Verses 6 and 7 contain various poetic expressions, and translators will have to determine whether these can be translated literally, or whether they will need to express the meaning of the poetry in nonfigurative language.

This verse begins with the Hebrew waw conjunction (literally “And” [King James Version]), which Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, and most other versions leave untranslated. Here it introduces another way in which the Israelites will suffer, that is, through war.

The sword shall rage against their cities …: Revised Standard Version follows the Hebrew with the sword pictured acting as a person. All the things done in this verse are done by it. If this personification is possible in the receptor language, we recommend using it, since it makes the translation more vivid. The sword is a figure of speech for “War” (Good News Translation), which some languages may have to use. If another term in the receptor language will have the same meaning and effect as sword, perhaps it can be used. Israel suffered from war, beginning with the Assyrian invasion in 733 B.C. and ending with the capture of Samaria by the Assyrians in 722 B.C.

Rage renders a Hebrew verb that means “to go round,” but in a powerful way, like a whirlwind, a devastating tempest. Good News Translation says “War will sweep through their cities,” which is an English idiom that keeps some of the original imagery. New Living Translation is similar: “War will swirl through their cities.” Contemporary English Version says “War will visit their cities.” We do not recommend this model since it loses the impact of the original text. Each of these translations still contain a personification, one that may be more difficult to maintain in translation.

Instead of cities, New English Bible has “blood-spattered altars,” which we do not recommend. There is no textual or contextual support to justify this translation.

Consume the bars of their gates: Bars of … gates (Good News Translation “city gates”) is one possible meaning of the Hebrew word here (also followed by New International Version, English Standard Version, and New Jerusalem Bible). When city gates were shut, thick wooden poles were attached across the gates so no one could open them from outside. If enemies wished to enter and attack the people of a city, they first had to destroy the bars of the gates. However, according to k The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testamentk*, the Hebrew word means “oracle priests” (New Revised Standard Version, De Nieuwe Bijbelvertaling). New English Bible has “prattling priests,” and Revised English Bible just says “priests.” Wolff suggests “braggarts” (similarly Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). This expression may be a play on words. While the basic meaning seems to be “bars of city gates,” the same word can refer to idle talk or boasting, which makes good sense in this context. The next line takes up the subject of human plans, which can be boastful and idle talk. Again, it is usually impossible in most languages to reproduce such a wordplay, and it seems best to choose one of the two given options.

And devour them in their fortresses: Good News Translation‘s “destroy” expresses the meaning behind the figurative verb devour. Fortresses (also NET Bible and Jerusalem Bible) is based on an unnecessary emendation of the Hebrew text, which reads “counsels” (Revised Standard Version footnote). Hebrew Old Testament Text Project recommends the Hebrew with an {A} rating. A literal translation of this line in Hebrew is “and it [the sword] will eat from their plans [or, schemes].” A possible way to translate it is “and will destroy their planning.” However, the Hebrew noun for “plans” is preceded by a preposition. The preposition usually means “from,” but it can also be used to mark the grounds for an event, as in this case. The Israelites will die in war “because of their scheming.” Good News Translation‘s “because they do what they themselves think best” and New English Bible‘s “in return for all their schemings” follow the Hebrew and make sense.

Translation models for this verse are:

• The sword will rampage through their cities,
it will consume their oracle priests,
and finish them because of their ploys.

• War will storm through their cities,
it will demolish their city gates,
and consume them because of their schemes.

Quoted with permission from Dorn, Louis & van Steenbergen, Gerrit. A Handbook on Hosea. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2020. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .