translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: HOS

label: NET translator note

text: Heb “For you have stumbled in your iniquity”; NASB, NRSV “because of your iniquity.”


text: Heb “Take words with you and return to the Lord ” (so NASB, NIV, NRSV).


text: The word order כָּל־תִּשָּׂא עָוֹן ( kol-tisa ’ ’ avon ) is syntactically awkward. The BHS editors suggest rearranging the word order: תִּשָּׂא כָּל־עוֹן (“Forgive all [our] iniquity!”). However, Gesenius suggests that כָּל (“all”) does not function as the construct in the genitive phrase כָּל־עוֹן (“all [our] iniquity”); it functions adverbially modifying the verb תִּשָּׂא (“Completely forgive!”; see GKC 415 §128. e ).


text: Heb “and accept [our] speech.” The word טוֹב ( tov ) is often confused with the common homonymic root I טוֹב ( tov , “good”; BDB 373 s.v. I טוֹב ). However, this is probably IV טוֹב ( tov , “word, speech”; HALOT 372 s.v. IV טוֹב ), a hapax legomenon that is related to the verb טבב (“to speak”; HALOT 367 s.v. טבב ) and the noun טִבָּה ( tibbah , “rumor”; HALOT 367 s.v. טִבָּה ). The term טוֹב (“word; speech”) refers to the repentant prayer mentioned in 14:1-3 . Most translations relate it to I טוֹב and treat it as (1) accusative direct object: “accept that which is good” (RSV, NJPS), “Accept our good sacrifices” (CEV), or (2) adverbial accusative of manner: “receive [us] graciously” (KJV, NASB, NIV). Note TEV, however, which follows the suggestion made here: “accept our prayer.”


label: NET textual note

text: The MT reads פָרִים ( farim , “bulls”), but the LXX reflects פְּרִי ( pÿri , “fruit”), a reading followed by NASB, NIV, NRSV: “that we may offer the fruit of [our] lips [as sacrifices to you].” Although the Greek expression in Heb 13:15 ( καρπὸν χειλέων , karpon xeilewn , “the fruit of lips”) reflects this LXX phrase, the MT makes good sense as it stands; NT usage of the LXX should not be considered decisive in resolving OT textual problems. The noun פָרִים ( parim , “bulls”) functions as an adverbial accusative of state.


text: Heb “For the orphan is shown compassion by you.” The present translation takes “orphan” as a figurative reference to Israel, which is specified in the translation for clarity.


text: The noun נְדָבָה ( nÿdavah , “voluntariness; free-will offering”) is an adverbial accusative of manner: “freely, voluntarily” (BDB 621 s.v. נְדָבָה 1). Cf. CEV “without limit”; TEV “with all my heart”; NLT “my love will know no bounds.”


text: Heb “like Lebanon” (so KJV; also in the following verse). The phrase “a cedar of” does not appear in the Hebrew text; it is supplied in translation for clarity. Cf. TEV “the trees of Lebanon”; NRSV “the forests of Lebanon.”


text: Hosea uses the similar-sounding terms יָשֻׁבוּ יֹשְׁבֵי ( yashuvu yoshve , “the dwellers will return”) to create a wordplay between the roots שׁוּב ( shuv , “to return”) and יָשַׁב ( yashav , “to dwell; to reside”).


text: Heb “they will cause the grain to live” or “they will revive the grain.” Some English versions treat this as a comparison: “they shall revive as the corn” (KJV); “will flourish like the grain” (NIV).


text: The Hebrew expression מַה־לִּי עוֹד ( mah-li ’ od ) is a formula of repudiation/emphatic denial that God has anything in common with idols: “I want to have nothing to do with […] any more!” Cf., e.g., Judg 11:12 ; 2 Sam 16:10; 19:23 ; 1 Kgs 17:18 ; 2 Kgs 3:13 ; 2 Chr 35:21 ; Jer 2:18 ; Ps 50:16 ; BDB 553 s.v. מָה 1.d.(c).


text: The term “like” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarity, as in the majority of English versions (including KJV).


text: Cf. KJV “a green fir tree”; NIV, NCV “a green pine tree”; NRSV “an evergreen cypress.”


text: Heb “your fruit is found in me”; NRSV “your faithfulness comes from me.”


text: The shortened form of the prefix-conjugation verb וְיָבֵן ( vÿyaven ) indicates that it is a jussive rather than an imperfect. When a jussive comes from a superior to an inferior, it may connote exhortation and instruction or advice and counsel. For the functions of the jussive, see IBHS 568-70 §34.3.