Good News Translation inserts a section heading before this verse: “The LORD Condemns Pagan Worship.” For translators that follow Good News Translation‘s headings, they may need to indicate specifically that the Israelites are engaging in idolatry (so New Revised Standard Version with “The Idolatry of Israel”). The word “pagan” does not occur in the text, so it is better not to use it in the section heading. In any case, this heading may be moved to the beginning of 4.12 and be useful there.

Good News Translation begins this verse with the quote frame “The LORD says,” which is not in the Hebrew but is implied. Good News Translation makes it explicit in order to keep the speaker clearly identified. This quote frame may be particularly helpful if a section heading is inserted before this verse. Unfortunately, Good News Translation has destroyed the proverbial form of this verse in the Hebrew and has changed it into a specific statement about Israel.

Some translations retain “harlotry” as the first word of this verse (so Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Septuagint) rather than as part of 4.10 (see comments there). This is possible since it does fit in well with wine as another factor that destroys a person’s ability to think clearly.

Wine and new wine take away the understanding: Wine renders a generic Hebrew word for this alcoholic drink made from grapes, and new wine translates the same Hebrew word rendered “wine” in 2.8 (see comments there). Certainly, wine is the fermented alcoholic product. Here the important factor is that alcoholic drink causes a problem, and it is not necessary to include both drinks if that would be awkward for the style of the translation. New wine carries with it the idea that it has started to ferment. Good News Translation says “wine, both old and new,” which may be a useful model.

Take away the understanding is literally “take away the heart.” In Hebrew thought the “heart” is the location of the intellect and the will, as well as the location of desires and emotions. In English the “mind” is the location of understanding. Good News Translation expresses this phrase as “robbing my people of their senses” in this context of alcoholic drinks. The next verse shows that the people behave in a senseless manner.

Some translations take the first Hebrew word of 4.12 (which is rendered “My people”) as part of this verse (so Good News Translation, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible). The last half of this verse then literally says “take away the heart of my people.” There is no compelling linguistic reason to do this. The following section shows that from a discourse perspective it is not recommended to include “My people” in this verse.

A translation model for this verse is:

• Wine, old and new, removes the senses.

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 .