SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 2021 – Page 25

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 4:10

4:10a–11a

These verses will follow the same interpretation as in 4:9b–c. The focus of these verses is still on the priests.

4:10a–b

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

10a
They will eat but not be satisfied;

10b
they will be promiscuous but not multiply,

The underlined parts each describe something that the priests will continue to do. The parts in bold print each describe an unexpected result. The result that the priests expected will not happen.

4:10a

They will eat but not be satisfied: This line means that the amount of food the priests eat will not be enough to satisfy their hunger.

Here are some other ways to translate this line:

Even though they eat, they will always remain hungry
-or-
They eat, but there is not enough to fill their stomachs
-or-
Their food won’t satisfy (Contemporary English Version)

4:10b

they will be promiscuous but not multiply: The meaning of this line is that no children will be born as a result of the immoral behavior of the priests.

Here are some other ways to translate this line:

Although they frequently sleep with prostitutes, their numbers will not increase
-or-
They are sexually promiscuous but they will remain childless
-or-
They will…resort to prostitutes and never have children (Revised English Bible)

be promiscuous: In Hebrew, this term means to have sexual relations that were against the law of the LORD. It included prostitution that was part of worship in false religions. Here the term may refer partly to this type of prostitution. For example:

You will worship the fertility gods (Good News Translation)

However, it probably refers more generally to any kind of prostitution as well as to other immoral behavior, such as adultery and fornication. Use a natural term in your language that refers to prostitution or to sexual immorality in general.

Here as elsewhere in the book of Hosea, the term variously translated as promiscuous or some form of harlotry or prostitution can be understood both literally and figuratively at the same time. It refers literally to sexual sin and figuratively to the worship of false gods. If possible, translate the phrase so that the literal and figurative meanings can both be understood.

not multiply: This phrase probably means to not multiply in numbers.

4:10c

For they have stopped obeying the LORD: The word For introduces the reason for the results in 4:10a–b. The priests will experience the unexpected results of 4:10a–b, because they had deserted the LORD. In some languages, it may be more natural to put the reason before the results. For example:

10c–11a They have stopped obeying the LORD for promiscuity. 10a–b Therefore, although they eat, they will not be satisfied. Although they frequently sleep with prostitutes, their numbers will not multiply.

they have stopped obeying the LORD: Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

My people have rebelled (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
for they have abandoned the Lord (Revised English Bible)
-or-
you have turned away from me (Good News Translation)

the LORD: Here the LORD speaks of himself using a third person reference: the LORD. If it is not natural in your language for someone to refer to himself in this way, you may make a first person pronoun (I/me) explicit. For example:

you have turned away from me (Good News Translation)
-or-
have been unfaithful to me, their Lord (Contemporary English Version)

4:10d–12a

These lines contain interpretation issues that involve verse and paragraph boundaries as well as differences in the object(s) of the verb. Here is a comparison of the verse and paragraph breaks in the Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, and the New Revised Standard Version. The Berean Standard Bible has:

10c For they have stopped obeying the LORD. 11a Promiscuity, 11b wine, and new wine take away understanding. 12a My people consult their wooden idols (Berean Standard Bible)

The New International Version has:

10d to give themselves 11a to prostitution, 11b to old wine and new, which take away the understanding 12a of my people. They consult a wooden idol (New International Version)

The New Revised Standard Version has:

10d to devote themselves to 11a whoredom.

11b Wine and new wine take away the understanding. 12a My people consult a piece of wood, (New Revised Standard Version)

TN will first discuss the interpretation issue in 4:10d–11b. It will then discuss the issue in 4:11b–12a.

4:10d–11b

The New Revised Standard Version has been used as the source line for 4:10d-11b, because it allows for the recommended interpretation.

(New Revised Standard Version) to devote themselves to whoredom. Wine and new wine take away the understanding: There are three ways to interpret the object(s) of the Hebrew verb that the New Revised Standard Version translates as devote themselves to :

(1) The object of the verb is the first term that follows it (prostitution). With this interpretation, the next two terms (old wine and new wine), are the subject of the next verb (take away). For example:

they have forsaken the Lord to devote themselves to whoredom. Wine and new wine take away the understanding. (New Revised Standard Version)

(2) The objects of the verb are the three terms that follow it (prostitution, old wine, and new wine). With this interpretation, all three terms are also the subject of the next verb (take away). For example:

they have left the Lord to give themselves to prostitution, to old and new wine, which take away their ability to understand. (New Century Version)

(3) The object of the verb is the term that precedes it (the LORD). With this interpretation, the three terms that follow the verb (prostitution, old wine, and new wine) are the subject of the next verb (take away). For example:

they have stopped giving heed to the Lord. Harlotry, wine and new wine take away the understanding. (New American Standard Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most versions. It better fits the way that prostitution and wine are described in Hosea and the rest of the Old Testament.

Throughout the OT, Israel’s rejection of the LORD is closely linked with prostitution, both literal and spiritual. Wine is not connected with rejecting the LORD. Moreover, wine is often described as something that keeps people from thinking clearly. Prostitution is not usually described in those terms.

4:10d–11a

(New Revised Standard Version) to devote themselves to: In Hebrew, this phrase is a single word. Here it indicates that the priests enthusiastically gratify their sexual desires and worship idols.

(New Revised Standard Version) whoredom: This word is a noun form related to the verb that the Berean Standard Bible translated as “be promiscuous” in 4:10b. See the note there.

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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 6:8

6:8

Gilead is a city of evildoers, tracked with footprints of blood: This verse indicates that many evil people lived in the city of Gilead. Many of them were murderers.

Here is another way to translate this clause:

Gilead is a city full of evildoers (NET Bible)

tracked with footprints of blood: This phrase is a metaphor. It means that many people murdered others there. Many versions keep the metaphor. For example:

their footprints are bloody (New Century Version)
-or-
its streets are stained with bloody footprints (NET Bible)

Some versions translate the meaning directly. For example:

Gilead is a city full of evil people and murderers (Good News Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 8:13

8:13a–b

The first two lines contrast the sacrifices that the people offered to the LORD with the LORD’s refusal to accept them.

13a Though they offer sacrifices as gifts to Me, and though they eat the meat,

13b and the LORD does not accept them.

8:13a

Though they offer sacrifices as gifts to Me: There is a textual issue with the Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as gifts to Me :

(1) This word in the Masoretic Text comes from a verb that means “give.” The whole phrase is literally “the sacrifices of my gifts.” This phrase means that the sacrifices that the people offered to the LORD are their gifts to him. For example:

They offer up sacrificial gifts to me (NET Bible)

(2) Some scholars think that this word comes from a verb that means “love.” They propose that the original Hebrew phrase meant that the people love to offer sacrifices. For example:

They love sacrifice (Revised Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). It provides the most straightforward understanding of the Masoretic Text and does not require changes to the words.

In the Hebrew clause “they sacrifice the sacrifices of my gifts,” the phrase “sacrifices of my gifts” is the topic of the sentence.

Here are some ways to focus the reader’s attention on this topic:

As for My sacrificial gifts (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
Concerning the gifts that the people offer to me

Some versions leave it implicit that the sacrifices were gifts to the LORD. For example, the New Jerusalem Bible does not use the word gifts explicitly. It has:

They offer sacrifices to me

and though they eat the meat: This whole statement (8:13a) probably implies that the people were not sincere when they offered these sacrifices to the LORD. They cared only about eating the meat of the animals that they offered. Some versions make explicit this implied information. For example:

When they present sacrifices to Me, It is but flesh for them to eat (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

8:13b

the LORD does not accept them: There are two ways to interpret the referent of the pronoun them :

(1) The word them refers to the sacrifices. The LORD was not pleased with the sacrifices that the people offered. For example:

but I, the Lord, do not accept these sacrifices. (God’s Word)

(Contemporary English Version, God’s Word, NET Bible, New Living Translation (2004))

(2) The word them refers to the people. The LORD was not pleased with the people who were making the sacrifices. For example:

They offer sacrifices to me and eat the meat, they do not win Yahweh’s favour. (New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Many versions, including the Berean Standard Bible, leave the pronoun referent implicit. In these versions, either interpretation is possible.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

but I, the Lord, refuse your offerings (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
but to me their sacrifices are all meaningless. (New Living Translation (2004))

8:13c–d

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

13c Now He will remember their iniquity

13d and punish their sins :

Now: This word indicates here that it is time for the LORD to judge.

He will remember their iniquity and punish their sins: In this context, these words mean that he will respond to their disobedience in an appropriate way. His response will be to punish them for their sins.

8:13e

They will return to Egypt: This clause tells how the LORD will punish the people. It should probably be understood figuratively as a return to slavery. It means that the people will become slaves again. It does not mean here that the people will literally return to Egypt.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 10:14

10:14

This verse gives the result of Israel’s self-reliance in 10:13d. An enemy will attack them. In Hebrew, this result is not explicit. Some versions make it explicit by using a word that introduces a result. For example:

therefore the tumult of war shall arise among your people (Revised Standard Version)
-or-

So war will break out (Contemporary English Version)

Use a natural way in your language to introduce a result.

10:14a

the roar of battle will rise against your people: In Hebrew, this clause is more literally “an uproar will arise among your people.” This Hebrew phrase is a figure of speech (metonymy) that indicates a war against Israel will soon begin. This battle/war probably refers to the invasion of Israel by the Assyrian army. Many versions make it explicit that this clause refers to warfare. For example:

therefore the tumult of war shall arise among your people (English Standard Version)
-or-
your people will hear the noise of battle (New Century Version)

Some versions do not include the metonymy, “an uproar will arise.” Instead, they state the meaning directly. For example:

war will come to your people (Good News Translation)

10:14b

so that all your fortresses will be demolished: This clause describes the war in more detail. The enemy army will destroy even the most well protected places in Israel.

The Hebrew word for fortresses means buildings or cities that have very thick, strong, stone walls to protect them. For example:

and all your strong, walled cities will be destroyed (New Century Version)
-or-
All your fortifications will fall (New Living Translation (2004))

10:14c–d

as Shalman devastated Beth-arbel in the day of battle, when mothers were dashed to pieces along with their children: 10:14c–d gives an example to illustrate how severe the Assyrian war will be. The severity will be comparable to a past war. The Hebrew text and most versions introduce the comparison with a comparative word or phrase. For example:

as Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel on the day of battle (English Standard Version)
-or-

just as when Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
It will be like the day when King Shalman destroyed the city of Betharbel in battle (Good News Translation)

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

10:14c

as Shalman devastated Beth-arbel in the day of battle: This clause refers to a past battle that was no doubt known to the people in Hosea’s time. Modern scholars, however, do not know who Shalman is, where Beth-arbel is, or when the battle occurred.

the day of battle: This expression refers to the time that the battle occurred. Some versions leave this information implied.

Here are some other ways to say it:

in battle (God’s Word)
-or-
when that battle happened

10:14d

when mothers were dashed to pieces along with their children: This clause is more literally “mother with children was dashed in pieces.” It describes the extreme brutality of the slaughter.

The Hebrew word for dashed to pieces means “to smite, smash, dash to pieces.”

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

mothers and their children were crushed to death (Good News Translation)
-or-
when mothers and their children were bashed to death. (New Century Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 13:5

13:5

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

5a
I knew you in the wilderness,

5b
in the land of drought.

There is an ellipsis (deliberate omission) of the first four words in 13:5b. In many languages, these words will need to be supplied from 13:5a. For example:

5b
⌊ I knew you⌋in the land of drought.

In these lines, the LORD reminds the people of Israel of his gracious care for them when he brought them out of Egypt through the desert of Sinai.

13:5a

I knew you: In Hebrew, this clause is more literally “I, I knew you.” The explicit pronoun I at the front of the clause indicates emphasis. For example:

It was I who knew you in the wilderness (English Standard Version)

This emphasis reinforces the statements in 13:4 that the LORD alone is their God. Many versions leave this emphasis implied. Translate this emphasis in a natural way in your language.

There is a textual issue concerning the Hebrew word knew here:

(1) The LXX and Peshitta have “cared-for/fed.” For example:

It was I who fed you in the wilderness (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
I cared for you in the wilderness (NET Bible)

(2) The Masoretic Text has the word knew. For example:

It was I who knew you in the wilderness (Revised Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with most versions.

in the wilderness: This phrase refers here to the desert or wilderness of Sinai during the period of the exodus.

13:5b

in the land of drought: This line describes the same location as 13:5a using different words. The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as drought occurs only here in the Old Testament. The meaning is derived from an Arabic cognate that means “aridity” or “drought.”

Here are some other ways to translate this line:

where it was hot and dry (New Century Version)
-or-
in the land of burning heat (New International Version)

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 2021

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 4:10

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 6:8

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 8:13

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 10:14

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 13:5

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