This verse begins with the Hebrew waw conjunction (literally “And” [King James Version]), which Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, and most other versions omit. Here it simply introduces the next poetic unit.

The pride of Israel testifies to his face: Pride (“arrogance” in Good News Translation) is personified here. It seems to refer to Israel’s arrogant manner of forsaking Yahweh in favor of other gods, although it can also refer to the idols themselves, of which Israel was proud. Testifies renders a Hebrew term borrowed from a trial, so that the figure is of Israel’s own pride testifying to his face, that is, against Israel. Good News Translation renders testifies to his face as “cries out against them,” which expresses the meaning but loses the figure of a trial, so it is not recommended. To his face translates a Hebrew expression that indicates a face-to-face encounter, but it may have to be rendered simply “against them” (Good News Translation). There is reflexive action here, so this line may be rendered “The arrogance of the Israelites testifies against themselves.”

Ephraim shall stumble in his guilt: The Hebrew text here is literally “and Israel and Ephraim will stumble in their guilt.” Hebrew Old Testament Text Project has little or no doubt that the Hebrew text is correct with “Israel and Ephraim” (an {A} decision) instead of only Ephraim. “Israel and Ephraim” may be a form of Hebrew poetry, in which the first noun mentioned is repeated, but a second noun is added in order to build up a kind of poetic emphasis. However, since these two names are regularly used as synonyms in Hosea (see comments on 4.17), and since Israel has occurred already in line one, the translator may wish to use only Ephraim in line two (so Revised Standard Version and many other translations). Good News Translation uses only the name “Israel” in this verse. However, this Good News Translation solution is not very suitable in a poetic context. For the verb stumble, see 4.5. As there, it is a figure for Israel’s downfall as punishment from God. This term helps to relate sections B-b (4.4-6) and B-b′ (5.5-7). Israel’s guilt will cause him to stumble. For the Hebrew noun rendered guilt, see 4.8, where it is translated “iniquity.” Good News Translation clarifies the sense of this line by saying “Their sins make them stumble and fall.”

Judah also shall stumble with them: This line suddenly refers to Judah, with no explanation why the southern kingdom is mentioned. Although some scholars consider this line added at a later time, it is the translator’s responsibility to express the intended meaning of the Hebrew text as we have it, so this line should be included. The pronoun them refers to the people of Israel. The people of Judah will stumble and fall down with them. The translator may use singular or plural for this pronoun, depending upon the way in which the first two lines are translated.

A translation model for this verse is:

• The pride of Israel testifies against himself.
Ephraim will fall because of his guilt,
and Judah will be dragged down along with him.

Quoted with permission from Dorn, Louis & van Steenbergen, Gerrit. A Handbook on Hosea. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2020. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .