13:13a
Labor pains come upon him: This line is a figure of speech that describes the pain that Israel experiences. The pain is like the pain a mother feels when she gives birth to a child.
There are two main interpretations of the time reference in this clause.
(1) Present. It refers to Israel at the time of Hosea. For example:
Pangs of childbirth assail him (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
(2) Future. It refers to Israel at a time yet to come. For example:
The labor pains of a woman will overtake him (NET Bible)
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It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with a majority of versions. The verse makes good sense as a description of Israel at that time.
There are at least two possible aspects of this pain:
(a) It is severe. The nation of Israel suffers terribly as a result of sin.
(b) It signals a time for birth. The nation of Israel has the opportunity to be reborn, by repenting and returning to the LORD.
Both aspects may be intended here. Some versions make the second aspect explicit. For example:
They have the opportunity to live again (God’s Word)
13:13b
but: In Hebrew, there is no explicit contrast. However, many versions regard 13b to contrast with 13a. They supply a word such as but to indicate that contrast. Some versions do not indicate it. Indicate the connection of 13b to 13a in a natural way in your language.
he is an unwise son: This is a new figure of speech that compares Israel to an unwise child. Wisdom in the Old Testament means to live according to the LORD’s standards of right and wrong. In this figure of speech, Israel, like the infant, is described as being capable of such wisdom, but he does not use it.
13:13c
When the time arrives, he fails to present himself at the opening of the womb: This clause gives the reason for the previous line. The child has no wisdom, because he chooses not to be born.
The Hebrew clause begins with a word that introduces this clause as a reason. Some versions use a word such as “for” to indicate it. For example:
…for at the right time he does not present himself at the opening of the womb. (English Standard Version)
Many other versions, such as the Berean Standard Bible above, allow the context to indicate that this is a reason. Indicate that this is a reason in a natural way in your language.
Some versions make it explicit that the child chooses not to be born. For example:
like a child about to be born, who refuses to come out of the womb. (Good News Translation)
-or-
they are like a child who resists being born. (New Living Translation (2004))
When the time arrives: In Hebrew, this phrase is a single word meaning time. The context indicates that here time refers to the time to be born.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
at the right time (English Standard Version)
-or-
his time is due (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
like a child about to be born (Good News Translation)
he fails to present himself at the opening of the womb: The phrase he fails to present himself refers to the infant failing to move into the birth position.
The phrase at the opening of the womb is more literally “at the breaking forth of children.” It refers to the part of a woman’s body through which an infant is born.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
he does not leave the womb (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
but won’t come out of its mother’s womb (God’s Word)
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