Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Hosea 7:15:
Kupsabiny: “I taught those people and gave them strength but they are plotting against me.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “I instructed them and made them strong, but they plot evil against me.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “I disciplined them so-that they would-become-strong, but they still planned wicked-things against me.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “I trained/taught them and enabled them to become strong, but now they plan to do evil things to me.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
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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.
The Hebrew waw conjunction (literally “And”) at the beginning of this verse may be omitted (so Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation).
Although I trained and strengthened their arms: The Hebrew verbs for trained and strengthened are marked for first person. In spite of this, the Hebrew also includes an independent pronoun for I. So the pronoun is not just independent, but also emphatic. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh uses italics for this pronoun: “I braced, I strengthened their arms.” Good News Translation‘s “I was the one who” captures the emphasis. In languages that use pronominal prefixes and independent pronouns (for example, Swahili) the same effect may be reached when both are used here.
There is a textual problem in this line. The Septuagint has only the verb “strengthened.” Did the original Hebrew have only one verb rather than the two that we see in the Masoretic Text. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project keeps both verbs (a {B} decision). But what does the first verb mean? There is evidence that in the dialect of northern Israel, it meant “strengthened” rather than trained. Thus there are two verbs meaning the same thing in one line of Hebrew, and this is something that often occurs in Hebrew poetry. In normal Hebrew the verb for trained refers to discipline or corrective action (see 7.12, where it is rendered “chastise”). Good News Translation‘s “brought them up” gives the wrong impression that parental care in the home is implied. However, “strengthened” is the preferred meaning, as explained above.
Good News Translation uses nonfigurative language for the idiom strengthened their arms: “made them strong.” In the receptor language arms or “hands” may be the correct figure to use here.
Yet they devise evil against me (Good News Translation “they plotted against me”) means Israel’s idolatry amounted to plotting against Yahweh, as did their seeking help from foreign powers (7.11-12). The Hebrew term for evil comes from the same root as the word for “wicked deeds” in 7.1, and it will be good if translators can use the same or a similar expression in both places.
A translation model for this verse is:
• As for me, I braced them and gave them strength,
but they devise evil plans against me.
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 .
Although I trained and strengthened their arms, they plot evil against Me: In this sentence, the LORD contrasts the good he has done for the people with the evil that the people do against him. The Berean Standard Bible and a number of other versions express this contrast by using a concessive clause in 7:15a. For example:
Though I trained them and gave them strength, they have made evil plans against me. (New Century Version)
I…they: The sentence that the Berean Standard Bible translates as shown above is literally “And I, I instructed…but against me, they plot evil.” The Hebrew text emphasizes the contrast between the LORD and the people of Israel. If possible, translate in a way that expresses this strong contrast. For example:
It was I who trained and strengthened their arms, yet they plot evil against me. (New Revised Standard Version)
7:15a
I trained and strengthened their arms: In Hebrew, the word trained can refer to moral instruction, rebuke, or punishment. In 7:12d, the same word referred primarily to punishment. Here, in combination with strengthened, it refers primarily to teaching or training. For example:
I taught them what they know (Contemporary English Version)
The phrase strengthened their arms is a figure of speech that most often means to encourage someone. It is frequently used in the context of battle. Here it may indicate that God gave the people of Israel encouragement or strength to fight and overcome their enemies. It does not mean that God literally strengthened their arms.
Some versions translate their arms as the object of both verbs. For example:
I trained and strengthened their arms (New Revised Standard Version)
If a literal translation of these figures of speech is not correctly understood, it is recommended that you use the nonfigurative meaning, as in the New International Version or the New Century Version.
7:15b
they plot evil against Me: This clause means that the people make evil plans that are offensive and disloyal to God. Some suggest it may refer specifically to the worship of false gods or to making alliances with other nations instead of relying on God. However, the verse itself gives only a general statement. It leaves implicit the details of the people’s evil plans.
Here are some other ways to translate this statement:
they have made evil plans against me (New Century Version)
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