SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 2021 – Page 7

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 2:9

2:9a–b

In this verse, the LORD responds to Israel’s refusal to acknowledge him as the source of their blessings. Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

9a Therefore I will take back My grain in its time,

9b and My new wine in its season;

There is an ellipsis (a deliberately omitted word) in 2:9b. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply the missing verb from 2:9a. For example:

9b and ⌊I will take back ⌋ My new wine in its season;

in its time and…in its season: These parallel phrases are more literally “at its appropriate time…at its appointed time.” These phrases refer to the different times/seasons of the year when the grain and grapes were ripe and ready to be harvested.

Here are some other ways to translate these phrases:

at harvest time (New Century Version)
-or-
when it is the right season/time

2:9a

Therefore: This word introduces the result of the people’s refusal to acknowledge the LORD.

Here are some other ways to introduce this result:

That is why (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
So (Good News Translation)

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

I will take away: This phrase indicates here that the LORD will withhold the products that he intended to provide for the nation of Israel. It probably means that he will keep Israel from harvesting or using these products that they previously enjoyed.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

I will withhold ⌊from Israel ⌋
-or-
I will prevent ⌊the people of Israel ⌋ ⌊from harvesting ⌋

2:9b

new wine: See the note on 2:8b. Here (in 2:9b) it refers by metonymy to the crop of grapes that is ready to be harvested and made into wine. For example:

the ripe grapes ⌊that they usually ⌋ made into new wine

General Comment on 2:9a–b

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

So I’ll hold back the harvest of grain and grapes. (Contemporary English Version)

2:9c

I will take away My wool and linen: See the note on 2:5d for wool and linen. In Hebrew, the verb I will take away is more literally “I will snatch away.” It means that the LORD will forcibly withdraw the materials that the nation of Israel needed for clothing.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

I will snatch away my wool and my flax (New American Bible)
-or-
I shall withdraw my wool and my flax (New Jerusalem Bible)

which were given to cover her nakedness: In Hebrew, the form of the verb cover that is used here implies the intention to cover. The Berean Standard Bible has made this explicit by saying which were given to.

Here is another way to translate this idea:

that I gave her to cover her naked body (God’s Word)

Use a natural way in your language to indicate intention.

her nakedness: If it is not natural in your language to say that clothing “covers nakedness,” here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

which I have provided in order to clothe her (NET Bible)
-or-
I gave her for clothing (Good News Translation)

© 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 4:13

4:13a–b

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

13a They sacrifice on the mountaintops

13b and burn offerings on the hills

These lines describe one of the ways that the people and priests were unfaithful to God. They sacrificed to idols at pagan shrines. These shrines were frequently located on the tops of mountains or hills.

sacrifice…burn offerings: These parallel terms refer here to two kinds of offerings that people made when they worshiped Baal or other idols. The form of the Hebrew verbs indicates that they sacrificed regularly or repeatedly.

The word sacrifice refers to killing an animal and eating portions of it as part of a worship ceremony. The phrase burn offerings is literally “they make smoke.” It refers primarily to the smoke from burning incense. See the note on this verb at 2:13a. In some languages, it may be necessary to make some of this information explicit. For example:

They sacrifice ⌊animals ⌋ and burn ⌊incense ⌋ as an offering ⌊to their idols ⌋

on the mountaintops…on the hills: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as hills usually refers to areas that are slightly lower than mountains. Here no distinction is intended between these two parallel terms. The parallel lines do not imply that people offered one kind of sacrifice on mountains and another kind on hills.

General Comment on 4:13a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine the parallel parts into one line. For example

They never stop offering sacrifices on mountaintops and hills (Contemporary English Version)

4:13c

under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is pleasant: This phrase gives a further description of the places on the mountaintops and hills where the Israelites made sacrifices. Oak, poplar, and terebinth are three kinds of large trees that give good shade. If these trees are unknown in your area, you may use borrowed terms from another translation in your area. You may also use a descriptive phrase instead of stating the names of specific kinds of trees. For example:

under tall, spreading trees, because the shade is so pleasant (Good News Translation)

Paragraph 4:13d–14

4:13d–e

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

13d And so your daughters turn to prostitution

13e and your daughters-in-law to adultery

In addition to offering sacrifices, another part of the people’s idol worship was getting drunk and sleeping with prostitutes. These lines describe a result of this idol worship. The immoral behavior of the men motivated young women to behave immorally also.

And so: This word introduces the response of the young women to the idol worship described in 4:13a–b. They became sexually immoral.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

As a result (Good News Translation)
-or-
That is why (Revised English Bible)

In some languages, it may not be clear that the young women’s response is due to idol worship. If that is true in your language, you may want to make the connection explicit. For example:

Because of ⌊the rituals that accompany ⌋ ⌊idol worship ⌋, your daughters…

your daughters…your daughters-in-law: In 4:12c–4:13b, “they” pronouns are used. Here in 4:13d–e, the pronouns change to your. This change of pronouns may help the hearers to realize what is happening to the young women in their own families.

The parallel phrases your daughters…your daughters-in-law function as a pair. They represent all the young women of Israel. In some languages, it may be more natural to refer to these two groups with a more general term. For example:

your female children
-or-
your young women

daughters-in-law: There are two ways to interpret the Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as daughters-in-law :

(1) It means “daughters-in-law.” For example:

daughters-in-law (New Jerusalem Bible)

(2) It means “brides.” For example:

brides (English Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most versions. This interpretation better fits the parallel term “daughters” in 4:13d.

turn to prostitution…to adultery: These parallel terms function together to indicate sexual immorality in general. This verse does not imply a distinction between one group of women who are prostitutes and another group who commit adultery.

General Comment on 4:13d–e

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

Your own daughters and daughters-in-law sell themselves for sex. (Contemporary English Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 6:11

6:11a

In 6:7–10, the LORD spoke about the sins of people in the northern kingdom of Israel. Here in 6:11a, he spoke to the people of the southern kingdom of Judah.

Also for you, O Judah, a harvest is appointed: In this sentence, the LORD warned the people of Judah that he had set a time to judge them.

Also: This word indicates that the LORD had set a time to judge Judah as well as Israel. The judgment for Israel was not made explicit in 6:7–10, but the word Also implies it here.

you, O Judah: The LORD addressed the people of Judah directly through the prophet Hosea.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

as for you, people of Judah (Good News Translation)
-or-
For you also, O Judah (New Revised Standard Version)

Use a term of address (vocative) that is natural in your language when a person speaks to a group of people.

a harvest: In this context, the word harvest has a figurative meaning. It refers to the consequences of a person’s behavior. Here it refers to the consequences that the people of Judah will experience when the LORD judges them for their sin.

Here are some other ways to translate this figure of speech:

• Keep the figure of speech and make the meaning of judgment explicit. For example:

a harvest of punishment is also waiting for you (New Living Translation (2004))

• Omit the figure of harvest and translate the meaning directly. For example:

I have set a time to punish you also for what you are doing (Good News Translation)

is appointed: This phrase means that a time is set for the harvest to happen. This is a passive form. In some languages, it may be necessary to use an active verb and make the agent explicit. For example:

I have appointed a time to reap judgment (NET Bible)

Notice that the NET Bible and Good News Translation both use active verbs. They differ in that the NET Bible keeps the figure of reaping whereas the Good News Translation translates the meaning non-figuratively. Express the meaning clearly and naturally in your language.

6:11b–7:1a

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

6:11b when I restore My people from captivity.

7:1a When I heal Israel,

There are two main ways to interpret the relationship between the clauses in 6:11b and 7:1a:

(1) The clauses are parallel. Both clauses refer to occasions when the LORD desired to bless his people. These clauses are the first part of a sentence that continues in 7:1. For example:

6:11b When I would restore the fortunes of my people, 7:1a when I would heal Israel, (New Revised Standard Version)

(Contemporary English Version, Good News Translation, New American Bible, NET Bible, New International Version, Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures, New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible)

(2) The clauses are not parallel. The first clause refers back to the appointed harvest for Judah in 6:11a. That harvest would happen when the LORD restored the fortunes of his people.

With this interpretation, this clause is the final part of the sentence that began with 6:11a. The second clause starts a new sentence. For example:

6:11a For you too, Judah, a harvest is in store, 6:11b when I restore my people’s fortunes. 7:1a Whenever I would heal Israel, (New Jerusalem Bible)

Interpretation (1) is recommended. It best fits the context of the surrounding verses that focus on the sins of the people. Interpretation (2) makes good sense only if the “harvest” mentioned in 6:11a is understood as the LORD’s blessing. However, here it probably refers to his judgment.

6:11b

when I restore My people from captivity: In Hebrew, the phrase when I implies that the LORD desires to do something and that his desire is not fulfilled. The phrase restore My people from captivity is literally “turn back the captivity of my people.” This is a Hebrew idiom. It refers here to the LORD’s desire to restore the prosperity and stability that his people enjoyed in earlier times.

Here are some ways to make explicit the idea of unfulfilled desire:

Whenever I want to restore the fortunes of my people (NET Bible)
-or-
At the same time that I desire to restore the fortunes of my people…

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 9:2

9:2

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

2a
The threshing floor and winepress will not feed them,

2b and the new wine will fail them.

This verse tells about one of the consequences of the people of Israel rejecting the LORD. He will take away their grain and wine. This consequence probably resulted from their worship of the false god Baal. They believed that Baal gave them their grain and wine. This warning is similar to the words in Hosea 2:8. See the note in 2:8b on “the grain, the new wine and oil” for more details.

9:2a

The threshing floor and winepress will not feed them: This clause has two related figures of speech (metonymy). They represent the products, grain and wine, that are produced at the threshing floor and winepress. It means that there will not be enough grain for the people to eat or enough wine for them to drink. In some languages, it may be more natural to translate the meaning directly. For example:

There won’t be enough grain to feed people. There won’t be enough wine to go around. (God’s Word)

winepress: There are two main interpretations of the Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as winepress :

(1) The word means winepress. A winepress is a device that presses the juice from grapes. For example:

The threshing-floor and wine-press will not feed them (New Jerusalem Bible)
#

(2) The word means “olive-press.” An olive-press is a device that presses the oil from olives. For example, the Good News Translation lists the products associated with a threshing-floor and an olive-press:

But soon you will not have enough grain and olive oil (Good News Translation)

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

9:2b

the new wine will fail them: This clause indicates that the amount of new wine will not be enough to meet the needs of the people.

Here is another way to translate this clause:

there won’t be enough new wine (New Century Version)

new wine: See the note on this same product in 2:8b for more details. If new wine is not familiar in your language area, you may use a more general term. For example:

there will be no wine (Good News Translation)

them: There is a textual difference here that involves the word them :

(1) The LXX and other ancient versions have them. them refers to the people of Israel. For example:

the new wine shall fail them (Revised Standard Version)

(2) The Masoretic Text has “her.” “Her” refers to the nation of Israel. For example:

the new wine shall betray her (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

Options (1) and (2) are two ways to refer to Israel. It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with most versions.

General Comment on 9:2a–b

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

But you will run short of grain and wine (Contemporary English Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 11:2

11:2a

But the more I called Israel, the farther they departed from Me: There is a textual issue concerning the pronouns in this clause.

(1) The LXX has “As I called/recalled them, so they went from me.” For example:

But the more I summoned them, the farther they departed from me. (NET Bible)

(2) The Masoretic Text has “they called them so they went from before them.” For example:

As they called them, so they went from them. (King James Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with most versions. It makes good sense in the context of 11:1b and is supported by the Syriac translation. Option (2) also has good support from commentaries and the Vulgate. However, the unspecified referents of the pronouns they and “them” make the clause ambiguous and the meaning obscure.

But: The contrast between 11:1 and 11:2 is implied in both options, though many versions do not make it explicit. The Berean Standard Bible and some other versions make it explicit by adding the word But to introduce this contrast. Use a natural way in your language to indicate this contrast.

the more I called Israel, the farther they departed from Me: This clause compares the LORD’s call to the people’s response. Every time the LORD called them, their response was to withdraw from him. The words the more…the farther indicate this comparison. Here are some other ways to translate this comparison:

Every time I called them, they went farther away from me.
-or-
But the more I called to him, the more he turned away from me. (Good News Translation)

Express this comparison in a natural way in your own language.

called: This is the same word as in 11:1 and may have the same meaning. See called in 11:1b. However, here the word may indicate calls in addition to the call out of Egypt in 11:1. The meaning may include the sense of “guide” or “instruct.”

they departed from Me: This clause means that they deserted him to seek other gods instead of him.

11:2b–c

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

2b
They sacrificed to the Baals

2c and burned incense to carved images.

They sacrificed to the Baals and burned incense to carved images: These parallel lines further explain the meaning of the statement “they departed from Me” in 11:2a. The people did not respond when the LORD called them to worship and obey him. They turned away from him to worship idols instead. The words sacrificed and burned incense frequently occur in parallel lines such as here. They describe two aspects of worship. The words translated as Baals and carved images are two ways to describe idols.

burned incense: See the note on 2:13a “the days of the Baals when she burned incense to them.”

General Comment on 11:2b–c

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

They never stopped offering incense and sacrifices to the idols of Baal. (Contemporary English Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 13:8

13:8a

Like a bear robbed of her cubs: In Hebrew, these words are more literally “like a bear bereaved.” It refers to a mother bear that is enraged because of the loss of her cubs.

bear: A bear is a large animal that is capable of killing humans as well as other animals. It has sharp teeth and long claws. If bears are not known in your language area, it is suggested that you provide a picture or describe it in a footnote. You may also use a more general phrase. For example:

a fierce/angry wild animal

I will attack them, and I will tear open their chests: The attack is ferocious. It does more than injure. It kills. Be sure that you translate in a way that does not make the attack sound less severe.

tear open their chests: This phrase is more literally “and I will tear the enclosure of their heart.” The Hebrew word for “enclosure of their heart” refers to the breast or the rib-cage.

13:8b

There I will devour them like a lion: The lion comparison continues to indicate the violence of the LORD’s judgment.

The word There is left implied in some other versions. The word has no explicit referent. It may refer to the time and be translated as “then” or “immediately.” For example:

Like a lion I will devour you on the spot (Good News Translation)

However, There might refer back to the path in 7b. Most versions that include the word “there” leave the referent unstated. For example:

I will devour them there like a lion (NET Bible)

devour: In this figure of speech, the lion devours/eats those it attacks. A common figurative meaning of devour is to destroy.

13:8c

like a wild beast would tear them apart: In Hebrew, this clause is more literally “the animal of the field will tear them to pieces.” In this clause the subject changes from “I” (the LORD) to “A wild animal.” There are two main interpretations of this clause:

(1) This clause compares either the behavior of the lion or of the LORD to the behavior of a typical wild animal. For example:

Like a wild animal I will tear you apart. (God’s Word)

(2) This clause describes the behavior of wild animals. It is a literal description, not a figurative comparison. For example:

The beasts of the field shall mangle them. (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most versions. This interpretation continues the pattern of figurative descriptions in each line.

a wild beast: This phrase is more literally “animal of the field.” Here this phrase refers to wild animals that attack human beings or damage land. It is singular, but it may also be understood as collective singular.

In some languages, the natural way to translate collective singular is by using plural. For example:

wild animals

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 2:20

2:20b

And: In this context, the Hebrew conjunction waw that the Berean Standard Bible translates as And introduces a result. As a result of the marriage relationship that is based on the qualities in 2:19b and 2:20a, Israel will know the LORD.

Here are some other ways to introduce this result:

Then you will know the Lord. (God’s Word)
-or-
The result is that you will know the LORD.

Introduce this result in a natural way in your language.

you will know the LORD: The Hebrew verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as know has more than one meaning related to knowing, experiencing, and understanding. There are two main ways to interpret this word in this context:

(1) It means that Israel knows the LORD in an intimate, personal way. In the context of a betrothal covenant, it implies that Israel understands and enjoys the LORD’s character, as described in 2:19b–20a. For example:

you will truly know who I am (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
you will finally know me as the Lord (New Living Translation (2004))

(2) It means that Israel acknowledges or agrees that he is the LORD. For example:

you will acknowledge me as Lord (Good News Translation)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most versions and commentaries. In a marriage, symbolic or otherwise, a wife (Israel) knows her husband (the LORD) in a personal way. She does not just recognize or admit who he is.

Some languages have different words for knowing someone personally and knowing facts about someone. If that is true in your language, you should use the word that refers to a personal relationship. In some languages, it may be necessary to use a different phrase. For example:

you shall be devoted to the Lord (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)

the LORD: Here the LORD speaks of himself using third person the LORD . If it is not natural in your language for a person to refer to himself in that way, you may use the pronoun “I” or “me,” as the Contemporary English Version has done (quoted above).

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 5:5

Paragraph 5:5–7

In this paragraph, the LORD told the people of Israel and Judah that because they arrogantly refused to stop their sin, he would withdraw from them and allow them to be destroyed. This withdrawal and destruction is part of the discipline he spoke about in 5:2.

5:5a

Israel’s arrogance testifies against them: In this clause, the people of Israel are described figuratively as if they are on trial in a courtroom. Israel’s arrogance is personified as a witness that makes an accusation against them.

Here are some ways to translate this figure of speech:

• Keep the personification. This is the best option if this figure of speech is natural in your language and people will understand the meaning correctly. For example:

Israel’s arrogance is his accuser. (New Jerusalem Bible)

• Change the personification into a simile. For example:

Israel’s pride is like a witness who accuses him ⌊of wrong ⌋.

• Translate the meaning directly. This is a good option if a figure of speech is unnatural or confusing in your language. For example:

The arrogance of the people of Israel shows that they are guilty ⌊of not relying on the Lord ⌋.

Israel’s arrogance: The verse itself does not specify the nature of Israel’s arrogance. This phrase probably refers to the people’s pride in the history, wealth, and strength of their nation. Because of their proud attitude, they did not realize that their nation was actually very weak, so they refused to turn from their sin and acknowledge the LORD.

This phrase occurs in a similar context in 7:10.

5:5b–c

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

5b
Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity;

5c even Judah stumbles with them

5:5b

Israel and Ephraim: The two names probably refer to the same group of people, the people of Israel. The repetition may be for poetic effect or emphasis. See the note on “Ephraim…Israel” at 5:3a–b.

stumble in their iniquity: The word stumble is a figure of speech (metaphor). In this context, it probably refers to future punishment or judgment. The LORD will punish his people because of their sin. This judgment is compared to stumbling and falling.

Some versions make this meaning more explicit. For example:

Israel and Ephraim will be overthrown because of their iniquity. (NET Bible)

The same word was used in 4:5a.

5:5c

even Judah stumbles with them: The people of the kingdom of Judah are also guilty. Therefore the LORD will judge them also.

Here is another way to translate this line:

Even Judah will be brought down with them. (NET Bible)

General Comment on 5:5b–c

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

Israel and Judah will stumble and fall because of the LORD’s severe judgment.

Step into the multitudes of languages of the Bible and join the worldwide conversation!

Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 2021

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 2:9

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 4:13

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 6:11

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 9:2

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 11:2

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 13:8

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 2:20

SIL Translator’s Notes on Hosea 5:5

Step into the multitudes of languages of the Bible and join the worldwide conversation!

American Bible Society