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)

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