complete verse (2 Kings 4:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 2 Kings 4:3:

  • Kupsabiny: “Elisha said to that woman, ‘Go and ask all your neighbors to give you many bottles with nothing inside.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Elisha said, ‘Go from house to house and ask empty Jars from all your neighbors. Bring as many Jars as you can.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Eisha said, ‘Go to all your neighbors and you borrow lots of containers.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Elisha said, ‘Go to your neighbors and borrow from them as many empty jars as you can.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 2 Kings 4:3

Go outside: In the Hebrew text the adverb meaning outside does not immediately follow the verb meaning Go. The adverb comes later, accompanying the verb borrow. But what is clearly implied is that the woman should leave her own home and go to the homes of others around her and borrow containers there. Since the imperative verb Go (second person singular) alone may sound a bit harsh or unnatural, translators may prefer to fill in the implied information in some way. New International Version has “Go around,” implying movement through the neighborhood. But perhaps the Good News Translation model will be best for most languages since the neighbors are specifically mentioned later in the verse.

Vessels does not render the same Hebrew word used for the container belonging to the widow and mentioned in the previous verse. Here the term used is rather a very general one that is commonly used for various kinds of containers, utensils, and even weapons (see the comments on 1 Kgs 7.51).

Not too few is more literally “make not a few,” since this actually translates a negation of a causative Hebrew verb form. The root verb means “to be/become small.” The meaning is clear enough: the widow is to get as many containers as possible. American Bible translates “Do not skimp!” Both New International Version and New Century Version say “Don’t ask for just a few.” But in some languages Revised English Bible, which transforms the negative statement to a positive one, may provide the best model: “get as many … as you can.”

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 .