HOS 12:11 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=minor/spelling Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) If there’s disobedience in Gilead,
⇔ surely they’re worthless.
⇔ In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls.
⇔ Their altars also will be like piles of stones beside the furrows in the fields.

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 Καὶ λαλήσω πρὸς προφήτας, καὶ ἐγὼ ὁράσεις ἐπλήθυνα, καὶ ἐν χερσὶ προφητῶν ὡμοιώθην.
(Kai lalaʸsō pros profaʸtas, kai egō horaseis eplaʸthuna, kai en ⱪersi profaʸtōn hōmoiōthaʸn. )

BrTr And I will speak to the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and by the means of the prophets I was represented.

ULT If there is iniquity in Gilead,
⇔ surely they are worthless.
⇔ In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls;
⇔ their altars also will be like heaps of stone beside the furrows of the fields.

UST The prophet says that if it is true that the people in the region of Gilead are wicked,
⇔ then surely they are also worthless!
⇔ In Gilgal they kill bulls and offer them to their idols;
⇔ but these altars will be pulled down and turned into piles of stones in their fields.

BSB Is there iniquity [in] Gilead?
⇔ They will surely come to nothing.
⇔ Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal?
⇔ Indeed, their altars [will be] heaps of stones
⇔ in the furrows of the field.

OEB ⇔ In Gilead is iniquity,
⇔ they will come to nothing.
⇔ In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls,
⇔ so their altars will be as stone heaps,
⇔ among the furrows of the field.

WEBBE If Gilead is wicked,
⇔ surely they are worthless.
⇔ In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls.
⇔ Indeed, their altars are like heaps in the furrows of the field.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Is there idolatry in Gilead?
⇔ Certainly its inhabitants will come to nothing!
⇔ Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal?
⇔ Surely their altars will be like stones heaped up on a plowed field!

LSV Surely Gilead [is] iniquity,
They have been only vanity,
In Gilead they have sacrificed bullocks,
Also their altars [are] as heaps, on the furrows of a field.

FBV If Gilead is idolatrous,[fn] they will surely come to nothing. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls. Even their altars are like heaps of rocks in the furrows of the field.[fn]

12:11 The word used here is the same as in Beth-aven, the parody name for Bethel, signifying the worship of idols who are truly worthless, they are nothing.

12:11 This verse suggests mixed worship that merged idols with the true God. Like rocks in a ploughed field, this was barrier to knowing the true God.

T4T ⇔ The people of Gilead city are [RHQ] extremely wicked;
⇔ they are worthless.
⇔ The people sacrifice bulls in Gilgal city,
⇔ but their altars will soon become like [SIM] piles of stone at the edge of a plowed field.

LEB   • If in Gilead there is evil, surely they will come to nothing.
• In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls,
  • also their altars will be like stone heaps
  • on furrows of the field.

BBE In Gilead there is evil. They are quite without value; in Gilgal they make offerings of oxen; truly their altars are like masses of stones in the hollows of a ploughed field.

Moff together with their empty idols–
⇔ so worthless are thy now
⇔ [[By a prophet the Eternal brought
⇔ Israel from Egypt, by a prophet
⇔ they were kept alive]];
⇔ at Gilgal they sacrifice to demons!

JPS (12-12) If Gilead be given to iniquity becoming altogether vanity, in Gilgal they sacrifice unto bullocks; yea, their altars shall be as heaps in the furrows of the field.

ASV Is Gilead iniquity? they are altogether false; in Gilgal they sacrifice bullocks; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the field.

DRA If Galaad be an idol, then in vain were they in Galgal offering sacrifices with bullocks: for their altars also are as heaps in the furrows of the field.

YLT Surely Gilead [is] iniquity, Only, vanity they have been, In Gilead bullocks they have sacrificed, Also their altars [are] as heaps, on the furrows of a field.

Drby If Gilead is iniquity, surely they are but vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields.

RV Is Gilead iniquity? they are altogether vanity; in Gilgal they sacrifice bullocks: yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the field.

SLT If Gilead nothing? Surely they were vanity: in Gilgal they sacrificed oxen; also their altars as heaps upon the furrows of the field.

Wbstr Is there iniquity in Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yes, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields.

KJB-1769 Is there iniquity in Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields.

KJB-1611 Is there iniquitie in Gilead? surely they are vanitie, they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal, yea their altars are as heapes in the furrowes of the fields.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from marking of added words (and possibly capitalisation and punctuation))

Bshps In Galaad is iniquitie, they are fallen to vanitie: at Gilgal they haue sacrificed oxen, & their aulters are as heapes in the furrowes of the fielde.
(In Galaad is iniquity, they are fallen to vanity: at Gilgal they have sacrificed oxes, and their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the field.)

Gnva Is there iniquitie in Gilead? surely they are vanitie: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal, and their altars are as heapes in the furrowes of the field.
(Is there iniquity in Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal, and their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the field. )

Cvdl But at Galaad is the abhominacion, they are fallen to vanyte. At Galgal they haue slayne oxen: and as many heapes of stones as they had in their lode forowes, so many aulters haue they made.
(But at Galaad is the abomination/disgusting_thing, they are fallen to vanity. At Galgal they have slain/killed oxes: and as many heaps of stones as they had in their land furrows, so many altars have they made.)

Wycl If Galaad worschipith an idol, therfor thei erren in veyn offryng to oxis in Galgal; for whi and the auteris of hem schulen be as heepis on the forewis of the feeld.
(If Galaad worshippeth/worships an idol, therefore they erren in vain offering to oxes in Galgal; for why and the altars of hem should be as heaps on the furrows of the field.)

Luth und rede zu den Propheten; und ich bin‘s der so viel Weissagung gibt und durch die Propheten mich anzeige.
(and speak to/for the prophet(s); and I it's_me the/of_the so many prophecy(n) gives and through the prophet(s) me display(v).)

ClVg Si Galaad idolum, ergo frustra erant in Galgal bobus immolantes; nam et altaria eorum quasi acervi super sulcos agri.
(When/But_if Galaad an_idol, therefore in_vain they_were in/into/on Galgal ox/bull sacrificing; for/surely and altars their as_if heaps over furrows fields. )

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 11:12–12:14: Israel is deceitful and refuses to return to the LORD

In this section, the LORD accuses both Israel and Judah of wrongdoing, but then focuses on the wicked behavior of Israel (11:12–12:1). Hosea continues to describe Israel, giving examples from the life of their ancestor Jacob to show that Israel followed his bad behavior (12:2–8). The LORD then reminded the people how they had responded wickedly when he led them in the past (12:9–11). Hosea concludes this section by comparing Jacob’s care of sheep in Aram with the LORD’s care of his people through a prophet or prophets.

Here are some other examples of section headings:

Israel’s Sin (NIV)

Israel and Judah Are Condemned (GNT)

Paragraph 12:9–11

In this paragraph, the LORD reminded Israel that he was still their God. He reviewed how he led them in the past. Nevertheless, Israel responded with wickedness. The LORD used Gilead and Gilgal as examples of that wickedness.

12:11

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^11aIs there iniquity in Gilead?

^11bThey will surely come to nothing.

^11cDo they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal?

^11dIndeed, their altars will be heaps of stones in the furrows of the field.

Gilead and Gilgal are locations. Here they are probably figures of speech that represent the entire northern kingdom of Israel.Patterson and Hill (page 75), Keil (pages 98–99), McComiskey (page 209), and Wood (page 217). They may be an example of the kind of parable or figure of speech that 12:10 describes.Garrett (pages 244–245) and Hubbard (page 209).

Here are three possible purposes for the verse:Hubbard (page 209).

to show the great extent of wickedness in Israel
to return to the main theme of this chapter, deceit and lying
to demonstrate the use of wordplays, which were part of the way God proclaimed his judgmentAn example is the choice of words that share similar elements, such as Gilead, Gilgal and gallim “piles/heaps.” The similarity connects them to suggest a theme of emptiness. See especially Hubbard (page 210) and also Patterson and Hill (page 75), Keil (pages 98–99), Dearman (page 312), Davies (page 282), and IVPBBCOT. Another example is the repetition of a word root, such as awn, which has three separate meanings in chapter 12: “manhood/virility” in 12:4, “wealth” in 12:9, and “wickedness” in 12:11. The repetition ties together the folly of the behaviors highlighted in each occurrence. Hubbard (page 210).

12:11a–b

Is there iniquity in Gilead? They will surely come to nothing.

Are the people of Gilead wicked? Yes/Indeed, they are worthless!
The people of Gilead are wicked. They are truly worthless.

Is there iniquity in Gilead? They will surely come to nothing: In Hebrew, these clauses are more literally “if Gilead [is] wickedness surely they are worthlessness.”The noun forms, “wickedness” and “worthlessness” as used in this sentence are ungrammatical in English. However, in Hebrew a noun can occur instead of an adjective to give a degree of emphasis to it. McComiskey (page 209). Here are some acceptable ways to translate the clauses:

As a rhetorical question followed by a response. The implied answer in the response is “yes.” For example:
Is there iniquity in Gilead? Surely they are worthless. (NASB)
As a conditional clause followed by a conclusion.In traditional grammatical terms, the clause stating the condition is the protasis, which is followed by the apodosis. The implicit understanding is that the condition is true. For example:
If there is iniquity in Gilead they shall surely come to nothing. (ESV)
As statements. For example:
The people of Gilead are evil, worth nothing. (NCV)

Translate these clauses in a natural way in your language.

iniquity: In Hebrew, this word has a broad range of meaning that includes “idolatry,” “wickedness,” iniquity, “emptiness.”TWOT (#48a). The same word is used in the second part of the name Beth-aven, “house of wickedness.” See 4:15b.

Some versions translate the word here as “idolatry.” That translation is not recommended, because it limits its meaning. It is likely that Hosea’s use of the word here had a broader sense. Hosea uses the same word to refer to the people of Gilead in 6:8. There the word is associated with bloodshed, not specifically with idolatry.

Gilead: Gilead is the region in the northern kingdom of Israel located east of the river Jordan. The region includes land and cities belonging to the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh.It is also possible that Hosea had in mind the city of Ramoth-Gilead or Jabesh-Gilead. By the time of Hosea, Gilead was known to be a place of evil.

They will surely come to nothing: The Hebrew word for nothing here means “emptiness,” “vanity,” “falsehood.” It designates something that is worthless either physically or morally.TWOT (#2338a). Garrett (pages 244–245) suggest that without Yahweh they are nothing, a non-people. In Hebrew, the preceding word surely emphasizes how worthless the people were.

There are two main interpretations of the time reference of this clause:

The people of Gilead were worthless at that time.The verb phrase, literally “surely worthlessness they are” is in the perfect tense/aspect, which normally indicates a completed state. For example:
They are worthless (GW) (GW, KJV, NASB, NCV, NIV, NJB, NJPS, NLT, REB)
The people of Gilead will become worthless in the future.Keil (pages 98–99) and some others propose that here the perfect verb form indicates the certainty of a future state. They will be destroyed. For example:
they shall surely come to nothing (ESV) (BSB, CEV, ESV, GNT, NET, NRSV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with the majority of versions. The Hebrew clause is an appropriate description of the people of Gilead at that time. See Hosea 6:8.

12:11c

Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal?

In Gilgal, they sacrifice bulls.
And the people in Gilgal, they sacrifice bulls to pagan gods.

Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal?: There is a textual issue here:One option would be the LXX. It has “rulers offering sacrifices in Gilgal.” It is not included here due to lack of representation in modern versions.

The Masoretic Text has “bulls they have sacrificed.” For example:
In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls (ESV) (BSB, CEV, ESV, GNT, GW, KJV, NASB, NCV, NET, NIV, NJPS, NLT, NRSV)
Some scholars think the original text had “to bulls they have sacrificed.”The proposal is that the original text was bagilgal l šǝwarim but due to haplography or other error, the l “to” was dropped out. See Andersen and Freedman (pages 618–620). For example:
At Gilgal they sacrifice to bulls (NJB) (NJB, REB)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with most versions.See also HOTTP, Keil (pages 98–99), and Davies (282). Option (2) lacks support from ancient texts or versions.Davies (page 282) also states that there is no real need or justification for the suggested change.

The sacrifice of bulls probably refers to pagan sacrifices.The word for “sacrifice” here refers most often to pagan sacrifices in Hosea. McComiskey (page 209). Gilgal was also an unlawful place of sacrifice. Keil (pages 98–99).

The BSB and some other versions that translate 11a as a rhetorical question also translate 11c as a rhetorical question. This is not recommended. A rhetorical question is not indicated in the Hebrew text.

Gilgal: Gilgal is a city in the northern kingdom of Israel located west of the river Jordan. It was a major center of idolatry. See 4:15b.

12:11d

Indeed, their altars will be heaps of stones in the furrows of the field.

Yes, their altars are like useless stones heaped beside the furrows of a field.”
Their altars are also as numerous as the stone piles in a plowed field.”

Indeed: In Hebrew, this clause starts with a word that has various possible meanings.TWOT (#361a). A basic meaning that fits the context here is “also/moreover.” Here it introduces the altars as a further description of the sacrificing of bulls in 11c.McComiskey (page 209). For example:

The altars of these are also like stone heaps upon a plowed field. (NJPS)

Yes, their altars are like the stone heaps beside the furrows of the field.

their altars will be heaps of stones in the furrows of the field: This sentence describes the altars on which the people sacrificed bulls. It compares the altars to stone piles in fields. There are two main interpretations of the time reference:

This sentence describes the altars as they were at that time.Hubbard (page 209). For example:
Their altars also are like stone heaps on the furrows of the field. (ESV) (ESV, KJV, NASB, NJB, NJPS, NLT, REB)
This sentence describes the altars as they will be in the future. It predicts that they will be destroyed.Keil (pages 98–99) and McComiskey (page 209). For example:
But their altars will become like piles of rubble beside a plowed field. (GW) (BSB, CEV, GNT, GW, NCV, NET, NIV, RSV)

The Display will follow interpretation (1), but you may follow either interpretation. In Hebrew, there is no explicit time reference, because this clause has no verb. Both interpretations fit the context of the passage.Andersen and Freedman (pages 618–620).

The phrase heaps of stones in the furrows of the field may refer to stones that a farmer removes from his field to allow for plowing. The comparison, however, does not make explicit the way in which the altars are like these piles of stones. Here are some possibilities:

The altars are/will be as numerous as the piles of stones.Andersen and Freedman (pages 618–620) and Patterson and Hill (page 75).
The altars are/will be as worthless as the piles of stones.Hubbard (page 209) and Wood (page 217).
The altars are/will be obstacles like the piles of stones that must be removed to allow for growth and harvesting.Garrett (pages 244–245) and Macintosh (page 504).

Most versions leave the point of comparison implied. However, you may include these possibilities in the translation or in a footnote if think it will be helpful.