HOS (Hosea)
HOS.1 • HOS.2 • HOS.3 • HOS.4 • HOS.5 • HOS.6 • HOS.7 • HOS.8 • HOS.9 • HOS.10 • HOS.11 • HOS.12 • HOS.13 • HOS.14
HOS.1
[HOS.1.1] The word of Yahveh that was given to Hosea son of Beeri in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam son of Joash king of Israel. [§]
D'var Yahveh asher hayah el-Hoshea ben-Beeri bimei Uzziyah Yotham Achaz Y'khizqiyah mal'chei Yehudah uvi-mey Yarev'am ben-Yoash malek Yisrael.
'D'var' means 'word', 'Yahveh' is the literal translation of the divine name YHVH, 'asher' means 'that', 'hayah' means 'was', 'el' here is the preposition 'to' (not the divine name El), 'Hoshea' is the name 'Hosea', 'ben' means 'son of', 'Beeri' is a proper name, 'bimei' means 'in the days of', 'Uzziyah' is the name 'Uzziah', 'Yotham' is the name 'Jotham', 'Achaz' is the name 'Ahaz', 'Y'khizqiyah' is the name 'Hezekiah', 'mal'chei' means 'kings of', 'Yehudah' is 'Judah', 'uvi-mey' means 'and in the days of', 'Yarev'am' is the name 'Jeroboam', 'ben' means 'son of', 'Yoash' is the name 'Joash', 'malek' means 'king', 'Yisrael' is 'Israel'.
[HOS.1.2] The beginning of the word of Yahveh concerning Hosea. And Yahveh said to Hosea, Go take for yourself a prostitute woman and prostitute children, because the land will prostitute after Yahveh. [§]
techilat diber-yahveh behoshea vayomer yahveh el-hoshea lek kach-lekha eshet zenunim veyaldei zenunim ki-zanoo tizzneh haaretz meacharei yahveh
'techilat' means 'the beginning', 'diber' means 'word' (or 'utterance'), 'yahveh' is the literal translation of the divine name YHVH, 'behoshea' means 'in Hosea', 'vayomer' means 'and said', 'el-hoshea' means 'to Hosea', 'lek' means 'go', 'kach-lekha' means 'take for yourself', 'eshet' means 'woman', 'zenunim' means 'of prostitution' (a prostitute), 'veyaldei' means 'and children of', 'ki' means 'because', 'zanoo' means 'the land will be unfaithful', 'tizzneh' means 'will prostitute', 'haaretz' means 'the land', 'meacharei' means 'after', 'yahveh' again the divine name.
[HOS.1.3] And he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. [§]
Vayeilech vayikkach et Gomer bat Diblaim vatahhar vatelad lo ben.
'Vayeilech' means 'and he went', 'vayikkach' means 'and he took', 'et' is the direct object marker (not translated), 'Gomer' is a proper name, 'bat' means 'daughter of', 'Diblaim' is a place name, 'vatahhar' means 'and she conceived', 'vatelad' means 'and she bore', 'lo' means 'to him' or 'for him', and 'ben' means 'a son'.
[HOS.1.4] And Yahveh said to him, Call his name Yizrael, for soon I will avenge the blood of Yizrael upon the house of Yahveh, and I will break the kingdom of the house of Israel. [§]
Vayomer Yahveh elav kara shemo Yizrael ki od me'at u-fakadti et-dmei Yizrael al beit Yehoua ve-hishbati mamlakhet beit Yisrael.
'Vayomer' means 'and said', 'Yahveh' is the literal translation of YHVH, 'elav' means 'to him', 'kara' means 'call', 'shemo' means 'his name', 'Yizrael' is a proper name meaning 'he will sow Israel', 'ki' means 'for', 'od' means 'still' or 'yet', 'me'at' means 'a little (time)', 'u-fakadti' means 'and I will punish/avenge', 'et-dmei' means 'the blood of', 'Yizrael' repeats the name, 'al' means 'upon', 'beit' means 'house of', 'Yehoua' is a theophoric form of the divine name and is rendered literally as 'Yahveh', 've-hishbati' means 'and I will break', 'mamlakhet' means 'kingdom', 'beit Yisrael' means 'the house of Israel'.
[HOS.1.5] And it shall be in that day that I will break Israel's bow in the valley of Jezreel. [§]
vehayah bayyom hahu ve-shavarti et keshes Yisrael be-emek Yizrael
'vehayah' means 'and it shall be', 'bayyom' means 'in the day', 'hahu' means 'that', 've-shavarti' means 'and I will break', 'et' is the direct‑object marker (not translated), 'keshes' means 'bow', 'Yisrael' means 'Israel', 'be-emek' means 'in the valley', 'Yizrael' is the proper name 'Jezreel'.
[HOS.1.6] And she conceived again and gave birth to a daughter, and he said to him, 'Call her name No Compassion, because I will not again have compassion on the house of Israel, for I will lift a burden for them.' [§]
Vatahar od vateled bat vayomer lo qra shemah lo ruchamah ki lo osif od arachem et-beit Yisrael ki-naso esha lahem.
'Vatahar' means 'and she conceived', 'od' means 'again', 'vateled' means 'and gave birth', 'bat' means 'a daughter', 'vayomer' means 'and he said', 'lo' means 'to him', 'qra' means 'call', 'shemah' means 'her name', 'lo' means 'not', 'ruchamah' means 'compassion' or 'mercy', 'ki' means 'because', 'lo' means 'not', 'osif' means 'I will add/continue', 'od' means 'anymore', 'arachem' means 'I will have compassion', 'et-beit' means 'the house of', 'Yisrael' means 'Israel', 'ki' means 'for', 'naso' means 'I will lift' or 'carry', 'esha' means 'a burden', 'lahem' means 'for them'.
[HOS.1.7] And the house of Judah I will have mercy on, and I will save them in Yahveh their Gods, and I will not save them with bow and with sword and with war, with horses and with chariots. [§]
Ve'et-bet Yehudah arachem vehosha'tim baYahveh Eloheihem velo oshieam beqeshet uvecheret uvmilchamah bususim uvparashim.
'Ve'et' means 'and (the)'. 'bet Yehudah' means 'house of Judah'. 'arachem' means 'I will have mercy on them'. 'vehosha'tim' means 'and I will save them'. 'baYahveh' means 'in Yahveh' (YHVH rendered as Yahveh). 'Eloheihem' means 'their Gods' (Elohim rendered as the Gods). 'velo' means 'and not'. 'oshieam' means 'I will save them'. 'beqeshet' means 'with a bow'. 'uvecheret' means 'and with a sword'. 'uvmilchamah' means 'and in war'. 'bususim' means 'with horses'. 'uvparashim' means 'and with chariots'.
[HOS.1.8] And she acted without compassion, and she became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son. [§]
Vattigmol et lo ruhamah vattahar vatted led ben.
'Vattigmol' means 'and she acted' (from the root meaning to be satisfied or to act), 'et' is the direct object marker, 'lo' means 'no' or 'not', 'ruhamah' means 'compassion' or 'mercy', so 'et lo ruhamah' = 'without compassion'. 'Vattahar' means 'and she became pregnant' (from the root meaning to conceive), 'vatted' means 'and she gave birth', and 'ben' means 'son'.
[HOS.1.9] And he said, 'Call his name, not my people, for you are not my people, and I will not be yours.' [§]
Vayomer kera shmo lo ammi ki atem lo ammi ve-anokhi lo-ehye lakhem.
'Vayomer' means 'and he said', 'kera' means 'call', 'shmo' means 'his name', 'lo' means 'not', 'ammi' means 'my people', 'ki' means 'because', 'atem' means 'you (plural)', 've-anokhi' means 'and I', 'lo-ehye' means 'will not be', 'lakhem' means 'to you'.
HOS.2
[HOS.2.1] And it shall be that the number of the children of Israel shall be like the sand of the sea, which shall not endure and shall not be counted; and it shall be in a place where it shall be said to them, 'You are not my people,' and it shall be said to them, 'Children of the Living God.' [§]
vehayah mispar b'nei Yisrael kechol ha-yam asher lo-yimmad ve-lo yisaper vehayah bi-makom asher ye'amer lahem lo ami atem ye'amer lahem b'nei El chai.
'vehayah' means 'and it shall be', 'mispar' means 'number', 'b'nei' means 'the sons of', 'Yisrael' means 'Israel', 'kechol' means 'like the sand', 'ha-yam' means 'the sea', 'asher' means 'that', 'lo-yimmad' means 'shall not endure', 've-lo' means 'and not', 'yisaper' means 'be counted', 'bi-makom' means 'in a place', 'ye'amer' means 'shall be said', 'lahem' means 'to them', 'lo ami' means 'not my people', 'atem' means 'you (plural)', 'b'nei' means 'sons', 'El' means 'God' (translated as 'God'), 'chai' means 'living' so 'El chai' is rendered as 'Living God'.
[HOS.2.2] And the sons of Judah and the sons of Israel were gathered together, and they set for themselves one leader, and they went up from the land, because the day of Yizrael is great. [§]
ve-nikb'tsu v'nei-judah u'venei-israel yachda ve-samu lahem rosh echad ve-alu min-haaretz ki gadol yom yizrael.
've' means 'and', 'nikb'tsu' means 'they were gathered', 'v'nei-judah' means 'the sons of Judah', 'u'venei-israel' means 'and the sons of Israel', 'yachda' means 'together', 've-samu' means 'and they set/appointed', 'lahem' means 'for them', 'rosh' means 'head/leader', 'echad' means 'one', 've-alu' means 'and they went up', 'min-haaretz' means 'from the land', 'ki' means 'because', 'gadol' means 'great', 'yom' means 'day', 'yizrael' is a proper name meaning 'Yizrael'.
[HOS.2.3] Speak to your brothers, My people, and to your sisters, comfort. [§]
Imru la'acheichem ami ve'la'achoteichem ruchamah.
