OET interlinear HOS 12:14

12:14

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^14aEphraim has provoked bitter anger,

^14bso his Lord will leave his bloodguilt upon him

^14cand repay him for his contempt.

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

^14cand he/his Lord will repay him for his contempt.

In these lines, Hosea tells the Israelites that the LORD will judge them. The first line is a general statement. The second and third lines give more detail.

This verse has some similarities to 12:2.Both have a similar structure, a general statement followed by two lines that give more detail. Both use the expression “he will repay.” Both have the same purpose, to declare judgment against Israel. Andersen and Freedman (pages 622–623).

12:14a

The BSB and the Hebrew text leave implied the connection between this verse and the previous one. Some other versions do the same.

Some versions think that there is an implicit contrast to the previous verse and supply the word “But” to indicate it. Indicate the connection of this verse to 12:13 in a natural way in your language. For example:

But Ephraim has bitterly provoked him to anger… (NIV)

Ephraim has provoked bitter anger: The phrase provoked…anger means “caused someone to become angry.”TWOT (#1016). Hebrew and some English versions do not make explicit that the LORD is the one Ephraim has provoked. For example:

Ephraim gave bitter provocation (REB)

Some versions make this information explicit for clarity. For example:

But the people of Israel have bitterly provoked the Lord (NLT)

But Ephraim bitterly provoked him to anger (NET)

Ephraim: As in many places in Hosea, the name Ephraim represents the people of Israel, as in the NLT quoted above.

provoked…anger: In Hebrew, this verb phrase is one word. There is no separate word for anger. Some versions leave the idea of anger implied. For example:

Ephraim gave bitter provocation (NJB)

Other versions make it make it explicit. For example:

Ephraim bitterly provoked him to anger (NET)

In some languages, it may be more natural to focus on the LORD’s anger caused by Ephraim’s provocation. For example:

But Ephraim has aroused his bitter anger (NIV2011)

The people of Israel have made the Lord bitterly angry (GNT)

bitter: The form of the Hebrew word here is literally “bitternesses (plur).” It indicates the bitter manner in which Ephraim provoked the LORD.There is a strong consensus in the commentaries that “bitternesses” functions here as an adverb of manner. They probably provoked him by persisting in the sins listed in 12:7–8, 11.The bitterness does not refer to Ephraim’s bitter emotions against the LORD. Nothing in the preceding context hints at such an emotional response. Pusey (page 124) points out that the literal “with bitternesses” indicates that they provoked the LORD “with the most heinous sins, such as are most grievously displeasing to God.”

The plural form indicates intensity. It implies “very bitterly provoked to anger.”A noun that functions as an adverbial accusative. HALOT (electronic edition, page 1758) and the NET footnote on “bitterly.” In Hebrew, the adjective form bitter means “bitter, strong.”TWOT (#1248a). Here it probably implies that Ephraim’s bitter provocation caused the LORD to experience a correspondingly bitter or strong anger.According to TWOT (#1016), in the 45 instances of the Hiphil form of “provoke to anger,” a common theme is that God’s covenant people have aroused his wrath by means of their unfaithfulness. NIDOTTE (#4087) also mentions Hosea 12:14 as “one of the earliest examples of divine anger.” See the NIV2011 and GNT quoted below.

12:14b

so his Lord will leave his bloodguilt upon him: This clause is more literally “and his bloods on him he will leave.”

This expression probably means that God holds Ephraim (the people of Israel) accountable for his crimes, particularly the murders he has committed. God will not forgive Ephraim by removing the guilt. Instead, he will leave the guilt on Ephraim. The implication is that Ephraim will be punished accordingly.This view assumes that the Hebrew word “bloods (pl)” refers here to murders committed by Ephraim. See Keil (page 99), Stuart (pages 195–196), and Hubbard (page 211). Compare to 1 Kings 2:32–33. Here are some other examples:

so he will hold him accountable for the blood he has shed (NET)

He will hold them guilty of murder (GW)

his Lord: In the Hebrew text his Lord comes at the end of 14c. The BSB and many other versions place it here to conform to natural English. The pronoun his refers to Ephraim.

The Hebrew word for Lord here is ʾadon, “lord,”Literally ʾadonaw “his Lords (plur).” McComiskey (page 211) suggests that the plural ending denotes the plural of majesty. The variation in vocalization distinguishes this use as a sacred name from uses that refer to human beings. not Yahweh. Versions indicate this by translating this word as Lord, not as “Lord” or “LORD.”

his bloodguilt: In Hebrew, this phrase is “his bloods.” The plural form of the word “blood” often refers to bloodshed/murders. The word can also indicate bloodguilt/accountability for a murder.BDB (#1818) 1g. Also Andersen and Freedman (pages 622–623), McComiskey (page 211), Davies (page 283), Macintosh (page 515), and Patterson and Hill (page 76).

The word can imply crimes so severe that the person who commits them deserves capital punishment.Stuart (pages 195–196) and Garrett (page 247). Some versions make this meaning explicit. For example:

They deserve death for their crimes. (GNT)

12:14c

and repay him for his contempt: The meaning of this clause is similar to 14b. It means to give back to Ephraim an appropriate payment for his contempt. In this context, the Hebrew word for repay means “to pay back” or “requite evil.”DCH (Vol. 8, page 292) h. Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

Their Lord will punish them for the disgrace they have brought on him. (GNT)

His Lord will repay him for his insult. (NJB)

contempt: The Hebrew word means “reproach,” “reviling,” “taunt.” It often has a connotation of blaming or scorning someone.TWOT (#749a). Here it may indicate contempt for the LORD and/or his law.Keil (page 99), Garrett (page 247), and Stuart (pages 195–196). Here are some other ways to translate it:

his mockery (NJPS)

his insults (NRSV)

his disgraceful deeds (ESV)