9:13

Notice the contrast between the parallel parts in bold print:

13a I have seen Ephraim, like Tyre, planted in a meadow.

13b But Ephraim will bring out his children for slaughter.

There is a strong contrast between Ephraim’s desirable situation in the past and what will happen to their people in the future.

9:13a

I have seen Ephraim, like Tyre, planted in a meadow: There is a textual issue here:

(1) The Masoretic Text has “Ephraim just as I have seen Tyre [is] planted in pastureland.” For example:

Ephraim, as I have seen, is planted in a pleasant meadow like Tyre! (New American Standard Bible)

(2) The LXX has “Ephraim, as I saw, presented their children for prey.” For example:

Ephraim’s sons, as I have seen, are destined for a prey (Revised Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with most versions and commentaries.

As in 9:10, the LORD uses terms from agriculture to describe Israel’s good situation in its early days. The phrase planted in a meadow suggests fertility and growth. This description contrasts with what Ephraim will become later, a nation whose children will be killed.

I have seen: This phrase is similar to the phrase “I saw your fathers” in 9:10.

Here is another way to translate it:

I have watched (New Living Translation (2004))

Ephraim, like Tyre, planted in a meadow: This verse part is a simile. The meaning of the simile is affected by the meaning of the Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Tyre. There are two main interpretations:

(1) The Hebrew word means the city of Tyre. The simile compares Ephraim to the prosperous Phoenician city of Tyre, located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. For example:

I have seen Israel, like Tyre, given a pleasant place. (New Century Version)

(2) The Hebrew word means “palm tree.” The simile compares Ephraim to a palm tree. For example:

Once I saw Ephraim as a young palm planted in a lovely meadow. (New Revised Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This Hebrew word does not mean “palm tree” anywhere else in the Old Testament.

Ephraim: In this verse, as elsewhere in Hosea, the name Ephraim refers to the nation of Israel. Some versions make Israel explicit here. For example:

If have seen Israel, like Tyre, given a pleasant place. (New Century Version)

planted in a meadow: This phrase is literally “planted in pastureland.” The word for “pastureland” describes a green meadow that has plenty of water. It is an ideal place for plants to grow. Here the phrase is used figuratively. It is a metaphor that compares the people of Tyre and Israel to a crop or a garden that is planted in good pastureland. The land provided the people who lived there with opportunities to grow strong and prosperous.

9:13b

But Ephraim will bring out his children for slaughter: In Hebrew, this verse part is more literally “and Ephraim to bring out to ⌊one who ⌋ kills his sons/children.”

This clause indicates that the children of the people of Israel will be murdered. There are various opinions as to the historical event(s) to which this clause refers. It could refer specifically to the time when the Assyrian army will attack Israel and kill children or it could refer to others who will kill them. If possible, translate this statement in a general way that does not indicate who will kill the children.

But: This statement describes a horrible situation that contrasts strongly with the good situation described in 9:13a. Many English versions introduce the contrast with a word such as But. Indicate this contrast in a natural way in your language.

will bring out: In Hebrew, the form of this verb may indicate that the people were forced to bring their children somewhere to be killed. Some versions indicate this explicitly. For example:

must lead out (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
must bring out (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

Other versions indicate that the people will bring out their children to be killed. They do not indicate that they are forced to do so. For example:

will bring out (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
will soon bring out (New Century Version)

You may translate either way.

The Hebrew word for “children” here is masculine plural. This form can refer either to male children or to children in general, including male and female children. In this context of judgment on the entire nation, the word probably refers to all children. Most versions have “children” here.

for slaughter: The form of the Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for slaughter can be translated in several acceptable ways:

• Translate with a verb that means “to be killed.” For example:

But the people of Ephraim will bring out their children to be killed (God’s Word)
-or-
But now Israel will bring out her children to be slaughtered. (New Living Translation (1996))

• Translate with a noun that means “one who kills.” For example:

so Ephraim will present his children to the slaughterer (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
but Ephraim shall bring forth his children to the murderer (King James Version)

• Translate with a noun that means “the act of killing.” For example:

But now Israel will bring out her children for slaughter. (New Living Translation (2004))

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