7:16a

They turn, but not to the Most High: There is a textual issue here:

1. The Masoretic Text is literally “they turn to not height.” This clause probably means that the people turn to something that is not the Most High God. It implies that they do not turn to God. For example:

   They did not turn to the Most High God. (NCV) (BSB, ESV, GW, KJV, NASB, NCV, NIV, NJB, NLT, NRSV)

2. Some English versions have “they turn to Baal.”The text in option (2) is not supported by the LXX or other early translations. For example:

   They turn to Baal (RSV) (NET, RSV)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with most versions and scholars.The Masoretic Text presents a number of difficulties, including the position of the word loʾ “not” before the word “height” rather than before the verb “turn” and the unusual use of the word “height.” According to Andersen and Freedman (pages 477–478), the Hebrew word ʿal “height” may be a shortened variant of ʿeli, ʿelyon “The Most High God,” which is made negative here. A similar negative name, loʾ ʿel, which means “a not-god, something that is not a god,” occurs in Deuteronomy 32:21. These factors have led to three main interpretations: (1) They turn to a non-God (or “False Most High”); (2) They do not turn to the Most High; and (3) They turn/return but not upward. These interpretations have been presented as translation options in the Notes, because they all represent slightly different aspects of the same situation. For more information, see TWOT (#1624p), Hubbard (page 142), and Keil (page 110). For more discussion on the use of the Hebrew negative, see Biblical Hebrew Reference Grammar: The Syntax of Word Order §46.1. Verbal Clauses (2). Here are some other ways to translate this option:

They keep on turning away from me to a god that is powerless. (GNT)

They turn to a false god

They don’t return to the Most High (GW)

They return, but not upward (ESV)The translation “Most High” is an explicit reference to God. The translation “upward” is not explicit, but it can also refer to God (Keil, page 110).

In some languages, words such as turn or “return” refer only to physical movement, not to a change of belief.

If that is true in your language, here are some other ways to translate this clause:

They refuse to worship the Most High God.

They decide to trust a god who does not really exist.

7:16b

they are like a faulty bow: This clause is a simile. It compares the people of Israel to a bow that is used to shoot arrows at enemy soldiers. The similarity between the people and a bow depends on the meaning of the Hebrew phrase that the BSB translates as faulty bow. This phrase is more literally “deceitful/treacherous bow” or “slack bow.”Scholars do not agree on the derivation of this Hebrew word. It may be derived from one root with two meanings (HALOT, #8840) or from two homonyms (TWOT, #2169a). There are two main ways to interpret this phrase:

1. The word faulty comes from a Hebrew word that means “deceitful” or “treacherous.” It refers to a bow that is unreliable, perhaps because it is warped. It cannot be trusted to shoot an arrow accurately and hit the target.Macintosh (pages 285–286), McComiskey (page 116), Wood (page 199). The simile indicates that the people were untrustworthy and deceitful. God could not rely on them to worship him sincerely and do what he wanted. For example:

   they are like an unreliable bow (NET)

   They are like a defective bow. (GW) (BSB, ESV, GNT, KJV, NAB, NASB, NET, NIV, NJB, NRSV)

2. The word faulty comes from a Hebrew word that means “slack.” It refers to a bow that has a loose bowstring. It is weak or useless, because the arrows do not reach their target. The simile indicates that the people were weak and helpless as a nation.Stuart (page 124). For example:

   They are like a loose bow that can’t shoot. (NCV) (NCV, NJPS, REB)

The Display will follow interpretation (1), but both interpretations are appropriate similes for the people of Israel.

In the BSB, NET, and GW, the way in which the bow is “deceitful” is left implied. Some versions are more specific. For example:

They are as unreliable as a crooked bow. (GNT)

Some versions allow or combine aspects of both interpretations. For example:

They are as useless as a crooked bow. (NLT)

If you can translate in a similar way, it will be very acceptable.

If a term for bow is not known in your language area, you may use a general term. For example:

They are like a broken weapon

7:16c

Their leaders: The word that the BSB translates here as leaders probably refers to government or military rulers or officials. See the notes on 7:3a–b and 7:5a, where the BSB translated the same Hebrew word as “princes.”

will fall by the sword: This phrase means that someone will use a sword to kill their leaders.Stuart (page 125). The leaders will probably be assassinated or else killed in battle.Andersen and Freedman (page 479). Some versions state explicitly that they will die in battle, but the verse itself does not make that explicit. It is better to leave this detail unstated in the translation, as the BSB has done.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

they will die a violent death (GNT)

the cursing of their tongue: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “the indignation of their tongue.”BART interlinear. This phrase refers to the anger expressed by their words. In this context, it is likely that the leaders’ anger was associated with their arroganceMacintosh (page 286). and was directed against the LORD.McComiskey (pages 116–117) and Keil (page 110). The BSB above is one way to describe this anger.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

their angry talk (REB)

the insolence of their tongues (NAB)

their leaders talk arrogantly (GNT)

7:16d

for this they will be ridiculed in the land of Egypt: This clause indicates that people in Egypt will mock or laugh at the misfortune of the Israelites after the leaders of Israel are killed.

for this: The pronoun this refers to the death of the leaders of Israel. In some languages, the pronoun reference may need to be made explicit. For example:

Because of their death, the Egyptians will ridicule them

they will be ridiculed: This is a passive clause. In some languages, it may be preferable to change this into an active clause. For example:

Egyptians will laugh at them. (CEV)

So people will disdain them in the land of Egypt. (NET)

in the land of Egypt: This phrase indicates that the Egyptians are the ones who will ridicule the Israelites. It does not imply that the leaders were killed in Egypt. To make this clear some versions use a phrase such as “The Egyptians” instead of the phrase in the land of Egypt. For example:

The Egyptians will laugh (GNT)

The people in Egypt will ridicule them for this. (GW)