This verse moves on from describing the evils of specific towns to speaking of Israel in general. The sins mentioned are no longer against other people, but involve idolatry and therefore are against Yahweh.

In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing: Elsewhere the book of Hosea uses the phrase the house of Israel to mean the people of Israel (1.4, 6; 5.1; 11.12), so Good News Translation‘s “Israel” alone is justified. Some scholars think the house of Israel in this context refers to Israel’s sanctuary at Bethel, although this is not the meaning of the phrase in its four other occurrences in Hosea. However, the use of the locative there in the next line (as in 6.7) may suggest that the house of Israel refers to the sanctuary in Bethel and not to the people of Israel, so NET Bible says “the temple of Israel.” If this model is followed, a footnote is recommended. Most scholars assume that this phrase refers to the country or nation of Israel. This interpretation also fits well with the locative there. Some translations emend the Hebrew text to read “At Bethel” (Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible), but this is not recommended.

The Hebrew term for horrible thing refers to something that is very detestable, disgusting, and unclean. It is most abominable if it interrupts proper ritual or is introduced into the ritual.

Ephraim’s harlotry is there, Israel is defiled: This line resembles 5.3. Many of the expressions used there can and should be repeated here, as needed.

The locative there refers to the house of Israel (see the comments above). Ephraim’s harlotry again is an image for “worshiping idols” (Good News Translation), a clear act of unfaithfulness to Yahweh.

Israel is defiled means that Israel is ritually unclean because of sin and should not be permitted to engage in sacred worship at the sanctuary.

Ephraim and Israel are again synonymous and parallel (see comments on 4.17), so Good News Translation combines them and uses “my people” to avoid repeating the name Israel.

A translation model for this verse is:

• In the temple of Israel* I have seen something disgusting:
the harlotry of Ephraim is there.
Israel makes itself unclean.
* “The temple of Israel” is literally “the house of Israel,” which can also be translated “the people of Israel” or “the land of Israel.”

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 .