Hosea 8:9-10
New English Translation
Israel’s Hired Lovers
9 They have gone up to Assyria,
like a wild donkey that wanders off.
Ephraim has hired prostitutes as lovers.[a]
10 Even though they have hired lovers among the nations,[b]
I will soon gather them together for judgment.[c]
Then[d] they will begin to waste away
under the oppression of a mighty king.[e]
Footnotes
- Hosea 8:9 tn Or “has hired herself out to lovers”; cf. NIV “has sold herself to lovers.”
- Hosea 8:10 tn Or “they have hired themselves out to lovers”; cf. NASB “they hire allies among the nations.”
- Hosea 8:10 tn The Piel stem of קָבַץ (qavats) is often used in a positive sense, meaning “to regather” a dispersed people (HALOT 1063 s.v. קבץ 3.a; BDB 868 s.v. קָבַץ 1.α). However, in Hosea 8:10 it is used in a negative sense, meaning “to assemble (people) for judgment” (e.g., Ezek 20:34; Hos 9:6; HALOT 1063 s.v. 3.e.i). Cf. JPS “I will hold them fast” (in judgment; see the parallel in 9:6).
- Hosea 8:10 tn The vav consecutive + preterite וַיָּחֵלּוּ (vayyakhellu, Hiphil preterite third person common plural from חָלַל, khalal, “to begin”]) denotes temporal subordination to the preceding clause: “then…” (so NLT); cf. TEV, CEV “Soon.”
- Hosea 8:10 tn Heb “a king of princes” (cf. KJV, NASB); cf. TEV “the emperor of Assyria.”
Hosea 8:9-10
New American Standard Bible
9 For they have gone up to (A)Assyria,
Like (B)a wild donkey all alone;
Ephraim has (C)paid fees for [a]lovers.
10 Even though they [b]pay for allies among the nations,
I will (D)gather them up now;
And they will begin (E)to diminish
Because of the burden of the (F)king of officials.
Footnotes
- Hosea 8:9 Lit love gifts
- Hosea 8:10 Or recruit allies
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