OET interlinear HOS 11:6

11:6a–c

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^6a A sword will flash through their cities;

^6b it will destroy the bars of their gates

^6cand consume them in their own plans.

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

^6b swords will destroy the bars of their gates

^6cand swords will consume them in their own plans.

These three lines warn that an enemy will make war against the Israelites and will defeat them.

11:6a

A sword will flash through their cities: This line is more literally “and a sword will whirl in his cities.” The word sword is a figure of speech (metonymy) that represents “war.”Or the destructive power of war. Keil (page 91). This line says in a poetic way that an enemy will go to war against Israel.

The word flash means “whirl” or “twist.” The word describes the movement of a sword when used in an attack.Macintosh (page 452) and TWOT (#623). Here are some other ways to translate this line:

the sword will rage through his cities (NJB)

War will sweep through their cities (GNT)

11:6b

it will destroy the bars of their gates: This line continues to describe the enemy attack on the cities of Israel.

destroy: In Hebrew, this word means “destroy” or “exterminate.”DCH (Vol. 4, page 416). It can mean to destroy an object or a person. This line may refer to both actions. See the note below.

the bars of their gates: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as the bars of their gates has various meanings. In this context, there are two main interpretations:

1. The word means bars. This word refers to metal bars that kept large city gates locked.HALOT II (electronic edition, p. 109). People would lock the city gates by sliding the bars into sockets in the wall. See the IVP Bible Background Commentary (electronic edition, Ho 11:6). This interpretation is favored by Keil (page 91), McComiskey (page 188) and Wood (page 213). This interpretation implies that the enemy will also break through the gates of each city to enter it and kill the inhabitants. For example:

   It will destroy the bars of their city gates (NET) (BSB, ESV, GNT, GW, NASB, NET, NJB, NIV, NLT, RSV)Some versions translate “gates” instead of “bars.” For example, the GW has “city gates,” and the NLT has “gates.”

2. The word means “false prophets/priests.”HALOT (electronic edition, p. 109) V. This interpretation is favored by Stuart (page 180) and Hubbard (pages 191–192). These influential people claimed to represent the LORD, but they spoke lies to the king and his officials. For example:

   and it will make an end of their priests (REB) (NRSV, REB)

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

11:6c

and consume them in their own plans: This clause is literally “and it will devour from their schemes.” There are two main interpretations of this clause:

1. The clause means that their schemes/plans are the reason that the sword will devour them. For example:

   and devour them because of their scheming (REB) (BSB, ESV, GNT, KJV, NASB, NCV, NJB, NJPS, NRSV, REB)

2. The clause means that the sword will devour their schemes. For example:

   and put an end to their plans (GW) (CEV, GW, NIV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most versions.This interpretation accounts for a causative particle min “from/because of” in the Hebrew clause.

Notice that in the Masoretic Text, this clause does not indicate what the sword devours. It says “and it will devour from their schemes.” Interpretation (1) assumes that one of the following options is true:

• The object of the verb “devour” is “the people.” This was understood implicitly by Hebrew readers. For example:

  It will destroy my people because they do what they themselves think best. (GNT)

  devouring them because of their plots (NJB)

• The verb “devour” is intransitive here, so it has no object. Hosea is giving attention to the reason for the devouring rather than to what is being devoured.McComiskey (page 188). This option is also favored by Macintosh (page 453–454). However, only a small minority of versions follow it. For example:

  and devours because of their schemes. (NRSV)

Either option is acceptable. The Hebrew can be understood either way. Also the meaning difference is not significant.Even if the verb is intentionally intransitive here, the earlier parts of the verse make it clear that the cities, and by inference the people in the cities, will be attacked. Choose the option that is the most natural in your language.

consume: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as consume is literally “devour.” Here it is used figuratively to mean “slay” or “destroy.”BDB (#398) 4. For example:

destroy my people (GNT)

kill them (NCV)

them in their own plans: There is a textual issue with the Hebrew word for them in their own plans:

1. The Masoretic Text has “plans/schemes.” For example:

   And devours because of their schemes (NRSV) (BSB, CEV, ESV, GNT, GW, KJV, NASB, NCV, NIV, NJB, NJPS, NLT, NRSV, REB)

2. Some scholars think that the original text had the word “fortresses.” For example:

   And will devour them in their fortresses (NET) (NET, RSV)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with most versions. Ancient versions also support this option.

The Hebrew word for their own plans means “their advice,” “their counsel,” or “their plan.”TWOT (#887b). Here it may refer especially to choices that the people of Israel made without seeking guidance from the LORD. These choices may include seeking help from idols or from Egypt.Macintosh (page 454), Hubbard (page 192) and McComiskey (page 188).

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

their own evil plans (NLT)

their plots (NJB)

their scheming (REB)

they do what they themselves think best (GNT)