7:14a

They do not cry out to Me from their hearts: In Hebrew, cry out means to call for help in a time of distress. Another way to translate cry out to Me is “pray to me.” For example:

They do not pray to me (NET Bible)

from their hearts: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “in their heart.” For Hebrew speakers, the heart was the center of reason and emotion. To fail to cry out to God “in” or “from their heart” indicates that the people refused to sincerely request help from God.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

They don’t pray to me sincerely (God’s Word)
-or-
They do not cry out to me with sincere hearts (New Living Translation (2004))

7:14b

but: This word introduces a contrast with the previous statement.

Here is another way to introduce this contrast:

Instead, they sit on their couches and wail (New Living Translation (2004))

Use a natural way in your language to introduce a contrast with the previous statement.

when they wail upon their beds: This part of the sentence describes what the people do instead of sincerely crying out to God in prayer. They lie on their beds and wail because of their hopeless despair or sorrow. These words may also indicate that they cry out in pain from slashing themselves as part of idol worship. See the note on “they slash themselves” in 7:14c.

beds: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as beds describes a place where people normally lie down and sleep. It can refer to a sleeping mat as well as a piece of furniture. Here in Hosea 7:14, beds may be associated with the ritual sexual activity that was part of idol worship.

Here are some other ways to translate this verse part:

They just lie on their beds and cry (New Century Version)
-or-
They howl in distress on their beds (NET Bible)

7:14c

They slash themselves for grain and wine: There is a textual issue here:

(1) The LXX and some Hebrew manuscripts have “For grain and new wine they cut themselves.” For example:

They slash themselves for grain and new wine (NET Bible)

(2) The Masoretic Text has “For grain and new wine they assemble themselves.” For example:

They come together to ask for grain and new wine. (New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). It makes good sense and fits the context well. It is also easy to explain how the Masoretic Text could be a variant form of the Hebrew word for “cut themselves.”

They slash themselves: The act of gashing or cutting oneself was a pagan Canaanite custom. The people hoped that Baal would respond to their self- mutilation by providing good crops. Some versions make this pagan connection explicit. For example:

and slashed themselves, in the hope that Baal will bless their crops. (Contemporary English Version)

for grain and new wine: This phrase gives the reason that the people cut themselves. They were motivated by a desire to obtain the food and drink they needed to live. For more information on this phrase, see the notes on “grain, new wine, and oil” in 2:8b.

7:14d

but turn away from Me: This verse part may function as a summary or a conclusion to the previous statement. It may also function as a transition to the next verse.

but: In Hebrew and in some English versions, this verse part does not begin with a conjunction. The connection with 7:14c is implied. For example:

They have turned against me. (God’s Word)

In other versions, a contrast is made explicit. For example:

14c They slash themselves for grain and new wine, 14d but turn away from me. (NET Bible)

turn away from Me: There is a textual issue here:

(1) The Masoretic Text has “they turn away from me.” For example:

They turn away from Me (New American Standard Bible)

(2) The Syriac and Targum have “they rebel against me.” For example:

They are still rebelling against me (New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). The Masoretic Text makes good sense and fits the context. It carries both the ideas of turning away from God and turning against God.

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