HOS 11:9 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 won’t put my fierce anger into action.
⇔ I won’t destroy Efrayim/Yisrael again,
⇔ because I’m God
⇔ and not a human,
⇔ the holy one among you,
⇔ and I won’t come in anger.

Key: khaki:verbs, red:negative, blue:Elohim.
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 Οὐ μὴ ποιήσω κατὰ τὴν ὀργὴν τοῦ θυμοῦ μου· οὐ μὴ ἐγκαταλίπω τοῦ ἐξαλειφθῆναι τὸν Ἐφραὶμ· διότι Θεὸς ἐγώ εἰμι, καὶ οὐκ ἄνθρωπος, ἐν σοὶ ἅγιος, καὶ οὐκ εἰσελεύσομαι εἰς πόλιν.
(Ou maʸ poiaʸsō kata taʸn orgaʸn tou thumou mou; ou maʸ egkatalipō tou exaleifthaʸnai ton Efraim; dioti Theos egō eimi, kai ouk anthrōpos, en soi hagios, kai ouk eiseleusomai eis polin. )

BrTr I will not act according to the fury of my wrath, I will not abandon Ephraim to be utterly destroyed: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One within thee: and I will not enter into the city.

ULT I will not execute my fierce anger;
⇔ I will not again destroy Ephraim.
⇔ For I am God
⇔ and not a man,
⇔ the Holy One in your midst,
⇔ and I will not come in wrath.

UST I have decided not to punish you severely.
⇔ I do not want to destroy you, the people of my Israel, whom I love.
⇔ Human beings would easily decide to do that,
⇔ but I am God, not human.
⇔ I am the Holy One who lives among you;
⇔ I will not come to you and be angry with you.

OEB I will not carry into effect the fierceness of my anger,
⇔ I will not turn to destroy Ephraim,
⇔ for God am I, and not man,
⇔ holy in the midst of you,
⇔ therefore I will not consume.

WEBBE I will not execute the fierceness of my anger.
⇔ I will not return to destroy Ephraim,
⇔ for I am God, and not man—the Holy One amongst you.
⇔ I will not come in wrath.

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 cannot carry out my fierce anger!
⇔ I cannot totally destroy Ephraim!
⇔ Because I am God, and not man – the Holy One among you –
⇔ I will not come in wrath!

LSV I do not do the fierceness of My anger,
I do not turn back to destroy Ephraim,
For I [am] God, and not a man—The Holy One in your midst, and I do not enter in enmity.

FBV I will not execute the fierceness of my anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again. For I am God, not a human being. I am the Holy One living among you. I will not enter your cities.[fn]

11:9 Meaning God would not totally annihilate them as he did with the cities mentioned above.

T4T Although I am extremely angry,
⇔ I do not want to punish you severely;
⇔ I do not want to ◄devastate/completely ruin► Israel.
⇔ Humans would easily decide to do that,
⇔ but I am God, not a human.
⇔ I, the Holy One, am with you;
⇔ although I am very angry with you, I will not destroy you.

LEB   • I will not execute[fn] my fierce anger ,[fn] I will not again destroy Ephraim;
• because I am God
  • and not a mortal,[fn]
  • the Holy One in your midst;
• and I will not come in wrath.

11:? Literally “I will not do”

11:? Literally “the anger of my nose”

11:? Or “human”

BBE I will not put into effect the heat of my wrath; I will not again send destruction on Ephraim; for I am God and not man, the Holy One among you; I will not put an end to you.

Moff I will not execute my anger fierce,
⇔ to ruin Ephraim again,
⇔ for I am God, not man,
⇔ I am among you, the Majestic One,
⇔ no mortal man to slay.

JPS I will not execute the fierceness of Mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim; for I am God, and not man, the Holy One in the midst of thee; and I will not come in fury.

ASV I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee; and I will not come in wrath.

DRA I will not execute the fierceness of my wrath: I will not return to destroy Ephraim: because I am God, and not man: the holy one in the midst of thee, and I will not enter into the city.

YLT I do not the fierceness of My anger, I turn not back to destroy Ephraim, For God I [am], and not a man. In thy midst the Holy One, and I enter not in enmity,

Drby I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am [fn]God, and not man, — the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not come in anger.

11.9 El

RV I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.
(I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee/you: and I will not enter into the city. )

SLT I will not do the burning of mine anger, I will not turn back to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not a man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not come into the city.

Wbstr I will not execute the fierceness of my anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.

KJB-1769 I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.
(I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee/you: and I will not enter into the city. )

KJB-1611 I will not execute the fiercenes of mine anger, I will not returne to destroy Ephraim, for I am God, and not man, the Holy One in the midst of thee, and I will not enter into the citie.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps I wyll not execute the fiercenesse of my wrath, I wyl not returne to destroy Ephraim: for I am God and not man, the holy one in the middest of thee, and I wyll not enter into the citie.
(I will not execute the fierceness of my wrath, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God and not man, the holy one in the midst of thee/you, and I will not enter into the city.)

Gnva I wil not execute ye fiercenesse of my wrath: I will not returne to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man, the holy one in the middes of thee, and I will not enter into the citie.
(I will not execute ye/you_all fierceness of my wrath: I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man, the holy one in the midst of thee/you, and I will not enter into the city. )

Cvdl therfore haue I not turned me to destroye Ephraim in my wrothful displeasure. For I am God and no man, I am euen that holy one in the myddest of the, though I came not within the cite.
(therefore have I not turned me to destroy Ephraim in my wrothful displeasure. For I am God and no man, I am even that holy one in the midst of them, though I came not within the city.)

Wycl Y schal not do the strong veniaunce of my wraththe. Y schal not turne, to leese Effraym; for Y am God, and not man. Y am hooli in the myddis of thee, and Y schal not entre in to a citee.
(I shall not do the strong vengeance of my wrath. I shall not turn, to lose Ephraim; for I am God, and not man. I am holy in the midst of thee/you, and I shall not enter in to a city.)

Luth daß ich nicht tun will nach meinem grimmigen Zorn, noch mich kehren, Ephraim gar zu verderben; denn ich bin GOtt und nicht ein Mensch und bin der Heilige unter dir. Ich will aber nicht in die Stadt kommen.
(that I not do/put will after my grim anger, still me sweep/bother, Ephraim even to/for spoil/corrupt; because/than I am God and not a person and am the/of_the saints under you/to_you(sg). I will but not in the city coming.)

ClVg Non faciam furorem iræ meæ; non convertar ut disperdam Ephraim, quoniam Deus ego, et non homo; in medio tui sanctus, et non ingrediar civitatem.
(Not/No I_will_do fury anger my; not/no convertar as I_will_destroy Ephraim, since/because God I, and not/no human; in/into/on in_the_middle yours(sg) holy, and not/no let_me_enter the_city. )

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 11:8–11

This paragraph contrasts with the previous one. The previous paragraph promises that the nation of Israel will be taken into exile in Assyria. This paragraph tells about the time after that exile. In these verses, the LORD promises that he will not completely destroy them. Rather, in the future he will bring them back to their land.McComiskey (page 191).

11:9

In this verse, the LORD tells what he will do as a result of his change of mind in verse 8.

11:9a–b

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^9a I will not execute the full fury of My anger;

^9b I will not turn back to destroy Ephraim.

11:9a

I will not execute the full fury of My anger;

I will not express all of my burning anger.
I will hold back my extreme anger.

I will not execute the full fury of My anger: This clause means that the LORD will not do something that is motivated by anger. For example:

I will not act on my burning anger (GW)

The action that the LORD will not do is described in the next line “devastate Ephraim.”Garrett (pages 227–229) suggests that this clause doesn’t mean Israel will escape punishment. It means that Yahweh will not give full vent to his fury, as he did in the case of Sodom. See also Kidner (pages 104–105) and Carroll (pages 286–287).

execute: The Hebrew word here means to do an action.HALOT I (electronic edition, page 891).

Here are some other ways to translate this line:

I will not unleash my fierce anger (NLT)

I will not execute my fierce anger (NASB)

full fury of My anger: The Hebrew phrase here is a Hebrew idiom “the blaze of the nose.” It means strong “burning anger.”HALOT (electronic edition, pages 351–352). For example:

my burning anger (ESV)

My wrath (NJPS)

my fury (REB)

11:9b

I will not turn back to destroy Ephraim.

I will not completely destroy Ephraim again,
I will not bring the nation of Israel to an end.

I will not turn back to destroy Ephraim: There are two main interpretations of this clause:

The clause is more literally “I will not repeat to destroy Ephraim.”The Hebrew word shub has the sense of “again.” See BDB (#7725) 8 and HALOT (electronic edition, page 1430) qal 5. For example:
I will not again destroy Ephraim (ESV) There are two possible ways to understand this interpretation:
1. The LORD will not destroy Ephraim totally. He will not do again what he did to the cities of Admah and Zeboiim.Garrett (pages 227–229), Jamieson, Fausset and Brown (page 660) and Kidner (pages 104–105).
2. After the Assyrians destroy Ephraim, the LORD will not destroy Ephraim again at a future time.This clause refers to a future time following the exile in Assyria. Ephraim will not be destroyed yet again. See Stuart (page 182), McComiskey (page 192), Hubbard (page 194) and Wood (page 214). The version examples listed here could be understood as following either (a) or (b) above. (CEV, ESV, GNT, GW, NAB, NASB, NCV, NJB, NRSV)
The clause is more literally “I will not turn to destroy Ephraim.” The LORD will not turn away from his promises and/or acts of kindness toward his people in order to destroy them.The Hebrew word shub has the sense of “change one’s course of action.” See BDB (#7725) 5e. See Macintosh (page 463) and Davies (page 263). For example:
I will not turn to destroy Ephraim (NJPS) (BSB, KJV, NIV, NJPS, REB)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). However, interpretation (2) also has good support. It is recommended that you add a footnote with this interpretation. For example:

Another way to interpret this part of the verse is: I will not turn in order to destroy Ephraim.

