complete verse (1 Kings 18:28)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Kings 18:28:

  • Kupsabiny: “Those people continued to make noise repeatedly and cut themselves with knives and spears until their bodies were bleeding in accordance with how their custom was.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “So they cried out more loudly, and, as was their custom, wounded themselves with swords and spears until the blood came out.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “So they shouted louder and they wounded their bodies with knife and sword, according to their custom, until the blood flowed.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “So they shouted louder. Then, doing one of the things that they frequently did when they worshiped Baal, they slashed/cut themselves with knives and swords until a lot of blood flowed.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Kings 18:28

They cried aloud: See the comments on the previous verse.

The prophets of Baal cut themselves intentionally. Making cuts or incisions on their bodies was a part of the worship practice of those who were devoted to Baal. The Law forbid the Israelite people to cut themselves as part of their worship of God (Lev 19.28; Deut 14.1), but some people did so anyway (Hos 7.14).

After their custom: This explanation provided by the writer is translated as a parenthetical statement in New Century Version, which reads “(This was the way they worshiped.)” Others may prefer to make this explanation a more integral part of the translation, saying “following their usual way of worshiping” or “as was their practice” (Moffatt).

Swords: The Hebrew noun here is often translated “swords” in English translations, but it probably refers to a short sword used for stabbing and is better translated as “daggers” or “knives” (Moffatt, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Good News Translation).

The Hebrew noun rendered lances refers to spears that have long shafts and are thrust at the enemy rather than thrown like a spear or javelin. Good News Translation says “daggers,” but either lances or “spears” (Revised English Bible, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible) is a more accurate translation.

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 .