HOS 7:16 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=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) They return, but not upward.
⇔ They’re like a slack bow.
⇔ Their leaders will die by the sword because they’ve been so insolent.
⇔ That’s why Egypt (Heb. Mitsrayim) will mock them.

Key: khaki:verbs, red:negative.
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 Ἀπεστράφησαν εἰς οὐδὲν, ἐγένοντο ὡς τόξον ἐντεταμένον· πεσοῦνται ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ οἱ ἄρχοντες αὐτῶν διʼ ἀπαιδευσίαν γλώσσης αὐτῶν· οὗτος ὁ φαυλισμὸς αὐτῶν ἐν γῇ Αἰγύπτῳ.
(Apestrafaʸsan eis ouden, egenonto hōs toxon entetamenon; pesountai en ɽomfaia hoi arⱪontes autōn diʼ apaideusian glōssaʸs autōn; houtos ho faulismos autōn en gaʸ Aiguptōi. )

BrTr They turned aside to that which is not, they became as a bent bow: their princes shall fall by the sword, by reason of the unbridled state of their tongue: this is their setting at nought in the land of Egypt.

ULT They return,
⇔ but not upward.
⇔ They are like a slack bow.
⇔ Their princes will fall by the sword
⇔ because of the insolence of their tongues.
⇔ This will be their derision in the land of Egypt.

UST They go this way and that, but never to me, God Most High.
⇔ They are like a bow that cannot shoot.
⇔ Their officers will be killed by their enemies’ swords; they will die because they have insulted me.
⇔ This is why the people in Egypt will insult them.”

OEB They turn away from the Most High[fn].
⇔ They have become like a bow that swerves.
⇔ Their princes will fall by the sword,
⇔ because of the insolence of their tongues.
⇔ The land of Egypt will mock them.

7:16 Heb. uncertain.

WEBBE They return, but not to the Most High.
⇔ They are like a faulty bow.
⇔ Their princes will fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue.
⇔ This will be their derision in the land of Egypt.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET They turn to Baal;
⇔ they are like an unreliable bow.
⇔ Their leaders will fall by the sword
⇔ because their prayers to Baal have made me angry.
⇔ So people will disdain them in the land of Egypt.

LSV They turn back—not to the Most High,
They have been as a deceitful bow,
Their princes fall by sword,
From the insolence of their tongue,
This [is] their derision in the land of Egypt!”

FBV They turn, but not to the Most High; they are like a useless bow. Their leaders will be killed by the sword because of their cursing.[fn] Because of this they will be ridiculed in Egypt.

7:16 Usually understood to be cursing against God.

T4T They have rejected me, their Great God, and turned to their god Baal;
⇔ they are as useless as [SIM] a crooked bow.
⇔ Their leaders boast that they are very strong,
⇔ but they will be killed by their enemies’ swords.
⇔ As a result, the people of Egypt will laugh at them.”

LEB   • They turn, not to the Most High,[fn] like a slack bow;
• their officials will fall by the sword
  • because of the anger of their tongue.
• This is their scorn[fn]
  • in the land of Egypt.

7:? Hebrew uncertain; the NRSV translates “to that which does not profit”; the NASB translates “but not upward”

7:? The NRSV translates “So much for their babbling”

BBE They have gone to what is of no value; they are like a false bow; their captains will come to destruction by the sword, and their ruler by my wrath; for this, the land of Egypt will make sport of them.

Moff they turn to Baal.
⇔ They are like a bow that swerves.
⇔ So, for the insolence of their talk
⇔ [[their bravado about Egypt]],
⇔ their leaders perish by the sword.

JPS They return, but not upwards; they are become like a deceitful bow; their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue; this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.

ASV They return, but not to him that is on high; they are like a deceitful bow; their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.

DRA They returned, that they might be without yoke: they became like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword, for the rage of their tongue. This is their derision in the land of Egypt.

YLT They turn back — not to the Most High, They have been as a deceitful bow, Fall by sword do their princes, From the insolence of their tongue, This [is] their derision in the land of Egypt!

Drby They return, [but] not to the [Most] High: they are like a deceitful bow. Their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.

RV They return, but not to him that is on high; they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.

SLT They will turn back not to the Highest: they were as a bow of deceit: their chiefs shall fall by the sword from the wrath of their tongue: this their derision in the land of Egypt.

Wbstr They return, but not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.

KJB-1769 They return, but not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.

KJB-1611 They returne, but not to the most High: they are like a deceitfull bow: their princes shall fall by the sword, for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps They turne them selues, but not to the most hyest, and are become as a broken bowe, their princes shalbe slayne with the sworde for the malice of their tongues: this shalbe their derision in the lande of Egypt.
(They turn themselves, but not to the most highest, and are become as a broken bow, their princes shall be slain/killed with the sword for the malice of their tongues: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.)

Gnva They returne, but not to the most high: they are like a deceitfull bowe: their princes shall fall by the sword, for the rage of their tongues: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.
(They return, but not to the most high: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword, for the rage of their tongues: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt. )

Cvdl They turne them selues, but not a right, & are become as a broken bowe. Their prynces shalbe slayne wt the swearde, for the malice of their tunges, soch blasphemies haue they lerned in the londe of Egipte.
(They turn themselves, but not a right, and are become as a broken bow. Their princes shall be slain/killed with the sword, for the malice of their tongues, such blasphemies have they learned/learnt in the land of Egypt.)

Wycl Thei turneden ayen, that thei schulden be with out yok; thei ben maad as a gileful bowe. The princis of hem schulen falle doun bi swerd, for the woodnesse of her tunge; this is the scornyng of hem in the lond of Egipt.
(They turned again, that they should be with out yok; they been made as a guileful bow. The princes of hem should fall down by sword, for the madness/wildness of her tongue; this is the scorning of hem in the land of Egypt.)

Luth Sie bekehren sich, aber nicht recht, sondern sind wie ein falscher Bogen; darum werden ihre Fürsten durchs Schwert fallen; ihr Dräuen soll in Ägyptenland zum Spott werden.
(They/She convert itself/yourself/themselves, but not right, rather are as/like a false/counterfeit bow; therefore become their/her prince(s)/ruler(s) through sword fall/drop; you(pl)/their/her Dräuen should in country_of_Egypt for_the mockery become.)

ClVg Reversi sunt ut essent absque jugo; facti sunt quasi arcus dolosus: cadent in gladio principes eorum, a furore linguæ suæ. Ista subsannatio eorum in terra Ægypti.]
(Reversi are as they_would_be without yoke; made are as_if bow(n) tricksus: they_will_fall in/into/on with_a_sword leaders their, from with_fury tongues/languages his/her_own. This falsification their in/into/on earth/land of_Egypt.] )

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 6:4–7:16: The people persisted in their sins

In this section, the LORD again spoke to the people of Israel and Judah. In contrast to the people’s future repentance (6:1–3), he gave examples of their current disloyalty and corruption, including their reliance on other nations instead of him. They continued to commit sins, and they refused to seek him. He announced that he would judge them, and he illustrated his coming judgment in various ways.

In this section, the Hebrew text sometimes uses second person pronouns (“you”) and sometimes third person pronouns (“they” or “he”) to refer to the people of Israel. The BSB follows the Hebrew pronoun usage. It uses “they” in 6:5–10, “you” in 6:4 & 11, and “they” or “he” in 7:1–16. Throughout these verses the LORD is the speaker, and he either addresses the people directly or speaks about them.

English versions all use “you” in 6:11 and “they” in chapter 7, but they differ in the way they use the pronouns in 6:5–10. You should use the most natural and least confusing way in your language to handle the pronouns in 6:5–10. In 6:7–10, the Display will follow the BSB pronoun choice in the first meaning line and give another pronoun choice in the second meaning line. See the note on “you” in 2:16b–c, where the pronoun changes are similar.

Here are some other examples of section headings:

Transitory Faithfulness and Imminent Judgment (NET)

Impenitence of Israel and Judah (NRSV)

7:16a

They turn, but not to the Most High;

They turn to a false god that is not the Most High God.
They refuse to trust again in God, who is the Most High.

They turn, but not to the Most High: There is a textual issue here:

The Masoretic Text is literally “they turn to not height.” This clause probably means that the people turn to something that is not the Most High God. It implies that they do not turn to God. For example:
They did not turn to the Most High God. (NCV) (BSB, ESV, GW, KJV, NASB, NCV, NIV, NJB, NLT, NRSV)
Some English versions have “they turn to Baal.”The text in option (2) is not supported by the LXX or other early translations. For example:
They turn to Baal (RSV) (NET, RSV)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with most versions and scholars.The Masoretic Text presents a number of difficulties, including the position of the word loʾ “not” before the word “height” rather than before the verb “turn” and the unusual use of the word “height.” According to Andersen and Freedman (pages 477–478), the Hebrew word ʿal “height” may be a shortened variant of ʿeli, ʿelyon “The Most High God,” which is made negative here. A similar negative name, loʾ ʿel, which means “a not-god, something that is not a god,” occurs in Deuteronomy 32:21. These factors have led to three main interpretations: (1) They turn to a non-God (or “False Most High”); (2) They do not turn to the Most High; and (3) They turn/return but not upward. These interpretations have been presented as translation options in the Notes, because they all represent slightly different aspects of the same situation. For more information, see TWOT (#1624p), Hubbard (page 142), and Keil (page 110). For more discussion on the use of the Hebrew negative, see Biblical Hebrew Reference Grammar: The Syntax of Word Order §46.1. Verbal Clauses (2). Here are some other ways to translate this option:

They keep on turning away from me to a god that is powerless. (GNT)

They turn to a false god

They don’t return to the Most High (GW)

They return, but not upward (ESV)The translation “Most High” is an explicit reference to God. The translation “upward” is not explicit, but it can also refer to God (Keil, page 110).

In some languages, words such as turn or “return” refer only to physical movement, not to a change of belief.

If that is true in your language, here are some other ways to translate this clause:

They refuse to worship the Most High God.

They decide to trust a god who does not really exist.

7:16b

they are like a faulty bow.

They are like a bow with a defect.
They are unreliable like a crooked/warped bow that cannot be trusted to shoot an arrow straight.

they are like a faulty bow: This clause is a simile. It compares the people of Israel to a bow that is used to shoot arrows at enemy soldiers. The similarity between the people and a bow depends on the meaning of the Hebrew phrase that the BSB translates as faulty bow. This phrase is more literally “deceitful/treacherous bow” or “slack bow.”Scholars do not agree on the derivation of this Hebrew word. It may be derived from one root with two meanings (HALOT, #8840) or from two homonyms (TWOT, #2169a). There are two main ways to interpret this phrase:

The word faulty comes from a Hebrew word that means “deceitful” or “treacherous.” It refers to a bow that is unreliable, perhaps because it is warped. It cannot be trusted to shoot an arrow accurately and hit the target.Macintosh (pages 285–286), McComiskey (page 116), Wood (page 199). The simile indicates that the people were untrustworthy and deceitful. God could not rely on them to worship him sincerely and do what he wanted. For example:
they are like an unreliable bow (NET)
They are like a defective bow. (GW) (BSB, ESV, GNT, KJV, NAB, NASB, NET, NIV, NJB, NRSV)
The word faulty comes from a Hebrew word that means “slack.” It refers to a bow that has a loose bowstring. It is weak or useless, because the arrows do not reach their target. The simile indicates that the people were weak and helpless as a nation.Stuart (page 124). For example:
They are like a loose bow that can’t shoot. (NCV) (NCV, NJPS, REB)

The Display will follow interpretation (1), but both interpretations are appropriate similes for the people of Israel.

In the BSB, NET, and GW, the way in which the bow is “deceitful” is left implied. Some versions are more specific. For example:

They are as unreliable as a crooked bow. (GNT)

Some versions allow or combine aspects of both interpretations. For example:

They are as useless as a crooked bow. (NLT)

If you can translate in a similar way, it will be very acceptable.

If a term for bow is not known in your language area, you may use a general term. For example:

They are like a broken weapon

7:16c

Their leaders will fall by the sword for the cursing of their tongue;

Their rulers will die with/by the sword because of their angry, arrogant words.
Their leaders speak defiantly, so they will be killed.

Their leaders: The word that the BSB translates here as leaders probably refers to government or military rulers or officials. See the notes on 7:3a–b and 7:5a, where the BSB translated the same Hebrew word as “princes.”

will fall by the sword: This phrase means that someone will use a sword to kill their leaders.Stuart (page 125). The leaders will probably be assassinated or else killed in battle.Andersen and Freedman (page 479). Some versions state explicitly that they will die in battle, but the verse itself does not make that explicit. It is better to leave this detail unstated in the translation, as the BSB has done.

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

they will die a violent death (GNT)

the cursing of their tongue: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “the indignation of their tongue.”BART interlinear. This phrase refers to the anger expressed by their words. In this context, it is likely that the leaders’ anger was associated with their arroganceMacintosh (page 286). and was directed against the LORD.McComiskey (pages 116–117) and Keil (page 110). The BSB above is one way to describe this anger.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

their angry talk (REB)

the insolence of their tongues (NAB)

their leaders talk arrogantly (GNT)

7:16d

for this they will be ridiculed in the land of Egypt.

Because of this, the people of Egypt will mock them.
When the Egyptians hear about the death of these leaders, they will laugh at the people/Israelites.

for this they will be ridiculed in the land of Egypt: This clause indicates that people in Egypt will mock or laugh at the misfortune of the Israelites after the leaders of Israel are killed.

for this: The pronoun this refers to the death of the leaders of Israel. In some languages, the pronoun reference may need to be made explicit. For example:

Because of their death, the Egyptians will ridicule them

they will be ridiculed: This is a passive clause. In some languages, it may be preferable to change this into an active clause. For example:

Egyptians will laugh at them. (CEV)

So people will disdain them in the land of Egypt. (NET)

in the land of Egypt: This phrase indicates that the Egyptians are the ones who will ridicule the Israelites. It does not imply that the leaders were killed in Egypt. To make this clear some versions use a phrase such as “The Egyptians” instead of the phrase in the land of Egypt. For example:

The Egyptians will laugh (GNT)

The people in Egypt will ridicule them for this. (GW)

Parallel HOS 7:16

Section 6:4–7:16: The people persisted in their sins

7:16a

7:16b

7:16c

7:16d

General Information: