13:8a

Like a bear robbed of her cubs: In Hebrew, these words are more literally “like a bear bereaved.” It refers to a mother bear that is enraged because of the loss of her cubs.

bear: A bear is a large animal that is capable of killing humans as well as other animals. It has sharp teeth and long claws. If bears are not known in your language area, it is suggested that you provide a picture or describe it in a footnote. You may also use a more general phrase. For example:

a fierce/angry wild animal

I will attack them, and I will tear open their chests: The attack is ferocious. It does more than injure. It kills. Be sure that you translate in a way that does not make the attack sound less severe.

tear open their chests: This phrase is more literally “and I will tear the enclosure of their heart.” The Hebrew word for “enclosure of their heart” refers to the breast or the rib-cage.

13:8b

There I will devour them like a lion: The lion comparison continues to indicate the violence of the LORD’s judgment.

The word There is left implied in some other versions. The word has no explicit referent. It may refer to the time and be translated as “then” or “immediately.” For example:

Like a lion I will devour you on the spot (Good News Translation)

However, There might refer back to the path in 7b. Most versions that include the word “there” leave the referent unstated. For example:

I will devour them there like a lion (NET Bible)

devour: In this figure of speech, the lion devours/eats those it attacks. A common figurative meaning of devour is to destroy.

13:8c

like a wild beast would tear them apart: In Hebrew, this clause is more literally “the animal of the field will tear them to pieces.” In this clause the subject changes from “I” (the LORD) to “A wild animal.” There are two main interpretations of this clause:

(1) This clause compares either the behavior of the lion or of the LORD to the behavior of a typical wild animal. For example:

Like a wild animal I will tear you apart. (God’s Word)

(2) This clause describes the behavior of wild animals. It is a literal description, not a figurative comparison. For example:

The beasts of the field shall mangle them. (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most versions. This interpretation continues the pattern of figurative descriptions in each line.

a wild beast: This phrase is more literally “animal of the field.” Here this phrase refers to wild animals that attack human beings or damage land. It is singular, but it may also be understood as collective singular.

In some languages, the natural way to translate collective singular is by using plural. For example:

wild animals

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