8:8a–b

This verse describes Israel’s destruction by foreign nations (8:8a) and its lack of value as a result (8:8b).

^8aIsrael is swallowed up!

^8bNow they are among the nations like a worthless vessel.

There is an obvious connection with the previous verse. In 8:7e foreigners literally swallow grain or flour. In 8:8a foreigners figuratively swallow Israel.

8:8a

Israel is swallowed up: This line is a metaphor. It compares the destruction of Israel by foreign nations to a person who swallows all the food in a dish. The similarity is that Israel and the food are no longer there.Most commentaries, including Stuart (page 134), understand this figure of speech to refer to Israel’s destruction as an independent nation. Davies (page 204) indicates that the similarity between the nation and a dish of food is that “nothing remains except for the dish.” The tense of the verb indicates either that the destruction has already begun or that it is certain to happen.The verb is perfect tense. This could be a prophetic perfect (indicating what will certainly happen) or a normal historic perfect. See Macintosh (page 315).

Here are some other ways to translate this metaphor:

• Keep the metaphor. For example:

  Israel is eaten up. (NCV)

  Israel will be swallowed up. (GW)

• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:

  It is as if Israel is being swallowed by other nations.

  Foreigners will destroy the nation of Israel like a person swallows the food on a plate.

• Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:

  Israel, you are ruined (CEV)

8:8b

Now they are among the nations like a worthless vessel: This statement describes the condition of Israel when it is swallowed up by foreign nations. It has lost its value as an independent nation. There are three ways to interpret this statement:

1. It describes the worthless status of Israel when its people no longer live in their land. They are now scattered among foreign people. For example:

   It has already mixed in with the other nations. It has become worthless. (GW) (BSB, ESV, GW, KJV, NASB, NCV, NET, NIV, NJB, NLT, NRSV)

2. It does not speak about whether the people live in the land of Israel or not. It describes the worthless status of Israel a) in the viewpoint of other nations or b) in comparison with other nations. For example:

   and now the nations consider you worthless (CEV) (CEV, GNT, NAB, NJPS)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This interpretation is similar to 7:8, which says that Israel mixes with the nations and is like a worthless cake of bread. It is also an accurate description of Israel’s history. Historically, the Assyrians conquered Israel and sent the people to live in other nations.Stuart (page 134) and Davies (page 204).

Now: In this context the word Now probably indicates present time.

Here is another way to translate it:

already they are among the nations (RSV)

In some languages, it may not be necessary to translate this word explicitly if the meaning is implied from the context.

like a worthless vessel: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “like a vessel [that has] not pleasure in it.” In this phrase the word vessel can refer to a utensil, tool, or pot. This phrase is a simile in which the nation of Israel is compared to a piece of pottery that no one wants. The similarities are that both are destroyed and useless.

Here are some other ways to translate this simile:

• Keep the specific simile and make explicit one or more of the similarities. For example:

  like a worthless piece of pottery (NET)

  as useless as a broken pot (GNT)

  like an old discarded pot (NLT)

• Translate the simile more generally. For example:

  like something no one wants (NJB)

  like a thing of no value (REB)

• Translate the meaning without a figure of speech. For example:

  It has become worthless. (GW)