And as she was going to bring it, he called to her is literally “And she went to bring, and he called to her.” The Hebrew seems to imply that the woman was moving away from Elijah for the purpose of getting the water that he had requested. But while she was still within the sound of his voice, he made an additional request.

To bring it is literally “to bring.” Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation supply the direct object it as the context requires.

Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand: As in the previous verse, the Hebrew also has the particle of entreaty following the verb Bring. Revised Standard Version does not attempt to translate this particle, but Good News Translation does with the word “please.” A morsel of bread most likely refers to “a piece of bread” (New International Version, Revised English Bible). Translators should not say “a slice of bread” since this piece would have been broken off by hand.

In those language that prefer indirect speech over direct quotations, it will be possible to translate this verse as follows:

• While the woman was going to get the water, Elijah asked her if she would also bring him a piece of bread.

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 .