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)

© 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.

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)

© 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.

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.

© 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.

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)

© 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.

Section 14:9

Conclusion

Either Hosea or the LORD may be the speaker in this section. The section is a single verse. It is a type of wisdom saying that is similar to sayings in Proverbs. It urges the reader to be wise by following the ways of the LORD.

Here are other examples of section headings:

Concluding Exhortation (NET Bible)
-or-
Last Words

Paragraph 14:9

14:9a–b

Notice the parallel lines that are similar in meaning:

9a
Whoever is wise, let him understand these things;

9b
whoever is discerning, let him know them.

9a
Whoever is wise, let him understand these things: 9b whoever is discerning, let him know them: In Hebrew, both these parallel lines begin with a question: “Who is wise/discerning?” This question introduces the topic of a wise/discerning person. There are two main ways to interpret the relationship of each topic to the next clause:

(1) The topic is followed by an exhortation for a wise/discerning person to act in a certain way. In other words, if a person is wise/discerning, he should act in a certain way. For example:

Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. (NIV2011)
-or-
Let him who is wise understand these things; let him who is prudent know them. (New American Bible)

(2) The topic is followed by a statement that describes the way that a wise/discerning person acts. In other words, if a person is wise/discerning, he will act in a certain way as a result. For example:

Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. (New International Version)
-or-
Those who are wise understand these things; those who are discerning know them. (New Revised Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with a majority of versions and commentaries. The form of the Hebrew verbs used for “understand” and “know” normally indicates an exhortation, not simply a statement.

14:9a

Whoever is wise, let him understand these things: Here are some other ways to translate this line:

Let the wise understand these words (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Let the wise consider these things (Revised English Bible)
-or-
People who are wise should/must understand these things.

Whoever is wise: In this context the meaning of the Hebrew word is “prudent in religious affairs.”

understand: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as understand means “understand, know (with the mind).” It refers to a person who has insight and who makes good use of knowledge.

these things: This phrase refers to everything that Hosea has said in this book. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

these words (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
what is written here (Good News Translation)

14:9b

whoever is discerning, let him know them: Here are some other ways to translate this line:

let the intelligent grasp their meaning (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
and let the prudent acknowledge them (Revised English Bible)
-or-
People who are sensible should/must know these things.

discerning: In Hebrew, this word is a form of the same word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as “understand” in 9a. The meaning is similar: “intelligent, discreet, discerning, have understanding.”

know them: See the note on know in 2:20b. In this context, the word refers to a person gaining knowledge of the truth that Hosea has spoken. That includes learning what is true, being attentive to it and living by it.

The word them refers to “these things” in 9a.

General Comment on 14:9a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine these parallel statements into one line. For example:

May those who are wise understand what is written here, and may they take it to heart. (Good News Translation)

14:9c–e

Notice the three poetic lines. The first line gives a topic “The ways of the LORD” and a statement about the topic. Those ways “are right.” The second and third lines give two different responses to the topic.

9c For the ways of the LORD are right;

9d and the righteous walk in them

9e but the rebellious stumble in them.

14:9c

For the ways of the LORD are right: The For introduces a reason or basis for what Hosea says in 9a–b. The reason that wise and discerning people should understand and know these things is because the ways of the LORD are right. Some versions, such as the Berean Standard Bible above, use the word “for” to introduce this reason. Some other leave the reason implied. For example:

The ways of the Lord are right; (New International Version)

Use a natural way in your language to indicate that this clause is a reason.

the ways of the LORD: Here, as is common in wisdom writings, the word ways is used as a metaphor that compares behavior/conduct to a road or path. Here are some things this phrase means or describes:

(a) The ways of the LORD are his own actions and behavior.

(b) The ways of the LORD are what is morally and ethically right.

(c) The ways of the LORD are the basis of his guidance and requirements for his people.

right: The Hebrew word means “just,” “upright.” The word describes actions that are correct/proper.

14:9d–e

and the righteous walk in them but the rebellious stumble in them: These two lines refer to two ways that people respond to the LORD and to his teachings. Some people choose to follow him and his teachings, which leads to life. Other people choose to reject him and his teachings, which leads to death.

14:9d

the righteous walk in them: This line describes a righteous person as one who follows the ways of the LORD, his commands, and his high standard of moral conduct. Here are some other ways to translate this line:

the godly walk in them (NET Bible)
-or-
righteous people live by them (God’s Word)
-or-
Good people live by following them (New Century Version)

the righteous: In Hebrew, this word means “just,” “upright,” or “devout.” It describes people who have good character and who behave correctly according to the LORD’s moral and ethical standards.

walk in them: This phrase is a metaphor that compares the way people think and behave to walking.

The words in them refer back to the ways of the LORD. Here are some other ways to translate the phrase walk in them :

live by them (God’s Word)
-or-
live by following them (New Century Version)

14:9e

but the rebellious stumble in them: This line describes a rebellious person as one who has trouble because he/she does not follow the ways of the LORD. Here are some other ways to translate this line:

Rebellious people stumble over them. (God’s Word)
-or-
But in those paths sinners stumble and fall (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
But sinners stumble and fall because they ignore them. (Good News Translation)

but: This word introduces a contrast. Here it indicates that there is a difference between rebellious people and righteous people. Introduce this contrast in a natural way in your language.

the rebellious: The Hebrew word means those who “transgress,” “rebel.” Here it refers to people who are disloyal to the LORD and his ways.

stumble in them: This phrase is a metaphor that compares rebellion against the LORD and his ways to physical stumbling and/or falling. The Hebrew word for stumble means stumble or “stagger.” As in 9d, the words in them refer back to the ways of the LORD.

This phrase is figurative and means to stumble over the ways of the LORD, his commands, and his standard of moral conduct. A person who stumbles chooses not to obey the LORD’s commands. As a result, he suffers downfall and ruin.

Here the phrase does not refer only to a temporary or minor difficulty. These are Hosea’s final words that refer back to the book of Hosea as a whole. In these chapters, he includes many serious warnings. People who reject the LORD suffer ruin and death as a result. Here those warnings are in view. (See also Hosea 4:5a and 5:5a–c)

© 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.