break the bow of Israel

The Hebrew in Hosea 1:5 that is translated as “break the bow of Israel” or similar in English is translated in Vidunda as “reduce the military strength of Israel.” (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

complete verse (Hosea 1:5)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Hosea 1:5:

  • Kupsabiny: “I shall destroy on that day the arrows of the soldiers of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “At that time, I will destroy the military power of Israel in the valley of Jezreel."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “At that time I will-cause- the soldiers of Israel -to-be-defeated in the Valley/Plain of Jezreel.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Then God said to Hosea, ‘Name (sing.) him Jezreel, because it-will- not -be-long before (lit. and) I will-punish the descendants of Jehu because of those whom Jehu killed at Jezreel. I will also cause-to-end the rule of Israel. On that day, I will cause- Israel -to-be-defeated on the plain Jezreel so-that their capability to wage-war will-be-ended and likewise also their status as a nation.’” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “by destroying the power of the army of Israel in Jezreel Valley.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

1st person pronoun referring to God (Japanese)

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.

One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a first person singular and plural pronoun (“I” and “we” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The most commonly used watashi/watakushi (私) is typically used when the speaker is humble and asking for help. In these verses, where God / Jesus is referring to himself, watashi is also used but instead of the kanji writing system (私) the syllabary hiragana (わたし) is used to distinguish God from others.

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

See also pronoun for “God”.

Translation commentary on Hosea 1:5

The Hebrew waw conjunction rendered And introduces the next statement, as in 1.4 (see comments there).

On that day is a typical prophetic expression for introducing either a threat or a promise from God, which is to be fulfilled at a certain time when God decides to act. The Hebrew word translated day frequently refers to a longer or a more general and indefinite length of time than twenty-four hours, and it frequently refers more directly to the events that are to occur than to the time of their occurrence. What follows occurred around 733 B.C., not at exactly the same time as the events threatened in 1.4, so Good News Translation‘s more general translation is possible: “at that time.” However, translators should consider whether their language has an idiom to introduce prophetic announcements. Here it introduces an eschatological statement, that is, a decisive and final event. Putting it at the beginning of the sentence usually reinforces this idea. This element is not very clear in Good News Translation.

I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel: The bow of Israel is correctly interpreted by Good News Translation as “Israel’s military power.” A single archer’s bow represents Israel’s whole army in this figure of speech. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch renders this clause as “in the valley of Jezreel I will completely destroy Israel’s army.” If the receptor language has a proper metonym for military power or strength (for example, “bow,” “spear,” or “sword”), we recommend that translators use it here.

The valley of Jezreel goes eastward from the city of Jezreel toward the Jordan River. Invaders sometimes entered Israel by this valley (see Jdg 6.33), and it was frequently the scene of large and important battles. The threat of this verse was fulfilled when the Assyrians defeated Israel and took some of Israel’s land (2 Kgs 15.29).

Translation models for this verse are:

• At that time, I will break the sword of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.”

• When that day arrives, I will finish the military power of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.”

Quoted with permission from Dorn, Louis & van Steenbergen, Gerrit. A Handbook on Hosea. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2020. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

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.

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