11:7a

My people are bent on turning from Me: The relationship of this line to the surrounding context is not clear. This line may be stating again the theme of turning away from the LORD as in 11:5. Some versions translate this line as a reason for the war described in 11:6 by starting the verse with the word “For.” The majority of versions leave implied the relationship of this line to the context. Translate the relationship of this line to the context in a natural way in your language.

bent on turning from Me: In Hebrew, this phrase is more literally “hung up to/on my apostasy.” Here the word “hung up” has the figurative meaning of “determined” or “fixated upon.” It means that the people will not change their attitude or behavior. The Hebrew word “to/on my apostasy” means to reject or rebel against the LORD.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

My people are bent on turning away from me (English Standard Version)
-or-
They insist on turning away from me (Good News Translation)
-or-
my people are determined to desert me (New Living Translation (2004))

11:7b

Though they call to the Most High, He will by no means exalt them: In Hebrew, this sentence is literally “and to a height they call him together not he will exalt them.” This sentence has one main textual issue and various interpretations. The textual issue will be discussed first.

There is a textual issue concerning the Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Most High :

(1) The Masoretic Text has the phrase “and to a height.” See the separate note on the interpretations of this phrase. For example:

the One on high (New American Standard Bible)

(2) Some ancient versions have the word “yoke” instead of “height.” For example:

the yoke that is on them (Good News Translation)

(3) Some scholars think that the original text had “Baal” instead of “height.” For example:

they call to Baal (NET Bible)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). It has good support from scholars, ancient versions and most modern versions.

Though: This word is not in the Hebrew text. The Berean Standard Bible supplies it to make explicit the logical relationship between the first clause of the sentence “they call to the Most High” and the second clause “he will by no means exalt them.” The logical relationship is that the people’s action of calling to the LORD does not result in the LORD exalting them.

Here are some other ways to indicate this connection:

To the Most High they call, but he does not raise them up at all. (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-

Even if they call to the Most High, he will by no means exalt them. (New International Version)

Indicate this relationship between the clauses in a natural way in your language.

they call: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “they call him.” There are two main interpretations of this phrase:

(1) The people call to the LORD. The referent of they is the people of Israel. The word call means to pray. The referent of “him” is the Most High. For example:

they call out to the Most High (English Standard Version)

(2) The prophets called the people to return to the LORD. The referent of they is the prophets. The word call means to urge or summon. The referent of “him” is Israel. For example:

The prophets call them to turn to me (New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with a majority of versions. It makes sense in this context and has the support of one of the ancient versions.

to the Most High: The Hebrew text is literally “and to a height.” There two main interpretations:

(1) The phrase “and to a height” is a short form of the descriptive phrase Most High. It refers to the LORD. For example:

To the Most High they call (New Revised Standard Version)

(2) The phrase “and to a height” means an upward direction. It refers figuratively to a high level of devotion/piety. For example:

if they are summoned to come up (New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most versions.

He will by no means exalt them: This clause is literally “together not he will exalt them.” There are two main interpretations:

(1) The LORD will not exalt/lift the people. The verb “exalt/lift” means to help them in some way, perhaps by answering their prayers. This clause depicts the LORD’s negative response to the peoples’ apostasy. For example:

he shall not raise them up at all (English Standard Version)

(2) The people will not exalt the LORD. The verb “exalt/rise” means to honor or worship God. This clause depicts the people’s apostasy. For example:

They call me the Most High, but they don’t truly honor me. (New Living Translation (2004))

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). It makes good sense as the LORD’s negative response to the people calling to him.

by no means: There are two main interpretations of the Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as by no means :

(1) The Hebrew word means “altogether.” It functions as a superlative or to give emphasis to something in the following clause. Here it gives emphasis to the following verb “exalt.” For example:

He does not raise them up at all (New Revised Standard Version)

(2) The Hebrew word means “together” or “all at once.” It refers back to the people who call on the LORD in the previous clause. For example:

In unison they cry out to him (New American Bible)

The Display will follow interpretation (1), but the Hebrew word can have either meaning. The context does not clearly favor one over the other.

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