In both interpretations, the LORD implicitly contrasts the coming Assyrian destruction of Ephraim to the destruction of the cities of Admah and Zeboiim of the past. The LORD destroyed those cities totally. But he will not destroy Ephraim totally.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause that do not use the words turn or “again”:

I will not completely destroy Israel (NLT)

I cannot totally destroy Ephraim! (NET)

destroy: In this context the word means to completely destroy.Kidner (pages 104–105), Dearman (pages 289–292), McComiskey (pages 191–192), Macintosh (page 465) and Carroll (pages 286–287).

Ephraim: As in 11:8, the name Ephraim refers to the people of Israel.

11:9c–d

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^9cFor I am God and not man—

^9d the Holy One among you.

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:

^9d I am the Holy One among you.

These lines give the reason why the LORD will not allow the total destruction of Israel. It is because he is the holy God.

11:9c

For I am God and not man—

because I am God, not just a human being.
That is because I am not like a man—I am God,

For: The Hebrew clause starts with a word that introduces a reason. Many versions translate this word as “for” or “because.” Indicate that these lines are a reason in a natural way in your language.

I am God and not man: In this clause, God contrasts himself to man.

Here are some possible implications of this contrast:

God is able to refrain from expressing his anger fully. He punishes to correct wrong behavior, not to destroy.Jamieson, Fausset and Brown (page 660), and Macintosh (page 465).
God responds to Ephraim’s sin with mercy. This is contrasted with human responses such as anger and vengeance.Davies (page 263) and Wood (page 214).
God is faithful to his people. This is contrasted with the people of Israel, who were not faithful to God.Davies (page 264).

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

For I am God and not a mere human being. (GNT)

For I am God and not a mere mortal (NLT)

God: In this clause, the Hebrew word for God is el and not YHWH. Some versions translate el as God instead of “LORD.” Use your general term for God here.

11:9d

the Holy One among you—

I am the Holy God who lives among you.
the Holy One who is with you.

the Holy One among you: This line expands on the previous one. It indicates that the chief characteristic that separates God from man is his holiness in contrast to man’s sinfulness.

among you: God is present among the people of Israel. He has a relationship with them. Even though the people of Israel are sinful, they are his people and he is their God.Dearman (pages 289–292) and Davies (page 263).

Holy One: The Hebrew word is literally Holy. Here the BSB and many other versions translate the Hebrew word Holy as Holy One, which is a name or title parallel to “God” in 9c. The word Holy means morally pure. He is completely good, separate from all sin and he opposes all that is evil.McComiskey (page 192), Macintosh (page 465) and Davies (page 263).

11:9e

and I will not come in wrath.

I will not come against you with great anger.
I will restrain my anger against you.

I will not come in wrath: There is a textual issue concerning the Hebrew word that the BSB translates as in wrath:

The Hebrew has an affixed word that means “in agitation/anger.”Preposition ḇ “in/with” + noun îr “agitation,” HALOT (electronic edition, page 822) II. Favored by Stuart (page 182), Keil (page 92) and Dearman (pages 289–292). For example:
And I shall not come to you in anger (NJB) (BSB, CEV, ESV, GNT, GW, NJPS, NASB, NCV, NET, NIV, NJB, NRSV, REB)
The Hebrew text has an affixed word that means, “into/against a city.”Preposition ḇ “in/into” + noun îr “city” HALOT (electronic edition, page 821) I. Favored by Garrett (pages 227–229), McComiskey (page 193), Macintosh (page 464), Andersen and Freedman (page 589), and Hubbard (page 195). This option has support from the LXX, Peshitta and Vulgate. However, few modern versions follow it. For example:
And I will not enter into the city. (KJV) (KJV)
The Hebrew text has a word that means, “to devastate.”HALOT (electronic edition, p. 146) II. This option requires a different Hebrew vowel, “e” instead of “i.” For example:
and I will not come to destroy (RSV) (RSV, NLT)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with most versions. It makes good sense in this context as a summary statement that confirms what is said in the previous lines. This line is similar to 9a “I shall not carry-out/execute my anger.”

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

I will not come in fury (NJPS)

I will not come against you in anger (NCV)

I won’t stay angry (CEV)

not come in wrath: This phrase means that when God is present with his people he will not carry out his wrath. He will restrain his anger.

Parallel HOS 11:9