HOS 11:4 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=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) I led them with ropes of human kindness—
⇔ with iron bands of love.
⇔ I was to them like someone who loosened the yoke on their jaws,
⇔ and I bent down to them and fed 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 Ἐν διαφθορᾷ ἀνθρώπων ἐξέτεινα αὐτοὺς ἐν δεσμοῖς ἀγαπήσεώς μου, καὶ ἔσομαι αὐτοῖς ὡς ῥαπίζων ἄνθρωπος ἐπὶ τὰς σιαγόνας αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἐπιβλέψομαι πρὸς αὐτόν, δυνήσομαι αὐτῷ.
(En diafthora anthrōpōn exeteina autous en desmois agapaʸseōs mou, kai esomai autois hōs ɽapizōn anthrōpos epi tas siagonas autou; kai epiblepsomai pros auton, dunaʸsomai autōi. )

BrTr When men were destroyed, I drew them with the bands of my love: and I will be to them as a man smiting another on his cheek: and I will have respect to him, I will prevail with him.

ULT I led them with cords of human kindness,
⇔ with bands of love.
⇔ I was to them like someone who eased the yoke on their jaws,
⇔ and I bent down to them and fed them.

UST With kindness I guided them, with the tender cords of human kindness I led them.
⇔ I loved them so much that I guided them and led by my own hand.
⇔ They worked very hard, like a yoke of oxen pulling a plow, but I made their yoke light and loosened its weight on their jaws, so they did not suffer pain.

OEB With humane cords I ever drew them,
⇔ with bands of love.
⇔ I was to them as one who lifts up the yoke from off their jaws,
⇔ and bending toward them, I gave them food to eat.

WEBBE I drew them with cords of a man, with ties of love;
⇔ and I was to them like those who lift up the yoke on their necks;
⇔ and I bent down to him and I fed him.

WMBB (Same as above)

MSG ^(1-9)“When Israel was only a child, I loved him.
  I called out, ‘My son!’—called him out of Egypt.
But when others called him,
  he ran off and left me.
He worshiped the popular sex gods,
  he played at religion with toy gods.
Still, I stuck with him. I led Ephraim.
  I rescued him from human bondage,
But he never acknowledged my help,
  never admitted that I was the one pulling his wagon,
That I lifted him, like a baby, to my cheek,
  that I bent down to feed him.
Now he wants to go back to Egypt or go over to Assyria—
  anything but return to me!
That’s why his cities are unsafe—the murder rate skyrockets
  and every plan to improve things falls to pieces.
My people are hell-bent on leaving me.
  They pray to god Baal for help.
  He doesn’t lift a finger to help them.
But how can I give up on you, Ephraim?
  How can I turn you loose, Israel?
How can I leave you to be ruined like Admah,
  devastated like luckless Zeboim?
I can’t bear to even think such thoughts.
  My insides churn in protest.
And so I’m not going to act on my anger.
  I’m not going to destroy Ephraim.
And why? Because I am God and not a human.
  I’m The Holy One and I’m here—in your very midst.

NET I led them with leather cords,
⇔ with leather ropes;
⇔ I lifted the yoke from their neck,
⇔ and gently fed them.

LSV I draw them with cords of man,
With thick cords of love,
And I am to them as a raiser up of a yoke on their jaws,
And I incline to him—I feed [him].

FBV I led them along with cords of kindness, with ropes of love. I was the one who eased their burden and bent down to feed them.[fn]

11:4 The image shifts to care for a farm animal. The Hebrew literally says, “I became like those who lift up a yoke that was in their jaws.” The burden is not removed altogether, but is made easier to bear.

T4T It was as though I fastened ropes around them to lead them,
⇔ while I loved them and was kind to them.
⇔ It was as though they were young oxen [MET],
⇔ and I lifted the yoke from their necks and bent down to feed them.

LEB • I drew them with human ties ,[fn] with the bands of love.
• I was to them like one who lifted up[fn] a yoke on their jaws,[fn]
• though I bent down to them[fn] and let them[fn] eat.

11:? Literally “ropes of a human”

11:? Or “like one who imposed”

11:? Or “infants to their cheeks”

11:? Hebrew “him”

BBE I made them come after me with the cords of a man, with the bands of love; I was to them as one who took the yoke from off their mouths, putting meat before them.

Moff with human cords I led them,
⇔ I drove with a harness of love,
⇔ but they heeded not my care for them,
⇔ they broke away from me;
⇔ so I smote them on the face,
⇔ I turned against them, overbore them.

JPS I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love; and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I fed them gently.

ASV I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love; and I was to them as they that lift up the yoke on their jaws; and I laid food before them.

DRA I will draw them with the cords of Adam, with the bands of love: and I will be to them as one that taketh off the yoke on their jaws: and I put his meat to him that he might eat.

YLT With cords of man I do draw them, With thick cords of love, And I am to them as a raiser up of a yoke on their jaws, And I incline unto him — I feed [him].

Drby I drew them with bands of a man, with cords of love; and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I gently caused them to eat.

RV I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love; and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat before them.

SLT I will draw them with the cords of man, with the bands of love: and I will be to them as those lifting up the yoke upon their jaw-bones, and I will gently give them to eat.

Wbstr I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid food for them.

KJB-1769 I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.[fn]

11.4 take off: Heb. lift up

KJB-1611 [fn]I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of loue, and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their iawes, and I laid meat vnto them.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation and footnotes)

11:4 Heb. lift vp.

Bshps I led them with cordes of a man euen with bandes of loue: and I was to them as he that taketh of the yoke from their iawes, and I layde meate to them.
(I led them with cords of a man even with bands of love: and I was to them as he that taketh/takes of the yoke from their jaws, and I laid meat to them.)

Gnva I led them with cordes of a man, euen with bandes of loue, and I was to them, as hee that taketh off the yoke from their iawes, and I laide the meat vnto them.
(I led them with cords of a man, even with bands of love, and I was to them, as he that taketh/takes off the yoke from their jaws, and I laid the meat unto them. )

Cvdl I led them with coardes of frendshipe, & with bondes of loue. I was euen he, that layed the yocke vpon their neckes. I gaue them their fodder my self,
(I led them with cords of friendship, and with bonds of love. I was even he, that laid the yoke upon their necks. I gave them their fodder myself,)

Wycl Y schal drawe hem in the ropis of Adam, in the boondis of charite. And Y schal be to hem as he that enhaunsith the yok on the chekis of hem; and Y bowide doun to hym, that he schulde ete.
(I shall draw hem in the ropes of Adam, in the bonds of charity. And I shall be to hem as he that enhanceth/enhances the yoke on the cheeks of hem; and I bowed down to him, that he should eat.)

Luth Ich ließ sie ein menschlich Joch ziehen und in Seilen der Liebe gehen und half ihnen das Joch an ihrem Halse tragen und gab ihnen Futter,
(I left/let they/she/them a human yoke pull and in ropes the/of_the love(n) go and helped/assisted to_them the yoke at/to their necks bear/carry and gave to_them Futter,)

ClVg In funiculis Adam traham eos, in vinculis caritatis; et ero eis quasi exaltans jugum super maxillas eorum, et declinavi ad eum ut vesceretur.
(In ropes Adam I_will_draw them, in/into/on chains caritatis; and I_will_be to_them as_if exaltans yoke/collar over maxillas their, and declinavi to him as vesceretur. )

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 11:1–11 The LORD’s love for his people

This section refers back to Israel’s history, as do Section 9:10–17 and Section 10:1–8. In all three sections, the LORD describes the joyful beginning of his relationship with the people of Israel and their response of betrayal against him. The earlier sections focus more on the LORD’s punishment. The people will be taken into exile. This section focuses more on his love.

The LORD speaks of his love for Israel in the past (11:1–4), warns them of their future exile and destruction (11:5–7), and assures them that in the future he will turn from his anger and show them compassion. Because of his love for them, he promises that he will bring the people back to the land of Israel (11:8–11).

Here are some other examples of section headings:

The Lord’s Love for Israel (ESV)

Israel Is Like a Bad Son (GW)

Throughout this section, the LORD is the speaker. When he refers to himself, he uses first person pronouns (“I/me/my”) except for verse 10, which has “Yahweh” and “he.” When he refers to the people or nation of Israel, he uses “Ephraim,” “they/them,” or “he/it.” The only exceptions are in 11:8–9. There the LORD uses the pronoun “you(sg)” to speak directly to Ephraim and to Judah.

Paragraph 11:1–4

In this paragraph, the LORD describes his love and care for the nation of Israel during its early days.

11:4

This verse gives another example of the LORD’s love and care for the people of Israel. Here the example is a farmer or a herdsman who cares for his animals.

11:4a–b

(combined/reordered)

When I led Israel, I used ropes/cords that were made of kindness and love.
I led/guided them in kind and loving ways.

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^4aI led them with cords of kindness,

^4b with ropes of love;

There is an ellipsis in the second line. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply the missing words from the first line. For example:

^4b I led them with ropes of love.

Each line is a metaphor that compares the way that the LORD led Israel to the way that a caring herdsman leads his animals.

I led them: The Hebrew word for led can mean to pull an animal with a rope. It can also have the figurative meaning “to lead a person.”HALOT (electronic edition, page. 645) and BDB (#4900). In this context, the word may refer to the time when the LORD led his people out of Egypt.Macintosh (page 445).

with cords of kindness, with ropes of love: These phrases describe how the LORD led his people. He did so with kindness and love.

The Hebrew words for cords and ropes have the same meaning. Both words mean “rope/cord.”HALOT II (electronic edition, page 286) and HALOT (electronic edition, page 783).

In Hebrew, the first phrase is literally “with ropes of human.” The meaning may be that these ropes are intended to guide humans in contrast to ropes for animals. The phrase indicates kindness or gentleness instead of harshness.Keil (page 90). An alternative suggestion by Garrett (pages 224–225) is that the phrase “human ropes” refers to Moses. Another is that the intended meaning is “leather ropes,” as in the NET. Neither alternative has significant scholarly support.

The parallel phrase ropes of love has a similar meaning. It implies that the LORD showed love toward his people when he led them. He was like a gentle herdsman who cared for his animals with compassion.Macintosh (page 448) suggests that Yahweh is depicted as leading Israel as a considerate farmer, who from time to time leads his beast away from the rigors of plowing for rest and refreshment.

11:4a

I led them with cords of kindness,

I led them with ropes made of kindness,
Like a kind herdsman I led them gently with ropes.

11:4b

with ropes of love;

with straps made of love.
I guided them compassionately with cords.

11:4c

I lifted the yoke from their necks and bent down to feed them.

I removed the yoke from their neck. I stooped down to feed them.
I removed the load from their yoke and unfastened their harness/halter, and I bent down to feed them.

I lifted the yoke from their necks: This clause is more literally “and I was to them like [those who] lift a yoke on their jaws.” There are two main ways to interpret the Hebrew phrase “lift a yoke on their jaws:”

The phrase means to remove the yoke along with the harness.This interpretation is supported by the Syriac Peshitta. It has “I was to them as one who takes off the yoke from their neck.” For example:
and I became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws (NASB) (BSB, GW, KJV, NASB, NCV, NET, NIV, NLT)
The phrase means to lighten the weight on the yoke and loosen the harness.This interpretation is supported by the Targum that has “like the good ploughman who lightens the load on the oxen's shoulder and gives leeway with the bridle.” For example:
and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws (ESV) (ESV, RSV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most versions.This interpretation is supported by HALOT. HALOT (electronic edition, page 1205) assigns the meaning “revoke, lift, take away” to the verb phrase used in Hosea 11:4. However, some scholars think that interpretation (2) better fits the common usage of some of the Hebrew words in this phrase.The Hebrew phrase “lift a yoke” is not normally used for removing a yoke. The normal Hebrew expression is “break a yoke.” For example, see Genesis 27:40; Leviticus 26:13; Jeremiah 5:5; Ezekiel 34:27. Also, the Hebrew preposition “on” indicates that a yoke is on the animal, not removed from it. See Keil (page 90), Garrett (pages 224–225), and McComiskey (page 185). So it is recommended that you add a footnote with the other interpretation. For example:

Another interpretation of this phrase in Hebrew is: I became to them as one who lightens the weight of the yoke on their jaws.

Here is another way to translate this verse part:

I removed the yokes from their necks (GW)

The phrase lifted the yoke from their neck may refer figuratively to freeing the people of Israel from slavery. In this metaphor, their hardship was compared to the yoke that was attached by a harness so that the animal could pull a plow or cart.

yoke: There is a textual issue concerning the word yoke in this clause:

The Masoretic Text has yoke. For example:
and I became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws (NASB) (BSB, ESV, GW, KJV, NASB, NCV, NET, NIV, NJPS, NLT, RSV)
Some scholars think that the original text had “infant.”Favored by Davies (page 257) and Hubbard (page 189). For example:
I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. (NRSV) (CEV, GNT, NIV2011, NJB, NRSV, REB)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with a majority of versions and commentaries.This interpretation is favored by Dearman, Garrett, Kidner, Andersen and Freedman, Keil, Stuart, Wood, Macintosh, and McComiskey. Dearman (pages 282–285) sees parallels with Isaiah 30:28 “harness on the jaws” and Hosea 10:11 that depicts Israel as a heifer.

A yoke is an arched frame normally placed on the shoulders of a work animal at the base of its neck.Andersen and Freedman (page 581). Generally the yoke is fastened to two animals and is attached to a cart or plow that they pull together.The word “yoke” can have negative or positive associations, depending on the kind of yoke. For example, 1 Kings 12:4 has: “Your father put a heavy yoke on us. But now you should lighten the burden of your father’s service and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.” Whereas, Matthew 11:30 has: “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

their necks: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “their jaws.” This probably indicates that here the word “yoke” refers both to the yoke and also to the halter or bridle around the animal’s jaws, that was used to direct the animal.Macintosh (page 446). See the 2nd ML in the Display for 11:4c for a way to make this explicit in your translation.

and bent down to feed them: The Hebrew phrase here is literally “and I bent down to him I fed.” There are three main interpretations of the Hebrew word that the BSB translates as bent down:

The Hebrew word means “I bent down.” For example:
I bent down to them and fed them. (ESV) (BSB, CEV, ESV, GNT, GW, NASB, NCV, NIV, NJB, NKJV, NLT, REB, RSV)
The Hebrew word means “gently.” For example:
and gently fed them (NET) (NET)
The Hebrew word means “I offer.” For example:
and I laid meat unto them (KJV) (KJV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most versions. It follows a common meaning of the Hebrew word.BDB (#5186). See Davies (page 257), Hubbard (page 189) and Wood (page 213). One grammatical difficulty with this interpretation is that the Hebrew text lacks a conjunction between “bent down” and “I fed.” Andersen and Freedman (page 583) point out, however, that a lack of conjunctions is typical of Hosea. Some scholars also support interpretation (2).Among those who support this understanding are rabbinic commentator, ibn Ezra, cited in Macintosh (page 446), Garrett, Keil, and McComiskey. However, only a small minority of versions follow it. In both interpretations, the LORD feeds them in a loving way.

feed them: The Hebrew text has “I fed.” English versions supply the object them or “him,” which is required to make the translation sound more natural in English. You may also need to supply an object here if it will sound more natural in your language.

General Comment on 11:4

The Hebrew text uses both plural and singular pronouns to refer to those whom the LORD cared for. In many languages, it is not natural to alternate pronouns in this way. Many versions translate all the pronouns in 11:4 as plural or else all the pronouns as singular. You should translate the pronouns in a natural way in your language. The Display uses plural pronouns, as in the BSB. An example of using singular pronouns is the NLT:

I led Israel along with my ropes of kindness and love. I lifted the yoke from his neck, and I myself stooped to feed him. (NLT)

Parallel HOS 11:4