OET interlinear HOS 8:10

8:10a–c

Verse 10a describes Israel’s attempts to get help from foreign nations. Verse 10b says that God will respond by gathering them to be punished. Verse 10c describes what that punishment will be like.

^10aThough they hire allies among the nations,

^10bI will now round them up,

^10cand they will begin to diminish under the oppression of the king of princes.

8:10a–b

There are two main ways to interpret the relationship between 8:10a and 8:10b:

1. Verse 8:10a describes an existing situation that leads to the unexpected result in 8:10b. Israel paid other nations to protect them and expected to receive their help. They thought that they would be safe. In spite of what Israel expected, God will still gather them to be punished.When the first of two clauses is introduced by “although,” the relationship between the clauses is sometimes known as concessive (contrary to expectation). For example:

   ^10aThough they hire allies among the nations, ^10bI will soon gather them up. (ESV) (BSB, CEV, ESV, GNT, GW, KJV, NAB, NASB, NCV, NET, NIV, NJPS, NLT, NRSV)

2. Verse 8:10a describes a reason for the expected result in 8:10b. Because of the fact that Israel paid other nations to protect them, the expected result is that God will gather them to be punished. For example:

   ^10abecause they have so bargained among the nations, ^10bI will now round them up. (REB) (NJB, REB)

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

Here are some other ways to translate the relationship between these two lines:

Even though…I will gather them (GW)

They have hired…but I will gather them anyway

8:10a

they hire allies among the nations: This statement refers back to 8:9b. See the note there. In 8:9b, “lovers” is part of a metaphor that refers to the nations. Here the word nations is used literally.

Here are some ways to translate this clause:

they hire allies among the nations (ESV)

they have hired other countries to protect them

In some languages, it may not be natural to repeat the same idea from 8:9b. If that is true in your language, you may leave parts of this statement implied. For example:

they did this

8:10b

I will now round them up: In the OT, the LORD sometimes rounds the people up to do something positive. Here he rounds them up for the purpose of judgment. Some versions make the purpose of rounding up explicit. For example:

I will soon gather them together for judgment. (NET)

now: This word probably indicates here that the LORD will gather the people soon, as in the previous NET quote.

8:10c

they will begin to diminish: There are textual and interpretation issues in this part of the clause. The notes will first discuss the referent of they. Other issues will be discussed separately.

they: There are two ways to interpret the referent of this pronoun:

1. It refers to the people of Israel in general. It includes the common people as well as the king and princes. For example:

   they (NJPS)

   you (CEV) (BSB, CEV, GW, GNT, KJV, NABRE, NASB, NCV, NET, NIV, NJB, NJPS, NLT, NRSV)

2. It refers only to the king and princes of Israel. For example:

   the king and princes (ESV) (ESV, NAB)

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

will begin to diminish: The issues in this part of the clause involve textual differences between the Hebrew (MT) and Greek (LXX) texts. They also involve textual and interpretation differences in the words used in the MT. Here is a summary of the main issues:

1. One combination of words in the MT means “will begin” + “to diminish” or “to be few.” It refers to a future decrease in numbers or strength.This textual/interpretation option is supported by Macintosh, Delitzsch, and Wood. The BART interlinear glosses this phrase as “will begin [to be] few/less.” NIDOTTE (#2725) says that the Hiphil form of the root ḥalal is frequently used as “to begin.” It does not mention Hosea 8:10 specifically. McComiskey (page 127) translates this phrase as “they will begin in a little while [to suffer].” See TWOT (#1228a) for more information on the Hebrew adjective maʿaṭ that it glosses as “Little, few, small.” It does not mention this verse specifically. For example:

   and they will begin to diminish (BSB, NASB)

   They will become weaker and weaker (NCV) (BSB, NASB, NCV, NET, NIV, NJPS)

2. Another combination of words in the MT means “will writhe/suffer” + “soon” or “a short while.” It refers to future pain and suffering.The Lexham Discourse Hebrew Bible (interlinear) in Logos glosses this phrase as “will writhe soon.” There is no consensus regarding the word that many versions translate as “writhe.” It may come from changing the vowels in the Hiphil form of ḥalal. TWOT (#623) has a verb ḥul that can mean “be in anguish” and a noun (#623b) ḥil that can mean “pain.” In combination with one of these words, the adjective maʿaṭ is given the sense “soon,” perhaps from the idea of “a little while.” For further discussion, see McComiskey (page 130). Commentaries that support this textual/interpretation option include: Dearman, Hubbard, Stuart, and Andersen and Freedman. For example:

   They shall soon writhe (NRSV)

   They will suffer for a while (GW) (CEV, ESV, GNT, GW, KJV, NABRE, NJB, NLT, NRSV)

3. The LXX has “they will cease” + “a little” + “from anointing.” It refers to a future period of time when the people will no longer appoint their leaders.See Davies (page 206) for discussion of possible derivations of “cease” and “anointing” in the LXX. McComiskey (page 130) has a similar discussion For example:

   And they shall cease for a little while from anointing (RSV) (REB, RSV)

The Display will follow textual/interpretation option (1) along with many versions and commentaries. This option requires no change in the vowels or consonants of the MT. It also allows for the normal meaning of the second word (“few”).

However, you may also follow option (2). This option is supported by a majority of versions and commentaries. Whichever option you choose, it is suggested that you put the other option in a footnote.

under the oppression of the king of princes: In Hebrew, the phrase under the oppression is literally “from the burden.” Here the word “burden” refers figuratively to various kinds of suffering and hardship that the people will experience in Assyria.

of the king of princes: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “king princes.”The phrase “king princes” is not used anywhere else in the OT. (For the word princes, see the note on 8:4b.) There are three main ways to interpret this phrase:

1. It means “king of princes.” This expression indicates the greatest king. For example:

   the great king (NLT) (BSB, GNT, NET, NCV, NIV, NJB, NLT)

2. It means “kings and princes.” For example:

   kings and rulers (CEV) (CEV, GW, NRSV)

3. It means “king and princes.” For example:

   king and officers (NJPS) (NABRE, NJPS, RSV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with a majority of versions and commentaries.Macintosh, Keil, Wood, McComiskey, and Hubbard suggest that this is a construct phrase, “king of princes,” similar to the expression “king of kings.” Here it refers to the king of Assyria. See Macintosh for a helpful description of the historical context. Andersen and Freedman, Davies, and Stuart prefer the view that this is a coordinate phrase, “king and/or princes,” in spite of the absence of a conjunction in the MT. The Hebrew word for “king” is singular, so the plural “kings” in the NRSV and similar versions is evidently not based on exegetical or grammatical reasons. This interpretation best fits the historical context in which the people of Israel were deported to Assyria.

Some versions make explicit that this phrase refers to the king of Assyria. For example:

the great king of Assyria (NCV)

the emperor of Assyria (GNT)

In many languages, it will be helpful to make this information explicit.