HOS 4:6 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.)

Key: khaki:verbs, 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 Ὡμοιώθη ὁ λαός μου, ὡς οὐκ ἔχων γνῶσιν· ὅτι σὺ ἐπίγνωσιν ἀπώσω, κᾀγὼ ἀπώσομαί σε, τοῦμὴ ἱερατεύειν μοι· καὶ ἐπελάθου νόμον Θεοῦ σου, κᾀγὼ ἐπιλήσομαι τέκνων σου.
(Hōmoiōthaʸ ho laos mou, hōs ouk eⱪōn gnōsin; hoti su epignōsin apōsō, kagō apōsomai se, toumaʸ hierateuein moi; kai epelathou nomon Theou sou, kagō epilaʸsomai teknōn sou. )

BrTr My people are like as if they had no knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt not minister as priest to me: and as thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children.

ULT My people are destroyed because of the lack of knowledge.
⇔ Because you have rejected knowledge,
⇔ I also reject you from being priests to me.
⇔ Because you have forgotten the law of your God,
⇔ I also will forget your children.

UST My people are perishing because you priests have refused to understand me.
⇔ And why do you understand me so little? Because you have rejected the things I have instructed you to do.
⇔ So I am rejecting you from being priests to me.
⇔ Look at what you have forgotten: You have forgotten the instructions that I, your God, gave to you.
⇔ Because you forgot me, I will forget your children.

OEB My people are being destroyed for lack of knowledge;
⇔ because you have rejected knowledge
⇔ I reject you from being priest to me.
⇔ Since you have forgotten the teaching of your God,
⇔ I also will forget your children.

CSB My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will reject you from serving as my priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your sons.

NLT My people are being destroyed because they don’t know me. Since you priests refuse to know me, I refuse to recognize you as my priests. Since you have forgotten the laws of your God, I will forget to bless your children.

NIV my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. “Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.

CEV You priests have rejected me, and my people are destroyed by refusing to obey. Now I'll reject you and forget your children, because you have forgotten my Law.

ESV My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

NASB My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

LSB My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from ministering as My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I Myself also will forget your children.

WEBBE My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
⇔ Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you,
⇔ that you may be no priest to me.
⇔ Because you have forgotten your God’s law,
⇔ I will also forget your children.

WMBB My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
⇔ Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you,
⇔ that you may be no priest to me.
⇔ Because you have forgotten your God’s Torah,
⇔ I will also forget your children.

MSG ^(4-10)“But don’t look for someone to blame.
  No finger pointing!
You, priest, are the one in the dock.
  You stumble around in broad daylight,
And then the prophets take over and stumble all night.
  Your mother is as bad as you.
My people are ruined
  because they don’t know what’s right or true.
Because you’ve turned your back on knowledge,
  I’ve turned my back on you priests.
Because you refuse to recognize the revelation of God,
  I’m no longer recognizing your children.
The more priests, the more sin.
  They traded in their glory for shame.
They pig out on my people’s sins.
  They can’t wait for the latest in evil.
The result: You can’t tell the people from the priests,
  the priests from the people.
I’m on my way to make them both pay
  and take the consequences of the bad lives they’ve lived.
They’ll eat and be as hungry as ever,
  have sex and get no satisfaction.
They walked out on me, their God,
  for a life of rutting with whores.

NET You have destroyed my people
⇔ by failing to acknowledge me!
⇔ Because you refuse to acknowledge me,
⇔ I will reject you as my priests.
⇔ Because you reject the law of your God,
⇔ I will reject your descendants.

LSV My people have been cut off for lack of knowledge,
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I reject you from being priest to Me,
And you forget the Law of your God—I forget your sons, I also!

FBV My people are dying because they don't know me. Because you have refused to know me, I refuse to accept you as my priests. You have forgotten my teachings, so I will forget your children.

T4T It is because my people do not know about me that they will be destroyed.
⇔ And their not knowing about me is because you priests have refused to teach them about me;
⇔ so I will no longer allow you to be my priests.
⇔ You have forgotten the things that I taught you,
⇔ so I will forget to bless your children.

LEB    • My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge;
• because you have rejected knowledge,
  • I reject you from acting as a priest for me.[fn]
• And since you have forgotten the law of your God,
  • I will also forget your children.[fn]

4:? Or “to me”

4:? Hebrew “sons”

NRSV My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

NKJV My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

NAB My people are ruined for lack of knowledge! Since you have rejected knowledge, I will reject you from serving as my priest; Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.

BBE Destruction has overtaken my people because they have no knowledge; because you have given up knowledge, I will give you up, so that you will be no priest to me, because you have not kept in mind the law of your God, I will not keep your children in my memory.

Moff My people are dying for want of knowledge,
⇔ and you reject my knowledge;
⇔ so I reject you from my priesthood.
⇔ Since you ignore the instructions of your God,
⇔ I will ignore your children.

JPS My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to Me; seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children.

ASV My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children.

DRA My people have been silent, because they had no knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will reject thee, that thou shalt not do the office of priesthood to me: and thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children.

YLT Cut off have been My people for lack of knowledge, Because thou knowledge hast rejected, I reject thee from being priest to Me, And thou forgettest the law of thy God, I forget thy sons, I also!

Drby My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; for thou hast rejected knowledge, and I will reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me; seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy [fn]God, I also will forget thy children.

4.6 Elohim

RV My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children.
(My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou/you hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee/you, that thou/you shalt/shall be no priest to me: seeing thou/you hast forgotten the law of thy/your God, I also will forget thy/your children. )

SLT My people were cut off from not knowing: because thou didst reject knowledge and I will reject thee from being priest to me: and thou wilt forget the instructions of thy God; I will also forget thy sons, also I.

Wbstr My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

KJB-1769 ¶ My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.[fn]
(¶ My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou/you hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee/you, that thou/you shalt/shall be no priest to me: seeing thou/you hast forgotten the law of thy/your God, I will also forget thy/your children. )

4.6 destroyed: Heb. cut off

KJB-1611 ¶ [fn]My people are destroyed for lacke of knowledge: because thou hast reiected knowledge, I will also reiect thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the lawe of thy God, I wil also forget thy children.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above apart from footnotes)

4:6 Heb. cut off

Bshps My people perishe for lacke of knowledge: because thou hast refused knowledge, therfore wyll I refuse thee also, so that thou shalt no more be my priest: and forsomuche as thou hast forgotten the lawe of thy God, I wyll also forget thy chyldren.
(My people perish for lack of knowledge: because thou/you hast refused knowledge, therefore will I refuse thee/you also, so that thou/you shalt/shall no more be my priest: and forsomuche as thou/you hast forgotten the law of thy/your God, I will also forget thy/your children.)

Gnva My people are destroyed for lacke of knowledge: because thou hast refused knowledge, I will also refuse thee, that thou shalt be no Priest to me: and seeing thou hast forgotten the Lawe of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
(My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou/you hast refused knowledge, I will also refuse thee/you, that thou/you shalt/shall be no Priest to me: and seeing thou/you hast forgotten the Law of thy/your God, I will also forget thy/your children. )

Cvdl my people perish, because they haue no knowlege. Seinge then that thou hast refused vnderstondinge, therfore wil I refuse ye also: so that thou shalt nomore be my prest. And for so moch as thou hast forgotten the lawe of thy God, I wil also forget thy childre.
(my people perish, because they have no knowledge. Seeing then that thou/you hast refused understanding, therefore will I refuse ye/you_all also: so that thou/you shalt/shall no more be my priest. And for so much as thou/you hast forgotten the law of thy/your God, I will also forget thy/your children.)

Wycl My puple was stille, for it hadde not kunnyng; for thou hast putte awei kunnyng, Y schal putte thee awei, that thou vse not presthod to me; and for thou hast foryete the lawe of thi God, also Y schal foryete thi sones.
(My people was still, for it had not cunning; for thou/you hast put away cunning, I shall put thee/you away, that thou/you use not priesthood to me; and for thou/you hast forget the law of thy/your God, also I shall forget thy/your sons.)

Luth Mein Volk ist dahin, darum daß es nicht lernen will. Denn du verwirfst Gottes Wort, darum will ich dich auch verwerfen, daß du nicht mein Priester sein sollst. Du vergissest des Gesetzes deines Gottes, darum will ich auch deiner Kinder vergessen.
(My people is gone, therefore that it not learn will. Because you(sg) verwirfst God’s word, therefore will I you/yourself also discard, that you(sg) not my priest(s) be should. You(sg) vergissest the law your(s) God’s, therefore will I also your(s) children forget.)

ClVg Conticuit populus meus, eo quod non habuerit scientiam: quia tu scientiam repulisti, repellam te, ne sacerdotio fungaris mihi; et oblita es legis Dei tui, obliviscar filiorum tuorum et ego.
(Conticuit the_people mine, by_him that not/no has_had knowledge: because you(sg) knowledge you_repulsed, repellam you(sg), not priesthood fungaris to_me; and forgotten you_are law of_God yours(sg), obliviscar of_children yours and I. )

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 4:4–11a: The Sinful Priests

In this section, the LORD promised to punish the priests more severely than anyone else, because they were the ones who led the people to worship false gods.

Here are some other examples of section headings:

The Lord Accuses the Priests (GNT)

Against the Priests (NJB)

Paragraph 4:4–6

In this paragraph, the LORD, speaking through Hosea, told the people not to blame one another, because the priests were responsible for leading the people astray.

4:6a

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.

Yes, my people are already being destroyed, because they do not know and obey me.
My people do not know me or acknowledge my authority as God, so their destruction is certain.
I will certainly destroy my people, because they do not know me. They also refuse to obey me.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: This verse part gives the reason for the words “I will destroy your mother” in 4:5b. It explains that the nation of Israel will be destroyed because of their lack of knowledge.

This is a passive clause. In some languages, you may need to use an active verb and supply the implied subject. For example:

I will destroy them because of their lack of knowledge.

are destroyed: In Hebrew, the form of this verb indicates that destruction will certainly occur. Some versions, such as the BSB, express this certainty by using present tense, as if the destruction has already begun. For example:

My people perish (NJB)

Other versions use future tense. For example:

will be destroyed (NCV)

Use a natural way in your language to indicate that the nation of Israel will certainly be destroyed.

for lack of knowledge: The phrase lack of knowledge has a similar meaning to “no knowledge” in 4:1d (see the note there). It indicates that the people do not know God. They also refuse to obey him. They do not show by their actions that they acknowledge his authority.

for: This word introduces the cause of the people’s destruction. They are destroyed because of their lack of knowledge of God.

Here are some other ways to translate this relationship:

because they do not acknowledge me (GNT)

by refusing to obey (CEV)

General Comment on 4:6a

In some languages, it will be more natural to put the cause of destruction in the first part of the clause. For example:

Since my people do not know or obey me, they will certainly be destroyed.

4:6b–c

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^6b Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as my priests;

^6c Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.

In these lines, the LORD told the priests that he will no longer allow them or their descendants to serve as his priests.

4:6b

Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests.

Because you^(plur) refuse to know and obey me, I refuse to allow you to be my priests.
Since you priests have rejected me and my commands, I, Yahweh, now reject you as my priests.
As for you priests, I will not allow you to serve me any longer, because you do not know me and you refuse to acknowledge my authority as God.

Because: This word introduces the reason that the LORD will reject the priests. He rejects them because they have rejected knowledge.

you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject: The repetition of the word reject emphasizes that the LORD’s response matches the priest’s offense. The REB further highlights this equality by using the words “as” and “so.” As the priests rejected, so the LORD will reject.

As you have rejected knowledge,

so will I reject you as a priest to me.

rejected knowledge: The meaning of rejected knowledge here is similar to 4:1d and 4:6a. See how you translated the similar phrases in those verses.

I will also reject you as My priests: This statement means that the LORD will take away their status as his priests. He will not allow them to serve in that role.

Here are some other ways to translate this statement:

I shall reject you from my priesthood (NJB)

I will refuse to let you be my priests (GW)

you: Most scholars understand the word you here to be the priests who were first mentioned in 4:4b.Some scholars such as Lange (page 52) and Keil (page 78) suggest that “you” refers to the whole nation of Israel as a kingdom of priests. This interpretation is unlikely, since up to this point in this section the LORD has addressed the priests, and the pronoun “you” has consistently referred to the priests. Most other commentators understand “you” to refer to the priests. For example, see Wood (pages 185–186), Stuart (page 78), Macintosh (page 139), and Andersen and Freedman (page 353). Some versions make the pronoun referent explicit. For example:

You priests have refused to acknowledge me (GNT)

In Hebrew, the pronoun you is singular. However, it probably refers to priests as a group, as in 4:4b. See the note there.

General Comment on 4:6b

In some languages, it is more natural to put the statement of rejection before the reason. For example:

I reject you from being my priests, because you have rejected knowledge of me.

4:6c

Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.

Because you^(plur) have refused to follow the law of your God, I will also refuse to let your children serve me as priests after you.
Since you priests have rejected my teachings/laws, I, Yahweh, will reject your sons as my future priests.
I will also not allow your sons/descendants to serve as my priests, because you refuse to obey what I have taught you.

Since: The word that the BSB translates as Since introduces the reason that the LORD will ignore the children of the priests. He ignores them because the priests have ignored God’s law.

you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget: The repetition of the word forget emphasizes that the LORD’s response matches the priest’s offense. See how you translated the similar situation in 4:6b.

forgotten: Here the word forgotten means to deliberately reject the instruction of the LORD. It does not mean to forget accidentally or temporarily.According to TWOT (#2383), to forget God is similar to not knowing God. Forgetting is not simply a lapse of memory. To forget God is to ignore his commandments (Deuteronomy 8:11). To forget God is to follow other gods (Deuteronomy 8:19); to forget God is to stand in fear of harm and danger, to live fretfully and timidly (Isaiah 51:13). To forget God is to challenge him (Psalm 106:13).

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

rejected (GNT)

refuse to obey (NET)

forsake (REB)

the law of your God: In Hebrew, the word law means “teaching” or “instruction.” Although the word is singular it does not refer to only one law. It refers to the many instructions of the LORD.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the laws of your God (NLT)

my teaching (GNT)

the teachings of your God (NCV)

I will also forget your children: The phrase forget your children probably means that the LORD will not allow the sons of the priests to become priests.Andersen and Freedman (page 354), Macintosh (page 139), and Hubbard (page 101). Some versions make this idea explicit. For example:

I…will not acknowledge your sons as my priests (GNT)

I will reject your descendants (NET)

your children: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “your sons.” In some Old Testament contexts, the word “sons” refers to both sons and daughters. Here most versions translate this word as children. However, if your language requires you to specify the gender of the child, you should use “sons.” In this context, “your sons” can only refer to male descendants, because only men could become priests.

General Comment on 4:6c

In some languages, it is more natural to put the result before the reason. For example:

I will ignore your children, because you have ignored the law of your God.

General Comment on 4:6b–c

In some languages, it may be more natural to reorder and/or combine the parallel parts in these two lines. For example:

You priests have refused to acknowledge me and have rejected my teaching, and so I reject you and will not acknowledge your sons as my priests. (GNT)

Parallel HOS 4:6