SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 2021 – Page 23

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 11:8

Paragraph 11:8–11

This paragraph contrasts with the previous one. The previous paragraph promises that the nation of Israel will be taken into exile in Assyria. This paragraph tells about the time after that exile. In these verses, the LORD promises that he will not completely destroy them. Rather, in the future he will bring them back to their land.

11:8a–d

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

8a
How could I give you up, O Ephraim ?

8b
How could I surrender you, O Israel ?

8c
How could I make you like Admah ?

8d
How could I treat you like Zeboiim ?

These lines show the LORD’s emotional anguish due to the coming destruction and captivity of Israel. They also indicate that the LORD is the one who decides the fate of Israel.

The lines are probably rhetorical questions with an implied answer of, “I cannot!” See the general comment for other ways to translate these lines.

11:8a–b

How: In rhetorical questions, this Hebrew question word can indicate emotions such as despair, amazement, or horror. Here it is an exclamation that indicates grief or anguish.

could I give you up…could I surrender you: In both these phrases, the LORD asks himself if he can give Israel to their enemy, Assyria, to destroy them.

Ephraim…Israel: Both names refer to the people of Israel.

11:8c–d

How could I make you like Admah? How could I treat you like Zeboiim?: In both questions, the LORD asks himself if he can destroy Israel as he destroyed these two cities. In some languages, it may be helpful to make explicit that these two clauses are about destruction. For example:

How can I destroy you like Admah or demolish you like Zeboiim? (New Living Translation (2004))

How: See comment above on How.

could I make you like…could I treat you like: In this context, the Hebrew words for make you and treat you have similar meanings. Here they both mean “do to you.”

Admah…Zeboiim: The LORD completely destroyed these two cities along with Sodom and Gomorrah because of their extreme wickedness. See Deuteronomy 29:23.

General Comment on 11:8a–d

In some languages, it may be more natural to use statements instead of rhetorical questions or use some of each. It also may be more natural to combine some of the parallel parts. For example, the Contemporary English Version has statements for the first two parallel lines. It has kept the third and fourth lines as rhetorical questions but has combined them.

Israel, I can’t let you go. I can’t give you up. How could I possibly destroy you as I did the towns of Admah and Zeboiim?

11:8e–f

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

8e
My heart is turned within Me;

8f
My compassion is stirred !

11:8e

My heart: The Hebrews considered the heart to be the center of thought and knowledge. Some languages use a different body organ, such as the liver, to signify attitudes and thoughts. Use an expression that is natural in your language for this purpose.

is turned: In Hebrew, there are two main interpretations of this phrase:

(1) The phrase means “to change one’s mind/plan.” For example:

I have changed my mind (God’s Word)

(2) The word means “to be in distress.” For example:

My heart is torn within me (New Living Translation (2004))

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). It fits better with following context of 11:9 in which the LORD describes what he no longer plans to do. It also allows the second interpretation. His change of heart is based on his strong compassion for his people.

Here are some other ways to translate this verse part:

My heart will not let me do it! (Good News Translation)
-or-
A change of heart moves me (Revised English Bible)

within Me: In this context, the Hebrew word indicates the location where the decisions/emotions take place.

11:8f

There Hebrew is a word here which means “together.” Here it gives emphasis to the intensity of the emotion that the LORD feels. Some versions leave this word implicit. Some others indicate this intensity in a different way. The Berean Standard Bible indicates the intensity with the exclamation point at the end of the sentence. For example:

I am deeply moved. (God’s Word)

Indicate the intensity of emotion in a natural way in your language.

compassion: The Hebrew word refers to an emotion of compassion and pity. It describes a desire to bring comfort.

stirred!: In Hebrew, this word is literally “grow warm.” Hebrew uses the word “warm” or “hot” to describe strong feelings. For example:

my compassion grows warm and tender (New Revised Standard Version)

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

My compassion overflows (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
my love for you stirs up my pity (New Century Version)

© 2021 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 13:14

13:14a–d

Notice the parallel lines that are similar in meaning:

14a I will ransom them from the power of Sheol;

14b I will redeem them from Death.

14c Where, O Death, are your plagues ?

14d Where, O Sheol, is your sting ?

There are two main interpretations of these four clauses:

(1) The first two clauses are rhetorical questions. The implied answer is “No.” The LORD indicates by means of these rhetorical questions that he will punish Israel. For example:

Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from Death? (New Revised Standard Version)

The second two clauses are also rhetorical questions. The LORD taunts death, implying, “Where is the destruction that you should bring to Israel? For example:

O Death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your destruction? (New Revised Standard Version)

(2) The first two clauses are statements. The LORD promises to save the people of Israel. For example:

I shall ransom them from the power of Sheol; I shall redeem them from Death. (English Standard Version)

The second two clauses are rhetorical questions. In light of the LORD’s preceding promise to save Israel, he here mocks death because it can no longer destroy. For example:

O Death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your sting? (English Standard Version)
#
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with a majority of versions and commentaries. It best fits the context of judgment in the surrounding verses.

Some versions translate in a way that makes the implied meanings more explicit. For example:

Will I deliver them from the power of Sheol? No, I will not! Will I redeem them from death? No, I will not! O Death, bring on your plagues! O Sheol, bring on your destruction! (NET Bible)
-or-
Should I, the Lord, rescue you from death and the grave? No! I call death and the grave to strike you like a plague. (Contemporary English Version)

The Good News Translation translates the rhetorical questions in the first two clauses as statements:

I will not save this people from the world of the dead or rescue them from the power of death. (Good News Translation)

This may be a good translation option if a rhetorical question is not natural or effective in your language.

13:14a–b

ransom…redeem: The Hebrew word for ransom means “transfer ownership of a person or object to another.” The Hebrew word for redeem means here “reclaim [Israel] as one’s own.” In this context of ransoming/redeeming from death, the words could be translated as “save/rescue.” For example:

Will I save them from the place of the dead? Will I rescue them from death? (New Century Version)

power of Sheol: The Hebrew phrase is more literally “hand of Sheol.” In Hebrew a common figurative meaning of “hand” is power or strength.

The word Sheol can refer to “place of the dead” or just “death.”

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the power of Sheol (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
the place of the dead (New Century Version)

Some versions leave the word power implied. For example:

“Should I ransom them from the grave? (New Living Translation (2004))

13:14c–d

Where: Here the word Where does not ask about the literal location of plagues and destruction. It is used as part of a taunt. See interpretation (1) above. Some versions translate the taunt in a different way. For example, the New Living Translation (2004) translates the rhetorical questions as commands:

O death, bring on your terrors! O grave, bring on your plagues! (New Living Translation (2004))

plagues: The Hebrew word means any kind of disease that causes death.

sting: There are two main interpretations of the meaning of the Hebrew word:

(1) It means “destruction.” For example:

O Sheol, where is your destruction? (New Revised Standard Version)

(2) It means sting. For example:

O Sheol, where is your sting? (English Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). The most common meaning of the Hebrew word is “destruction.” It has good support from the majority of versions and scholars. However, both interpretations have good version support, so it is recommended that you give the other option in a footnote. For example:

This is what the Masoretic Text probably means. Some ancient and modern versions have “sting” here.

13:14e

Compassion is hidden from My eyes: The Hebrew word translated as Compassion is found only here in the Old Testament and the meaning is debated. There are two main interpretations of this line:

(1) The LORD will not show compassion. For example:

I will no longer have pity for this people. (Good News Translation)

(2) The LORD will not change his plan to save his people. For example:

I won’t even think of changing my plans. (God’s Word)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most versions. It better fits the recommended interpretation in 14:a-d and the context of judgment in the surrounding verses.

Here are some other ways to translate this line:

I refuse to show mercy. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
For I will not take pity on them. (New Living Translation (2004))

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 1:5

1:5

And on that day: This phrase refers here to the time in the future when the LORD will bring an end to the kingdom of Israel. It does not refer to a literal 24-hour day.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

At that time (Good News Translation)

Some versions omit this expression, because the meaning is clear from the context. Do what is most natural in your language.

I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel: The LORD warned Israel here that he would use an enemy army to defeat them in the Valley of Jezreel and destroy their military power.

I will break the bow of Israel: The bow was one of the main instruments of warfare in Hosea’s time. Here it is used as a figure of speech to symbolize Israel’s power and military strength.

If this figure of speech is not clear in your language, here are some other ways to translate it:

• Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:

I will at that time destroy Israel’s military power. (Good News Translation)

• Use a similar figure of speech that conveys the right meaning in your language.

With either option, be careful not to imply that God literally will be fighting Israel at Jezreel. In some languages, it may be necessary to make explicit that the LORD will use an enemy nation as his instrument to destroy Israel’s military power. For example:

At that time, I will cause the enemies of Israel to defeat her at the Valley of Jezreel, so that Israel will not be able to fight any more.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 3:3

3:3

3a You are to live with me many days;

3b you must not be a prostitute or be intimate with any man,

3c and I will live with you.

The overall meaning of this verse is that Gomer is to remain in Hosea’s home and be loyal to him as his wife for a long time. During this time she must not sleep with other men, nor will Hosea sleep with her.

3:3a

You must live with me: In Hebrew, this clause is literally “you will remain for me.” It functions here as a command. This command implies three things in the context of the rest of the verse:

(a) Gomer must remain living with Hosea in his home.

(b) She must remain loyal to him.

Most English versions make only some of this implied information explicit in this part of the verse. For example:

You will live in my house (Revised English Bible)
-or-
You must wait for me (God’s Word)
-or-
Now you are mine! You will have to remain faithful to me (Contemporary English Version)

Use a command that will imply as many of these meanings as possible.

for many days: This expression refers to a long period of time.

3:3b

belong to another: In Hebrew, this phrase means to have sexual relations with a man.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

have sexual relations with any other man (New Century Version)
-or-
belong to another man (English Standard Version)
-or-
committing adultery (Good News Translation)
-or-
giving yourself to any man (New Jerusalem Bible)

3:3c

and I will do the same for you: In Hebrew, this statement is literally “and also I to you.” The Hebrew words “and also I” indicate a similarity between what Hosea will do and what Gomer does. However, since there is no verb in the Hebrew, it is not clear what the similar action refers to. There are two ways to interpret this statement:

(1) It means that both of them will refrain from sexual activity. In 3:3b, Hosea told Gomer to refrain from sexual activity. Here Hosea said that he too will refrain from sexual activity with her. For example:

you shall not have intercourse with a man, nor I with you (New Revised Standard Version)

(Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation (2004), Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures, New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible)

(2) It means that both of them will live in the same home. In 3:3a Hosea told Gomer to “live with” him. One implication of that command is that she must continue to live with Hosea in his home. Here Hosea promised that he will also continue to live with her. For example:

I will live with you (New International Version)

(New International Version)

Some versions (Good News Translation, God’s Word, NET Bible, New Jerusalem Bible) use a phrase such as “wait for.” In the context of 3:3b, this probably implies that Hosea and Gomer will need to wait before having sexual relations with each other.

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most versions and commentaries. This interpretation better fits the two preceding commands in 3:3b. These commands refer clearly to refraining from sexual activity. The long period without sexual intimacy between Gomer and Hosea is probably symbolic of the long period in 3:4 without a close relationship between Israel and the LORD. It may also symbolize a time of purification.

General Comment on 3:3a–c

In some languages, it may be more natural to reorder and/or combine the parts of this verse in order to make the overall meaning clearer. For example:

Now you are mine! You will have to remain faithful to me, though it will be a long time before we sleep together. (Contemporary English Version)

In some languages, it may be more natural to express the direct quote in this verse as an indirect quote. For example:

I told her that for a long time she would have to wait for me without being a prostitute or committing adultery; and during this time I would wait for her. (Good News Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 5:11

5:11

In this verse, the focus shifts from the southern kingdom of Judah back to the northern kingdom of Israel.

5:11a

Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment: This verse part implies that the people of Israel are oppressed by their enemies. This oppression is the means by which the LORD judges them.

In the preceding context, the judgment on Ephraim clearly refers to a future event (see 5:7, 5:9). The following context (5:14) also refers to a future event. Here in 5:11a, Hosea describes the judgment as if it has already begun. Scholars have not been able to identify the exact historical context. So we do not know if this judgment refers to the same future event as in 5:9a or if it refers to a different event that has already begun. Examples of both options are given in the following note on “oppressed, trampled.” You may choose either option.

Ephraim: In this context, the tribe of Ephraim probably represents all the people of the nation of Israel. See the note on Ephraim…Israel at 5:3a–b.

oppressed, crushed: The words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as oppressed and crushed have almost the same meaning in this context. Both words are passive forms that refer to people who are being mistreated or caused hardship by their enemies.

The translations crushed and “trampled” are both figurative. They do not refer here to literal crushing or trampling. Use one or more literal or figurative terms in your language that refer to oppression.

Here are some other ways to translate this whole clause using passive forms:

Israel is crushed by the punishment (New Century Version)
-or-
The people of Israel will be crushed and broken by my judgment (New Living Translation (2004))

In some languages, it may be necessary to use active forms and to make explicit who oppresses the people of Israel and who judges them.

Here are some ways to translate this clause using active forms:

The time ⌊for me ⌋ to punish the people of Israel has arrived. ⌊I will send their enemies ⌋ to cause them great hardship and suffering.
-or-

⌊ The enemies of⌋Israel oppress and mistreat them as a result of ⌊my ⌋ judgment against them.

in judgment: This phrase indicates that the LORD allows an enemy to oppress and trample the people as his judgment or punishment against them.

5:11b

for he is determined to follow worthless idols: The reason Israel is oppressed and trampled in judgment is because they are intent on pursuing idols. Some versions translate this word as “because” (Revised Standard Version). Other versions leave it implied. Use a natural way in your language to introduce this reason.

determined to follow: In Hebrew, this phrase is more literally “he was determined to walk after.” It means that the people had made a deliberate decision to follow something.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

having deliberately followed (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-

decided to follow (New Century Version)

worthless idols: There are several textual and interpretation issues involving the Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as worthless idols. (See the preceding and following footnote for details). None of the textual choices literally means idols. However, in this context, most of the choices refer to idol worship, which was both worthless and filthy in the sight of God.

Here are some other ways to translate this verse part:

worshiping useless idols (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
pursuing what is worthless (Revised English Bible)
-or-
follow idols (New Century Version)
-or-
determined to go after filth (English Standard Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 8:1

Section 8:1–14

The Israelites will be punished for rejecting the LORD

In this section, the LORD warned the nation of Israel that enemies were ready to attack them, because they had rejected him and broken their agreement to obey his laws (8:1–3). They disobeyed him by choosing their own leaders (8:4a–b) and making idols (8:4c–6). Their alliance with Assyria failed, and they became weak agriculturally and also politically as a nation. Verse 8:10 predicts their future punishment as slaves in Assyria (8:7–10). The LORD did not accept the sacrifices they offered to him, because they continued to sin, so their cities faced total destruction (11–14).

Here are some other examples of section headings:

The Lord Will Punish Israel for Its Rebellion (God’s Word)
-or-
The LORD warned Israel that enemies would attack them
-or-
Warning that Israel will be Punished

Throughout this section, the LORD is the speaker. He referred to himself using first person pronouns (“I/me/my”) except for verse 13b–d, which has “he.” In this section, the Hebrew text almost always uses “they” or “he/it” to refer to the people or nation of Israel. The only exceptions are 8:1 and 8:5, which use the pronoun “your.” The Contemporary English Version uses “you/your” consistently to refer to Israel. Most other versions use third person pronouns. The Display will follow the Berean Standard Bible pronoun choice in the first meaning line. It will often use “you/your” in the second meaning line.

Paragraph 8:1–3 and 8:4–6

TN will divide these verses into 8:1–3 and 8:4–6 along with many English versions. In the first paragraph, the LORD warns Israel that they will be punished, because they had rejected his covenant. In the second paragraph, he specifies two ways that Israel had rejected him. In other versions the first paragraph in this chapter is 8:1–6. You should follow a paragraph structure that is natural in your language.

8:1a

Put the ram’s horn to your lips!: The LORD is the implied speaker of these words. In some languages, it will be helpful to make this explicit. For example:

The Lord says, “…. (Good News Translation)

The clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Put the ram’s horn to your lips! is literally “to your mouth a horn.” This clause implies that the person should blow the horn. This clause is similar to the cultural gesture “Blow the ram’s horn” in 5:8. In both contexts, the purpose of blowing the horn is to warn the people of danger. Here the danger is specified as an approaching enemy (8:1b).

Here are some ways to translate this cultural gesture:

• Keep the gesture. This option is appropriate if the gesture has the same meaning in your culture. For example:

⌊ Put⌋a ram’s horn to your mouth (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

• Keep the gesture and add the purpose of the gesture. For example:

“Sound the alarm on the ram’s horn (God’s Word)
-or-
Blow the ⌊ram’s ⌋ horn ⌊to sound the alarm ⌋ ! (Voice)

• Translate the purpose or meaning of the gesture. For example:

“Sound the alarm! (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
“Warn the people that their enemies are coming.

ram’s horn: If people in your culture do not blow instruments made from an animal’s horn, you may use a word like “trumpet” that has a similar function, as many English versions have done.

8:1b

An eagle looms over the house of the LORD: In the Berean Standard Bible, this clause is a metaphor. In Hebrew, it is a simile: “like the eagle over the house of the LORD.” Both figures of speech compare the implied topic (an enemy) to an eagle that flies or circles over the house of the LORD. An enemy army and an eagle are similar, because both are large, strong, and swift. An army and an eagle also attack their opponents or prey.

Here are some ways to translate these figures of speech:

• Use a metaphor. Make the similarity explicit if it will be helpful. For example:

Now an eagle is swooping down to attack my land. (Contemporary English Version)

• Use a simile. Make the topic or the similarity explicit if it will be helpful. For example:

The enemy descends like an eagle on the people of the Lord (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-

⌊ A powerful army⌋will soon attack my people like an eagle.

eagle: In Hebrew, this word can refer to an eagle, a vulture, or a similar kind of large bird that eats other birds or small animals. English versions interpret this word in two ways:

(1) The word refers here to an eagle. For example:

Like an eagle (New American Standard Bible)

(2) The word refers here to a vulture. For example:

One like a vulture (English Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most versions and commentaries. Eagles attack and eat live animals. Most vultures eat only dead animals.

If eagles are not known in your area, here are two ways to translate the word:

• Use a descriptive phrase. For example:

a large fierce bird

• Substitute another large bird that attacks and eats smaller birds or animals.

over the house of the LORD: This phrase indicates that the eagle is ready to attack or has already started to attack the house of the LORD. There are two main ways to interpret the meaning of the phrase the house of the LORD in this context:

(1) It refers to the nation of Israel. For example:

Enemies are swooping down on my land like eagles! (Good News Translation)

(Contemporary English Version, Good News Translation, New Century Version, New Living Translation (2004))

(2) It refers to the temple. For example:

The enemy swoops down on the Lord ’s temple like an eagle. (God’s Word)

(God’s Word, NET Bible, Revised English Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). In this context, it is the northern kingdom of Israel that is threatened by Assyria. The temple of the LORD was in Jerusalem, in the southern kingdom of Judah.

Here are some other ways to translate this verse part:

An eagle flies/circles over Israel, ready to attack
-or-
The enemy swoops down on the Lord ’s people like an eagle. (New Century Version)

8:1c–d

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

1c because the people have transgressed My covenant

1d and rebelled against My law.

In these lines, the LORD gives the reason why an enemy will soon attack Israel.

because: The Hebrew text and many versions introduce this reason with a conjunction. For example:

for they have broken their covenant with me, and have rebelled against my law. (NET Bible)

In some languages, it may be more natural to introduce the reason without a conjunction. For example:

they have violated my covenant (Revised English Bible)

Use a natural way in your language to introduce the reason.

the people have transgressed My covenant: In this clause, the words the people refer to the people of Israel. In some languages, it may be helpful to make this explicit. For example:

The Israelites have broken my agreement (New Century Version)
-or-
Israel, you broke our agreement (Contemporary English Version)

My covenant…My law: In this context, the phrase My covenant probably refers to the covenant that the LORD made with Moses on Mount Sinai. That covenant included the people’s promise that they would obey his laws. See Exodus 19:5–8. In Hebrew, the word law also means “instruction” or “teaching.”

Here are some other ways to translate these clauses:

they have violated my covenant and rebelled against my instruction (Revised English Bible)
-or-
The Israelites have broken my agreement and have turned against my teachings. (New Century Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 10:2

10:2a

Their hearts are devious: This expression indicates that being devious was a characteristic of the people that resulted from their faulty and perverse reasoning.

Here are other ways to translate this expression:

Their heart is false (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
They have an insincere heart
-or-
Their heart is deceptive

Their hearts: The people of Israel considered the heart to be the center of attitudes and thoughts. Some languages use a different body organ, such as the liver, to signify the center of attitudes and thoughts. Use an expression that is natural in your language for this purpose.

In Hebrew, the word Their is plural but “heart” is singular. The phrase Their heart indicates that the people share in common a deceitful way of thinking. In some languages, it may be unnatural to refer to a group of people as having one heart. If so, it may be necessary to make the word “heart” or other body organ plural. For example:

The people whose hearts are deceitful (Good News Translation)

In some languages, it may be preferable to express the same meaning without reference to a body organ. For example:

They are hypocrites (God’s Word)
-or-
You are deceitful and disloyal (Contemporary English Version)

now they must bear their guilt: This clause indicates that the time has arrived for the LORD to punish the nation. He will make them pay or suffer for their guilt. The word now indicates that he will not wait any longer.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

they are guilty and must be punished (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
The people whose hearts are deceitful must now suffer for their sins. (Good News Translation)
-or-
They will be punished for their sins.

10:2b–c

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

2b The LORD will break down their altars

2c and demolish their sacred pillars.

The LORD will break down their altars and demolish their sacred pillars: These lines describe what the LORD will do to the altars and sacred pillars that Hosea described in 10:1b–c. He will destroy them. The form of the Hebrew pronoun that is used here emphasizes the LORD as the agent of destruction. Some versions make this emphasis explicit. For example:

He himself will hack down their altars and wreck their sacred pillars. (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-

The Lord himself will break down their altars and demolish their sacred pillars.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 12:7

Paragraph 12:7–8

In the previous paragraph, Hosea urged the people to return to God. This paragraph describes what the people do instead. They become wealthy through fraud and deceit, but they deny that they have sinned.

In Hebrew, the speaker is not identified. It may be Hosea or the LORD. Most versions leave the identity of the speaker implied. Some versions supply “the LORD says.” The Notes and the Display will assume that Hosea continues to speak here.

12:7

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

A merchant loves to defraud;

with dishonest scales in his hands.

These lines compare Israel to a dishonest merchant. Most versions leave this comparison to Israel implied. Some versions make it explicit. For example:

Israel, you enjoy cheating (Contemporary English Version)

A merchant loves to defraud with dishonest scales in his hands: In Hebrew, this clause is more literally “Canaan/merchant in his hand [are] scales of deceit, he loves to defraud.” This description is probably a figure of speech (synecdoche) in which deceitful scales in the hand represents general dishonesty in business dealings. For example:

The businessmen love to cheat (NET Bible)

A merchant: In Hebrew, this word is literally “canaan.” In Hosea’s time, this word could mean merchant. This is probably the main meaning here, and it refers to the people of Israel. However, in some contexts, this word refers to the land that the people of Israel conquered and occupied, or to the people who lived in the land before the Israelites came. Here the word may be a wordplay in which it means both merchant and “Canaanite” simultaneously. If so, the word may link the wicked behavior of the Israelites with that of the Canaanites. Most modern versions translate the Hebrew word as A merchant or something similar. Some versions make the double meaning explicit. For example:

The people of Israel are as dishonest as the Canaanites; they love to cheat their customers with false scales.

loves to defraud: This clause makes an even stronger accusation about the dishonesty of the Israelites. The Hebrew word for defraud means “oppress” or “exploit.” It refers to the abuse of power or authority against people of lower status. The Hebrew form of the word loves indicates an ongoing action. The merchant regularly takes delight in defrauding people. Here are additional examples:

…taking advantage of others (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
To defraud is his delight. (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
He loves to oppress. (English Standard Version)

with dishonest scales: scales were made of a bar from which hung two balanced surfaces. A merchant used stone weights to determine the value of the money he charged. The phrase with dishonest scales refers to cheating by improperly suspending the balance or by altering the weights.” The same Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as dishonest here is translated as “deceit” in 11:12. Here are some other ways to translate the phrase:

false scales (Good News Translation)
-or-
false balances (Revised Standard Version)

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 2021

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 11:8

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 13:14

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 1:5

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 3:3

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 5:11

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 8:1

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 10:2

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 12:7

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