For thus says the LORD …: The Hebrew particle rendered For introduces the reason for the prophet’s request stated in the previous verse. The LORD has promised that the flour and oil will not run out.

The jar of meal shall not be spent: For jar of meal, see verse 12. Spent is not common-level English. The Hebrew verb here means “to come to an end” or “to become finished.” New Revised Standard Version more clearly says “The jar of meal will not be emptied,” and New International Version has “The jar of flour will not be used up.”

The cruse of oil shall not fail: For cruse of oil, see verse 12. The Hebrew verb translated fail means “to become less.” New International Version says “the jug of oil will not run dry” (similarly New American Bible). This verb in this context is nearly synonymous with the Hebrew verb translated spent. If translators are not able to find two separate verbs in the receptor language, the same verb may be used for both the jar of meal and the cruse of oil.

Until the day that the LORD sends rain upon the earth: The emphasis of the text in the expression until the day is not so much on the fact that the flour and oil would cease to exist on the very day when the rains started. Rather, the intent is to assure the woman that there would be sufficient flour and oil until the time when the earth would produce these things again. The text leaves implicit the significance of the rain, but compare New Living Translation: “until the time when the LORD sends rain and the crops grow again!” Upon the earth is literally “upon the face of the earth.”

In certain languages it will be more natural to frame the promise of God as indirect speech rather than as a direct quotation as in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation. The entire verse would then be translated:

• For here is what the LORD, the God of Israel has said: He has promised that the bowl that holds the flour will not become empty and the jar that contains the oil will not be dry until after he sends rain on the earth.

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 .