SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 2021 – Page 25

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 2:18

2:18a

On that day: This is the same phrase that was used in 2:16a, and it refers to the same future time. For that reason, some versions do not repeat it here but leave it implied. That is an acceptable option as long as it is clear that the time period is the same.

I will make a covenant for them: The word covenant is an important theological word that is used many times in the book of Hosea. Usually it refers to an agreement between God and people. Here it refers to an agreement that the LORD made with the animals for the benefit of the Israelites. If your key term for covenant does not allow this use, you may need to use a different term. For example:

I will make an agreement (New Century Version)
-or-
I shall make a treaty (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
I will cause…to agree

for them: In this context, the Hebrew word that most versions translate as for means “for the benefit of” or “on behalf of.” For example:

on Israel’s behalf (Revised English Bible)

Some versions leave the phrase for them implied. Most of these versions use other phrases to clarify the kind of benefits that Israel will enjoy. For example:

I will make a covenant with all the wild animals and birds, so that they will not harm my people. (Good News Translation)

them: Here in 2:18a, the pronoun them refers to the Israelites. The Good News Translation uses the phrase “my people.” The Contemporary English Version continues to use “you.”

with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the creatures that crawl on the ground: In this context, these three phrases represent all animals that could cause harm to people or crops. The same three phrases occur in Genesis 1:30, although the context is different. See how you translated the same phrases there.

the beasts of the field: This phrase refers to untamed animals that are often dangerous to people.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

the wild animals (New Jerusalem Bible)

the birds of the air: This phrase refers to flying creatures. In English, the words of the air are redundant, because the word birds includes this idea. So some English versions leave the words of the air implied. For example:

the birds (God’s Word)

the creatures that crawl on the ground: This phrase refers to small animals, including reptiles. In English, the category “wild animals” can include small animals. That is perhaps why some English versions, as the Good News Translation, leave this phrase implied.

In other languages, it may be necessary to use two categories to express the meaning of this phrase. For example:

crawling things and slithering things

Use categories that are natural in your language for describing the same kinds of living creatures. You may need to use more or less than three categories.

2:18b

And I will abolish bow and sword and weapons of war in the land: This clause expresses an additional promise from the LORD. It is not related to the covenant with the animals in 2:18a. In some languages, it may be necessary to clarify that this is a separate promise. For example:

I will also remove… (Good News Translation)

abolish: In Hebrew, this word is literally “break.” It means “to break” the weapons in order to end warfare.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

remove (Good News Translation)
-or-
destroy (God’s Word)

bow and sword and weapons of war: The bow and the sword were the two main weapons of war during the time of Hosea. Here these weapons are used as a figure of speech (synecdoche) that represents all weapons of war. The phrase weapons of war then summarizes and extends the figure to mean “warfare” or “battle” (New International Version, English Standard Version, Revised Standard Version)

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

weapons of war (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
all weapons of war from the land, all swords and bows (Good News Translation)
-or-
the bow, the sword, and war from the land (English Standard Version)

2:18c

and: The Hebrew conjunction waw that the Berean Standard Bible translates as and can have many different functions. Most English versions translate it here as and. But in this context, it probably introduces the purpose or intended result of the LORD’s previous actions. The purpose/result is that the people of Israel can live in safety.

This conjunction probably refers back to two actions: making the covenant (2:18a) and abolishing war (2:18b). Use a natural way in your language to introduce the purpose or intended result of the LORD’s previous actions.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

so that (New International Version)
-or-
The result will be that (Translation for Translators)

them lie down in safety: This statement tells what happens after the LORD makes the covenant with the animals and abolishes war. To lie down in safety means to sleep without fear of danger. It is a figure of speech that represents a safe life, not only safe sleep. In some languages, it may be clearer to translate this meaning directly and not keep the figure of speech. For example:

and will let my people live in peace and safety (Good News Translation)
-or-
so people can live safely (God’s Word)
-or-
so that they will have no cause to fear

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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 5:3

5:3a–b

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

3a
I know all about Ephraim,

3b and Israel is not hidden from Me.

In Hebrew and in the Berean Standard Bible, the parallel parts are arranged in the form of a chiasm. The parts in 5:3a occur in the opposite order from the parallel parts in 5:3b. Some versions do not use a chiasm. For example:

3a
Ephraim have I known,

3b
Israel is not hidden from me; (New Jerusalem Bible)

Use an order that is natural in your language.

