OET interlinear HOS 11:7

11:7a

My people are bent on turning from Me: The relationship of this line to the surrounding context is not clear. This line may be stating again the theme of turning away from the LORD as in 11:5. Some versions translate this line as a reason for the war described in 11:6 by starting the verse with the word “For.” The majority of versions leave implied the relationship of this line to the context. Translate the relationship of this line to the context in a natural way in your language.

bent on turning from Me: In Hebrew, this phrase is more literally “hung up to/on my apostasy.” Here the word “hung up” has the figurative meaning of “determined” or “fixated upon.” It means that the people will not change their attitude or behavior.McComiskey (page 189). The Hebrew word “to/on my apostasy” means to reject or rebel against the LORD.The Hebrew word “to my apostasy” is understood to mean apostasy/backsliding from “me” [the LORD]. Andersen and Freedman (page 586) suggest the case is ablative, indicating motion away from something. This is likely, since the word “apostasy,” as used in the OT, means the act of turning away from the LORD.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

My people are bent on turning away from me (ESV)

They insist on turning away from me (GNT)

my people are determined to desert me (NLT)

11:7b

Though they call to the Most High, He will by no means exalt them: In Hebrew, this sentence is literally “and to a height they call him together not he will exalt them.” This sentence has one main textual issue and various interpretations. The textual issue will be discussed first.

There is a textual issue concerning the Hebrew phrase that the BSB translates as Most High:

1. The Masoretic Text has the phrase “and to a height.” See the separate note on the interpretations of this phrase. For example:

   the One on high (NASB) (BSB, ESV, GW, KJV, NAB, NASB, NCV, NIV, NJB, NJPS, NLT, NRSV)

2. Some ancient versions have the word “yoke” instead of “height.”Some early version examples are the Greek Aquila and Symmachus, the Aramaic Targum and the Latin Vulgate. For example:

   the yoke that is on them (GNT) (GNT, RSV)

3. Some scholars think that the original text had “Baal” instead of “height.”The BHS editors recommend that the word “height” be changed to “Baal.” It is also supported by Stuart (page 174). A similar result can be attained without any change to the Hebrew text. Andersen and Freedman (page 587) suggest that the phrase, “and to a height” refers to an unspecified false god. The CEV translation may be an example of this interpretation. It has, “My people are determined to reject me for a god they think is stronger, but he can’t help.” For example:

   they call to Baal (NET) (NET, REB)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). It has good support from scholars, ancient versions and most modern versions.See Dearman (page 286), Andersen and Freedman (page 574) and Wood (page 213). The LXX and Peshitta translate “height” as “God.”

Though: This word is not in the Hebrew text. The BSB supplies it to make explicit the logical relationship between the first clause of the sentence “they call to the Most High” and the second clause “he will by no means exalt them.” The logical relationship is that the people’s action of calling to the LORD does not result in the LORD exalting them.

Here are some other ways to indicate this connection:

To the Most High they call, but he does not raise them up at all. (NRSV)

Even if they call to the Most High, he will by no means exalt them. (NIV)

Indicate this relationship between the clauses in a natural way in your language.

they call: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “they call him.”This phrase is a single affixed word in Hebrew. There are two main interpretations of this phrase:

1. The people call to the LORD. The referent of they is the people of Israel. The word call means to pray. The referent of “him” is the Most High. For example:

   they call out to the Most High (ESV) (BSB, ESV, GW, NAB, NIV, NRSV)The NLT is similar. It has, “They call me the Most High…” It is not included here because the NLT understands, “call him” to mean the name people use to refer to God, rather than to mean, “pray to him.”

2. The prophets called the people to return to the LORD. The referent of they is the prophets. The word call means to urge or summon. The referent of “him” is Israel. For example:

   The prophets call them to turn to me (NCV) (KJV, NASB, NCV)The NJB and NJPS are similar. For example, the NJB has, “they are summoned to come up…” These versions are not included here because they do not explicitly state that the prophets are the ones calling the people and because they interpret, “height” to mean “upward” and not “the LORD.”

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with a majority of versions.Interpretation (2) is possible, but it assumes that Hosea uses the non-specific pronoun “they” to introduce a new participant into the story line - “the prophets.” It is more likely that the pronoun “they” refers back to the previously introduced participant “the people.” It makes sense in this context and has the support of one of the ancient versions.The Syriac Peshitta has: “they shall call to God.”

to the Most High: The Hebrew text is literally “and to a height.” There two main interpretations:

1. The phrase “and to a height” is a short form of the descriptive phrase Most High. It refers to the LORD.Dearman (page 286) and Wood (page 213). For example:

   To the Most High they call (NRSV) (BSB, ESV, GW, KJV, NAB, NCV, NIV, NLT, NRSV)

2. The phrase “and to a height” means an upward direction. It refers figuratively to a high level of devotion/piety.In support, Macintosh (page 455) quotes rabbinic commentator ibn Janah, who says that ‘el ‘al denotes ‘the highest level’ i.e. true piety. Keil (page 91) and McComiskey (page 187) also support this interpretation. For example:

   if they are summoned to come up (NJB) (NJB, NJPS)

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

He will by no means exalt them: This clause is literally “together not he will exalt them.” There are two main interpretations:

1. The LORD will not exalt/liftHALOT (electronic edition, pp. 1203–1204) Polal 2. Dearman (page 286), Wood (page 213). the people. The verb “exalt/lift” means to help them in some way, perhaps by answering their prayers. This clause depicts the LORD’s negative response to the peoples’ apostasy. For example:

   he shall not raise them up at all (ESV) (BSB, ESV, GW, NAB, NIV, NRSV)

2. The people will not exalt the LORD. The verb “exalt/rise” means to honor or worship God.Note that the final mem on the verb “exalt” is a feature of the polel imperfect form. It is not a plural suffix although it resembles one. Therefore, the object is implicit and could be “him” or “God” here, just as it could be “them.” This clause depicts the people’s apostasy. For example:

   They call me the Most High, but they don’t truly honor me. (NLT) (NLT)The ASV, KJV, NASB, NCV also follow interpretation (2). However, they interpret it to be the people’s negative response to the prophets who call them to the LORD. That interpretation was not recommended in the previous note on the phrase “they call.”

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). It makes good sense as the LORD’s negative response to the people calling to him.

by no means: There are two main interpretations of the Hebrew word that the BSB translates as by no means:

1. The Hebrew word means “altogether.” It functions as a superlative or to give emphasis to something in the following clause.BDB (#3162) 2b says it occurs often in poetry beginning a clause with emphasis. Here it gives emphasis to the following verb “exalt.” For example:

   He does not raise them up at all (NRSV) (BSB, ESV, NIV, NRSV)

2. The Hebrew word means “together” or “all at once.”HALOT (electronic edition, p. 405) 2a. It refers back to the people who call on the LORD in the previous clause.This is the function of the Hebrew word in some ancient versions. The Greek Aquila and Symmachus translate as “all at once.” The Syriac Peshitta translates as, “they will take counsel together.” For example:

   In unison they cry out to him (NAB) (NAB)

The Display will follow interpretation (1), but the Hebrew word can have either meaning. The context does not clearly favor one over the other.