OET interlinear HOS 1:10

1:10

If you start a new section here, you may need to make explicit at the beginning of 1:10 that the LORD is still speaking. For example:

The Lord continued to speak. He said …

1:10a

Yet: This verse contrasts strongly with the previous verses. You should translate it in a way that indicates this contrast. If this is a new section in your translation, you may have to make the link to the previous section explicit by repeating part of verse 9. For example:

Although I have said that you are no longer my people, yet….

the Israelites: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “the number of the sons of Israel.” It refers here to the entire nation.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

the number of the people of Israel (NRSV)

will be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or counted: This is a figure of speech (simile) that the LORD first used in Genesis 22:17 and Genesis 32:12. Those verses expressed his covenant promise to Abraham. Here the simile compares the number of Israelites to the sand on the seashore. The point of similarity is that they will be so many that no one will be able to count them.

Hebrew and most English versions state the word “number” explicitly. For example:

the Israelites will become as numerous as the grains of sand on the seashore. No one will be able to measure them or count them. (GW)

the number of the people of Israel will be like the sand of the sea which can be neither measured nor numbered. (NET)

Translate in a natural way that makes the correct meaning of the simile clear.

cannot be measured or counted: The words measured and counted have almost the same meaning in this context. They are used together for the sake of emphasis. The word measured does not occur in either of the similar verses in Genesis. In this context, it refers to measuring the amount of something dry like sand, using a container whose size is known.

If your language has a word for measuring something like sand, you may use it here. If it is confusing to compare the number of people to sand that is measured, you may want to use only one expression, as some English versions have done. For example:

Someday it will be impossible to count the people of Israel, because there will be as many of them as there are grains of sand along the seashore. (CEV)

You should translate this figure of speech in a way that is consistent with Genesis 22:17 and 32:12, so that readers can recognize that these words refer back to the LORD’s covenant with Abraham. At the same time, notice that there are some minor differences between these verses. If possible, you should maintain these differences in your translation. It is suggested that you refer to these Genesis verses in a footnote or in some other way.

1:10b–c

1:10b

in the very place where it was said to them: There are two ways to interpret the Hebrew phrase that the BSB translates as in the very place where:

1. It refers to a literal geographical place, either the land of Israel or the land where the people will be exiled.Andersen and Freedman, Stuart, Keil, Davies, McComiskey, Dearman, and Wood all understand this to refer to a place. Keil (page 32) supports the land of exile, citing v. 11 where the people come out of exile. The Targums, Rashi and Ibn Ezra also understand the land of exile, but Davies (pages 60–61) feels that the land of Israel is more likely, following the people’s return from exile. Wood (page 173) says that the particular place is not important. In this same place, the words that the LORD will say to the people will contrast with his previous words. For example:

   at the place where they were told (NLT) (BSB, ESV, GW, KJV, NASB, NIV, NLT, NJB, NRSV)

2. It is a special use of the Hebrew phrase. Here it means “in place of” or “instead of.” It does not refer here to a literal place. It simply introduces the contrasting words that the LORD will say to the people with his previous words. For example:

   instead of being told (NJPS) (CEV, GNT, NCV, NET, NJPS, REB)The CEV, NCV, REB, and GNT do not use an explicit word or phrase such as “instead.” They simply give the contrasting statements. The NET has “Although…,” indicating a concessive relationship. The NJPS is the only version that uses the word “instead.”

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with almost all commentaries and lexicons. The Hebrew word for place normally refers to a location. It occurs with this meaning approximately five hundred times in the Old Testament.HALOT (#5582) says there are approximately 500 occurrences of maqom. All the senses given in HALOT refer to locations. TWOT (#1999h) says that this “noun represents the physical location where something is or ought to be.” NIDOTTE (#5226) is similar. Its glosses all indicate locations. BDB (#8491, page 880) lists Hosea 1:10 (2:1) under sense 4, “place, locality, spot.” It also lists this verse under sense 7, “peculiar uses,” where it has “perhaps b.…instead of.” The two other verses listed under 7b (Isaiah 33:21 and Nahum 1:8) are not translated as “instead of” by any English version on TW or Bible Gateway. With this interpretation, the focus in this verse is still on the changed relationship between God and his people.

it was said to them: This is a passive clause. The implied speaker is the LORD.

If it is more natural in your language to use an active verb in this context, here is another way to translate it:

the LORD said to them

You are not My people: This is the same phrase as in 1:9b. Translate it the same way here.

1:10c

they will be called: This is a passive clause like the similar clause in 1:10b. See the General Comment on 1:10b–c for a way to translate this as an active clause.

sons of the living God: The Hebrew expression sons of can refer either to sons or to both sons and daughters. In this context, it refers to the entire nation, so a translation such as “children” is preferable to sons. For example:

they will be told they are ‘Children of the living God.’ (NJB)

living God: The phrase living God is probably used here to contrast the true God with the false gods that the people worshiped.Macintosh (page 36). God was truly alive. The false gods had no life.