13:16a
Samaria will bear her guilt: There is a textual issue concerning the Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as bear her guilt :
(1) The Masoretic Text has “it/she will be held guilty Samaria.” For example:
Samaria will be held guilty (NET Bible)
(2) The LXX has “Samaria will be destroyed.” For example:
Samaria will become desolate (Revised English Bible)
It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with most versions and commentaries. The word guilt implies that a person has sinned. The phrase bear her guilt means the people of Samaria will suffer the consequences of their sin.
Here are some other ways to translate this line:
The people of Samaria are guilty as charged (God’s Word)
-or-
The people of Samaria must bear the consequences of their guilt (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Samaria will pay the penalty (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Samaria will be punished (Contemporary English Version)
Samaria: It is possible that the name Samaria represents the nation of Israel here, as “Ephraim” often does elsewhere. However, it is not certain. It makes good sense for Hosea to speak of the literal city and people of Samaria at that time, just prior to the Assyrian invasion of Samaria. It is recommended that you follow the majority of versions that translate the name either as Samaria or “the people of Samaria.”
13:16b
because she has rebelled against her God: This line gives the basis or reason for Samaria’s guilt. Samaria is guilty of rebellion against God. A Hebrew word, translated here as because (“for” in some versions), introduces the reason. Introduce this reason in a natural way in your language.
Here are some other ways to translate this line:
For she has defied her God (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
-or-
Samaria will be punished for turning against me. (Contemporary English Version)
her God: This phrase points to the relationship that the people should have with God. Hosea may intend to give attention to how inexcusable their behavior is. They rebel as if he is not their God. Some versions leave the word her implied. However, it is recommended that you translate the complete phrase, her God.
God: In this clause, the Hebrew word for God is a form of elohim and not YHWH. Use your general term for God here.
13:16c–e
Notice the parallel lines that are similar in meaning.
16c
They will fall by the sword;
16d
their little ones will be dashed to pieces,
16e and their pregnant women ripped open.
These three lines describe the terrible consequences of the people’s rebellion against God. They will suffer and die in war. The first line is a more general statement. The second and third lines give specific examples.
There is an ellipsis in the third line. In some languages the verb may need to be supplied. For example:
and their pregnant women ⌊will be ⌋ ripped open
The second and third lines are passive in form. In some languages, it will be more natural to use active forms. For example:
16d the enemy will dash Samaria’s little ones to pieces,
16e they will rip open the pregnant women.
13:16c
They will fall by the sword: This phrase can mean that the Assyrian army will kill some people using swords. The same phrase can be a figure of speech that means people will die in war, regardless of the weapon used. It is a standard description of the devastation of war. Some versions, such as the Berean Standard Bible above, translate the Hebrew phrase more literally. Others translate the wider meaning of war. Either way to translate this phrase is acceptable. Here are some other examples:
Her people will die in war. (Good News Translation)
-or-
They will be killed by an invading army (New Living Translation (2004))
13:16d
their little ones will be dashed to pieces: This line is probably meant literally.
Here are some other ways to translate this line:
children will be beaten against rocks (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
their children will be smashed to death (God’s Word)
13:16e
their pregnant women ripped open: This line is also probably meant literally.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
their pregnant women ripped open by swords (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
their pregnant women disemboweled (New Jerusalem Bible)
General Comment on Hosea 13:16a–e
The Hebrew pronouns that refer to Samaria within this verse vary in number and gender. 16a–b has feminine singular, “she/her.” 16c–d has masculine plural, “they/their.” 16e has masculine singular, “his.” This amount of variation within a single verse is not natural in some languages. Translate these references to the city and people of Samaria in a natural way in your language.
Here are some possible options:
• Use a combination of singular and plural pronouns. For example:
Samaria shall bear her guilt, because she has rebelled against her God; they shall fall by the sword, their little ones shall be dashed in pieces, and their pregnant women ripped open. (Revised Standard Version)
• Use only singular pronouns. For example:
Samaria must be punished for rebelling against me. Her people will die in war; babies will be dashed to the ground, and pregnant women will be ripped open.” (Good News Translation)
• Use only plural pronouns. For example:
The people of Samaria are guilty as charged because they rebelled against their God. They will be killed in war, their children will be smashed to death, and their pregnant women will be ripped open. (God’s Word)
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