Elijah

The name that is transliterated as “Elijah” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language as “whirlwind” (according to 2 Kings 2:11) (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff.)


“Elijah” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

Click or tap here to see how other sign languages are translating “Elijah”

In American Sign Language it is translated with a depiction of being taken up to heaven with a chariot of fire. (Source: ASL Sign Language Directory )


“Elijah” in American Sign Language (source )

Likewise in Estonian Sign Language, but with a different sign (source: Liina Paales in Folklore 47, 2011, p. 43ff.)


“Elijah” in Estonian Sign Language (source )

In Finnish Sign Language it is translated with the sign signifying “fire” (referring to 1 Kings 18:38). (Source: Tarja Sandholm)


“Elijah” in Finnish Sign Language (source )

Following is a Russian Orthodox icon of Elijah from the late 13h century.

 
Orthodox Icons are not drawings or creations of imagination. They are in fact writings of things not of this world. Icons can represent our Lord Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the Saints. They can also represent the Holy Trinity, Angels, the Heavenly hosts, and even events. Orthodox icons, unlike Western pictures, change the perspective and form of the image so that it is not naturalistic. This is done so that we can look beyond appearances of the world, and instead look to the spiritual truth of the holy person or event. (Source )

See also Moses and Elijah during the Transfiguration.

complete verse (Matthew 17:11)

Following are a number of back-translations of Matthew 17:11:

  • Uma: “Yesus said: ‘That is very true, Elia must come/arrive first, because he is the one who gets everything ready.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Isa answered, he said, ‘That is true. Eliyas comes ahead of the Almasi to prepare everything.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And Jesus answered, ‘It’s really true that Elijah will come first, because he will prepare everything.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “‘That-aforementioned which they teach is (empathy particle) true,’ said Jesus answering.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Jesus replied saying, ‘It’s true that Elias is to come here first to prepare all things.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Jesus said to them: ‘It is true that Elijah comes first, telling the people to prepare.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Matthew 17:11

The statement Elijah does come has been rendered by Barclay as “It is quite true … that Elijah is to come.” The implication is that he will precede the coming of the Messiah, so some have said “Elijah will come back first.” Come may be rendered as in verse 10.

Restore all things (New American Bible “restore everything”) is translated “set everything in order” by Barclay, “get everything ready” by Good News Translation, and “restore the whole people of God” by Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch. Elsewhere Matthew uses the verb restore only in 12.13 in connection with the healing of a man’s crippled hand: “and it was restored, whole like the other.” The reference to Elijah is perhaps best understood as that of Malachi 4.5-6, where it is promised that Elijah will come before the day of the LORD to reconcile parents and children with one another.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .