HOS 10:5 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) The inhabitants of Shomron (Samaria) will be afraid about what will happen to the calf of Beyt-Aven.
⇔ Indeed, its people will mourn over it, as will its idolatrous priests who had rejoiced over it
⇔ and over its splendour because it’s departed from them.

Key: khaki:verbs.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

BrLXX Τῷ μόσχῳ τοῦ οἴκου Ὦν παροικήσουσιν οἱ κατοικοῦντες Σαμάρειαν, ὅτι ἐπένθησε λαὸς αὐτοῦ ἐπʼ αὐτόν· καὶ καθὼς παρεπίκραναν αὐτὸν, ἐπιχαροῦνται ἐπὶ τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ, ὅτι μετῳκίσθη ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ.
(Tōi mosⱪōi tou oikou Ōn paroikaʸsousin hoi katoikountes Samareian, hoti epenthaʸse laos autou epʼ auton; kai kathōs parepikranan auton, epiⱪarountai epi taʸn doxan autou, hoti metōikisthaʸ apʼ autou. )

BrTr The inhabitants of Samaria shall dwell near the calf of the house of On; for the people of it mourned for it: and as they provoked him, they shall rejoice at his glory, because he has departed from them.

ULT The inhabitants of Samaria will be afraid
⇔ for the calf of Beth Aven.
⇔ Indeed, its people will mourn over it,
⇔ as will its idolatrous priests who had rejoiced over it
⇔ and over its splendor,
⇔ for it has departed from them.

UST Those people of Samaria tremble with fear because of what happened to the calf idols at Beth Aven.
⇔ Those people mourn over what happened to those idols,
⇔ as did the priests who served them;
⇔ they rejoiced over them and praised their splendor,
⇔ but now those idols have been taken away from them.

10:5 Beth-aven means house of wickedness. This is a derogatory term for Bethel, which means house of God; see 1 Kings 12:28–29.

OEB ⇔ The inhabitants of Samaria will tremble with fear
⇔ for their calf of Beth-aven.
⇔ Its people will mourn over it,
⇔ and so will its priests,
⇔ who had rejoiced for its glory,
⇔ now departed from it.

WEBBE The inhabitants of Samaria will be in terror for the calves of Beth Aven,
⇔ for its people will mourn over it,
⇔ along with its priests who rejoiced over it,
⇔ for its glory, because it has departed from it.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET The inhabitants of Samaria will lament over the calf idol of Beth Aven.
⇔ Its people will mourn over it;
⇔ its idolatrous priests will wail over it,
⇔ because its splendor will be taken from them into exile.

LSV For the inhabitants of Samaria fear the calves of Beth-Aven,
Surely its people have mourned on account of it,
And its priests leap about on account of it,
Because of its glory, for it has removed from it,

FBV Those who live in Samaria tremble in awe at the calf of Beth-aven.[fn] Its people mourn for it in their pagan rituals, while its idolatrous priests celebrate its glory. But it will certainly be taken away from them.[fn] It will be brought to Assyria as tribute for the great king.

10:5 The real name of the place was Bethel, the house of God, but because of the pagan practices celebrated there the later prophets referred to it as Beth-aven, the house of nothingness (idols).

10:5 The verbs used in this verse describe the pagan worship of Baal, in which his death is mourned with self-mutilation and then his return is celebrated with orgiastic rites. However, the idol will eventually be taken away by the Assyrians when they invade.

T4T The people who live in Samaria city are worried about what may happen to the idol that resembles a calf that they set up at Beth-Aven town.
⇔ The people in Samaria will mourn,
⇔ and the priests there will cry about it
⇔ if it is damaged or destroyed.
⇔ Previously they shouted joyfully
⇔ about its being very great;
⇔ but now it will not be great any more.

LEB   • The inhabitants[fn] of Samaria tremble for the calf[fn] of Beth-aven.
• Indeed, his people will mourn for it,
  • and his idolatrous priests will wail[fn] over it—
  • over its glory because it has departed from it.

10:? Hebrew “inhabitant”

10:? Hebrew “calves”

10:? Or “rejoice”

BBE The people of Samaria will be full of fear because of the ox of Beth-aven; its people will have sorrow for it, and its priests will give cries of grief for its glory, for the glory has gone in flight.

Moff ⇔ The citizens of Samaria bemoan
⇔ the Calf of Beth-Aven;
⇔ for it the worshippers groan,
⇔ the priestlings tremble
⇔ for its vanished glory.

JPS The inhabitants of Samaria shall be in dread for the calves of Beth-aven; for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof shall tremble for it, for its glory, because it is departed from it.

ASV The inhabitants of Samaria shall be in terror for the calves of Beth-aven; for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced over it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it.

DRA The inhabitants of Samaria have worshipped the king of Bethaven: for the people thereof have mourned over it, and the wardens of its temple that rejoiced over it in its glory because it is departed from it.

YLT For the calves of Beth-Aven fear do inhabitants of Samaria, Surely mourned on account of it hath its people, And its priests on account of it leap about, Because of its honour, for it hath removed from it,

Drby The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calf of Beth-aven; for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the idolatrous priests thereof shall tremble for it, for its glory, because it is departed from it.

RV The inhabitants of Samaria shall be in terror for the calves of Beth-aven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced over it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it.

SLT For the calves of the house of vanity they shall fear dwelling in Shomeron: for his people mourned over it, and his priests will exult over it, for its glory, for it was removed from it.

Wbstr The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Beth-aven: for its people shall mourn over it, and its priests that rejoiced on it, for its glory, because it is departed from it.

KJB-1769 The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Beth-aven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it.[fn]

10.5 the priests…: or, Chemarim

KJB-1611 [fn]The inhabitants of Samaria shall feare, because of the calues of Bethauen: for the people thereof shall mourne ouer it, and the priests thereof that reioyced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation and footnotes)

10:5 Chemarims,

Bshps They that dwell in Samaria shall feare because of the Calfe of Bethauen, for the people therof shall mourne ouer it, yea and the priestes also reioyced on it for the glorie therof, because it is departed from it.
(They that dwell in Samaria shall fear because of the Calf of Beth-aven, for the people thereof shall mourn over it, yea and the priests also rejoiced on it for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it.)

Gnva The inhabitants of Samaria shall feare because of the calfe of Beth-auen: for the people thereof shall mourne ouer it, and the Chemarims thereof, that reioyced on it for the glorie thereof, because it is departed from it.
(The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calf of Beth-aven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the Chemarims thereof, that rejoiced on it for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it. )

Cvdl They that dwell in Samaria haue worshipped the calfe of Bethaue: therfore shall the people mourne ouer them, yee and the prestes also, that in their welthynesse reioysed with them: and why? it shal passe awaye from them.
(They that dwell in Samaria have worshipped the calf of Bethaue: therefore shall the people mourn over them, ye/you_all and the priests also, that in their wealthiness rejoiced with them: and why? it shall pass away from them.)

Wycl The dwelleris of Samarie worschipiden the kien of Bethauen. For the puple therof mourenyde on that calf, and the keperis of the hous therof; thei maden ful out ioye on it in the glorie therof, for it passide fro that puple.
(The dwellers of Samaria worshipped the kien of Beth-aven. For the people thereof mourned on that calf, and the keepers/watchmen of the house thereof; they made full out joy on it in the glory thereof, for it passed from that people.)

Luth Die Einwohner zu Samaria sorgen für die Kälber zu Beth-Aven; denn sein Volk trauert um ihn; über welchem doch seine Kamarim sich pflegten zu freuen seiner Herrlichkeit halben; denn es ist von ihnen weggeführet.
(The resident to/for Samaria care_for/provide for/in_favour_of the Kälber to/for Beth-Aven; because/than be people mourns around/by/for him/it; above which_one though/but his Kamarim itself/yourself/themselves maintained to/for be_happy his glory/splendour half/halfway; because/than it is from to_them led_away.)

ClVg Vaccas Bethaven coluerunt habitatores Samariæ; quia luxit super eum populus ejus, et æditui ejus super eum exsultaverunt in gloria ejus, quia migravit ab eo.
(Cows Bethaven they_worshipped the_inhabitants Samaria; because it_shines over him the_people his, and edited his over him they_rejoiced in/into/on glory his, because migrated away by_him. )

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 10:1–8: Why Israel should be punished

In this section, Hosea gives examples of the sins of Israel. The examples show why it is fair for the LORD to judge them. This section has a similar pattern to section 9:10–17. Both sections give examples from agriculture to illustrate the joyful beginning of the relationship between the LORD and the people of Israel and their shocking response of betrayal against him. In this section, Hosea is the speaker.

Here are some other examples of section headings:

Retribution for Israel’s Sin (NASB)

The Lord’s judgment against Israel (NLT)

Hosea warns Israel that it will be punished

Paragraph 10:5–8

In this paragraph, Hosea tells how the LORD will punish the people of Israel. He will cause the Assyrian army to take away the calf idol at Bethel and destroy the altars where they worshiped idols. The Assyrians will also take captive the king of Samaria.Macintosh (page 392). The people’s response will be to mourn the loss of their calf idol and to beg to die.

10:5a

The people of Samaria will fear for the calf of Beth-aven.

¶ The residents of Samaria are full of fear concerning their calf-idol at Beth-aven.
¶ The people of Israel are afraid of what will happen to their calf idol in Beth Aven.

The people of Samaria: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “the inhabitant of Samaria.” Andersen and Freedman and Hubbard suggest that this singular form refers to the calf idol. Other scholars and all versions used in TN understand it to refer collectively to the people of Samaria. In this verse, Samaria, the capital of Israel, is a figure of speech that represents the nation of Israel. Some versions make the name “Israel” explicit here. For example:

The people from Israel (NCV)

will fear for the calf: The expression fear for means to be concerned about someone or something.McComiskey (page 165) “dread or awe or fear for,” Macintosh (page 339) “be in dread concerning,” Davies (page 237) “trembled” or “trembled in fear,” Wood (page 208) “anxious about.” The calf refers to an idol shaped like a calf. Here it refers to the people’s concern about their calf-idol.Two ancient versions, the LXX and the Peshitta, translate the Hebrew verb as “dwell” instead of “fear.” Either sense is possible for this verb. The context determines which sense is intended. McComiskey (page 165) points out that “dwell” does not make sense in this context. In addition, the collocation “dwell for” does not occur anywhere else in the Old Testament. However, the collocation “fear/afraid for” does occur elsewhere. For example, Job 19:29 has: “be afraid for yourselves of the sword.” They are fearful that the Assyrians will take it away from them. The phrase does not mean that the calf-idol frightens them.

Here are some other ways to translate 10:5a:

The people of Samaria tremble in fear for their calf idol (NLT96)

the people from Israel are worried about the calf-shaped idol (NCV)

Beth-aven: The term Beth-aven means “house of wickedness.” This is the name that Hosea normally uses for “Bethel.” See also the note on Beth-aven in 4:15b.

10:5b–c

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^5bIndeed, its people will mourn

^5c with its idolatrous priests—

There is an ellipsis (deliberate omission) in 10:5c. In some languages, it will be necessary to supply the missing verb from 10:5b. For example:

^5cand its idolatrous priests will mourn over it also,

Priests as well as people mourned over the loss of the calf-idol.Stuart (page 156) and Hubbard (page 173).

10:5b

Indeed, its people will mourn

They will mourn over it,
Indeed, they will mourn when it is taken away,

Indeed, its people will mourn: In Hebrew, this clause begins with the word ki. In this context, some scholars think that it indicates emphasis.See Keil (page 85), Stuart (page 156), and Hubbard (page 173). Another function of ki is to introduce a reason for the preceding clause. For example, the KJV begins this clause with “for.” No other version takes this approach here, so the notes have not treated this as an interpretation issue. The BSB indicates this emphasis explicitly.

Most versions leave the relationship implied. You may follow either approach. The Display will give an example of each.

its people: There are two main ways to interpret this phrase:

The pronoun its refers to Samaria.Unambiguous versions understand the antecedent of “it” to be Samaria. The phrase its people refers to Samaria’s people, the residents there. For example:
the people there will mourn for it (NJB) (CEV, GNT, NCV, NET, NJB, NLT, REB)
The pronoun its refers to the calf.No versions unambiguously translate the antecedent of “it” to be the calf. However, many commentaries support this understanding. They include Stuart, Keil, McComiskey, Macintosh, Andersen and Freedman, Wood, and Davies. The phrase its people refers to the calf’s people, the people who worship the calf. For example:
those that worship the calf will mourn over it

The Notes and Display will follow interpretation (1). However either interpretation is acceptable. Both interpretations describe the same people.Verse 10:5a says unambiguously that the inhabitants of Samaria fear for the idol. These same people also mourn for it. The difference is that interpretation (1) focuses more on their place of residence. Interpretation (2) focuses more on their devotion to the idol. Many versions are ambiguous.

will mourn: This phrase means that the people will express their sorrow over the loss of their calf idol. Normally people mourn when a family member or other loved one dies. Mourning was usually expressed in a way that others could see and hear.TWOT (#6 I).

10:5b–d

(combined/reordered)

All the people and priests who habitually shout with joy because of the great value and godlikeness of the calf-idol will soon mourn over it.

10:5c

with its idolatrous priests—

and the idolatrous priests of Samaria will also mourn.
and Samaria’s pagan priests will also mourn,

with its idolatrous priests: In Hebrew, the phrase idolatrous priests is a single word. It is used only for pagan priests.McComiskey (page 166). This line refers to the priests that were associated with the worship of the calf idol.

The pronoun referent in the phrase its idolatrous priests is parallel to the phrase “its people” in 10:5b, so the referent of both phrases is probably Samaria. For example:

^5b Samaria’s people mourn over it

^5c and Samaria’s pagan priests wail for it

10:5d

those who rejoiced in its glory—

Everyone who used to rejoice over its beauty will mourn.
though they exult now in its splendor and great value.

those who rejoiced in its glory: In Hebrew, this line is a clause that is more literally “they rejoice on its glory.”Some versions translate this as a clause as it is in the Hebrew. For example, the NCV has: “They used to shout for joy about its glory.” This line further describes the mourners in 10:5b–c. They normally rejoice over the calf’s splendor.

The rejoicing of the people in 10:5d contrasts with their mourning in 10:b-c. In Hebrew, the form of the verb “rejoice” here indicates incomplete or continuous action. In this context, it may refer to habitual rejoicing in the past or in the present.

Here are some ways to show this contrast:

Use past tense. One example is the BSB above. Here are other examples:
those who rejoiced over it and over its glory (ESV)
They used to shout for joy about its glory (NCV)
Use a clause that indicates an unexpected result. For example:
Those that worship the calf will mourn over it, although they now praise its glory with joy.

those who rejoiced: The last antecedent of those is “its idolatrous priests.” But since “its people” and “its idolatrous priests” are parallel terms, it probably refers to both these groups, not only to the priests.Hubbard (page 173). The LXX and Syriac also support the reference to both people and priests. Many versions are ambiguous. You should either translate in a way that is ambiguous or in a way that can refer to both these groups.

rejoiced: There is a textual issue with this word:

The Hebrew word in the Masoretic text means “rejoice.” For example:
They used to shout for joy about its glory (NCV) (BSB, ESV, KJV, NCV, NIV, NJB, NJPS)
Some scholars think that the original text was “cry/wail.” For example:
They will wail when it is stripped of its golden splendor. (GNT) (CEV, GNT, GW, NABRE, NASB, NET, NRSV)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). The LXX also supports this option. There is no support for option (2) from Hebrew manuscripts or ancient versions.

its glory: This refers to the glory or splendor of the calf.In Hosea 4:7 “their Glory” is a title or designation for the LORD. McComiskey (page 166) and Keil (page 85) suggest that the people attributed divinity, perhaps Yahweh’s divinity to the calf-idol. Similarly, Dearman (pages 265–266) suggests that the people may have regarded the calf as a representative of divinity/Yahweh. Hubbard (page 174) identifies its glory as the esteem shown by those who worshiped it. Macintosh (pages 399–400) regards its glory as wealth. The term glory here could indicate that those who worshiped the calf thought that it was a deity. It could also refer to a physical attribute such as beauty or to its monetary value.

Here are some other ways to translate its glory:

its deity/godlikeness

its beauty/magnificence

its great value

In some languages, it may be appropriate and natural to use more than one of these terms.

General Comment on 10:5b–d

10:5b–c describes action in the near future. 10:5d describes action in the past or perhaps both past and present. In some languages, it may be more natural to rearrange the verse parts to first describe past and present action before speaking of future action. For example:

^5b–cThe people and priests ^5drejoice now over the glory of the calf-idol ^5b–cbut they will soon mourn over it.

10:5e–6a

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning.

^10:5efor it has been taken from them into exile.

^10:6aYes, it will be carried to Assyria as tribute to the great king.

These lines give the reason why the people mourned and why they could no longer rejoice over the glory of the calf. It is because that glory will be taken away when the calf is taken into exile.

10:5e

for it has been taken from them into exile.

Because its beauty is gone. It has been taken from them into another country.
They will mourn, because the enemy will take its splendor and godlikeness away from them to their own country.

for it has been taken from them into exile: In Hebrew, this clause begins with the word ki (see 10:5b). Here ki introduces the reason that the people mourned. Many versions translate it with the word for or “because.” Use a natural way in your language to introduce this reason.

The Hebrew clause is more literally: “it has departed (or “gone into exile”) from it.” Each pronoun has more than one possible referent. Also the Hebrew verb can mean either “depart/leave” or “go into exile.”BDB (#1540) 2. remove, depart. 3. go into exile. HALOT (electronic ed., page 191) 2a. to (have to) leave, disappear. 2b. to go into exile. For these reasons, there are various ways to interpret this clause.

Here are two main interpretations:

“It” (the glory) has left “it” (the calf idol).McComiskey (page 166) comments that it is best to understand the subject of this verb to be “its glory” which has departed from the calf, rather than the calf itself which has departed from the people. For example:
its glory will be taken away into captivity. (GW)
the glory that has departed from it. (NRSV) (GNT, GW, NASB, NET, NJPS, NLT, NRSV)
“It” (the calf idol) has gone into exile from “it” (Beth-aven or Israel).Andersen and Freedman (page 556) comments that this clause describes physical removal, not just the loss of splendor. It says almost the same thing as Hosea 10:6a. Stuart (pages 161–162) and Keil (page 85) also support this view. All three commentators assume that “glory” is a designation that refers to the idol. The idol is taken to Assyria either as plunder or as a gift for the king of Assyria. For example:
for the image of their god which is carried away into exile. (REB) (BSB, CEV, ESV, NIV, REB)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with a majority of versions. It makes good sense to understand the Hebrew pronouns here to refer to the calf and the calf’s glory as in 10:5d.It also makes good sense of the introductory phrase “It also” in the next verse. The phrase refers to the calf that is carried to Assyria in addition to the departure of the glory of the calf. See the following note for more information. However, interpretation (2) is also acceptable. It makes good sense if 10:6a is understood to be parallel to 10:5e.

Parallel HOS 10:5