Section 13:1–16

The LORD’s anger against Israel

In this section, the LORD gives reasons for his anger against Israel. It was necessary to judge them because they continued to rebel against him.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

Final Judgment on Israel (Good News Translation)
-or-
The Lord ’s Relentless Judgment on Israel (English Standard Version)
-or-
Ephraim’s Idolatry (New American Standard Bible)

Paragraph 13:1–3

In this paragraph, Hosea is the speaker. He refers to Ephraim as a tribe for the first time (1a–b). In the past, the other tribes of Israel regarded Ephraim highly, with respect and fear. With the contrast that begins with “But” in 13:1c, Hosea again uses “Ephraim” as another name for Israel. Ephraim turned away from the LORD to worship false gods. As a result of their sin, the LORD brought death to them as a nation.

13:1a–b

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

1a When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling;

1b
he was exalted in Israel.

These lines talk about Israel’s past. There was a time when Ephraim had power and high status.

13:1a

When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling: This line is more literally “just as spoke Ephraim trembling.”

When: This time word introduces two events that occurred simultaneously. People trembled at the same time that Ephraim spoke.”

Ephraim: Here the name Ephraim probably refers literally to the tribe of Ephraim. Some versions make that meaning explicit. For example:

When the tribe of Ephraim spoke, people trembled. (God’s Word)

trembling: The Hebrew word for trembling occurs only here in the Old Testament. The meaning is probably trembling or “fear/horror.” Here the word trembling refers to the fearful response of the people to Ephraim.

Here are some other ways to translate this line:

People used to fear the tribe of Ephraim (New Century Version)
-or-
When the tribe of Ephraim spoke, the people shook with fear (New Living Translation (2004))

13:1b

he was exalted in Israel: In Hebrew, the word exalted means “lifted” or “raised high.” In this context, the word refers to the power and importance of the tribe of Ephraim in Israel in the past. There is a combined textual and interpretation issue about the Hebrew verb form of he was exalted :

(1) It is a passive form. he ⌊Ephraim ⌋ was exalted. The implied subject is the people of Israel. They regarded the tribe of Ephraim to be powerful and important. For example:

he was exalted in Israel (New Revised Standard Version)

(2) It is a reflexive form. Ephraim exalted himself. The subject is Ephraim. The tribe of Ephraim made itself powerful and important. For example:

he exalted himself in Israel (New American Standard Bible)

It is recommended that you follow option/interpretation (1) along with most versions and commentaries.

Here are some other ways to translate this line:

The people of Ephraim were important in Israel. (God’s Word)
-or-
he was a power in Israel (New Jerusalem Bible)

13:1c

But: This word introduces a contrast in which “he” (Ephraim) again refers to Israel as a nation. This is the way Hosea has used Ephraim everywhere else. See the note on Ephraim in 12:14a.

Ephraim did not thank the LORD or worship him in response. Instead the people sinned by worshiping Baal. Use a natural way in your language to introduce this negative contrast.

he incurred guilt through Baal:
Another way to say he incurred guilt is to say “he sinned.” For example:

But the people of Ephraim sinned by worshiping Baal (New Living Translation (2004))

and he died: The result of Ephraim’s Baal worship was that he died. In Hebrew, this is a past event. Some versions translate this as future “will die” or as a volitional “must die.” However, the Hebrew word form that is used here should not be translated as a future or volitional.

The word died does not mean that the people of Ephraim died physically, since the following verse says that they continued to sin. The following verses speak of Israel’s future destruction as a nation. The prophet views this destruction of Ephraim, including all of Israel, as already complete. So died probably refers to the strength and identity of Ephraim, along with Israel, as a nation.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

and you were destroyed (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
and became as if dead ⌊as a nation ⌋

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