11:4
This verse gives another example of the LORD’s love and care for the people of Israel. Here the example is a farmer or a herdsman who cares for his animals.
11:4a–b
Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:
4a I led them with cords of kindness,
4b
with ropes of love;
There is an ellipsis in the second line. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply the missing words from the first line. For example:
4b
⌊ I led them⌋with ropes of love.
Each line is a metaphor that compares the way that the LORD led Israel to the way that a caring herdsman leads his animals.
I led them: The Hebrew word for led can mean to pull an animal with a rope. It can also have the figurative meaning “to lead a person.” In this context, the word may refer to the time when the LORD led his people out of Egypt.
with cords of kindness, with ropes of love: These phrases describe how the LORD led his people. He did so with kindness and love.
The Hebrew words for cords and ropes have the same meaning. Both words mean “rope/cord.”
In Hebrew, the first phrase is literally “with ropes of human.” The meaning may be that these ropes are intended to guide humans in contrast to ropes for animals. The phrase indicates kindness or gentleness instead of harshness.
The parallel phrase ropes of love has a similar meaning. It implies that the LORD showed love toward his people when he led them. He was like a gentle herdsman who cared for his animals with compassion.
11:4c
I lifted the yoke from their necks: This clause is more literally “and I was to them like [those who] lift a yoke on their jaws.” There are two main ways to interpret the Hebrew phrase “lift a yoke on their jaws:”
(1) The phrase means to remove the yoke along with the harness. For example:
and I became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws (New American Standard Bible)
(2) The phrase means to lighten the weight on the yoke and loosen the harness. For example:
and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws (English Standard Version)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most versions. However, some scholars think that interpretation (2) better fits the common usage of some of the Hebrew words in this phrase. So it is recommended that you add a footnote with the other interpretation. For example:
Another interpretation of this phrase in Hebrew is: I became to them as one who lightens the weight of the yoke on their jaws.
Here is another way to translate this verse part:
I removed the yokes from their necks (God’s Word)
The phrase lifted the yoke from their neck may refer figuratively to freeing the people of Israel from slavery. In this metaphor, their hardship was compared to the yoke that was attached by a harness so that the animal could pull a plow or cart.
yoke: There is a textual issue concerning the word yoke in this clause:
(1) The Masoretic Text has yoke. For example:
and I became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws (New American Standard Bible)
(2) Some scholars think that the original text had “infant.” For example:
I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. (New Revised Standard Version)
It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with a majority of versions and commentaries.
A yoke is an arched frame normally placed on the shoulders of a work animal at the base of its neck. Generally the yoke is fastened to two animals and is attached to a cart or plow that they pull together.
their necks: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “their jaws.” This probably indicates that here the word “yoke” refers both to the yoke and also to the halter or bridle around the animal’s jaws, that was used to direct the animal. See the 2nd ML in the Display for 11:4c for a way to make this explicit in your translation.
and bent down to feed them: The Hebrew phrase here is literally “and I bent down to him I fed.” There are three main interpretations of the Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as bent down :
(1) The Hebrew word means “I bent down.” For example:
I bent down to them and fed them. (English Standard Version)
(2) The Hebrew word means “gently.” For example:
and gently fed them (NET Bible)
(3) The Hebrew word means “I offer.” For example:
and I laid meat unto them (King James Version)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most versions. It follows a common meaning of the Hebrew word. Some scholars also support interpretation (2). In both interpretations, the LORD feeds them in a loving way.
feed them: The Hebrew text has “I fed.” English versions supply the object them or “him,” which is required to make the translation sound more natural in English. You may also need to supply an object here if it will sound more natural in your language.
General Comment on 11:4
The Hebrew text uses both plural and singular pronouns to refer to those whom the LORD cared for. In many languages, it is not natural to alternate pronouns in this way. Many versions translate all the pronouns in 11:4 as plural or else all the pronouns as singular. You should translate the pronouns in a natural way in your language. The Display uses plural pronouns, as in the Berean Standard Bible. An example of using singular pronouns is the New Living Translation (2004):
I led Israel along with my ropes of kindness and love. I lifted the yoke from his neck, and I myself stooped to feed him. (New Living Translation (2004))
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