 1 Kgs 14.3. Nearly all translations render the Hebrew term as honey here, but the precise nature of this substance is not certain. Some suggest that it may have been a sweet secretion of plant parasites. If it refers to honey, then it is wild honey and not honey made in man-made hives. In 1 Kgs 14.3 New American Bible says “preserves” and here it translates the same Hebrew noun as “fruit syrup.” The translation should be the same in both places.
That you may live, and not die: The meaning of the expression you may live is quite clear, but the addition of the words and not die may sound unnecessarily redundant in certain languages. If this is the case, translators do not need to repeat them. However, the positive and negative statements of the same idea have a cumulative effect and should be retained for emphasis if they sound natural together.
Do not listen to Hezekiah: The beginning of verse 31 begins with this same admonition. Here in verse 32 these words come from the Assyrian king, whereas in verse 31 they were spoken by the Assyrian official. Once again there is an attempt to divide the people of Judah from their king.
Contemporary English Version provides the following helpful model for the three levels of quotation in verses 31-32:
• Stop listening to Hezekiah! Pay attention to my king. Surrender to him. He will let you keep your own vineyards, fig trees, and cisterns for a while. Then he will come and take you away to a country just like yours, where you can plant vineyards, raise your own grain, and have plenty of olive oil and honey. Believe me, you won’t starve there.
Hezekiah claims the LORD will save you. But don’t be fooled by him.
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 .