4:19a–b

Notice the similarity between these two parallel lines:

19a The whirlwind has wrapped them in its wings,

19b and their sacrifices will bring them shame.

Both lines indicate the result of the sinful behavior described in the previous verses. Verse 4:19a describes the punishment of being taken away into captivity. Verse 4:19b describes the shame that they will feel.

Most English versions do not indicate explicitly that this verse is a result. In some languages, it may be clearer to introduce this result with a word such as “Therefore” or “So.” For example:

So a mighty wind will sweep them away (New Living Translation (2004))

4:19a

The whirlwind has wrapped them in its wings: This figure of speech probably means that enemy armies will take the people and their leaders captive and remove them from the land of Israel.

The Hebrew verb form used here normally indicates that the action is already complete. For that reason the Berean Standard Bible and some other versions use past tense.

However, in prophecies, the completed form can indicate that a future event will certainly take place. That is probably what it indicates here.

Use a natural way in your language to indicate that this is a future event.

4:19b

and their sacrifices will bring them shame: There is a textual issue here regarding the word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as sacrifices :

(1) The Masoretic Text has sacrifices. For example:

they will be ashamed because of their sacrifices (New American Standard Bible)

(2) The LXX has “altars.” For example:

they shall be ashamed because of their altars (New Revised Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with most versions.

The meaning of this clause is that their sacrifices will cause them shame. Here are some other ways to express this relationship:

their sacrifices will lead to their shame
-or-
The result of their idol worship will be their humiliation

sacrifices: Here the word sacrifices is a figure of speech (metonymy) that represents idol worship.

Here are some other ways to translate this figure of speech:

• Make “idols” explicit. For example:

Their sacrifices to idols (New Living Translation (2004))

• Refer to idol worship directly. For example:

their idolatrous worship (NET Bible)

shame: Because the people of Israel continue to worship idols, the LORD will send enemy armies to defeat them in battle and take them captive. This will cause them to feel shame or disgrace.

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