HOS 8:7 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 Bible-translators and others 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 early looks into the drafted 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) because they sow the wind and reap the whirlwind.
⇔ The standing grain has no heads—it yields no flour.
⇔ If it were to produce, strangers would grab it anyway.

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 Ὅτι ἀνεμόφθορα ἔσπειραν, καὶ ἡ καταστροφὴ αὐτῶν ἐκδέξεται αὐτά· δράγμα οὐκ ἔχον ἰσχὺν τοῦ ποιῆσαι ἄλευρον· ἐὰν δὲ καὶ ποιήσῃ, ἀλλότριοι καταφάγονται αὐτό.
(Hoti anemofthora espeiran, kai haʸ katastrofaʸ autōn ekdexetai auta; dragma ouk eⱪon isⱪun tou poiaʸsai aleuron; ean de kai poiaʸsaʸ, allotrioi katafagontai auto.)

BrTr for they sowed blighted seed, and their destruction shall await them, a sheaf of corn that avails not to make meal; and even if it should produce it, strangers shall devour it.

ULT For they sow wind,
⇔ and they will reap a whirlwind;
⇔ standing grain on which there is no head.
⇔ It will not yield flour.
⇔ If perhaps it yields,
⇔ strangers will swallow it up.

UST What the people of Israel have done is completely foolish, like trying to plant wind.
⇔ What they get in return will be terrible, like reaping a whirlwind.
⇔ Their plans will produce nothing good,
⇔ like grain stalks that have no heads and that can produce no flour.
⇔ Even if they did produce something,
⇔ foreigners would come and steal it all.

BSB For they sow the wind,
⇔ and they shall reap the whirlwind.
⇔ There is no standing grain;
⇔ what sprouts fails to yield flour.
⇔ Even if it should produce,
⇔ the foreigners would swallow it up.

MSB (Same as BSB above)

OEB They sow the wind and will reap the whirlwind.
⇔ A shoot which has no stalk, yields no fruit
⇔ If it should yield, strangers would devour it.

WEBBE For they sow the wind,
⇔ and they will reap the whirlwind.
⇔ He has no standing grain.
⇔ The stalk will yield no head.
⇔ If it does yield, strangers will swallow it up.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET They sow the wind,
⇔ and so they will reap the whirlwind!
⇔ The stalk does not have any standing grain;
⇔ it will not produce any flour.
⇔ Even if it were to yield grain,
⇔ foreigners would swallow it all up.

LSV For wind they sow, and a windstorm they reap,
Stalk it has none—a shoot not yielding grain,
If so be it yield—strangers swallow it up.

FBV Those who sow the wind will reap the whirlwind. The stalk has no head of grain; it will produce no flour. Even if it did produce grain, foreigners would swallow it all up.

T4T ⇔ The foolish thing that the people of Israel have done is like [MET] trying to plant wind;
⇔ but what they harvest will be like [MET] a whirlwind.
⇔ So the grain that they planted will have no heads on the stalks,
⇔ and as a result there will be no grain from which to make flour.
⇔ And if it did produce good grain,
⇔ foreigners would come and steal it.

LEB • Because they sow the wind,
  • they will reap the whirlwind.
• The standing grain does not have heads;[fn]
  • it will not yield flour.
• And if it would yield,
  • strangers would devour it.

8:? Hebrew “head”

BBE For they have been planting the wind, and their fruit will be the storm; his grain has no stem, it will give no meal, and if it does, a strange nation will take it.

Moff ⇔ They sow the wind and reap the storm.
⇔ No stalk on their shoot it bears no fruit.
⇔ If fruit it bore, a foreigner would devour it.

JPS For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind; it hath no stalk, the bud that shall yield no meal; if so be it yield, strangers shall swallow it up.

ASV For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: he hath no standing grain; the blade shall yield no meal; if so be it yield, strangers shall swallow it up.

DRA For they shall sow wind, and reap a whirlwind, there is no standing stalk in it, the bud shall yield no meal; and if it should yield, strangers shall eat it.

YLT For wind they sow, and a hurricane they reap, Stalk it hath none — a shoot not yielding grain, If so be it yield — strangers do swallow it up.

Drby For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk; should it sprout, it would yield no meal; if so be it yield, strangers shall swallow it up.

RV For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: he hath no standing corn; the blade shall yield no meal; if so be it yield, strangers shall swallow it up.
(For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: he hath/has no standing corn; the blade shall yield no meal; if so be it yield, strangers shall swallow it up.)

SLT For they shall sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: no stalk to it: the sprout shall not make flour: perhaps it will make, strangers will swallow it down.

Wbstr For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if it shall yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.

KJB-1769 For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.[fn]
(For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath/has no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.)

8.7 stalk: or, standing corn

KJB-1611 [fn]For they haue sowen the winde, and they shall reape the whirlewinde: it hath no stalke: the budde shall yeeld no meale: if so be it yeeld, the strangers shall swallow it vp.
(For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath/has no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal/flour: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.)

8:7 Or, standing corne.

Bshps They haue sowen winde, therfore shall they reape a whirlewinde: it hath no stalke, the bud shall bryng foorth no meale: and if haplie it do, straungers shall deuour it vp.
(They have sown wind, therefore shall they reap a whirlwind: it hath/has no stalk, the bud shall bring forth no meal/flour: and if haplie it do, strangers shall devour it up.)

Gnva For they haue sowne the winde, and they shall reape the whirlewind: it hath no stalke: the budde shall bring foorth no meale: if so be it bring forth, the strangers shall deuoure it.
(For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath/has no stalk: the bud shall bring forth no meal/flour: if so be it bring forth, the strangers shall devour it.)

Cvdl They haue sowne wynde, therfore shal they reepe a storme. Their sede shal beare no corne, there shal no meel be made of their increase: though yere be, yet shall straungers deuoure it vp.
(They have sown wind, therefore shall they reap a storm. Their seed shall bear no corn, there shall no meal/flour be made of their increase: though year be, yet shall strangers devour it up.)

Wycl For thei schulen sowe wynd, and thei schulen repe whirlewynd. A stalke stondynge is not in hem, the seed schal not make mele; that if also it makith mele, aliens schulen ete it.
(For they should sow wind, and they should reap whirlwind. A stalk standing is not in hem, the seed shall not make meal/flour; that if also it maketh/makes meal/flour, aliens/foreigners should eat it.)

Luth Denn sie säen Wind und werden Ungewitter einernten; ihre Saat soll nicht aufkommen und ihr Gewächs kein Mehl geben; und ob es geben würde, sollen‘s doch Fremde fressen.
(Because they/she/them sow wind and become storm harvest; their/her seed should not arise/come_up and you(pl)/their/her growth no/not flour give; and if/whether it give would, should though/but strangers eat.)

ClVg Quia ventum seminabunt, et turbinem metent: culmus stans non est in eo; germen non faciet farinam: quod etsi fecerit, alieni comedent eam.
(Because the_wind seminabunt, and turbinem they_will_reap/harvest: culmus standing not/no it_is in/into/on by_him; sprout not/no will_do farinam: that even_though he_did, strangers they_will_eat her.)

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 8:1–14: The Israelites will be punished for rejecting the LORD

In this section, the LORD warned the nation of Israel that enemies were ready to attack them, because they had rejected him and broken their agreement to obey his laws (8:1–3). They disobeyed him by choosing their own leaders (8:4a–b) and making idols (8:4c–6). Their alliance with Assyria failed, and they became weak agriculturally and also politically as a nation. Verse 8:10 predicts their future punishment as slaves in Assyria (8:7–10). The LORD did not accept the sacrifices they offered to him, because they continued to sin, so their cities faced total destruction (11–14).The TN analysis of this section follows the paragraph divisions used in a majority of English versions. The summary combines ideas from McComiskey (page 118), Davies (page 193), and Stuart (pages 126–127).

