Paragraph 14:8
This paragraph summarizes some major themes of the book of Hosea:
(a) The LORD is Israel’s true God and will not tolerate the worship of idols.
(b) The LORD is the one who takes care of Israel.
(c) The LORD is the source of Israel’s blessings.
14:8a
O Ephraim, what have I to do anymore with idols?: There are textual issues that have to do with the speaker in this rhetorical question:
(1) The Masoretic Text has “Ephraim what to me again to idols.” In this question to Ephraim, the LORD expresses his own attitude toward idols. For example:
O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? (New Revised Standard Version)
(2) Some scholars think that the original words were “Ephraim what to you again to idols.” This question functions as a command that the LORD gives to Ephraim/Israel. He tells Ephraim to avoid idols. For example:
O Israel, stay away from idols! (New Living Translation (2004))
(3) The LXX has “As for Ephraim—what is there any longer between him and idols?” This question functions as indirect speech. The LORD states that Ephraim will avoid idols. For example:
The people of Ephraim will have nothing more to do with idols. (God’s Word)
(4) The Peshitta has “Ephraim shall say, ‘What have I to do again/any_more with idols?’” In this question, Ephraim expresses his own attitude toward idols. For example:
Ephraim [shall say]: “What more have I to do with idols? (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with a majority of versions and commentaries. It makes good sense and does not require changes to the MT.
This clause is a rhetorical question that expects a negative answer. What do I have in common with idols anymore? Nothing! Since the LORD expresses this attitude to Ephraim, it clearly implies that Ephraim also should have nothing to do with idols.
The rhetorical question includes a Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as anymore. In this expression, the Hebrew word means “more” or “further.” A literal translation of this word may incorrectly imply that the LORD had something in common with idols in the past but he will have nothing to do with them in the future. However, the LORD never had anything in common with idols.
Here are some ways to avoid the wrong meaning and to translate the rhetorical question. Each bullet gives an example of a question and a statement.
• Make explicit that he had nothing in common with idols in the past. The word “ever” or “never” implies that the same is true in the present and will be true in the future. For example:
Ephraim, what have I ever had to do with idols?
-or-
O Ephraim, I have never had anything in common with idols!
• Make explicit that he has nothing in common with idols. Leave it implied that the same was true in the past and will be true in the future. For example:
O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Ephraim, I have nothing to do with idols.
Use a natural way in your language to translate this rhetorical question.
14:8b
It is I who answer and watch over him: In Hebrew, this clause is more literally “I I [will] answer and I [will] watch over him.” In Hebrew, the pronoun I has emphasis. The Berean Standard Bible indicates this with It is I. Indicate this emphasis on the LORD in a natural way in your language.
The verbs in this clause use a form that indicates certainty. Many versions translate this clause with present tense. Some versions have future tense. For example:
It is I who answer and look after you. (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
I will answer their prayers and take care of them (Good News Translation)
Translate this clause to indicate certainty in a natural way in your language.
answer:
This word means answer or “respond.” This clause does not say whom the LORD answers. However, this same clause also says “watch over him.” So some versions supply the same pronoun here. For example:
I will answer him and care for him (NET Bible)
The word answer probably implies a response to the needs or the prayers of his people. Some versions make this implication explicit. For example:
I am the one who answers your prayers and cares for you.
watch over him: In this clause, the Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as watch over him means “watchful care” or “protecting.”
14:8c
I am like a flourishing cypress: This clause is a simile that compares the LORD to a tree. In this comparison the tree may represent one or more of the following characteristics:
(a) life
(b) fertility
(c) productivity
(d) shelter
flourishing: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as flourishing means “leafy” or “luxuriant.” Here are some other ways to translate this word:
luxuriant (NET Bible)
-or-
evergreen (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
green (New International Version)
cypress: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as cypress can mean “fir,” “cypress,” “juniper,” or “pine.” We cannot know which of these trees the word means here. Here are some other ways to translate this word:
I am like a green pine tree (New International Version)
-or-
I am that glorious tree (Contemporary English Version)
14:8d
your fruit comes from Me: In Hebrew, this clause is more literally “from me your fruit is found.” The word order gives emphasis to the phrase from Me. For example:
from me comes your fruit. (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
It is from me that your fruit comes.
Indicate this emphasis on the LORD in a natural way in your language.
fruit: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as fruit can mean the fruit of trees or vines. When it refers to people it can mean offspring, or the result of actions. Here the word may include all these meanings. Some versions say this in another way. For example:
I am the source of all their blessings. (Good News Translation)
General Comment on 14:8b–d
In Hebrew, 14:8b–d refers to Ephraim using third person “him” and second person “your.” In some languages, it is more natural to make the forms more consistent throughout 8b–d. For example:
8b I will answer your prayers and take care of you. 8c I am that glorious tree, 8d the source of your fruit. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
8b I will answer their prayers and take care of them. 8c Like an evergreen tree I will shelter them; 8d I am the source of all their blessings.” (Good News Translation)
Translate these word forms in a natural way in your language.
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