10:4a
They speak mere words; with false oaths they make covenants: There are two main ways to interpret the referent of the pronoun They :
(1) They refers to the people of Israel. Versions that follow this interpretation describe the last phrase in terms of the “agreements” or covenants that they make ⌊mainly with each other ⌋. For example:
They utter empty words, taking false oaths and making empty agreements. (NET Bible)
(2) They refers to the king/kings of Israel. Versions that follow this interpretation describe the last phrase in terms of the “treaties” or “alliances” that they make ⌊with other nations ⌋. For example:
They utter empty words and make false promises and useless treaties. (Good News Translation)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most versions. However, a slight majority of commentaries favor interpretation (2). Both the people of Israel and their kings break their promises and fail to keep their agreements, so if possible, translate in a way that will allow either interpretation. The meaning lines in the Display will follow this approach.
Hosea uses three phrases to describe the behavior of the people of Israel. These phrases are more literally “They speak words, swearing falsehood, making covenant[s].” The wording in some versions implies that there are three separate actions. It is not stated explicitly whether these actions are part of the same event. The wording in other versions implies one main action with further details in the next two phrases. These actions may or may not be part of the same event. For example:
They utter mere words; with empty oaths they make covenants (English Standard Version)
You may arrange these phrases either way in your translation. There is no significant difference in meaning. The meaning lines in the Display will give an example of each.
They speak mere words: This is a Hebrew idiom. It means that the people do not intend to do what their words say.
Here are some other ways to translate it:
They make many promises (New International Version)
-or-
they utter empty words (NET Bible)
with false oaths: In Hebrew, this phrase means that a person makes a very serious promise that he or she does not intend to keep.
Here are some other ways to translate it:
make false promises (Good News Translation)
-or-
they lie when they take oaths (God’s Word)
they make covenants: In Hebrew, the word “covenant” refers to a formal agreement that has mutual obligations.
Here are four things this word can refer to in different contexts:
(a) Agreements that the people of Israel make with one another.
(b) An agreement that a king makes with the people.
(c) A treaty or alliance that Israel makes with another nation.
(d) A covenant that God makes with a person or a nation.
In this context, it refers mainly to agreements that the people of Israel make with one another. This phrase implies that the people do not keep their agreements.
Here are some other ways to translate it:
making empty agreements (NET Bible)
-or-
make covenants they don’t intend to keep (New Living Translation (2004))
10:4b
So judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a field: This clause is a simile. It compares the increasing injustice (see below) and other bitter disputes to poisonous weeds.
This clause gives the consequence of the people’s many promises that they do not keep, their false oaths, and broken covenants. The consequence is injustice. Some versions express this relationship with a specific word such as so or “therefore.” Other versions leave it implied. Translate the connection between 10:4a and 10:4b in a natural way in your language.
judgment: The Hebrew word for judgment here is literally “justice.” It has a broad range of meanings related to what is right and just, including laws, lawsuits, legal decisions, and judgment. It can involve the government, the courts, and any legal transactions between people in general.
In the context of “justice” growing “like poisonous weeds,” it is clear that “justice” should be understood in the sense of injustice or justice that has degenerated into decisions or transactions that are unfair.
There are three ways to interpret this word in this context:
(1) It refers to any kind of injustice. For example:
Justice has become injustice, growing like poisonous weeds in a plowed field. (Good News Translation)
-or-
and so-called justice spreads like a poisonous weed along the furrows of the fields (New Jerusalem Bible)
(Contemporary English Version, Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures, New Living Translation (2004))
(2) It refers more specifically to legal disputes, lawsuits, and other legal transactions. It implies that these legal transactions are unjust or harmful. For example:
and litigation spreads like a poisonous weed along the furrows of the fields (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Therefore legal disputes sprout up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a plowed field. (NET Bible)
(3) It refers specifically to judgment, probably meaning a sentence of punishment. It implies that the judgment is unfair. For example:
so judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field (English Standard Version)
It is recommended that you follow interpretations (1) or (2). Both these interpretations have good commentary support. The first interpretation is more general, so it may apply to more situations. The second interpretation is supported by more lexicons. If possible, choose terms in your language that will fit either interpretation. The Display will give two examples of each.
poisonous weeds: This phrase refers to a poisonous plant that grows in place of a desirable plant.
in the furrows of a field: The furrows of a field are shallow trenches or hollows that farmers dig in the places where they plant their crops.
In areas that are not familiar with plowed fields, here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
in a farmer’s field (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
where good plants/crops should grow
-or-
in their gardens
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