Here are some other examples of section headings:

The Lord Will Punish Israel for Its Rebellion (GW)

The LORD warned Israel that enemies would attack them

Warning that Israel will be Punished

Throughout this section, the LORD is the speaker. He referred to himself using first person pronouns (“I/me/my”) except for verse 13b–d, which has “he.” In this section, the Hebrew text almost always uses “they” or “he/it” to refer to the people or nation of Israel. The only exceptions are 8:1 and 8:5, which use the pronoun “your.” The CEV uses “you/your” consistently to refer to Israel. Most other versions use third person pronouns. The Display will follow the BSB pronoun choice in the first meaning line. It will often use “you/your” in the second meaning line.

Paragraph 8:7–10

This paragraph describes the agricultural and political weakness that resulted from Israel’s unsuccessful alliance with Assyria. It also predicts Israel’s future punishment as exiles in Assyria.

8:7

This verse uses terms from farming to describe the current agricultural weakness of Israel and its partial conquest by foreign troops.

8:7a–b

For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind.

¶ The people of Israel have planted the wind. They will harvest a typhoon/tornado.
¶ “It is as if they have planted the wind. Soon it will be as if they harvest a hurricane/cyclone.
¶ “Indeed, you^(plur) are like foolish farmers who plant a crop of wind. The only thing it will produce is a terrible/destructive wind storm!

Notice the parallel parts that form a saying:

^7aFor they sow the wind,

^7band they shall reap the whirlwind.

The Bible has various sayings about sowing and reaping. This saying is a complex metaphor about the undesirable consequences of the people’s actions. This metaphor compares the people to farmers who habitually plant a small crop (“the wind”) and harvest a much larger and undesirable crop (“the whirlwind”).

they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: In this metaphor, the wind represents the people’s foolish, worthless behavior. the whirlwind represents the severe punishment that they will receive as a result.Stuart (page 134).

Here are some other ways to translate this complex metaphor:

Keep the metaphor. For example:
“The people of Israel plant the wind, but they harvest a storm. (GW)
Change the metaphor of sowing and reaping to a simile. For example:
“What they habitually plant is like a wind, and what they will harvest is like a whirlwind.
Change the metaphor to a simile and make the meaning of the wind and/or the whirlwind explicit. For example:
“Israel's foolish actions are like planting the wind, but their punishment will be like harvesting a terrible storm.

In Hebrew, this saying begins with a conjunction that can be understood in at least two different ways in this context. Any of the following options is acceptable:

It introduces a statement that refers back to the people’s idol worship. For example:
For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. (BSB, RSV)
Indeed, they have planted wind and will harvest a storm!
It introduces the reason they will reap a whirlwind. The reason is because they have sown the wind. For example:
Since they sow the wind, they will reap the whirlwind (NJB)

In some languages, it may be more natural to leave the connection with the preceding verse(s) implied. Many versions, including the GW (quoted above) do this. Use a natural way in your language to indicate the relationship of 8:7a–b to the surrounding context.

whirlwind: In Hebrew, the word whirlwind in the metaphor refers to a wind storm that causes severe destruction.

If whirlwinds are not known in your language area, here are some ways to translate the word:

Use a descriptive term. For example:
violent wind storm
Use a word in your language for a similar storm that occurs in your area. For example:
typhoon
hurricane
sandstorm
cyclone

8:7c–d

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:Andersen and Freedman (page 499) consider these two lines to be parts of a conditional (“if”) statement: “If standing grain has no growth, it will produce no flour.” See also Stuart (page 134). The CEV, GNT, and GW combine these lines with the first part of the verse in different ways that suggest a similar condition. However, most scholars and versions treat these lines as parallel statements with the first line expressing an existing fact rather than a hypothetical condition.

^7c There is no standing grain;

^7d what sprouts fails to yield flour.

These lines continue to use farming terms, as in 8:7a–b. They describe a particular crop that does not produce grain.

8:7c

There is no standing grain;

The plants/stalks have no heads of grain/wheat.
No grain/wheat has grown on the tall plants/stalks.

There is no standing grain: This clause refers to a wheat or barley plant.According to HALOT (electronic edition, p. 1108), the plant described here is probably wheat, but may also be barley. This kind of plant has a head at the top of the stalk that produces kernels of grain. The grain plant that is described here has grown tall in a field. But it has no grain on it, so there is nothing to harvest.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

There are no heads on the standing grain (REB)

A field of grain that does not ripen (GW)

No grain/wheat has grown on the tall plants

8:7d

what sprouts fails to yield flour.

There is nothing to grind to make flour.
Your^(plur) crop is like a wheat plant with no head/grain. It produces nothing to eat.

what sprouts fails to yield flour: This clause means that what sprouts will not produce any grain. As a result, there will be nothing to grind into flour.

flour: In Hebrew, this word can refer to either flour or grain/wheat that is ready to be ground into flour.HALOT (electronic edition, p. 1108), Keil (page 114), Macintosh (page 312), and McComiskey (page 128) understand the meaning to be grain ready to be ground into flour. TWOT (#2033a) and Andersen and Freedman (page 499) understand the meaning to be flour. You may translate it either way. If you translate it as flour (as in the BSB), make sure that the connection between the plant and flour is clearly understood. In some cases, it may be clear from your translation of 8:7c.

Here are some ways to translate this clause:

The result is that there is no flour.

so there is nothing to use for making flour

there is no wheat to grind into flour

You may also translate in a more general way. For example:

it produces nothing (NCV)

8:7e

Even if it should produce, the foreigners would swallow it up.

Even if it could/did produce grain/something, foreigners would eat it.
But/And if there is something to harvest, people from other countries will eat/take all of it.

Even if it should produce, the foreigners would swallow it up: In Hebrew, the first clause functions like a conditional (if) statement. It describes a hypothetical situation. Even if the plants did produce some grain, foreigners would eat it.

Here are some other ways to translate both clauses:

Even if it did produce grain, foreigners would eat it all. (GW)

And even if there is any grain, foreigners will eat it. (NLT)

Even if it should produce: In Hebrew, the object of produce is only implied. Some versions translate this clause in a general way. For example:

But even if it did (GNT)

Even if it produced something (NCV)

Other versions make what it produces explicit. For example:

it will produce no flour (NIV)

Even if you harvest grain (CEV)

the foreigners would swallow it up: The Hebrew word for foreigners is literally “strangers.” It refers here to people from enemy nations who have invaded the land of Israel.HALOT (electronic edition, p. 279) identifies the “strangers” as people who are not Israelites.

Here is another way to translate this line:

people from other countries would take it and eat it

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ר֥וּחַ יִזְרָ֖עוּ

wind sow

Yahweh is speaking of the actions of the Israelites being completely futile as if they were farmers trying sow wind, or plant and grow more wind. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [they do completely useless things]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

וְ⁠סוּפָ֣תָ⁠ה יִקְצֹ֑רוּ

and,a,storm-wind reap

Yahweh is speaking of the outcome of the Israelites’ actions being devastating as if the harvest they are able to reap from sowing the wind, turns out to be a whirlwind. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [and all they will get is destruction]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

קָמָ֣ה אֵֽין־ל֗⁠וֹ צֶ֚מַח בְּלִ֣י יַֽעֲשֶׂה־קֶּ֔מַח

standing_grain not to=him/it heads no yield flour

Yahweh is speaking of Israel’s futile efforts with only destruction as an outcome as if the farmer ended up with nothing but barren stalks or standing grain on which there is no head. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [they will produce nothing useful with all their efforts]

Note 4 topic: grammar-connect-condition-hypothetical

זָרִ֖ים יִבְלָעֻֽ⁠הוּ

foreigners they,will_swallow_it

This line introduces the consequence of the possible condition proposed in the previous line. Yahweh is presenting the consequence of a possible condition that even if the stalks turn out to yield something, then strangers will come and take it all, leaving them with nothing. Use a natural form in your language for introducing a condition that could happen. Alternate translation: [then strangers will swallow it up]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor