OET interlinear HOS 11:4

11:4

This verse gives another example of the LORD’s love and care for the people of Israel. Here the example is a farmer or a herdsman who cares for his animals.

11:4a–b

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^4aI led them with cords of kindness,

^4b with ropes of love;

There is an ellipsis in the second line. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply the missing words from the first line. For example:

^4b I led them with ropes of love.

Each line is a metaphor that compares the way that the LORD led Israel to the way that a caring herdsman leads his animals.

I led them: The Hebrew word for led can mean to pull an animal with a rope. It can also have the figurative meaning “to lead a person.”HALOT (electronic edition, page. 645) and BDB (#4900). In this context, the word may refer to the time when the LORD led his people out of Egypt.Macintosh (page 445).

with cords of kindness, with ropes of love: These phrases describe how the LORD led his people. He did so with kindness and love.

The Hebrew words for cords and ropes have the same meaning. Both words mean “rope/cord.”HALOT II (electronic edition, page 286) and HALOT (electronic edition, page 783).

In Hebrew, the first phrase is literally “with ropes of human.” The meaning may be that these ropes are intended to guide humans in contrast to ropes for animals. The phrase indicates kindness or gentleness instead of harshness.Keil (page 90). An alternative suggestion by Garrett (pages 224–225) is that the phrase “human ropes” refers to Moses. Another is that the intended meaning is “leather ropes,” as in the NET. Neither alternative has significant scholarly support.

The parallel phrase ropes of love has a similar meaning. It implies that the LORD showed love toward his people when he led them. He was like a gentle herdsman who cared for his animals with compassion.Macintosh (page 448) suggests that Yahweh is depicted as leading Israel as a considerate farmer, who from time to time leads his beast away from the rigors of plowing for rest and refreshment.

11:4a

11:4b

11:4c

I lifted the yoke from their necks: This clause is more literally “and I was to them like [those who] lift a yoke on their jaws.” There are two main ways to interpret the Hebrew phrase “lift a yoke on their jaws:”

1. The phrase means to remove the yoke along with the harness.This interpretation is supported by the Syriac Peshitta. It has “I was to them as one who takes off the yoke from their neck.” For example:

   and I became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws (NASB) (BSB, GW, KJV, NASB, NCV, NET, NIV, NLT)

2. The phrase means to lighten the weight on the yoke and loosen the harness.This interpretation is supported by the Targum that has “like the good ploughman who lightens the load on the oxen's shoulder and gives leeway with the bridle.” For example:

   and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws (ESV) (ESV, RSV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most versions.This interpretation is supported by HALOT. HALOT (electronic edition, page 1205) assigns the meaning “revoke, lift, take away” to the verb phrase used in Hosea 11:4. However, some scholars think that interpretation (2) better fits the common usage of some of the Hebrew words in this phrase.The Hebrew phrase “lift a yoke” is not normally used for removing a yoke. The normal Hebrew expression is “break a yoke.” For example, see Genesis 27:40; Leviticus 26:13; Jeremiah 5:5; Ezekiel 34:27. Also, the Hebrew preposition “on” indicates that a yoke is on the animal, not removed from it. See Keil (page 90), Garrett (pages 224–225), and McComiskey (page 185). So it is recommended that you add a footnote with the other interpretation. For example:

Another interpretation of this phrase in Hebrew is: I became to them as one who lightens the weight of the yoke on their jaws.

Here is another way to translate this verse part:

I removed the yokes from their necks (GW)

The phrase lifted the yoke from their neck may refer figuratively to freeing the people of Israel from slavery. In this metaphor, their hardship was compared to the yoke that was attached by a harness so that the animal could pull a plow or cart.

yoke: There is a textual issue concerning the word yoke in this clause:

1. The Masoretic Text has yoke. For example:

   and I became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws (NASB) (BSB, ESV, GW, KJV, NASB, NCV, NET, NIV, NJPS, NLT, RSV)

2. Some scholars think that the original text had “infant.”Favored by Davies (page 257) and Hubbard (page 189). For example:

   I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. (NRSV) (CEV, GNT, NIV2011, NJB, NRSV, REB)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with a majority of versions and commentaries.This interpretation is favored by Dearman, Garrett, Kidner, Andersen and Freedman, Keil, Stuart, Wood, Macintosh, and McComiskey. Dearman (pages 282–285) sees parallels with Isaiah 30:28 “harness on the jaws” and Hosea 10:11 that depicts Israel as a heifer.

A yoke is an arched frame normally placed on the shoulders of a work animal at the base of its neck.Andersen and Freedman (page 581). Generally the yoke is fastened to two animals and is attached to a cart or plow that they pull together.The word “yoke” can have negative or positive associations, depending on the kind of yoke. For example, 1 Kings 12:4 has: “Your father put a heavy yoke on us. But now you should lighten the burden of your father’s service and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.” Whereas, Matthew 11:30 has: “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

their necks: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “their jaws.” This probably indicates that here the word “yoke” refers both to the yoke and also to the halter or bridle around the animal’s jaws, that was used to direct the animal.Macintosh (page 446). See the 2nd ML in the Display for 11:4c for a way to make this explicit in your translation.

and bent down to feed them: The Hebrew phrase here is literally “and I bent down to him I fed.” There are three main interpretations of the Hebrew word that the BSB translates as bent down:

1. The Hebrew word means “I bent down.” For example:

   I bent down to them and fed them. (ESV) (BSB, CEV, ESV, GNT, GW, NASB, NCV, NIV, NJB, NKJV, NLT, REB, RSV)

2. The Hebrew word means “gently.” For example:

   and gently fed them (NET) (NET)

3. The Hebrew word means “I offer.” For example:

   and I laid meat unto them (KJV) (KJV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most versions. It follows a common meaning of the Hebrew word.BDB (#5186). See Davies (page 257), Hubbard (page 189) and Wood (page 213). One grammatical difficulty with this interpretation is that the Hebrew text lacks a conjunction between “bent down” and “I fed.” Andersen and Freedman (page 583) point out, however, that a lack of conjunctions is typical of Hosea. Some scholars also support interpretation (2).Among those who support this understanding are rabbinic commentator, ibn Ezra, cited in Macintosh (page 446), Garrett, Keil, and McComiskey. However, only a small minority of versions follow it. In both interpretations, the LORD feeds them in a loving way.

feed them: The Hebrew text has “I fed.” English versions supply the object them or “him,” which is required to make the translation sound more natural in English. You may also need to supply an object here if it will sound more natural in your language.