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

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 Κατὰ τὸν λόγον Ἐφραὶμ δικαιώματα ἔλαβεν αὐτὸς ἐν τῷ Ἰσραήλ, καὶ ἔθετο αὐτὰ τῇ Βάαλ καὶ ἀπέθανε.
(Kata ton logon Efraim dikaiōmata elaben autos en tōi Israaʸl, kai etheto auta taʸ Baal kai apethane. )

BrTr According to the word of Ephraim he adopted ordinances for himself in Israel; and he established them for Baal, and died.

ULT “When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling.
⇔ He exalted himself in Israel,
⇔ but he became guilty through Baal and died.

UST Yahweh says, “When the leaders of Israel spoke, the people trembled;
⇔ they were respected in Israel.
⇔ But because they all worshiped Baal, they became guilty,
⇔ and they died.

13:1 That is, the northern kingdom of Israel; also in verse 12

OEB When Ephraim used to speak there was trembling;
⇔ a prince was he in Israel.
⇔ But he incurred guilt through Baal and died.

WEBBE When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling.
⇔ He exalted himself in Israel,
⇔ but when he became guilty through Baal, he died.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET When Ephraim spoke, there was terror;
⇔ he was exalted in Israel,
⇔ but he became guilty by worshiping Baal and died.

LSV “When Ephraim speaks tremblingly,
He has been lifted up in Israel,
When he becomes guilty in Ba‘al he dies.

FBV When Ephraim spoke, they were feared, for they were the leading tribe in Israel. But when they were guilty of Baal worship, they died.

T4T Previously, when the leaders of Israel spoke,
⇔ the people trembled;
⇔ those leaders were highly respected by the Israeli people.
⇔ But the people sinned greatly by worshiping Baal,
⇔ so now they will be killed by their enemies.

LEB No LEB HOS 13:1 verse available

BBE When the words of my law came from Ephraim, he was lifted up in Israel; but when he did evil through the Baal, death overtook him.

Moff Whenever Ephraim spoke, men were in awe;
⇔ he was a prince in Israel.
⇔ But then he worshipped Baal,
⇔ and for his guilt he died.

JPS When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he became guilty through Baal, he died.

ASV When Ephraim spake, there was trembling; he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died.

DRA When Ephraim spoke, a horror seized Israel: and he sinned in Baal and died.

YLT When Ephraim speaketh tremblingly, He hath been lifted up in Israel, When he becometh guilty in Baal he dieth.

Drby When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling; he exalted himself in Israel: but he trespassed through Baal, and he died.

RV When Ephraim spake, there was trembling; he exalted himself in Israel: but when he offended in Baal, he died.

SLT According to the word Ephraim being terrified be was lifted up in Israel; and he will transgress in Baal and die.

Wbstr When Ephraim spoke trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died.

KJB-1769 When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died.

KJB-1611 ¶ When Ephraim spake, trembling, he exalted himselfe in Israel, but, when he offended in Baal, he died.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps When Ephraim spake, there was tremblyng, he was exalted among the Israelites: but he hath sinned in Baal, and is dead.
(When Ephraim spake, there was trembling, he was exalted among the Israelites: but he hath/has sinned in Baal, and is dead.)

Gnva When Ephraim spake, there was trembling: hee exalted him selfe in Israel, but he hath sinned in Baal, and is dead.
(When Ephraim spake, there was trembling: he exalted himself in Israel, but he hath/has sinned in Baal, and is dead. )

Cvdl The abhominacion of Ephraim is come also in to Israel. He is gone backe to Baal, therfore must he dye.
(The abomination/disgusting_thing of Ephraim is come also in to Israel. He is gone back to Baal, therefore must he die.)

Wycl For Effraym spak, hidousnesse assailide Israel; and he trespasside in Baal, and was deed.
(For Ephraim spoke, hidousness assailed Israel; and he trespassed in Baal, and was deed.)

Luth Da Ephraim schrecklich lehrete, ward er in Israel erhoben. Danach versündigten sie sich durch Baal und wurden darüber getötet.
(So Ephraim terrible taught, what/which he in Israel raised. Thereafter/Then sinned they/she/them itself/yourself/themselves through Baal and became about_it killed.)

ClVg [Loquente Ephraim, horror invasit Israël; et deliquit in Baal, et mortuus est.
([Speaking Ephraim, horror invaded Israel; and he_commits_an_offence in/into/on Baal, and dead it_is. )

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 13:1–16: The LORD’s anger against Israel

In this section, the LORD gives reasons for his anger against Israel. It was necessary to judge them because they continued to rebel against him.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

Final Judgment on Israel (GNT)

The Lord’s Relentless Judgment on Israel (ESV)

Ephraim’s Idolatry (NASB)

Paragraph 13:1–3

In this paragraph, Hosea is the speaker. He refers to Ephraim as a tribe for the first time (1a–b). In the past, the other tribes of Israel regarded Ephraim highly, with respect and fear. With the contrast that begins with “But” in 13:1c, Hosea again uses “Ephraim” as another name for Israel. Ephraim turned away from the LORD to worship false gods. As a result of their sin, the LORD brought death to them as a nation.

13:1a–b

(combined/reordered)

The Israelites feared and honored the tribe of Ephraim.

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^1aWhen Ephraim spoke, there was trembling;

^1b he was exalted in Israel.

These lines talk about Israel’s past. There was a time when Ephraim had power and high status.

13:1a

When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling;

¶ When the leaders of Ephraim spoke, people trembled/shook in fear.
¶ People used to fear the tribe of Ephraim (NCV).

When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling: This line is more literally “just as spoke Ephraim trembling.”BART interlinear. The Lexham Hebrew Bible gloss is “as/the moment of speaking Ephraim [there was] terror.

When: This time word introduces two events that occurred simultaneously. People trembled at the same time that Ephraim spoke.”McComiskey (page 213).

Ephraim: Here the name Ephraim probably refers literally to the tribe of Ephraim.The literal reference to Ephraim as a tribe is supported by Keil, Garrett, Macintosh, Hubbard, Davies, McComiskey, and Wood. Some versions make that meaning explicit. For example:

When the tribe of Ephraim spoke, people trembled. (GW)

trembling: The Hebrew word for trembling occurs only here in the Old Testament. The meaning is probably trembling or “fear/horror.”This is the majority view of rabbinic and modern commentators as well as some ancient versions. The Hebrew word also occurs once in a Qumran scroll with the meaning “trembling” or “horror.” See Macintosh (page 518), Hubbard (page 213), and Davies (page 286). Here the word trembling refers to the fearful response of the people to Ephraim.

Here are some other ways to translate this line:

People used to fear the tribe of Ephraim (NCV)

When the tribe of Ephraim spoke, the people shook with fear (NLT)

13:1b

he was exalted in Israel.

People respected Ephraim.
It was the most important and powerful tribe in Israel.

he was exalted in Israel: In Hebrew, the word exalted means “lifted” or “raised high.”NIDOTTE (#5951). In this context, the word refers to the power and importance of the tribe of Ephraim in Israel in the past.Some other descriptive words are “glory” (Garrett page 248), “pre-eminence” (Macintosh page 520) or “prominence” (McComiskey page 213). There is a combined textual and interpretation issue about the Hebrew verb form of he was exalted:

It is a passive form. he Ephraim was exalted. The implied subject is the people of Israel.The editors of the BHS suggest that the vowels for a Niphal perfect 3rd person masculine singular form be adopted for the word. See the NET footnote for “exalted.” However, this meaning may be possible for Qal as well. See DCH (page 768) 17b “be exalted.” They regarded the tribe of Ephraim to be powerful and important. For example:
he was exalted in Israel (NRSV) (BSB, CEV, ESV, GNT, GW, NAB, NCV, NET, NIV, NJB, NJPS, NLT, NRSV, REB)
It is a reflexive form. Ephraim exalted himself.A reflexive meaning normally has Niphal form. However, this meaning is possible for Qal also. See DCH (page 768) 17b “lift oneself up, exalt oneself.” Alternatively, rabbinic scholar Kimchi proposes the translation “he exalted his head.” The phrase “his head” is implied. The overall meaning is that he made himself important. See Macintosh (pages 519–520). The subject is Ephraim. The tribe of Ephraim made itself powerful and important. For example:
he exalted himself in Israel (NASB) (KJV, NASB)

It is recommended that you follow option/interpretation (1) along with most versions and commentaries.

Here are some other ways to translate this line:

The people of Ephraim were important in Israel. (GW)

he was a power in Israel (NJB)

13:1c

But he incurred guilt through Baal, and he died.

Yet Ephraim was guilty of Baal worship and was considered/counted as already dead.
But then the people sinned by worshiping Baal. As a result, they died as a nation.

But: This word introduces a contrast in which “he” (Ephraim) again refers to Israel as a nation. This is the way Hosea has used Ephraim everywhere else. See the note on Ephraim in 12:14a.

Ephraim did not thank the LORD or worship him in response. Instead the people sinned by worshiping Baal. Use a natural way in your language to introduce this negative contrast.

he incurred guilt through Baal: This description may refer to the time when Ahab introduced Baal worship. See 1 Kings 16:31. Another way to say he incurred guilt is to say “he sinned.” For example:

But the people of Ephraim sinned by worshiping Baal (NLT)

and he died: The result of Ephraim’s Baal worship was that he died. In Hebrew, this is a past event.Qal waw consecutive. Some versions translate this as future “will die” or as a volitional “must die.” However, the Hebrew word form that is used here should not be translated as a future or volitional.Neither idea is indicated by a series of waw consecutive forms following a perfect form, as occurs here.

The word died does not mean that the people of Ephraim died physically, since the following verse says that they continued to sin.Davies (page 284) and Dearman (page 319). The following verses speak of Israel’s future destruction as a nation. The prophet views this destruction of Ephraim, including all of Israel, as already complete. So died probably refers to the strength and identity of Ephraim, along with Israel, as a nation.Davies (page 284) suggests that they were excluded from his sphere of influence. McComiskey (page 213) suggests that the word “died” denotes the end of a viable relationship to the inheritance and ultimately the end of Israel as a nation. ICC (page 520) suggests the meaning “was accounted dead,” and says that “the strength of the kingdom…was terminally affected.”

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

and you were destroyed (CEV)

and became as if dead as a nation

UTN uW Translation Notes:

General Information:

Yahweh is speaking.

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

(Occurrence 0) When Ephraim spoke

(Some words not found in UHB: just,as_spoke ʼEfrayim trembling exalted he/it in,Israel and,he_became_guilty by, and=he/it_died )

Hosea uses the term “Ephraim” to refer to the entire northern kingdom, although it was also the name of one of the ten tribes. Hosea seems to be speaking of a long-past time, when the northern kingdom was strong and honored, unlike at the present time.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

(Occurrence 0) there was trembling

(Some words not found in UHB: just,as_spoke ʼEfrayim trembling exalted he/it in,Israel and,he_became_guilty by, and=he/it_died )

It is understood that people were trembling because they were afraid of Ephraim. This can be stated clearly. Alternate translation: “there was trembling among the people” or “people trembled in fear”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

(Occurrence 0) He exalted himself in Israel

(Some words not found in UHB: just,as_spoke ʼEfrayim trembling exalted he/it in,Israel and,he_became_guilty by, and=he/it_died )

Here “exalting” means to make oneself important.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

(Occurrence 0) but he became guilty because of Baal worship, and he died

(Some words not found in UHB: just,as_spoke ʼEfrayim trembling exalted he/it in,Israel and,he_became_guilty by, and=he/it_died )

When the people of Ephraim began worshiping Baal, they grew weak, and their enemies defeated them. Here “died” refers to the nation growing weak.

Parallel HOS 13:1

Section 13:1–16: The LORD’s anger against Israel

Paragraph 13:1–3

13:1a–b

13:1a

13:1b

13:1c

General Information: