Paragraph 9:7–9
In this paragraph, Hosea warns the people that God’s judgment is certain because of their many sins. This judgment will involve the total destruction of their cities (See Paragraph 8:11–14). Because of this devastation, few if any people will be able to live in the land. Those who escape death will face future punishment as slaves/exiles in Assyria (See the notes on 8:10b and 8:10c).
9:7a–b
Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:
7a
The days of punishment have come;
7b
the days of retribution have arrived —
These lines are a warning. The underlined parts refer to the time when the LORD will begin to punish the people to pay for their sins. The parts in bold print indicate that this will happen very soon. See the first note on 9:6a.
The days of punishment…days of retribution: These parallel phrases both describe the same time and the same event(s). They refer to the suffering that the people of Israel will experience in exile. The first phrase indicates that this suffering is a punishment. The second phrase indicates that the LORD will require them to suffer as payment for the wrongs they have done.
days…days: In Hebrew and in many English versions, these words are identical. They refer here to an indefinite period of time.
Here are some acceptable ways to translate these parallel terms:
• Use the same term in both lines. For example:
The days…the days (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
The time…the time (Good News Translation)
• Use different terms in each line. For example:
The time…the day (New Living Translation (2004))
Here are some other ways to translate the parallel lines:
7a The time for them to be punished will come. 7b The time for them to pay for their sins will come. (God’s Word)
-or-
7a The time of punishment is about to arrive! 7b The time of retribution is imminent! (adapted from NET Bible)
General Comment on 9:7a–b
In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder these two parallel lines. See 9:7a–b (combined/reordered) in the Display for an example.
9:7c
let Israel know it: There is a textual issue here:
(1) The Masoretic Text has let Israel know. For example:
Let Israel know this! (New American Standard Bible)
(2) The LXX has “Israel cries out.” For example:
Israel cries (New Revised Standard Version)
It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with most versions and scholars. With this option, the clause let Israel know it functions as a conclusion to the preceding lines (9:7a–b).
There are two main ways to interpret this conclusion:
(1) Hosea informs the people of Israel that they will know when the time of punishment begins. For example:
The time for them to be punished will come…When this happens, Israel will know it. (God’s Word)
(2) Hosea urges/admonishes the people of Israel that they need to know when the time of punishment will begin. For example:
…The time of retribution is imminent! Let Israel know ! (NET Bible)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with a majority of versions and scholars. However, interpretation (2) is also well supported. If you decide to follow interpretation (2), it is recommended that you give the other interpretation in a footnote. Here is a suggested footnote:
Another way to interpret this part of the verse is: “Israel will know it” or “Israel knows this!”
9:7d–e
Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:
7d
The prophet is called a fool,
7e and the inspired man insane.
The prophet is called a fool, and the inspired man insane: In Hebrew, these clauses are more literally “the prophet a fool the person of the spirit mad.” In many languages, one or more verbs must be supplied to make the meaning clear. For example, the Berean Standard Bible supplies the verb phrase is called. In addition, some versions make the speaker explicit. For example:
You think the prophet is a fool, and you say the spiritual person is crazy (New Century Version)
-or-
“The prophets are crazy!” the people shout. “The inspired men are mad!” So they taunt (New Living Translation (2004) 96)
Most commentaries think that the words in 7d–e were spoken by Hosea’s hearers. These words indicate that they did not believe Hosea’s warning that the LORD would soon begin to punish them. Their response to Hosea was to discredit him (and perhaps all true prophets) by comparing him to a crazy person.
fool…insane: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as fool means “stupid.” It describes someone whose words are not worth listening to. The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as insane is literally “mad/crazy.” Here the people probably used the word to mock Hosea because of what he said.
The prophet…the inspired man: In these parallel phrases, the second phrase further describes a prophet in terms of the source of the prophet’s message.
the inspired man: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “the man of the spirit.” This phrase occurs only here in the Old Testament. It indicates that the person’s words are inspired by the spirit of the LORD.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
the man whose words come from the LORD
-or-
a person whom the spirit of the LORD causes to speak
9:7f–g
Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:
7f because of the greatness of your iniquity
7g and hostility.
because of the greatness of your iniquity and hostility: In Hebrew, the words are literally “on the multitude of your iniquity and great animosity.” There are two main interpretations of the function of the Hebrew preposition “on” that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as because :
(1) The preposition introduces reasons why the people call the prophet a fool and a madman. They call him that because they are filled with sin and hatred. For example:
The prophet is a fool; the man of the spirit is mad, because of your great iniquity and great hatred. (English Standard Version)
(2) The preposition introduces the reason for their great hostility. They have great hostility because they have many sins. For example:
Because of your great iniquity, your hostility is great. (New Revised Standard Version)
(Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, New Revised Standard Version)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most versions and scholars.
your…hostility: In Hebrew, this word probably means “to have animosity” or “to hold a grudge.” It refers here to the hostility that the people of Israel have against Hosea, or perhaps against both Hosea and Yahweh.
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