Paragraph 7:13–14
7:13a–b
Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:
13a
Woe to them, for they have strayed from me !
13b
Destruction to them, for they have rebelled against me !
In the first parallel pair in each line, the LORD declares that the people will experience disaster. The second parallel pair gives the reasons for this disaster.
Woe to them…Destruction to them: The first expression, Woe to them, predicts or threatens terrible trouble or sorrow for the people of Israel. The second expression identifies the Woe as Destruction or disaster. It warns the people that someone will destroy them.
Neither of these expressions has a verb. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply verbs. For example:
They will experience great trouble…Destruction will come to them
-or-
They will have great sorrow…They will die
Some languages may also express threats or warnings of this nature with an expression or exclamation that emphasizes the awfulness of the disaster. For example:
What sorrow awaits…! (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
How horrible it will be… (God’s Word)
for: The Hebrew conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for introduces each of the parallel reasons for their destruction. In some languages, these reasons may be implied without a conjunction. For example:
Woe to them, they have strayed from me! Ruin to them, they have sinned against me! (New American Bible)
they have strayed from Me…they have rebelled against Me: The word strayed often refers to people who literally run away. Here it indicates that the people intentionally left or deserted God. The word rebelled indicates here that the people of Israel rebelled or revolted against the LORD, their divine ruler. They transgressed by breaking the terms of the covenant between them and the LORD.
Here are some other ways to translate these parallel reasons:
They left me…they turned against me (New Century Version)
-or-
those who have deserted me…they have rebelled against me (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
They have run away from me…they’ve rebelled against me (God’s Word)
General Comment on 7:13a–b
In some languages, it may be more natural to reorder and/or combine the parallel parts. For example:
Trouble and destruction will be their reward for rejecting me! (Contemporary English Version)
In some languages, it may also be more natural to put the reasons before the results. For example:
13a They have turned away from me. Therefore they will experience great trouble.
13b They have revolted against me, so they will be destroyed.
7:13c
Though I would redeem them, they speak lies against Me: In this sentence, the LORD contrasts the good he is willing to do for the people with the evil that the people do against him. He is willing to save the people. But the lies that the people tell about him stop him from doing so.
I would redeem them: In Hebrew, this clause is literally “I will redeem them.” In this context, it probably refers to rescuing the people from enemy armies.
Some versions translate this clause as completed action. But here it probably expresses a current wish or desire, as in the Berean Standard Bible above. Here is another example:
I want to deliver them (NET Bible)
I…they: In Hebrew, the independent pronouns I and they emphasize the contrast between the LORD’s readiness to restore the people and the people’s rebellious attitude. If possible, translate in a way that expresses this strong contrast. For example:
As for me, I am ready to save them, but as for them, they only tell lies against me.
they speak lies against Me: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as against Me can also be translated here as “about me” or “to me.” The following options are all acceptable ways to translate this clause:
• “about me” or “against me.” The clause means that the people give false information “about” the LORD. They do not tell the truth when they speak against him. For example:
they speak lies against me (English Standard Version)
-or-
they tell lies about me (Revised English Bible)
• “to me.” The clause means that the people are insincere when they pray. They do not tell the truth when they speak to the LORD. For example:
they have lied to me (NET Bible)
-or-
their worship of me was false. (Good News Translation)
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