5:3a–b
Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:
3a
I know all about Ephraim,
3b and Israel is not hidden from Me.
In Hebrew and in the Berean Standard Bible, the parallel parts are arranged in the form of a chiasm. The parts in 5:3a occur in the opposite order from the parallel parts in 5:3b. Some versions do not use a chiasm. For example:
3a
Ephraim have I known,
3b
Israel is not hidden from me; (New Jerusalem Bible)
Use an order that is natural in your language.
In these lines the LORD indicated that he knows everything that the people of Israel do. In some languages, it may be helpful to make explicit what the LORD knows about the people. For example:
3a I know Ephraim all too well;
3b
the evil of Israel is not hidden from me. (NET Bible)
I know all about…is not hidden from Me: Each of these two phrases has a similar meaning. In this context, the meaning is that the LORD knows all about the evil deeds of the people. They may think that they are doing evil in secret, but he sees everything they do.
Ephraim…Israel: In these parallel lines, Ephraim is probably a figure of speech (synecdoche) that represents all the people of the nation of Israel.
General Comment on 5:3a–b
In some languages, it may be more natural to combine one or more of the parallel parts. For example:
I know what Israel is like—she cannot hide from me. (Good News Translation)
-or-
I know what you are like, O Israel ! (New Living Translation (1996))
5:3c–d
Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:
3c For now, O Ephraim, you have turned to prostitution;
3d
Israel is defiled.
There are at least two ways to interpret the connection between 5:3c–d and 5:3a–b:
(1) Line 5:3c begins with two Hebrew words that indicate emphasis. These words introduce parallel statements (5:3c–d) that explain in more detail what the LORD said in 5:3a–b. These statements specify that Ephraim has turned to prostitution and Israel is corrupt. For example:
Behold, you have fornicated, O Ephraim; Israel has defiled himself! (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
(2) Line 5:3c begins with two Hebrew words that indicate a contrast. These words introduce parallel statements (5:3c–d) that contrast with what the LORD said in 5:3a–b. According to this interpretation, the LORD knew and cared for Ephraim/Israel, but they responded by turning to immorality and defiling themselves. For example:
but now Ephraim has become promiscuous and Israel has brought defilement on himself (Revised English Bible)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). The some versions leave the connection between 5:3c–d and 5:3a–b implied.
Ephraim…Israel: See the note for 5:3a–b.
you have turned to prostitution: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as you have turned to prostitution is the same word as in 4:10 and 4:18. It means “fornication” with a person or “unfaithfulness” towards God. Here it probably means both at the same time.
Here are some other ways to translate it:
she has been unfaithful (Good News Translation)
-or-
Ephraim has become promiscuous (Revised English Bible)
is defiled: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as is defiled is literally “it has made itself unclean.” The word refers to the people’s moral impurity. It also refers to their spiritual impurity that was caused by breaking the commands of their covenant with the LORD. The people were guilty of both kinds of impurity.
Here are some other ways to translate this line:
Israel is corrupt (New International Version)
-or-
I find you unacceptable (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
her people are unfit to worship me (Good News Translation)
General Comment on 5:3c–d
In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts. For example:
Now that Israel acts like a prostitute, it has made itself unclean. (New Century Version)
-or-
Israel has defiled herself like a prostitute!
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