10:6a

Yes, it will be carried to Assyria: This Hebrew clause part is more literally “also it to Assyria it will be carried.” The Hebrew phrase “also it” introduces additional information and gives emphasis to it. Here it probably indicates that in addition to the glory of the calf departing, the calf itself will also be taken away. For example:

The thing itself shall be carried to Assyria (English Standard Version)
-or-

It too shall be brought to Assyria (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

Some versions leave this information implied.

This clause part is passive. In some languages, it may be more natural to use an active verb and to make the agent explicit. There are two possible agents:

• The Israelites. After the Assyrians defeat Israel, the Assyrians will force the Israelites to bring their calf idol to Assyria to give to their king. For example:

The Israelites will carry it to Assyria as a gift for the great king.
-or-
The Assyrians will make the Israelites carry it to Assyria as tribute for the great king.

• The Assyrians. After the Assyrians defeat Israel, the Assyrians will bring the calf idol to Assyria to give to their king. For example:

The Assyrians will carry it home to Assyria as a gift for the great king.

If you need to make an agent explicit in your translation, you may choose either of these options.

as tribute to the great king: In this context, a tribute is a gift that someone gives to a superior person, particularly to a king. It shows an attitude of submission to that person.

The phrase the great king refers to the king of Assyria who ruled at that time.

10:6b–c

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

6b
Ephraim will be seized with shame;

6c
Israel will be ashamed of its wooden idols.

These lines talk about the shame that Israel will have when their idol is captured by Assyria.

Ephraim…Israel: In these parallel lines, Ephraim and Israel are figures of speech that represent all the people of the nation of Israel.

will be seized with shame…will be ashamed: The words translated as shame and ashamed are forms of the same Hebrew word. They mean “to be shamed,” and describe a sense of confusion, embarrassment, and dismay.

Here are other ways to translate these parallel lines:

Ephraim shall be put to shame and Israel shall be ashamed (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Ephraim will be ridiculed and Israel will be shamed (New Living Translation (2004))

10:6c

of its wooden idols: There are textual issues and interpretation differences of the Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as of its wooden idols.

Here are the textual issues:

(1) The Masoretic Text has “from its own counsel/plans.” For example:

and Israel will be ashamed of its own counsel. (New American Standard Bible)

(Good News Translation, God’s Word, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures, Revised English Bible)

(2) Some scholars think that the original text was “from its own image.” The word “image” refers to the calf idol. For example:

Israel shall be ashamed of his idol. (English Standard Version)

(Contemporary English Version, English Standard Version, New Living Translation (2004), Revised Standard Version)

(3) Other scholars think that the original text was “from its own disobedience.” For example:

and the people will be ashamed for not obeying. (New Century Version)

(New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with the majority of modern commentaries and versions.

Here are the main interpretations of the word “from its own counsel/plans:”

(1) The word means: “from its own counsel/plans.” For example:

Israel shall be dismayed because of its plans. (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

(2) The word means: “from its own wood.” The word “wood” refers to the calf idol. For example: (NET Bible)

Israel will be put to shame because of its wooden idol.

It is recommended that you follow option (1). It makes sense and it is followed by ancient and many modern versions. The “counsel/plans” that Israel will be ashamed of probably refers to the unwise national policies that the nation of Israel followed.

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