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) The prophet is the watchman over Efrayim/Yisrael with my god,
⇔ but the bird-catcher’s traps are on all of his paths,
⇔ and there’s hostility in his god’s house.

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 Σκοπὸς Ἐφραὶμ μετὰ Θεοῦ· προφήτης παγὶς σκολιὰ ἐπὶ πάσας τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτοῦ, μανίαν ἐν οἴκῳ Θεοῦ κατέπηξαν.
(Skopos Efraim meta Theou; profaʸtaʸs pagis skolia epi pasas tas hodous autou, manian en oikōi Theou katepaʸxan. )

BrTr The watchman of Ephraim was with God: the prophet is a crooked snare in all his ways: they have established madness in the house of God.

ULT The prophet is the watchman with my God over Ephraim.
⇔ But the snare of a fowler is on all of his ways,
⇔ and hostility in the house of his God.

UST True prophets are people whom God has assigned to guard the people of Israel.
⇔ But everywhere they go, others set traps for them;
⇔ even in the temple of their God, others hate them.

9:8 Or The prophet is the watchman over Ephraim, the people of my God

OEB Ephraim acts the spy with my God,
⇔ a prophet finds the snares of a fowler are in all his ways.
⇔ In the house of his God they lay hostile plots,

WEBBE A prophet watches over Ephraim with my God.
⇔ A fowler’s snare is on all of his paths,
⇔ and hostility in the house of his God.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET The prophet is a watchman over Ephraim on behalf of God,
⇔ yet traps are laid for him along all of his paths;
⇔ animosity rages against him in the land of his God.

LSV Ephraim is looking [away] from My God,
The prophet! A snare of a fowler [is] over all his ways,
Hatred [is] in the house of his God.

FBV The watchman over Ephraim is with my God, and a prophet is a birdcatcher's snare on all his ways.[fn] Hatred is in the house of his God

9:8 Some have seen this as the work of a false prophet, but bearing in my Israel's sinfulness, a true prophet would be regarded by the people as setting snares for them, following the reasoning of the preceding verse.

T4T My God appointed me and the other prophets
⇔ to be like [MET] watchmen to warn you people of Israel,
⇔ but everywhere that we go, it is as though people set traps for us
⇔ and people are hostile to us, even in the temple of our God.

LEB • The prophet keeps watch over Ephraim for my God; the snare of a fowler is on all his ways,
• and hostility in the house of his God.

BBE There is great hate against the watchman of Ephraim, the people of my God; as for the prophet, there is a net in all his ways, and hate in the house of his God.

Moff The prophet is God’s watchman,
⇔ placed over Ephraim,
⇔ and yet his paths are snared;
⇔ within the temple of his God
⇔ men are hostile to him!–

JPS Ephraim is a watchman with my God; as for the prophet, a fowler's snare is in all his ways, and enmity in the house of his God.

ASV Ephraim was a watchman with my God: as for the prophet, a fowler’s snare is in all his ways, and enmity in the house of his God.

DRA The watchman of Ephraim was with my God: the prophet is become a snare of ruin upon all his ways, madness is in the house of his God.

YLT Ephraim is looking [away] from My God, The prophet! a snare of a fowler [is] over all his ways, Hatred [is] in the house of his God.

Drby Is Ephraim a watchman with my [fn]God? [nay] the prophet is a fowler's snare on all his ways, enmity in the house of his [fn]God.

9.8 Elohim

RV Ephraim was a watchman with my God: as for the prophet, a fowler’s snare is in all his ways, and enmity in the house of his God.

SLT The watchman of Ephraim with God: the prophet the snare of a fowler upon all his ways; destruction in the house of his God.

Wbstr The watchman of Ephraim was with my God: but the prophet is a snare of a fowler in all his ways, and hatred in the house of his God.

KJB-1769 The watchman of Ephraim was with my God: but the prophet is a snare of a fowler in all his ways, and hatred in the house of his God.[fn]

9.8 in the: or, against the

KJB-1611 [fn]The watchman of Ephraim was with my God: but the Prophet is a snare of a fouler in all his wayes, and hatred in the house of his God.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and footnotes)

9:8 Or, against

Bshps The watchman of Ephraim was with my God but the prophete is the snare of a fouler in all his wayes, and an abhomination in the house of his God.
(The watchman of Ephraim was with my God but the prophet is the snare of a fowler in all his ways, and an abomination/disgusting_thing in the house of his God.)

Gnva The watchman of Ephraim shoulde bee with my God: but the Prophet is the snare of a fouler in all his waies, and hatred in the House of his God.
(The watchman of Ephraim should be with my God: but the Prophet is the snare of a fowler in all his ways, and hatred in the House of his God. )

Cvdl Ephraim hath made himself a watchman of my God, a prophet yt is become a snare to do hurte in euery strete, and abhominacion in the house of his God.
(Ephraim hath/has made himself a watchman of my God, a prophet it is become a snare to do hurt in every street, and abomination/disgusting_thing in the house of his God.)

Wycl The biholdere of Effraym with my God is a profete; a snare of fallyng is maad now on alle the weies of hym, woodnesse is in the hous of his God.
(The beholder of Ephraim with my God is a prophet; a snare of falling is made now on all the ways of him, madness/wildness is in the house of his God.)

Luth Die Wächter in Ephraim hielten sich etwa an meinen GOtt; aber nun sind sie Propheten, die Stricke legen auf allen ihren Wegen durch die feindselige Abgötterei im Hause ihres Gottes.
(The watchman/keeper in Ephraim held/kept itself/yourself/themselves approximately at/to my God; but now are they/she/them prophet(s), the rope/cord place on/in/to all/everyone your(pl) ways/Because_of through the hostile idolatry in_the house theirs/hers God’s.)

ClVg Speculator Ephraim cum Deo meo, propheta laqueus ruinæ factus est super omnes vias ejus; insania in domo Dei ejus.
(Speculator Ephraim when/with to_God mine, a_prophet trap fall/ruins became it_is over everyone ways/roads his; insania in/into/on at_home of_God his. )

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 9:1–9: The LORD will punish the Israelites

This section warns the people of Israel that the LORD will punish them because they have been unfaithful to him. When that happens, the people will no longer be able to celebrate at harvest time or enjoy the crops from their land. The section describes aspects of daily life that the people in Israel would clearly understand. Some examples are harvest festivals (9:1, 5), threshing grain and making wine (9:2), unclean food (9:3–4), offerings and sacrifices (9:4), briers and thorns (9:6), and prophets (9:7–8). There is also an indirect reference to Israel’s past (9:9).

Here are some other examples of section headings:

The Lord Will Punish Israel (ESV)

Hosea announces Israel’s Punishment (NLT)

Israel Will Be Punished (CEV)

The Sorrows of Exile (NJB)

Paragraph 9:7–9

In this paragraph, Hosea warns the people that God’s judgment is certain because of their many sins. This judgment will involve the total destruction of their cities (See Paragraph 8:11–14). Because of this devastation, few if any people will be able to live in the land. Those who escape death will face future punishment as slaves/exiles in Assyria (See the notes on 8:10b and 8:10c).

9:8a

The prophet is Ephraim’s watchman, along with my God,

The prophet watches over Ephraim as a representative of my God,
My God sent me, his prophet, to warn you^(plur) Israelites,

The prophet is Ephraim’s watchman, along with my God: There is a textual issue with the division of clause parts that affects the identity of the watchman:

The watchman is the prophet. The Hebrew clause is literally “a watchman Ephraim with my God a prophet.” For example:
The prophet is a watchman over Israel for my God (NLT) (BSB, CEV, ESV, GNT, GW, NASB, NET, NIV, NJB, NLT, NRSV, REB)
The watchman is Ephraim. The Hebrew clause is literally “a watchman Ephraim with my God.” The next clause begins with “A prophet….” For example:
Ephraim watches for my God. As for the prophet… (NJPS) (NASB, NJPS)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with most versions and scholars.Additional support for this interpretation: 1) Jeremiah (6:17) and Ezekiel (3:17) also use the metaphor of prophets as God’s watchman in a way that is comparable to its use here in Hosea 9:8. See Hubbard (page 159). 2) The metaphor of wicked people as trappers is compatible with the metaphor Hosea uses earlier in 5:1–2. 3) The repetition of the rare word “animosity” in both 9:7 and 9:8 suggests a pattern. Andersen and Freedman (page 534) says: “Since animosity is parallel to iniquity in 7b, and parallel to the trap in 8b, the word is probably intended to describe hostility against the prophet.”

prophet: Here the prophet is probably Hosea.The phrase “my God” in this clause suggests that Hosea is referring to himself here. The GW translates “prophet” as “prophets.” “Prophets are God’s watchmen over Ephraim.” However, in Hebrew the word “prophet” is singular. In some languages, it may be confusing for Hosea to refer to himself as the prophet.

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

God has sent me as a prophet to warn his people Israel. (GNT)

My LORD sent me, his prophet, to watch over you.

along with my God: There is a textual issue with the Hebrew phrase that the BSB translates as along with my God:

The original phrase was with my God. It indicates that the prophet was associated with God, and that God and the prophet watched over Ephraim.McComiskey (page 145). For example:
The prophet is a watchman over Ephraim on behalf of God (NET)
Israel, the Lord sent me to look after you. (CEV) (BSB, CEV, ESV, GNT, GW, KJV, NAB, NET, NIV, NJB, NLT, NRSV, REB)
Some scholars suggest that the original phrase was “the people of my God.” For example:
The prophet is the watchman of Ephraim, the people of my God (RSV) (RSV)

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

my God: Hosea says my God rather than “your God” or “our God.” Hosea may intend to imply that his God is no longer their God.Andersen and Freedman (page 534).

watchman: In the time of the Old Testament, a watchman was a person who was stationed on the large wall that surrounded a town. His job was to keep watch and inform people of any danger that he saw.TWOT (#1950). In this context, this term is used as a metaphor to describe God’s prophet.Stuart (page 146).

9:8b–c

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^8b yet the snare of the fowler lies on all his paths.

^8c Hostility is in the house of his God!

These lines indicate that the people of Israel responded to Hosea’s warnings with hostility.

yet the snare of the fowler lies on all his paths. Hostility is in the house of his God!: These verse parts are literally “a trap of a fowler on all his ways animosity in the house of his God.” There are two main ways to interpret the identity of the trapper:

The trapper is the people of Israel. For example:
yet traps are laid in front of him wherever he goes. He faces hostility even in the house of God. (NLT) (BSB, CEV, ESV, GNT, GW, NET, NJB, NJPS, NLT, NRSV)
The trapper is the prophet. For example:
but the prophet is a snare of a fowler in all his ways, and hatred in the house of his God (KJV) (KJV, REB)

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

9:8b

yet the snare of the fowler lies on all his paths.

yet traps are set to catch him everywhere he goes.
but wherever I go, you^(plur) try to trap me like a bird.

yet the snare of the fowler lies on all his paths: This line is a metaphor that compares the people of Israel to people who trap birds. A bird trapper catches birds. Similarly, the people want to trap Hosea to cause him harm.McComiskey (page 145). Hosea uses a similar metaphor in 5:1.

In some versions, such as the BSB above, the identity of the bird trapper is left implied. Some versions make explicit that Israel is the trapper. For example:

Israel, the Lord sent me to look after you. But you trap his prophets. (CEV)

his paths: This phrase refers to Hosea’s regular activities as a prophet.Ibid.

9:8c

Hostility is in the house of his God!

Even in the temple/house of God he faces hostility.
You^(plur) show me hatred in the very temple/house of God.

Hostility is in the house of his God!: This clause repeats the word Hostility from 9:7g. The repetition here may reinforce how intense their hatred was of Hosea and his warnings. They expressed their hatred even in the temple, the house of God.The NET has “animosity rages against him in the land of his God.” Other versions all refer specifically to the temple, not to the land of Israel.

Here are some other ways to translate this verse part:

He faces hostility even in the house of God. (NLT)

Even in God's Temple the people are the prophet's enemies. (GNT)

There is enmity in the very temple of God. (REB)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

General Information:

Hosea the prophet is speaking.

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

(Occurrence 0) The prophet is the watchman for my God over Ephraim