2Ki 1:8 | NETfull | STEP | They replied, “He was a hairy man and had a leather belt tied around his waist.” The king said, “He is Elijah the Tishbite.”

2 Kings 1:8

8 They replied, ^{▼▼ Heb “said to him.”} “He was a hairy man ^{▼▼ Heb “an owner of hair.” This idiomatic expression indicates that Elijah was very hairy. For other examples where the idiom “owner of” is used to describe a characteristic of someone, see HALOT 143 s.v. בַּעַל. For example, an “owner of dreams” is one who frequently has dreams (Gen 37:19) and an “owner of anger” is a hot-tempered individual (Prov 22:24).} and had a leather belt ^{▼▼ Heb “belt of skin” (i.e., one made from animal hide).} tied around his waist.” The king ^{▼▼ Heb “he”; the referent (the king) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} said, “He is Elijah the Tishbite.”