OET interlinear HOS 5:2

5:2a

The rebels are deep in slaughter: There is a textual issue here:

1. The Masoretic Text has “and rebels have made deep slaughter/corruption.” For example:

   And the revolters have gone deep into slaughter (ESV) (BSB, ESV, GW, KJV, NAB, NASB, NET, NCV, NIV)

2. Some scholars think that the original Hebrew text was “they have made deep the pit of Shittim.” This is a figure of speech that is similar to the trap metaphors in 5:1c. The meaning is also similar. For example:

   They have dug the ditch deep at Shittim (NJB) (CEV, GNT, NJB, NLT, NRSV, REB)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with most versions. It makes sense, fits the context, and does not require a different original text.Scholars agree that the Masoretic Text is difficult to understand. Two of the three words, śeṭim “rebels” and šaḥaṭah “slaughter/corruption” occur only once in the OT, and the derivation of the second word is uncertain. However, option (2) involves at least three changes to the text, for which there is no clear evidence. For more details, see the NET footnote on TW or Macintosh (pages 178–181).

The rebels: In this context, The rebels implies people who have rebelled against the LORD. It refers to the same groups of people that are referred to in 5:1a.

are deep in slaughter: There are different ways to interpret the Hebrew noun that the BSB translates as slaughter:

1. The Hebrew noun comes from a verb root that means “kill, slaughter.” The phrase deep in slaughter means that they are responsible for killing many people. For example:

   The revolters are deeply involved in slaughter (NKJV)

   The rebels have caused many people to be killed. (BSB, ESV, NET, NIV, NKJV)

2. The Hebrew noun comes from a verb root that means “corrupt.”According to TWOT (#2362b), “many modern commentators” suggest that šaḥaṭah “slaughtering” in the Masoretic Text should be changed to šaḥatah “destruction/corruption.” Morag, quoted in Macintosh (pages 179–180), gives another alternative. He argues that šaḥaṭah is simply a variant spelling of šaḥatah. None of the commentaries used in preparing these Notes recommended the textual change mentioned by TWOT. Of the lexicons consulted, HOL lists this word with the meaning “corruption.” BDB, TWOT, HALOT, and NIDOTTE list it with the meaning “slaughter.” The phrase “deep in corruption” means that they are responsible for many evil deeds. It does not refer specifically to officials who take bribes or other government corruption. For example:

   You are deeply involved in sin. (GW)

   The rebels have done many evil things (NAB, NASB, NCV)

Interpretation (1) will be used in the Display. It is supported by most of the lexicons. It also offers the most straightforward explanation of the word that is used in the Masoretic Text.

However, you may also use interpretation (2). This interpretation is easier to apply to the people of Israel as a whole. It also closely matches a very similar expression in Hosea 9:9 that uses forms of the same Hebrew words.

5:2b

I will chastise: In this context, the word chastise means to punish someone in order to correct their bad behavior. The same word is used of a parent who disciplines a child. For example:

punish (GNT)

them all: This phrase refers to both the leaders and the people of Israel. The GNT says “all of you” instead of them all. That is because the Hebrew text in 5:1 uses the pronoun “you” to refer to the leaders and people. The GNT uses the same pronoun here, since the LORD is speaking to the same people as in 5:1. Translate this phrase in a natural way in your language.