In these lines the LORD indicated that he knows everything that the people of Israel do. In some languages, it may be helpful to make explicit what the LORD knows about the people. For example:

3a I know Ephraim all too well;

3b
the evil of Israel is not hidden from me. (NET Bible)

I know all about…is not hidden from Me: Each of these two phrases has a similar meaning. In this context, the meaning is that the LORD knows all about the evil deeds of the people. They may think that they are doing evil in secret, but he sees everything they do.

Ephraim…Israel: In these parallel lines, Ephraim is probably a figure of speech (synecdoche) that represents all the people of the nation of Israel.

General Comment on 5:3a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine one or more of the parallel parts. For example:

I know what Israel is like—she cannot hide from me. (Good News Translation)
-or-
I know what you are like, O Israel ! (New Living Translation (1996))

5:3c–d

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

3c For now, O Ephraim, you have turned to prostitution;

3d
Israel is defiled.

There are at least two ways to interpret the connection between 5:3c–d and 5:3a–b:

(1) Line 5:3c begins with two Hebrew words that indicate emphasis. These words introduce parallel statements (5:3c–d) that explain in more detail what the LORD said in 5:3a–b. These statements specify that Ephraim has turned to prostitution and Israel is corrupt. For example:

Behold, you have fornicated, O Ephraim; Israel has defiled himself! (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

(2) Line 5:3c begins with two Hebrew words that indicate a contrast. These words introduce parallel statements (5:3c–d) that contrast with what the LORD said in 5:3a–b. According to this interpretation, the LORD knew and cared for Ephraim/Israel, but they responded by turning to immorality and defiling themselves. For example:

but now Ephraim has become promiscuous and Israel has brought defilement on himself (Revised English Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). The some versions leave the connection between 5:3c–d and 5:3a–b implied.

Ephraim…Israel: See the note for 5:3a–b.

you have turned to prostitution: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as you have turned to prostitution is the same word as in 4:10 and 4:18. It means “fornication” with a person or “unfaithfulness” towards God. Here it probably means both at the same time.

Here are some other ways to translate it:

she has been unfaithful (Good News Translation)
-or-
Ephraim has become promiscuous (Revised English Bible)

is defiled: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as is defiled is literally “it has made itself unclean.” The word refers to the people’s moral impurity. It also refers to their spiritual impurity that was caused by breaking the commands of their covenant with the LORD. The people were guilty of both kinds of impurity.

Here are some other ways to translate this line:

Israel is corrupt (New International Version)
-or-
I find you unacceptable (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
her people are unfit to worship me (Good News Translation)

General Comment on 5:3c–d

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts. For example:

Now that Israel acts like a prostitute, it has made itself unclean. (New Century Version)
-or-
Israel has defiled herself like a prostitute!

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 7:9

7:9a–b

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

9a
Foreigners consume his strength, but he does not notice.

9b
Even his hair is streaked with gray, but he does not know.

Both lines describe the weakened condition of the nation of Israel and their lack of awareness of it. The first line gives a literal description of what has weakened Israel. The second line describes its weakness with a metaphor.

7:9a

Foreigners consume his strength: This clause refers to the harmful and weakening effect that other nations had on Israel. For example, the king of Assyria reduced Israel’s strength by capturing cities, sending people into exile, and requiring the payment of large amounts of money (2 Kings 15:19–31).

consume his strength: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “consumed/eaten his strength.” In this context, it means to weaken Israel or reduce Israel’s strength as a country.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Foreigners are using up your strength (God’s Word)
-or-
Other nations made them weak

but: The statement that follows contrasts with the previous statement. Many versions introduce the contrast with a word such as but. Use a natural way in your language to introduce a contrast with the previous statement.

he does not notice: In Hebrew, this clause is literally “he knows not.” In this context, it indicates that the people of Israel fail to perceive or recognize that they have become weak. It may also imply that they are not willing to admit it.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

they don’t even know it (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
he is unaware (Revised English Bible)
-or-
he has taken no notice (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

7:9b

his hair is streaked with gray: This statement is a metaphor. In this metaphor, the nation of Israel is compared to a man with gray hair.

Here are some ways in which they are similar:

(a) Both are nearing the end of their lifetime.

(b) Both are weak.

Here are some ways to translate this metaphor along with the following clause:

• Keep the metaphor. For example:

even his hair is turning grey but he is unconscious of it. (New Jerusalem Bible)

• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:

The people of Israel are like a man whose hair is grey.

• Change the metaphor into a simile and make explicit one or more of the similarities. For example:

Israel is like an old man with graying hair, unaware of how weak and old he has become. (New Living Translation (2004))

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

Their days are numbered, but they don’t even know it. (Good News Translation)

but he does not know: In Hebrew, these words are the same as the words “he does not notice” in 7:9a.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 9:11

9:11a

Ephraim’s glory will fly away like a bird: This clause is a simile that compares the glory of Ephraim to a bird that flies away. It indicates that Israel will lose its glory. The context of 9:11b through 9:14 suggests that Ephraim’s glory probably refers here to the population of Israel. The LORD will punish the people by withdrawing his blessing of fertility. Their population will decrease because they can no longer have children.

glory: In this context, the word glory probably means “abundant” in reference to the number of people.

9:11b

with no birth, no pregnancy, and no conception: These phrases are more literally “no child bearing and no womb and no conception.” They further explain what will happen when “Ephraim’s glory” flies away. The women of Israel will be barren.

Note the order of the phrases no birth, no pregnancy, no conception. This is a reversal of the natural order, which is conception, pregnancy and then birth. This reverse order may indicate increasing severity of the punishment. None of the steps necessary for Israel to survive as a nation will occur: not birth, not pregnancy, not even conception.

Some versions change the order of these phrases. It is recommended that you keep the order as it is here unless there is good reason in your language to change it.

In some languages, it may be helpful to use phrases instead of single words to make the meaning clearer. For example:

there will be no more children born to them, no more women pregnant, no more children conceived (Good News Translation)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 11:11

11:11a–b

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

11a They will come trembling like birds from Egypt

11b and like doves from the land of Assyria.

There is an ellipsis in the second line. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply the missing words from the first line. For example:

11b
⌊ They will come trembling⌋like doves from the land of Assyria.

Each line is a metaphor. The metaphors compare the movement of the children to the movement of birds. In these metaphors, the English word order may wrongly imply that it is the birds/doves that come from Egypt or Assyria. Be sure to make clear in your translation that it is the people who come from these countries. As they come, they are like birds/doves that flutter their wings.

They will come trembling like birds from Egypt and like doves from the land of Assyria: There are two main interpretations of the Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as trembling. See the comments and recommendation about the phrase “will come trembling” in 11:10b.

birds from Egypt and like doves: The Hebrew word for birds is a general word for a bird, a flying creature with wings. The Hebrew word for doves means a specific kind of bird, a dove or pigeon. These are domesticated birds that are easily frightened. If doves and pigeons are unknown in your area, another option is to substitute a different kind of bird with similar characteristics that is known in your area.

Egypt…Assyria: These two locations, in addition to “the west” in 11:10b, may be examples of the various parts of the world where his children will live in exile.

General Comment on 11:11a–b

See 11:11a–b (combined/reordered) in the Display for a way to combine and/or reorder these two lines.

11:11c

I will settle them in their homes: There is a textual issue in this clause concerning the word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as settle :

(1) The Masoretic Text has “cause them to dwell.” For example:

I shall settle them in their homes (New Jerusalem Bible)

(2) LXX has “cause to return.” For example:

I will bring them to their homes again (Good News Translation)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with a majority of versions. It fits the context well. However, option (2) is also acceptable. The meaning is very similar, and it has support from ancient versions.

homes: Here the word means more than houses, since many of their houses were already destroyed. It probably refers to their inherited land and property.

declares the LORD: This is the same expression as in 2:13c. See the note on that passage. This phrase emphasizes that the message was directly from the LORD. It also marks the end of this section of Hosea.

Division 11:12–13:16 Messages of judgment

The main theme of the messages in this division is Israel’s past and present corruption. As a result of it, the LORD will bring judgment against them.

In this division, the LORD and Hosea alternate as the speaker. The LORD refers to himself using first person pronouns (“I/me”) in 11:12a–b, 12:9–10, 13:4–11, 14:4–8. In the other verses of this division, the speaker refers to the LORD using third person forms including “God,” “the Holy One,” “the LORD,” “he,” “the LORD God Almighty.” In these third person references, the Notes and Display will regard Hosea to be the speaker. The Hebrew text most often uses “Ephraim,” “Jacob,” “him,” they” or “he/it” to refer to the people or nation of Israel. Exceptions are when the speaker speaks directly to the people in 8:1, 12:6,9, 13:4–5, and 13:9–11 using the pronouns “you/your.”

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 2021

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 2:18

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 5:3

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 7:9

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 9:11

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 11:11

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