'Imru' means 'Speak' or 'Say', 'la'acheichem' means 'to your brothers', 'ami' means 'my people', 've'la'achoteichem' means 'and to your sisters', 'ruchamah' means 'comfort' or 'consolation'.
[HOS.2.4] Argue with your mother, argue, for she is not my wife and I am not her husband; turn away her prostitution from before her and her shameful things between her breasts. [§]
Rivu be'immekhem rivu ki hi lo ishti ve'anokhi lo isha ve'taser zenuneha mipaneha ve'na'afupheha mibein shadeha.
'Rivu' means 'argue' or 'contend', 'be'immekhem' means 'with your mother', the second 'rivu' repeats the command, 'ki' means 'because' or 'for', 'hi' means 'she', 'lo' means 'not', 'ishti' means 'my wife', 've'anokhi' means 'and I', the second 'lo' again means 'not', 'isha' means 'her husband', 've'taser' means 'and turn away', 'zenuneha' means 'her prostitution' or 'her harlotry', 'mipaneha' means 'from before her' or 'in front of her', 've'na'afupheha' is a bit obscure but is understood as 'and her [shameful] things', 'mibein' means 'between', and 'shadeha' means 'her breasts'. The verse is a literal, word‑for‑word rendering of the Hebrew.
[HOS.2.5] Lest I uncover it naked and display it as on the day of its birth, and set it like a desert, and pour it upon the dry land, and cause it to die in thirst. [§]
pen afshitena aruma vehitzagtiha keyom hiwaldeha vesamtiha kamidbar vesatitha kearets tsiyah vahamittah batzama.
'pen' means 'lest', 'afshitena' means 'I will uncover', 'aruma' means 'naked', 'vehitzagtiha' means 'and I will display it', 'keyom' means 'as a day', 'hiwaldeha' means 'of its birth', 'vesamtiha' means 'and I will set it', 'kamidbar' means 'like a desert', 'vesatitha' means 'and I will pour it', 'kearets' means 'as the land', 'tsiyah' means 'dry', 'vahamittah' means 'and I will cause it to die', 'batzama' means 'in thirst'.
[HOS.2.6] And I will not have mercy on her sons, because they are sons of prostitutes. [§]
ve'et baneha lo arachem ki b'nei zenunim hemah.
've'et' means 'and (with the object marker)', 'baneha' means 'her sons', 'lo' means 'not', 'arachem' means 'I will have mercy', 'ki' means 'because', 'b'nei' means 'sons of', 'zenunim' means 'prostitutes' (or 'harlots'), 'hemmah' means 'they are'.
[HOS.2.7] Because she prostituted her mother, she shamed their instruction, because she said, 'I will go after my lovers, those who give my bread and my waters, my spices and my desire, my oil and my drunkenness.' [§]
ki zanetah imam hovisha horatam ki amra elkah acharei meahavai notnei lachmi umeimai tsamri upishti shamni veshikuy.
'ki' means 'because', 'zanetah' means 'she prostituted' or 'was unfaithful', 'imam' means 'her mother', 'hovisha' means 'shamed', 'horatam' means 'their instruction' or 'their teaching', 'ki' again means 'because', 'amra' means 'she said', 'elkah' means 'I will go', 'acharei' means 'after' or 'behind', 'meahavai' means 'my lovers' or 'those who love me', 'notnei' means 'those who give', 'lachmi' means 'my bread', 'umeimai' means 'my waters', 'tsamri' means 'my spices' or 'my delicacies', 'upishti' means 'my desire' or 'my fornication', 'shamni' means 'my oil', and 'veshikuy' means 'my drunkenness' or 'my drink'.
[HOS.2.8] Therefore, behold, I will draw your way in the pots and I will fence its fence and its pathways, you will not find. [§]
Lachen hineni sakh et darchecha basirim ve-gadar'ti et gederah u-netivoteiha lo timtza.
"Lachen" means "therefore", "hineni" means "behold I am", "sakh" means "draw" or "pull", "et" is a direct object marker, "darchecha" means "your way", "basirim" means "in the pots", "ve-gadar'ti" means "and I will fence" or "enclose", "gederah" means "its fence", "u-netivoteiha" means "and its pathways", "lo" means "not", "timtza" means "you will find".
[HOS.2.9] And she will chase after her lovers and will not reach them, and she will seek them and will not find them, and she will say, 'I will go and return to my first husband, for it is good for me now.' [§]
Ve'ridfah et-me'ahaveha ve'lo tashig otam u'bikshtam ve'lo timtza ve'amarah: 'Elekha ve'ashuva el-ishi ha-rishon ki tov li az me'atah.'
'Ve' means 'and', 'ridfah' means 'she will chase', 'et' is the direct object marker, 'me'ahaveha' means 'her lovers', 've'lo' means 'and not', 'tashig' means 'reach', 'otam' means 'them', 'u'bikshtam' means 'and seek them', 've'lo' again means 'and not', 'timtza' means 'find', 've'amarah' means 'and she will say', 'elekha' means 'I will go', 've'ashuva' means 'and I will return', 'el-ishi' means 'to my husband', 'ha-rishon' means 'the first', 'ki' means 'because', 'tov' means 'good', 'li' means 'to me/for me', 'az' means 'then', 'me'atah' means 'from now onward'.
[HOS.2.10] And she did not know that I gave her the grain and the wheat and the oil and I increased silver for her and they made gold for the Lord. [§]
vehi lo yada ki anochi natati lah hadagan vehatirash vehayitzhar vekesef hirbati lah vezahav asu labal.
'vehi' means 'and she', 'lo' means 'not', 'yada' means 'knew', 'ki' means 'that', 'anochi' means 'I', 'natati' means 'gave', 'lah' means 'to her', 'hadagan' means 'the grain', 'vehatirash' means 'and the wheat', 'vehayitzhar' means 'and the oil', 'vekesef' means 'and silver', 'hirbati' means 'I increased', 'lah' means 'for her', 'vezahav' means 'and gold', 'asu' means 'they made', 'labal' means 'for the Lord' (Baal literally 'Lord' or 'owner').
[HOS.2.11] Therefore I will turn and take my grain in its season and my barley at its appointed time, and I will preserve my wool and my flax to cover her nakedness. [§]
Lachen ashuv ve-lakachti d'gani be-ito ve-tiroshi be-mo'ado ve-hitzalti tsamri u-pish'ti le-kasot et ervatah.
'Lachen' means 'therefore', 'ashuv' means 'I will return' or 'I will turn', 've-lakachti' means 'and I will take', 'd'gani' means 'my grain', 'be-ito' means 'in its season', 've-tiroshi' means 'and my barley', 'be-mo'ado' means 'at its appointed time', 've-hitzalti' means 'and I will save' or 'preserve', 'tsamri' means 'my wool', 'u-pish'ti' means 'and my flax', 'le-kasot' means 'to cover', 'et' is a direct object marker, 'ervatah' means 'her nakedness' (referring to a woman or a city).
[HOS.2.12] And now I will expose her nakedness to the eyes of her lovers, and no man will save her from my hand. [§]
Ve'atah agelle et-nabluta le'enei meahaveiha ve'ish lo-yatzilena mi-yadi.
'Ve'atah' means 'and now', 'agelle' means 'I will expose', 'et' is a direct‑object marker (not translated), 'nabluta' means 'her nakedness', 'le'enei' means 'to the eyes of', 'meahaveiha' means 'her lovers', 've'ish' means 'and a man', 'lo' means 'not', 'yatzilena' means 'will save her', 'mi-yadi' means 'from my hand'.
[HOS.2.13] And I will cease all her revelry, her festival, her new moon, and her Sabbath, and all her appointed times. [§]
vehishbati kol-mesosa chagah chadsah ve-shabbatah ve-kol moada.
'vehishbati' means 'and I will cease', 'kol' means 'all', 'mesosa' means 'revelry' or 'merrymaking', 'chagah' means 'her festival', 'chadsah' means 'her new moon', 've-shabbatah' means 'and her Sabbath', 've-kol' means 'and all', 'moada' means 'appointed time' or 'appointed feast'.
[HOS.2.14] And I will kill its grapevine and its fig tree, which said 'These are mine', which they gave to me my lovers, and I will place them in the forest and the beasts of the field will eat them. [§]
V'hashimmoti gapnah u'teanatah asher amrah etna hemma li asher natnu-li me'ahavay ve'samtiym le'ya'ar va'achalatam chayat ha'sadeh.
'V' means 'and', 'hashimmoti' means 'I will kill', 'gapnah' means 'her grapevine', 'u' means 'and', 'teanatah' means 'her fig tree', 'asher' means 'that/which', 'amrah' means 'said', 'etna' means 'these', 'hemma' means 'they are', 'li' means 'to me' or 'my', the second 'asher' repeats 'that/which', 'natnu-li' means 'they gave to me', 'me'ahavay' means 'my loves' or 'my lovers', 've' means 'and', 'samtiym' means 'I will place them', 'le'ya'ar' means 'in the forest', 'va'achalatam' means 'and the beasts will eat them', 'chayat' means 'beasts', 'ha'sadeh' means 'of the field'.
[HOS.2.15] I appointed over her the days of the Baals that you will cut off for them, and you set her plot and her portion, and she walked after her lovers, and she has forgotten me, says Yahveh. [§]
u-fakadti aleha et yemei habbe'alim asher taqtir lahem vata'ad nizmah vechelyatah vatelekh acharei meahaveiha ve'oti shakcha ne'um Yahveh.
'u-fakadti' means 'I appointed/appointed', 'aleha' means 'over her', 'et' is a direct object marker, 'yemei' means 'the days of', 'habbe'alim' means 'the Baals', 'asher' means 'that/which', 'taqtir' means 'you will cut off', 'lahem' means 'for them', 'vata'ad' means 'and you set', 'nizmah' means 'her plot/plan', 'vechelyatah' means 'and her portion', 'vatelekh' means 'and she walked', 'acharei' means 'after', 'meahaveiha' means 'her lovers', 've'oti' means 'and [against] me', 'shakcha' means 'she has forgotten', 'ne'um' means 'says', 'Yahveh' is the transliteration of YHVH representing the name of God.
[HOS.2.16] Therefore, behold, I will open her and I will lead her through the wilderness, and I will speak concerning her heart. [§]
Lachen Hinneh AnoChi Mefatteiha Veholaktihah haMidbar Vedibarti al-Livvah.
'Lachen' means 'therefore', 'Hinneh' means 'behold', 'AnoChi' means 'I', 'Mefatteiha' means 'I will open her', 'Veholaktihah' means 'and I will lead her', 'haMidbar' means 'the wilderness', 'Vedibarti' means 'and I will speak', 'al-Livvah' means 'concerning her heart'.
[HOS.2.17] And I will give her her vineyards from there, and the valley of Akor to the entrance of hope, and she will answer there as in the days of her youth, and on the day of her ascent from the land of Egypt. [§]
ve-natati lah et kerameha misham ve-et emek akor lepetach tikvah ve-anatah shammah ki mey neureha vi k'yom alotah me eretz-mitzrayim.
've-natati' means 'and I will give', 'lah' means 'to her', 'et' is the direct object marker (no English equivalent), 'kerameha' means 'her vineyards', 'misham' means 'from there', 've-et' means 'and (the)', 'emek' means 'valley', 'akor' is a proper name (Akor), 'lepetach' means 'to the entrance', 'tikvah' means 'hope', 've-anatah' means 'and she will answer', 'shammah' means 'there', 'ki' means 'as', 'mey' (from 'kimei') means 'the days of', 'neureha' means 'her youth', 'vi' means 'and', 'k'yom' means 'the day', 'alotah' means 'of her ascent', 'me' means 'from', 'eretz' means 'the land', 'mitzrayim' means 'Egypt'.
[HOS.2.18] And it shall be on that day, declares Yahveh, you will call me husband, and you will no longer call me my master. [§]
Ve-hayah ba-yom ha-hu ne'um Yahveh tiqrei ishi ve-lo tiqrei-li od ba'ali.
'Ve-hayah' means 'and it shall be', 'ba-yom' means 'on the day', 'ha-hu' means 'that', 'ne'um Yahveh' means 'declares Yahveh', 'tiqrei' means 'you shall call', 'ishi' means 'my husband', 've-lo' means 'and not', 'tiqrei-li' means 'you shall call me', 'od' means 'again' or 'any more', 'ba'ali' means 'my master' or 'my lord'.
[HOS.2.19] And I removed the names of the Baals from its mouth, and they shall not be remembered any longer in their name. [§]
Vahasoroti et shemot habba'alim mipiha velo yizakeru od bishemam.
'Vahasoroti' means 'and I removed', 'et' is the direct object marker, 'shemot' means 'names', 'habba'alim' means 'of the Baals', 'mipiha' means 'from its mouth', 'velo' means 'and not', 'yizakeru' means 'they will be remembered' (passive), 'od' means 'any longer', 'bishemam' means 'in their name'.
[HOS.2.20] And I will make a covenant with them on that day with the beasts of the field and with the birds of the heavens and the creeping things of the earth, and I will break bow and sword and war from the earth and lay them down in safety. [§]
vecharati lahem berit bayom hahu im chayat hasadeh ve'im of hashamaim veremes haadamah vekeshet vecherav u milchamah eshbor min haaretz vehishkavtim labetach.
've' means 'and', 'charati' means 'I will make a covenant', 'lahem' means 'with them', 'berit' means 'covenant', 'bayom' means 'on the day', 'hahu' means 'that', 'im' means 'with', 'chayat' means 'beasts', 'hasadeh' means 'of the field', 've'im' means 'and with', 'of' means 'birds', 'hashamaim' means 'of the heavens', 'veremes' means 'and creeping things', 'haadamah' means 'of the earth', 'vekesh et' means 'and bow', 'vecherav' means 'and sword', 'u milchamah' means 'and war', 'eshbor' means 'I will break', 'min' means 'from', 'haaretz' means 'the earth', 'vehashkavtim' means 'and I will lay them down', 'labetach' means 'in safety'.
[HOS.2.21] And I will betroth you to me forever, and I will betroth you to me with righteousness, with judgment, with lovingkindness, and with mercies. [§]
Ve'erastich li le'olam ve'erastich li be-tzedek u-be-mishpat u-be-chesed u-ve-rachamim.
'Ve' means 'and', 'erastich' means 'I will betroth you' (from the root 'rsh' meaning 'to betroth' with the future first person singular ending), 'li' means 'to me', 'le'olam' means 'forever' or 'for eternity', 'be-tzedek' means 'with righteousness/justice', 'u-be-mishpat' means 'and with judgment', 'u-be-chesed' means 'and with lovingkindness', 'u-ve-rachamim' means 'and with mercies/compassion'.
[HOS.2.22] And I will marry you to me in faith, and you will know Yahveh. [§]
ve'erastich li be'emunah ve'yadata et Yahveh.
've' means 'and', 'erastich' means 'I will marry you (feminine)', 'li' means 'to me', 'be'emunah' means 'in faith', 've' again means 'and', 'yadata' means 'you will know (feminine)', 'et' is a direct‑object marker with no English equivalent, 'Yahveh' is the literal translation of the divine name YHVH.
[HOS.2.23] And it shall be in that day that I will answer, says Yahveh, I will answer the heavens, and they will answer the earth. [§]
Ve-hayah ba-yom ha-hu e'aneh ne'um Yahveh e'aneh et ha-shamayim ve-hem ya'anu et ha-aretz.
'Ve-hayah' means 'and it shall be', 'ba-yom' means 'in the day', 'ha-hu' means 'that', 'e'aneh' means 'I will answer', 'ne'um Yahveh' means 'says Yahveh' (Yahveh is the literal translation of YHVH), the second 'e'aneh' repeats 'I will answer', 'et ha-shamayim' means 'the heavens', 've-hem' means 'and they', 'ya'anu' means 'will answer', and 'et ha-aretz' means 'the earth'.
[HOS.2.24] And the earth will answer the grain and the wheat and the barley, and they will answer Israel. [§]
vehaaretz taane et-hadagan ve-et-hatirsh ve-et-hayitzhar vehem yaanu et-Yizrael.
'vehaaretz' means 'and the earth', 'taane' means 'will answer', 'et' is the accusative marker (not translated), 'hadagan' means 'the grain', 've-et' means 'and the', 'hatirsh' means 'the wheat', 've-et' again means 'and the', 'hayitzhar' means 'the barley', 'vehem' means 'and they', 'yaanu' means 'will answer', 'et' again is the accusative marker, 'Yizrael' means 'Israel'.
[HOS.2.25] And I will sow it for me in the earth, and I will have mercy on the one who has not been shown mercy, and I will say to the one who is not my people, "You are my people," and he will say, "my God." [§]
Uzerattiha li baaretz verichamti et lo ruchamah veamarti lelo ami amita vehu yoamar Elohai.
'U' means 'and', 'zeratti' means 'I will sow', 'ha' is the suffix meaning 'it', 'li' means 'for me', 'baaretz' means 'in the earth', 've' means 'and', 'rihamti' means 'I will have mercy', 'et' is the direct‑object marker, 'lo' means 'not', 'ruchamah' means 'shown mercy', 'veamarti' means 'and I will say', 'lelo' means 'to the one who is not', 'ami' means 'my people', 'amita' means 'you are', 'vehu' means 'and he', 'yoamar' means 'will say', 'Elohai' means 'my God'.
HOS.3
[HOS.3.1] And Yahveh said to me, 'Again go love a woman, the love of a companion and unfaithful, as Yahveh's love for the children of Israel; and they turn to other the Gods and are lovers of drunkards of grapes.' [§]
Vayomer Yahveh elai od lekha ehav-ishah ahuvat rea u-menafet keahavat Yahveh et-bnei Yisrael ve-hem ponim el elohim acherim veohavei ashishei anavim.
'Vayomer' means 'and said', 'Yahveh' is the literal translation of YHVH, 'elai' means 'to me', 'od' means 'again', 'lekha' means 'go', 'ehav' means 'love', 'ishah' means 'a woman', 'ahuvat' means 'the love of', 'rea' means 'a companion', 'u-menafet' means 'and unfaithful', 'keahavat' means 'as the love of', 'Yahveh' again the divine name, 'et-bnei' means 'the children of', 'Yisrael' means 'Israel', 've-hem' means 'and they', 'ponim' means 'turn' or 'are idolaters', 'el' means 'to', 'elohim' is translated as 'the Gods', 'acherim' means 'other', 'veohavei' means 'and lovers of', 'ashishei' means 'drunkards', 'anavim' means 'of grapes'.
[HOS.3.2] And I will sell it to you for five and ten pieces of silver, and clay skins and your skins. [§]
Vaekrehah li bachamisha asar kasef vechomer seorim veletekh seorim.
'Vaekrehah' means 'and I will sell' (the verb ekreh with object suffix ha). 'Li' means 'to me' or 'for me'. 'Bachamisha' means 'for five'. 'Asar' means 'ten'. 'Kasef' means 'silver' or 'coins of silver'. 'Vechomer' means 'and clay'. 'Seorim' means 'skins' or 'hides'. 'Veletekh' means 'and your' (possessive). The second 'seorim' repeats 'skins', indicating a second type of skin. The whole clause describes a deal involving money, clay, and skins.
[HOS.3.3] And I said to her, 'Many days you shall sit with me; you shall not be unfaithful, and you shall not be to a man; and also I am yours.' [§]
va'omar eileha yamim rabbim teshevi li lo tizni velo tihyi le'ish vegam ani elayich.
'va'omar' means 'and I said', 'eileha' means 'to her', 'yamim' means 'days', 'rabbim' means 'many', 'teshevi' means 'you will sit/stay', 'li' means 'to me' or 'with me', 'lo' means 'not', 'tizni' means 'you will be unfaithful', 'velo' means 'and not', 'tihyi' means 'you will be', 'le'ish' means 'to a man' (i.e., husband), 'vegam' means 'and also', 'ani' means 'I', 'elayich' means 'to you' (i.e., yours).
[HOS.3.4] Because many days the children of Israel will dwell without a king and without a prince and without a sacrifice and without a standing stone and without an ephod and without trappings. [§]
Ki yamim rabbim yeshevu bnei Yisrael ein melekh ve-ein sar ve-ein zevach ve-ein matzevah ve-ein ephod u-trefim.
'Ki' means 'because', 'yamim' means 'days', 'rabbim' means 'many', 'yeshevu' means 'they will dwell', 'bnei' means 'the children of', 'Yisrael' means 'Israel', 'ein' means 'there is no', 'melekh' means 'king', 've' means 'and', 'sar' means 'prince', 'zevach' means 'sacrifice', 'matzevah' means 'standing stone', 'ephod' means 'the priestly garment', 'trefim' means 'ornaments' or 'trappings'.
[HOS.3.5] Later the children of Israel shall return and seek Yahveh their Gods and also David their king, and they shall fear Yahveh and his goodness in the latter days. [§]
Achar yashuvu b'nei Yisrael uvikshu et Yahveh elohiem veet David malcham ufachadu el Yahveh veel tuvvo beacharit hayamim.
"Achar" means "after" or "later". "Yashuvu" means "they shall return". "B'nei" means "the children of". "Yisrael" is the name Israel. "Uvikshu" means "and they shall seek". "Et" is the direct‑object marker. "Yahveh" is the literal rendering of YHVH. "Elohiem" is the plural "the Gods" with the suffix "their" (their Gods). "Veet" is "and the" (object marker). "David" is the name David. "Malcham" means "their king". "Ufachadu" means "and they shall fear". "El" means "to" or "toward". "Yahveh" again the divine name. "Veel" is "and to". "Tuvvo" means "his goodness". "Beacharit" means "in the latter" (end). "Hayamim" means "the days" (times).
HOS.4
[HOS.4.1] Hear the word of Yahveh, children of Israel, for there is a dispute with Yahveh among the inhabitants of the land, for there is no truth and there is no mercy and there is no knowledge of the Gods in the land. [§]
Shimu dvar Yahveh b'nei Yisrael ki riv leYahveh im yoshvei haaretz ki ein emet veein chesed veein daat elohim baaretz.
'Shimu' means 'listen' or 'hear'. 'dvar' means 'word'. 'Yahveh' is the transliteration of the divine name YHVH and is rendered as the proper name Yahveh. 'b'nei' means 'sons of' or 'children of'. 'Yisrael' means 'Israel'. 'ki' means 'because' or 'for'. 'riv' means 'dispute' or 'contention'. 'leYahveh' means 'against Yahveh' (lit. 'to Yahveh'). 'im' means 'with' or 'among'. 'yoshvei' means 'inhabitants' or 'dwellers'. 'haaretz' means 'the land'. The second clause: 'ki' again means 'for'. 'ein' means 'there is no'. 'emet' means 'truth'. 'veein' means 'and there is no'. 'chesed' means 'kindness' or 'mercy'. Another 'veein' means 'and there is no'. 'daat' means 'knowledge'. 'elohim' means 'the Gods' (plural) and is translated accordingly. 'baaretz' means 'in the land'.
[HOS.4.2] God and lies and murder and theft and rape they broke, and blood with blood they cleansed. [§]
Aloh vekhaches veratsach veganov venaof paratsu vedamim bedamim nagau.
'Aloh' means 'God'; 'vekhaches' means 'and lies' (kaches = falsehood); 'veratsach' means 'and murder'; 'veganov' means 'and theft'; 'venaof' means 'and rape' (sexual violation); 'paratsu' means 'they broke' or 'they committed'; 'vedamim' means 'and blood'; 'bedamim' means 'with blood'; 'nagau' means 'they cleansed' or 'they purged'.
[HOS.4.3] Therefore the earth shall be made fruitful, and all who dwell in it, the livestock of the field, the birds of the heavens, and even the fish of the sea will be gathered together. [§]
Al-ken te'evval ha'aretz ve'umlal kol-yoshev ba'ah bechayat ha'sadeh uve'of ha'shamayim vegam-degei ha'yam ye'asefu.
'Al-ken' means 'therefore', 'te'evval' means 'shall be sown' or 'made fruitful', 'ha'aretz' means 'the earth', 've'umlal' means 'and all', 'kol-yoshev' means 'who dwells' or 'who lives', 'ba'ah' means 'in it', 'bechayat' means 'the livestock' (literally 'the life of'), 'ha'sadeh' means 'the field', 'uve'of' means 'and the birds', 'ha'shamayim' means 'of the heavens', 'vegam' means 'and also', 'degei' means 'the fish', 'ha'yam' means 'of the sea', 'ye'asefu' means 'will be gathered' or 'will be gathered together'.
[HOS.4.4] Only a man shall not become corrupt and shall not be righteous, and your people are like the quarrels of a priest. [§]
Ach ish al-yarev ve-al-yokhach ish ve'amkha kimrivvei kohen.
'Ach' means 'only' or 'but', 'ish' means 'man', 'al-yarev' means 'let not become corrupt' (the verb yarev meaning 'to become corrupted' in a negative imperative), 've-al-yokhach' means 'and let not be justified/righteous' (the verb yokhach meaning 'to be just' in a negative imperative), 'ish' again means 'man', 've'amkha' means 'and your people' (am = people, -kha = your), 'kimrivvei' means 'like the quarrels' (the noun mirev meaning 'quarrel' with the construct form), 'kohen' means 'priest'.
[HOS.4.5] And you have failed today, and a prophet also failed with you tonight, and I have shed the blood of your mother. [§]
vekasheltah hayom ve kashal gam navi imkha layla ve damiti imekha.
've' means 'and', 'kasheltah' means 'you have failed or been embarrassed', 'hayom' means 'today', another 've' means 'and', 'kashal' means 'he/she/it failed or was embarrassed', 'gam' means 'also', 'navi' means 'prophet', 'imkha' means 'with you', 'layla' means 'tonight' or 'at night', a third 've' means 'and', 'damiti' means 'I have shed blood' (from the root damah), 'imekha' means 'your mother'.
[HOS.4.6] My people have perished without knowledge, because you, the knowledge, have turned away and I will turn away from the priest for me, and you have forgotten the law of your God, I will forget your children also, I also. [§]
nidmu ami mivli hadaat ki-atah hadaat ma'asta v'ema'sacha mikahen li vatiskhach torat elokecha eshkhach baneikha gam-ani.
'nidmu' means 'they have perished' or 'are dead', 'ami' means 'my people', 'mivli' means 'without', 'hadata' means 'knowledge', 'ki-atah' means 'because you', 'hadata' again means 'the knowledge', 'ma'asta' means 'you have turned away' or 'you have abandoned', 'v'ema'sacha' means 'and I will turn away', 'mikahen' means 'from the priest', 'li' means 'for me' or 'to me', 'vatiskhach' means 'and you have forgotten', 'torat' means 'the law' or 'the instruction', 'elokecha' means 'your God' (with 'God' translated as El), 'eshkhach' means 'I will forget', 'baneikha' means 'your children', 'gam-ani' means 'also I' or 'I also'.
[HOS.4.7] Thus, like their cherubs, they have sinned against me; I will proclaim that their glory is vanity. [§]
kerubam ken chatu li kevodam bekalon amir.
"kerubam" means "like their cherubs", "ken" means "thus" or "so", "chatu" means "they have sinned", "li" means "to me" (i.e., "against me"), "kevodam" means "their glory", "bekalon" means "in vanity" or "as futility", "amir" means "I will speak" or "I proclaim".
[HOS.4.8] The sin of my people they will eat, and to their iniquity they will bear his soul. [§]
chatat ammi yo'chelu ve'el avonam yis'u nafsho.
'chatat' means 'sin', 'ammi' means 'my people', 'yo'chelu' means 'they will eat', 've'el' means 'and to', 'avonam' means 'their iniquity', 'yis'u' means 'they will bear', 'nafsho' means 'his soul'.
[HOS.4.9] And it will be like a people like a priest; and I will appoint upon him his ways and his deeds, I will return to him. [§]
vehayah ka'am kakkohen u'pakadti alav drakhav u'ma'alalav ashiiv lo.
'vehayah' means 'and it will be', 'ka'am' means 'like a people', 'kakkohen' means 'like a priest', 'u'pakadti' means 'and I will appoint', 'alav' means 'upon him', 'drakhav' means 'his ways', 'u'ma'alalav' means 'and his deeds', 'ashiiv' means 'I will return', 'lo' means 'to him'.
[HOS.4.10] And they eat and are not satisfied; they have acted indecently and are not broken, because they have abandoned Yahveh to keep. [§]
veachlu velo yisbau hiznu velo yifrotu ki et yahveh azvu lishmor.
've' means 'and', 'achlu' means 'they eat' or 'they will eat', 'velo' means 'and not', 'yisbau' means 'they will be satisfied', 'hiznu' means 'they have acted indecently or committed harlotry', 'yifrotu' means 'they will be broken' or 'they will be scattered', 'ki' means 'because', 'et' is the direct‑object marker, 'yahveh' is the specific name of God, 'azvu' means 'they have abandoned', 'lishmor' means 'to keep' or 'to preserve'.
[HOS.4.11] Prostitution, wine, and new wine will capture the heart. [§]
Zanut veYayin veTirosh yikach lev.
'Zanut' means 'prostitution' or 'whoredom', 've' means 'and', 'Yayin' means 'wine', 've' again means 'and', 'Tirosh' means 'new wine' or 'grape juice used for sacrifice', 'yikach' means 'will take' or 'will capture', 'lev' means 'heart'.
[HOS.4.12] My people in his counsel will ask, and his rod will tell him, because a spirit of prostitution has arisen and they have prostituted themselves from beneath their Gods. [§]
ammi be'etso yishal umaklo yagid lo ki ruach zenunim hitah vayiznu mitachat elohayhem.
'ammi' means 'my people', 'be'etso' means 'in his counsel', 'yishal' means 'he will ask', 'umaklo' means 'and his rod', 'yagid' means 'will tell', 'lo' means 'to him', 'ki' means 'because', 'ruach' means 'spirit' or 'wind', 'zenunim' means 'prostitutions' or 'harlotry', 'hitah' means 'has arisen', 'vayiznu' means 'they have prostituted', 'mitachat' means 'from beneath', 'elohayhem' means 'their Gods' (the plural form of the divine name).
[HOS.4.13] On the tops of the mountains they shall sacrifice, and on the hills they shall burn incense beneath an oak, a plane tree, and an elm, for its shade is good; therefore your daughters shall prostitute themselves, and your sons shall be devoured. [§]
Al-rashei heharim yezabbechu ve'al hageva'ot yekatteru tachat alon ve'livneh ve'elah ki tov tzilah al ken tiznenah benoteichem ve'kallotim tenafnah.
'Al' means 'on' or 'upon', 'rashei' means 'heads' or 'tops', 'heharim' means 'the mountains', 'yezabbechu' means 'they shall sacrifice', 've'al' means 'and on', 'hageva'ot' means 'the hills', 'yekatteru' means 'they shall burn incense', 'tachat' means 'under' or 'beneath', 'alon' means 'oak', 've'livneh' means 'and plane tree', 've'elah' means 'and elm', 'ki' means 'because' or 'for', 'tov' means 'good', 'tzilah' means 'shade', 'al' means 'on', 'ken' means 'therefore', 'tiznenah' means 'they shall prostitute themselves', 'benoteichem' means 'your daughters', 've'kallotim' means 'and your sons', 'tenafnah' means 'shall be devoured'.
[HOS.4.14] I will not count concerning your daughters because they will prostitute themselves, nor concerning your maidservants because they will be defiled; for they are with the harlots they will be scattered, and with the holy women they will be sacrificed; and the people will not understand, they will be confused. [§]
Lo efkod al benoteikhem ki tizeninah ve'al kalloteikhem ki tenaafnah ki hem im hazonot yifaredu ve'im hakdeshot yazabechu veam lo yavin yilabet.
'Lo' means 'not', 'efkod' means 'I will count' or 'reckon', 'al' means 'concerning' or 'about', 'benoteikhem' means 'your daughters', 'ki' means 'because', 'tizeninah' means 'they will prostitute themselves', 've'al' means 'and concerning', 'kalloteikhem' means 'your maidservants' or 'young women', 'tenaafnah' means 'they will be defiled', 'ki hem' means 'for they', 'im' means 'with', 'hazonot' means 'the harlots', 'yifaredu' means 'they will be scattered' or 'separated', 've'im' means 'and with', 'hakdeshot' means 'the holy women', 'yazabechu' means 'they will be sacrificed', 'veam' means 'and the people', 'lo yavin' means 'will not understand', 'yilabet' means 'will be confused' or 'perplexed'.
[HOS.4.15] If you are a prostitute, Israel, do not accuse Judah, and do not go to Gilgal, and do not ascend into the house of iniquity, and do not swear by the life of Yahveh. [§]
Im-zoneh attah Yisrael al-ye'asham Yehudah ve-al-tavo'u haGilgal ve-al-ta'alu beit avon ve-al-tishavu chay-Yahveh.
'Im' means 'if', 'zoneh' means 'prostitute', 'attah' means 'you', 'Yisrael' means 'Israel', 'al-ye'asham' means 'do not accuse', 'Yehudah' means 'Judah', 've-al-tavo'u' means 'and do not come', 'haGilgal' means 'the Gilgal (a place of assembly)', 've-al-ta'alu' means 'and do not ascend', 'beit avon' means 'house of iniquity', 've-al-tishavu' means 'and do not swear', 'chay-Yahveh' means 'by the life of Yahveh' (an oath invoking Yahveh).
[HOS.4.16] Because Israel has become a rebellious, arrogant nation, now Yahveh will shepherd them like a lamb in the meadow. [§]
Ki kephara sorerah sarar Yisrael atah yir'em Yahveh kecheves ba merchav.
'Ki' means 'because', 'kephara' means 'as a sacrifice', 'sorerah' means 'rebellious' (feminine), 'sarar' means 'has become arrogant', 'Yisrael' means 'Israel', 'atah' means 'now', 'yir'em' means 'will shepherd', 'Yahveh' is the literal translation of the divine name YHVH, 'kecheves' means 'like a lamb', 'ba merchav' means 'in the meadow'. The phrase 'kephara sorerah' is an idiom meaning 'in a rebellious manner', rendered here literally for accuracy.
[HOS.4.17] Gathered troubles, Ephraim, the river to him. [§]
Chavur atzabim Ephraim ha-nach lo.
'Chavur' comes from the root meaning "to join" or "to gather" and is rendered here as "gathered". 'atzabim' is the plural of a word meaning "trouble" or "grief". 'Ephraim' is the proper name of the tribe of Ephraim. 'ha-nach lo' is a construct phrase: 'ha' is the definite article "the", 'nach' (from nahal) means "river", and 'lo' means "to him" or "his". So the phrase means "the river to him" or "his river".
[HOS.4.18] Turn away, their turning, the prostitute, they prostituted, they loved, they brought, crown, her shield. [§]
sar savam hazne hiznu ahavu hebu kalon magineha.
'sar' means 'to turn away' or 'to reject', 'savam' (from the root s-v-') means 'their going around' or 'their turning', 'hazne' is the noun form of the root z-n-h meaning 'prostitute' so it reads 'the prostitute', 'hiznu' is the verb 'they prostituted' or 'they whored', 'ahavu' is the verb 'they loved', 'hebu' is the verb 'they brought' or 'they carried', 'kalon' is a noun meaning 'crown' or 'pride', 'magineha' is the noun 'her shield' (from the root g-n with the feminine possessive suffix). The verse strings these words together in a poetic but nonsensical way.
[HOS.4.19] He binds her spirit in her wings, and they will dry up from their altars. [§]
tzarar ruach otah biknafeyha veyevshu mizivchotam.
'tzarar' means 'binds' or 'tightens', 'ruach' means 'spirit' or 'breath', 'otah' means 'her', 'biknafeyha' means 'in her wings', 'veyevshu' means 'and they shall become dry', 'mizivchotam' means 'from their altars'.
HOS.5
[HOS.5.1] Hear this, O priests, and give ear, House of Israel and House of the King; listen, for the judgment is yours, because you were a scorn to the watchtower and a wide rebellion spread upon the flood. [§]
Shimu zot ha-kochanim ve-hakshivu beit Yisrael u-beit ha-melekh ha'azinu ki lachem ha-mishpat ki pach hayitem le-mitzpah ve-reshes perusa al-tavor.
'Shimu' means 'hear', 'zot' means 'this', 'ha-kochanim' means 'the priests', 've-hakshivu' means 'and give ear/listen', 'beit Yisrael' means 'House of Israel', 'u-beit ha-melekh' means 'and House of the King', 'ha'azinu' means 'listen', 'ki' means 'for/because', 'lachem' means 'to you/your', 'ha-mishpat' means 'the judgment', 'ki' again means 'because', 'pach' means 'contempt' or 'scorn', 'hayitem' means 'you were', 'le-mitzpah' means 'to a watchtower/lookout', 've-reshes' means 'and a rebellion', 'perusa' means 'wide/spread', 'al' means 'upon', 'tavor' means 'a flood/river/stream'.
[HOS.5.2] And he will slaughter the wicked; they have humbled, and I am discipline to all of them. [§]
ve-shachatah setim he'emiku va-ani musar lekhullam.
've' means 'and', 'shachatah' means 'will slaughter', 'setim' means 'the wicked', 'he'emiku' means 'they have humbled', 'va' means 'and', 'ani' means 'I', 'musar' means 'discipline' or 'instruction', 'lekhullam' means 'to all of them'.
[HOS.5.3] I know Ephraim and Israel is not hidden from Yahveh, because now you have prostituted Ephraim, Israel is defiled. [§]
Ani yada'ti Ephraim ve-Yisrael lo-nikchad mimei ki atta hiznet Ephraim nitma Yisrael.
'Ani' means 'I', 'yada'ti' means 'know' (first person perfect), 'Ephraim' is the name of a tribe, 've-Yisrael' means 'and Israel', 'lo-nikchad' means 'is not hidden', 'mimei' means 'from me' (referring to Yahveh), 'ki' means 'because', 'atta' means 'now', 'hiznet' means 'you have prostituted', 'nitma' means 'is defiled', 'Yisrael' means 'Israel'. The pronoun 'me' is a reference to God, which is rendered as the literal translation of YHVH, 'Yahveh'.
[HOS.5.4] They will not give their deeds to turn to their Gods, because a spirit of whoredom is within them, and they do not know Yahveh. [§]
Lo yittenu ma'alleyhem la-shuv el-Eloheihem ki ruach zenunim be-kerovam ve-et Yahveh lo yada'u.
'Lo' means 'not', 'yittenu' means 'they will give', 'ma'alleyhem' means 'their deeds', 'la-shuv' means 'to turn', 'el-Eloheihem' means 'to their Gods', 'ki' means 'because', 'ruach' means 'spirit', 'zenunim' means 'of prostitution or whoredom', 'be-kerovam' means 'within them', 've-et' means 'and', 'Yahveh' is the personal name of God, 'lo' means 'not', 'yada'u' means 'they know'.
[HOS.5.5] And the pride of Israel was humbled before him, and Israel and Ephraim will be humbled in their iniquity, Judah also humbled with them. [§]
ve'ana ga'on-Yisrael befanav veYisrael veEphraim yikashlu ba'avonam kashal gam-Yehudah immam.
've'ana' means 'and (it) was humbled', 'ga'on' means 'pride', '-Yisrael' means 'of Israel', 'befanav' means 'before him', 'veYisrael' means 'and Israel', 'veEphraim' means 'and Ephraim', 'yikashlu' means 'will be humbled', 'ba'avonam' means 'in their iniquity', 'kashal' means 'humbled', 'gam' means 'also', 'Yehudah' means 'Judah', 'immam' means 'with them'.
[HOS.5.6] With their sheep and with their cattle they will go to seek Yahveh, and they will not find a single one among them. [§]
b'tsonam u'b'vkaram ye'lechu levakesh et-Yahveh velo yimtzu chalatz mehem.
'b'tsonam' means 'with their sheep', 'u'b'vkaram' means 'and with their cattle', 'ye'lechu' means 'they will go', 'levakesh' means 'to seek', 'et-Yahveh' means 'Yahveh' (the name of God), 'velo' means 'and not', 'yimtzu' means 'they will find', 'chalatz' means 'a single one, a piece, a fragment', 'mehem' means 'among them'. The phrase 'chalatz mehem' is an idiom meaning 'not even a single one among them' or 'nothing at all from them'.
[HOS.5.7] In Yahveh they have rebelled because foreign sons were born; now the month will eat them, their share. [§]
baYahweh bagadu ki-banim zarim yaladu atah yokhelm chodesh et-chellkehem.
'baYahweh' means 'in Yahveh', 'bagadu' means 'they have rebelled', 'ki' means 'because', 'banim' means 'sons', 'zarim' means 'foreign' or 'strange', 'yaladu' means 'they gave birth', 'atah' means 'now', 'yokhelm' means 'will eat them', 'chodesh' means 'the month', 'et' is a grammatical object marker, 'chellkehem' means 'their portion' or 'their share'.
[HOS.5.8] Sound the trumpet on the hill, blasting at Ramah; they shall roar in the house of iniquity after you, Benjamin. [§]
tiqqu shofar bagivah chatzo tzrah baramah hariu beit aven acharecha binyamin
'tiqqu' means 'sound' (imperative plural of to sound), 'shofar' means 'trumpet', 'bagivah' means 'on the hill', 'chatzo tzrah' means 'blasting' or 'shouting loudly', 'baramah' means 'at Ramah', 'hariu' means 'they shall roar', 'beit' means 'house', 'aven' means 'iniquity' or 'wickedness', 'acharecha' means 'after you', 'binyamin' means 'Benjamin'.
[HOS.5.9] Ephraim shall be for the name; on the day of chastisement, among the tribes of Israel I have shown fidelity. [§]
Ephrayim leshammah tihyeh beyom tokhecha beshivtei Yisrael hodati ne'emnah.
'Ephrayim' is the proper name Ephraim, 'leshammah' means 'for the name', 'tihyeh' means 'will be', 'beyom' means 'in the day', 'tokhecha' means 'of rebuke' or 'chastisement', 'beshivtei' means 'among the tribes', 'Yisrael' means 'Israel', 'hodati' means 'I have shown', 'ne'emnah' means 'faithful' or 'loyal'.
[HOS.5.10] Let the chiefs of Judah be as those who encircle the border; upon them I will pour my flood like the waters. [§]
Hayu sarei yehudah kemsigey gevul aleihem eshpokh kammayim evrati.
'Hayu' means 'be' or 'let them be', 'sarei' means 'chiefs of' or 'heads of', 'yehudah' is the name 'Judah', 'kemsigey' means 'as those who encircle' or 'like the encircling', 'gevul' means 'border' or 'boundary', 'aleihem' means 'upon them', 'eshpokh' means 'I will pour', 'kammayim' means 'as the waters', 'evrati' means 'my flood' or 'my overflow'.
[HOS.5.11] Cunning Ephraim, ruthless in judgment, for he went after the command. [§]
Ashuq Ephraim Retzutz Mishpat ki Hoil Halach Acharei Tzav.
'Ashuq' means 'cunning' or 'crafty', 'Ephraim' is the proper name of the tribe, 'Retzutz' means 'ruthless' or 'violent', 'Mishpat' means 'judgment' or 'justice', 'ki' means 'because' or 'for', 'Hoil' is a verb form meaning 'he went' or 'he proceeded', 'Halach' means 'went' or 'walked', and 'Acharei Tzav' means 'after the command' (literally 'behind the command').
[HOS.5.12] And I am like fire to Ephraim, and like a raven to the house of Judah. [§]
va'ani ka'ash le'efrayim ve'karakav le'veit Yehudah.
'va'ani' means 'and I'; 'ka'ash' means 'like a fire' (literally 'as fire'); 'le'efrayim' means 'to Ephraim'; 've'karakav' means 'and like a raven' (the word 'karakav' denotes a raven or a dark bird); 'le'veit' means 'to the house of'; 'Yehudah' means 'Judah', the tribe or region.
[HOS.5.13] And Ephraim saw his spoil and Judah his staff; and Ephraim went to Assyria and sent to King Yareb, and he could not heal you, and he will not despise you from the staff. [§]
vayar Ephraim et-chalyo viYehudah et-mezoro vayelekh Ephraim el Assur vayishlach el melekh Yareb vehu lo yukhal lirpo lakhem ve'lo yigheh mikem mazor.
'vayar' means 'and he saw', 'Ephraim' is the name of the tribe, 'et-chalyo' means 'his spoil' (the object of seeing), 'viYehudah' means 'and Judah', 'et-mezoro' means 'his staff', 'vayelekh' means 'and he went', 'el' means 'to', 'Assur' is the name of the Assyrian nation, 'vayishlach' means 'and he sent', 'el' again 'to', 'melekh' means 'king', 'Yareb' is a personal name, 'vehu' means 'and he', 'lo' means 'not', 'yukhal' means 'could', 'lirpo' means 'to heal', 'lakhem' means 'you (plural)', 've'lo' means 'and not', 'yigheh' means 'will despise', 'mikem' means 'from you', 'mazor' means 'staff' or 'instrument'. The verse is an idiomatic account of tribal rivalry and a diplomatic mission, rendered here in a literal word‑for‑word style.
[HOS.5.14] For I am as a gazelle to Ephraim, and as a fox to the house of Judah; I, I will strike and go, I will lift up, and there is no rescuer. [§]
Ki anochi kashachal leEphraim vechakfir leveit Yehudah ani ani eterof veelekh esah veein matsil.
'Ki' means 'for', 'anochi' means 'I', 'kashachal' means 'as a gazelle', 'leEphraim' means 'to Ephraim', 'vechakfir' means 'and as a fox', 'leveit' means 'to the house of', 'Yehudah' means 'Judah', 'ani' means 'I', 'eterof' means 'I will strike', 'veelekh' means 'and I will go', 'esah' means 'I will lift up', 'veein' means 'and there is no', 'matsil' means 'rescuer'.
[HOS.5.15] I will go, I will return to my place until they are guilty and they seek my face; in distress they will disgrace me. [§]
Elekh ashuvah el mekomi ad asher yeashmu uveikshu panai ba-tzar lahem yeshacharuni.
"Elekh" means "I will go", "ashuvah" means "I will return", "el" means "to", "mekomi" means "my place", "ad" means "until", "asher" means "that/which", "yeashmu" means "they will be guilty", "uveikshu" means "and they will seek", "panai" means "my face", "ba-tzar" means "in distress", "lahem" means "to them", "yeshacharuni" means "they will disgrace me".
HOS.6
[HOS.6.1] Go and we will return to Yahveh, because he is harsh and will heal us, he strikes and will bind us. [§]
Lechu ve-nashuva el-Yahveh ki hu taref ve-yirpa'enu yach ve-yachbeshenu.
'Lechu' means 'go', 've-nashuva' means 'and we will return', 'el' means 'to', 'Yahveh' is the translation of the divine name YHVH, 'ki' means 'because', 'hu' means 'he', 'taref' means 'harsh' or 'ruthless', 've-yirpa'enu' means 'and (he) will heal us', 'yach' means 'he strikes', 've-yachbeshenu' means 'and (he) will bind us'.
[HOS.6.2] He will give us life from the days, on the third day He will raise us, and we will live before Him. [§]
Yechayenu miyomayim bayyom hashelishi yekimenu venichyye lefanav.
'Yechayenu' means 'He will give us life', 'miyomayim' means 'from the days', 'bayyom' means 'on the day', 'hashelishi' means 'the third', 'yekimenu' means 'He will raise us', 'venichyye' means 'and we will live', 'lefanav' means 'before Him'.
[HOS.6.3] And we will know that we are pursued to know Yahveh, as the dawn's certain appearance, and He will come like rain to us, as a shining light that guides the earth. [§]
ve neda nirdefah ladaat et Yahveh ke shachar nachon motzhao ve yavo ka geshem lanu ke malchosh yoreh aretz.
've' means 'and', 'neda' means 'we will know', 'nirdefah' means 'we are pursued' (passive), 'ladaat' means 'to know', 'et' is the accusative particle, 'Yahveh' is the name of God, 'ke' means 'as', 'shachar' means 'dawn', 'nachon' means 'certain' or 'fixed', 'motzhao' means 'its appearance', 've' again means 'and', 'yavo' means 'he will come', 'ka' means 'like', 'geshem' means 'rain', 'lanu' means 'to us', 'ke' means 'as', 'malchosh' means 'a shining light', 'yoreh' means 'guiding', 'aretz' means 'the earth'.
[HOS.6.4] What shall I do for you, Ephraim? What shall I do for you, Judah? Your kindness is like a morning cloud, and your footstep is like early dew. [§]
mah e'eseh-lekha Ephraim mah e'eseh-lekha Yehudah ve-chasdechem ka-anen-boker ve-ka-tal mashkim holech
'mah' means 'what', 'e'eseh' means 'shall I do', '-lekha' is the suffix meaning 'to you' (masculine), 'Ephraim' is the name of the northern kingdom, the second 'mah e'eseh-lekha' repeats the same question for 'Yehudah' (Judah, the southern kingdom), 've-' is the conjunction 'and', 'chasdechem' means 'your kindness' (from 'chesed' kindness, with the second person plural suffix), 'ka-' is the comparative preposition 'like', 'anen' means 'cloud', 'boker' means 'morning', so 'ka-anen-boker' = 'like a cloud of morning', 'ka-tal' = 'like dew', 'mashkim' means 'early' or 'early rising', and 'holech' means 'walking' or 'footstep'.
[HOS.6.5] Therefore I have cut down the prophets, I killed them by the words of my mouth, and your judgments are a light that will go out. [§]
Al-ken chatzavti banaviim haragti be-imrei-pi u-mishpatecha or yetze.
'Al-ken' means 'therefore', 'chatzavti' means 'I have cut' or 'I have cut down', 'banaviim' means 'the prophets' (with the preposition 'ba' indicating 'among' or 'in'), 'haragti' means 'I killed them', 'be-imrei-pi' means 'by the words of my mouth', 'u-mishpatecha' means 'and your judgments', 'or' means 'light', 'yetze' means 'will go out' or 'shall arise'.
[HOS.6.6] For I have desired kindness and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of the Gods is above. [§]
ki chesed chafatzti velo zavach ve daat elohim meolot.
'ki' means 'for', 'chesed' means 'kindness' or 'lovingkindness', 'chafatzti' means 'I have desired' or 'I have chosen', 'velo' means 'and not' (ve = and, lo = not), 'zavach' means 'sacrifice', 've' means 'and', 'daat' means 'knowledge', 'elohim' means 'the Gods' (plural), 'meolot' means 'higher' or 'above' (literally 'from the heights').
[HOS.6.7] And they, like a man, transgressed the covenant there and betrayed me. [§]
vehemmah ke'adam avru berit sham bagdu bi.
'vehemmah' means 'and they', 'ke'adam' means 'like a man', 'avru' means 'they transgressed' or 'they passed', 'berit' means 'covenant', 'sham' means 'there', 'bagdu' means 'they betrayed', 'bi' means 'against me'.
[HOS.6.8] Gilead, the city of the workers of evil, a heap of blood. [§]
Gilead Kiryat poalei aven akubah middam.
'Gilead' is a proper name of a region. 'Kiryat' means 'city' or 'town'. 'poalei' is the plural construct form of 'poel' meaning 'workers' or 'doers'. 'aven' means 'wickedness' or 'evil'. 'akubah' means 'a heap' or 'pile'. 'middam' is a construct phrase meaning 'of blood'.
[HOS.6.9] And as a man of troops, a group of priests, the way they will kill wisdom, because they have sinned. [§]
Ukechakei ish gedudim hever kohanim derech yeratzhu-shechma ki zimmah asu.
'Ukechakei' means 'and as' (a conjunctive particle plus a comparative prefix). 'Ish' means 'man' or 'person'. 'Gedudim' means 'troops' or 'bands'. 'Hever' means 'company' or 'group'. 'Kohanim' means 'priests' (plural). 'Derech' means 'way' or 'path'. 'Yeratzhu-shechma' is a verb form meaning 'they will kill' ('yeratzhu') plus 'wisdom' ('shechma'). 'Ki' means 'because'. 'Zimmah' means 'sin' or 'iniquity'. 'Asu' means 'they did' or 'they have done'.
[HOS.6.10] In the house of Israel I saw a harlot; there the prostitution of Ephraim defiled Israel. [§]
Beveyt Yisrael ra'iti shaarriyyah sham zenut leEphrayim nitma Yisrael.
'Beveyt' means 'in the house', 'Yisrael' means 'Israel', 'ra'iti' means 'I saw', 'shaarriyyah' means 'a harlot' or 'prostitute', 'sham' means 'there', 'zenut' means 'prostitution' or 'sexual immorality', 'leEphrayim' means 'for Ephraim', 'nitma' means 'was defiled' or 'was polluted', 'Yisrael' again means 'Israel'.
[HOS.6.11] Even Judah shall drink the harvest for you when I return, the exile of my people. [§]
Gam yehuda shat katsir lecha beshvi shevut ami.
'Gam' means 'also' or 'even', 'yehuda' is the name of the tribe or region Judah, 'shat' (from the root 'shath') is taken here as 'drinks' or 'shall drink', 'katsir' means 'harvest', 'lecha' means 'to you' (masculine), 'beshvi' is the first‑person singular imperfect form of 'shuv' meaning 'when I return' or 'upon my turning back', 'shevut' means 'exile' or 'captivity', 'ami' means 'my people'.
HOS.7
[HOS.7.1] As a cure for Israel and the sin of Ephraim will be revealed and the evils of Samaria because they acted deceitfully, and a thief will come recklessly in the outskirts. [§]
Kerapei leYisrael veNiglah avon Ephraim ve-raot Shomron ki paalu shaker veGanav yavo paschat gedud ba-chutz.
'Kerapei' means 'as a cure', 'leYisrael' means 'for Israel', 'veNiglah' means 'and will be revealed', 'avon' means 'the sin', 'Ephraim' is a proper name, 've-raot' means 'and the evils', 'Shomron' is Samaria, 'ki' means 'because', 'paalu' means 'they acted', 'shaker' means 'deceitfully', 'veGanav' means 'and a thief', 'yavo' means 'will come', 'paschat' means 'rashly' or 'recklessly', 'gedud' means 'in the outskirts', 'ba-chutz' means 'outside' or 'the outer region'.
[HOS.7.2] And they shall not say to their hearts, 'All their evil I have remembered now; their surrounding deeds were before my face.' [§]
Ubal-yoamru lil'vavam kol-ra'atham zakarti atah sevavum ma'alleihem neged panai hayu.
'Ubal-yoamru' means 'and they shall not say', 'lil'vavam' means 'to their hearts', 'kol-ra'atham' means 'all their evil', 'zakarti' means 'I have remembered', 'atah' means 'now', 'sevavum' means 'their surrounding' or 'around them', 'ma'alleihem' means 'their deeds' or 'their actions', 'negod' means 'before' or 'in the presence of', 'panai' means 'my face', 'hayu' means 'they were'.
[HOS.7.3] The king will rejoice in their wickedness, and the princes in their deceit. [§]
b'ra'atam yesamchu-melech uvkachashehem sarim.
'b'ra'atam' means 'in their evil', 'yesamchu-melech' means 'the king will rejoice', 'uvkachashehem' means 'and in their lies', 'sarim' means 'princes'.
[HOS.7.4] All of them are smoldering like a furnace that burns from its flame, it dwells from the city, molten metal until its furnace. [§]
Kulam mena'afim kemo tanur bo'erah me'ophe yishb'ot me'ir milush batsak ad chumtzato.
'Kulam' means 'all of them', 'mena'afim' means 'are smoldering' or 'are burning', 'kemo' means 'like', 'tanur' means 'furnace' or 'oven', 'bo'erah' means 'that is burning', 'me'ophe' means 'from its flame', 'yishb'ot' means 'it sits' or 'it dwells', 'me'ir' means 'from the city', 'milush' means 'molten' or 'liquid', 'batsak' means 'metal' or 'casting', 'ad' means 'until' or 'to', 'chumtzato' means 'its furnace' or 'its melting'.
[HOS.7.5] The day of our king, the princes have risen up in wrath of wine; he stretched out his hand against the scoffers. [§]
Yom malkeinu hechelu sarim chamat miyayin mashach yado et loztzim.
'Yom' means 'day', 'malkeinu' means 'our king', 'hechelu' means 'they have been stirred' or 'they have risen up', 'sarim' means 'princes' or 'rulers', 'chamat' means 'wrath' or 'anger', 'miyayin' means 'of wine', 'mashach' means 'he drew' or 'he stretched', 'yado' means 'his hand', 'et' is a direct object marker (not translated), 'loztzim' means 'the scoffers' or 'the mockers'.
[HOS.7.6] For they draw near like a furnace to their heart in their darkness; all night they sleep their breath; in the morning it burns like fire, a blazing flame. [§]
Ki kerbu ka tannur libam be'arvam kol halayla yashe n ofehem boker hu bo'er ke esh lehavah.
'Ki' means 'for' or 'because', 'kerbu' means 'they draw near' or 'approach', 'ka' is a comparative particle meaning 'like' or 'as', 'tannur' means 'furnace' or 'oven', 'libam' means 'their heart', 'be'arvam' means 'in their darkness', 'kol' means 'all' or 'the whole', 'halayla' means 'the night', 'yashe n' (yashen) means 'they sleep', 'ofehem' means 'their breath', 'boker' means 'in the morning', 'hu' means 'it', 'bo'er' means 'burns', 'ke' is another comparative particle meaning 'like', 'esh' means 'fire', 'lehavah' means 'flame' or 'blazing fire'.
[HOS.7.7] All of them will be warmed like a furnace and will devour their judges; all their kings have fallen; there is no one who calls them to me. [§]
kulam yichamu kattanur ve'achlu et-shofthehem kol-malkheihem nafalu ein-korei bahem elai.
'kulam' means 'all of them'; 'yichamu' means 'will be heated' or 'will be warmed'; 'kattanur' means 'like a furnace'; 've'achlu' means 'and they will eat' or 'devour'; 'et-shofthehem' means 'their judges'; 'kol-malkheihem' means 'all their kings'; 'nafalu' means 'fell' or 'have fallen'; 'ein-korei' means 'there is no one who calls' or 'no one calls'; 'bahem' means 'among them' or 'in them'; 'elai' means 'to me'.
[HOS.7.8] Ephraim among the peoples he will be humbled; Ephraim was drunk without being turned. [§]
Ephraim baamim hu yitbolal Ephraim haya uggah beli hapukah.
'Ephraim' is the name of the northern kingdom of Israel, kept as a proper name. 'baamim' means 'among the peoples'. 'hu' means 'he'. 'yitbolal' is a verb from the root 'b-l-l' meaning 'to be humbled' or 'to be soaked in shame'. The second clause: 'Ephraim' repeats the proper name. 'haya' means 'was'. 'uggah' means 'drunk' or 'intoxicated'. 'beli' means 'without'. 'hapukah' is from the root 'p-kh' meaning 'turning' or 'overturning', so 'without being turned' or 'without overturning'.
[HOS.7.9] Strangers devoured his strength, and he did not know; also a seiva she threw into him, and he did not know. [§]
Akhlu zarim koho vehu lo yada gam seiva zarqa bo vehu lo yada.
'Akhlu' means 'they ate' or 'they devoured', 'zarim' means 'strangers', 'koho' means 'his strength', 'vehu' means 'and he', 'lo' means 'not', 'yada' means 'knew', 'gam' means 'also' or 'even', 'seiva' is a noun of uncertain meaning in this context (often rendered as 'a turn' or 'a change'), 'zarqa' means 'she threw', 'bo' means 'into him/it', and the final 'vehu lo yada' repeats 'and he did not know'.
[HOS.7.10] And the pride of Israel answered before him, and they did not return to Yahveh their Gods, and they did not seek him in all this. [§]
ve'ana geon-Yisrael befanav ve'lo shavu el-Yahveh Eloheihem ve'lo bikshuho bechol-zot.
've'ana' means 'and answered', 'geon-Yisrael' means 'the pride of Israel', 'befanav' means 'before him', 've'lo shavu' means 'and they did not return', 'el-Yahveh' means 'to Yahveh', 'Eloheihem' means 'their the Gods', 've'lo' means 'and not', 'bikshuho' means 'sought him', 'bechol-zot' means 'in all this'.
[HOS.7.11] And it was that Ephraim was like an open dove, without heart; they called Egypt Assyria, and they went. [§]
Vayehi Ephraim kiyonah potah ein lev Mitzrayim kara'u Ashur halchu.
'Vayehi' means 'and it was', 'Ephraim' is the name of the tribe or person, 'kiyonah' means 'like a dove', 'potah' means 'open' or 'exposed', 'ein' means 'no' or 'without', 'lev' means 'heart', 'Mitzrayim' is 'Egypt', 'kara\'u' means 'they called', 'Ashur' is 'Assyria', 'halchu' means 'they went' or 'they departed'.
[HOS.7.12] As they go I will spread upon them my flood like a bird of the heavens I will bring them down I will bind them as they hear to their congregation. [§]
Ka'asher Yelechu Efrosh Aleihem Rishti Ke'of Hashamayim Oridem Aysirem Keshama La'adatam.
'Ka'asher' means 'as' or 'like', 'Yelechu' means 'they will go', 'Efrosh' means 'I will spread' (from the verb 'parash'), 'Aleihem' means 'upon them', 'Rishti' means 'my flood' or 'my overflow', 'Ke'of' means 'like a bird', 'Hashamayim' means 'the heavens', 'Oridem' means 'I will bring them down', 'Aysirem' means 'I will bind them' or 'I will hold them', 'Keshama' means 'as they hear', 'La'adatam' means 'to their congregation'.
[HOS.7.13] Woe to them, for they have strayed from me; plunder is theirs, because they have transgressed against me, and I will redeem them, yet they have spoken against me as lies. [§]
Oy lahem ki-naddu mimeni shod lahem ki-pashtu bi ve-anokhi efdeem ve-hemmah dibru alai ke'zavim.
'Oy' means 'Woe', 'lahem' means 'to them', 'ki' means 'because' or 'for', 'naddu' means 'they have strayed' or 'wandered', 'mimeni' means 'from me', 'shod' means 'plunder' or 'robbery', the second 'lahem' repeats 'to them', the second 'ki' again means 'because', 'pashtu' means 'they have transgressed' or 'sinned', 'bi' means 'against me', 've-anokhi' means 'and I', 'efdeem' means 'I will redeem them', 've-hemmah' means 'and they', 'dibru' means 'they spoke' or 'they said', 'alai' means 'against me', 'ke'zavim' means 'as lies' or 'as falsehoods'.
[HOS.7.14] And they did not cry out to me in their hearts, because they will lie upon their beds; upon grain and wheat they will roll, and they will be scattered by me. [§]
Ve lo za'aku elai be livam ki yileilu al mishkevotam al dagan ve tirosh yitgo'aru yasuru bi.
'Ve' means 'and', 'lo' means 'not', 'za'aku' means 'they shouted' or 'they cried out', 'elai' means 'to me', 'be' means 'in', 'livam' means 'their heart', 'ki' means 'because', 'yileilu' means 'they will lie' or 'they will lean', 'al' means 'upon', 'mishkevotam' means 'their beds', 'al' again 'upon', 'dagan' means 'grain', 've' means 'and', 'tirosh' means 'wheat', 'yitgo'aru' means 'they will roll' or 'be dragged', 'yasuru' means 'they will be scattered' or 'will be led away', 'bi' means 'by me'.
[HOS.7.15] And I have bound, I have strengthened their arms, and they will consider evil toward me. [§]
va'ani yissarti hizakti zer'otam ve'elay yechashvu ra.
'va'ani' means 'and I', 'yissarti' means 'I have bound' (from the root s‑r), 'hizakti' means 'I have strengthened', 'zer'otam' means 'their arms', 've'elay' means 'and toward me', 'yechashvu' means 'they will consider', 'ra' means 'evil'.
[HOS.7.16] They will return, not as they were, like a bow of deception; they will fall by the sword, their princes from the wrath of their tongue, this to mock in the land of Egypt. [§]
Yashuvu lo al hayu keqeshet remiyah yiplu ba-cherev sareihem mizam leshonam zo lagam be-eretz Mitzrayim.
'Yashuvu' means 'they will return', 'lo' means 'not', 'al' means 'upon/against', 'hayu' means 'they were', 'keqeshet' means 'like a bow', 'remiyah' means 'deception' or 'falsehood', 'yiplu' means 'they will fall', 'ba-cherev' means 'by the sword', 'sareihem' means 'their princes', 'mizam' means 'from wrath', 'leshonam' means 'their tongue', 'zo' means 'this', 'lagam' means 'to mock', 'be-eretz' means 'in the land', 'Mitzrayim' means 'Egypt'.
HOS.8
[HOS.8.1] To your mouth a shofar like an eagle on the house of Yahveh because they have broken My covenant and My law they have sinned. [§]
El-chikkecha shofar ka-nesher al beit Yahveh ya'an avru briti ve'al torati pashu.
'El' means 'to' or 'against', 'chikkecha' means 'your mouth', 'shofar' means 'ram's horn' (trumpet), 'ka-nesher' means 'like an eagle', 'al' means 'upon' or 'on', 'beit' means 'house', 'Yahveh' is the literal translation of YHVH, 'ya'an' means 'because' or 'for', 'avru' means 'they have broken' or 'they have transgressed', 'briti' means 'my covenant', 've'al' means 'and concerning' or 'and on', 'torati' means 'my law', and 'pashu' means 'they have sinned' or 'they have committed transgression'.
[HOS.8.2] To me they will cry out, my God, they will know you, Israel. [§]
Li yizaku Elohai yedanocha Yisrael.
'Li' means 'to me', 'yizaku' means 'they will cry out', 'Elohai' means 'my God', 'yedanocha' means 'they will know you', 'Yisrael' means 'Israel'.
[HOS.8.3] Israel has forsaken the good, the enemy will pursue him. [§]
Zanach Yisrael tov oyeb yirdefo.
'Zanach' means 'has forsaken' or 'has spurned', 'Yisrael' is the proper name 'Israel', 'tov' means 'good', 'oyeb' means 'enemy', 'yirdefo' means 'will pursue him' or 'will chase him'.
[HOS.8.4] They made a king and not from me; they sang and I was not aware of their silver and their gold; they made idols for themselves in order that they be cut. [§]
Hem himlikhu ve-lo mimeni hesiru ve-lo yadati kesefam uzehavam asu lahem atzabim lemaan yikkaret.
'Hem' means 'they', 'himlikhu' means 'they appointed as king' or 'they made king', 've-lo' means 'and not', 'mimeni' means 'from me', 'hesiru' means 'they sang', 've-lo' again means 'and not', 'yadati' means 'I knew' or 'I was aware of', 'kesefam' means 'their silver', 'uzehavam' means 'and their gold', 'asu' means 'they made', 'lahem' means 'for them', 'atzabim' means 'idols' or 'statues', 'lemaan' means 'in order that' or 'for the purpose of', 'yikkaret' means 'they may be cut' or 'they will be cut'.
[HOS.8.5] You have abandoned your calf, Samaria; my anger is hot against them. Until when will they not be able to become pure? [§]
Zanach eglekha Shomron charah afi bam ad-matai lo yuchlu nikkayon.
'Zanach' means 'abandoned', 'eglekha' means 'your calf', 'Shomron' is the place name Samaria, 'charah' means 'is angry' or 'is hot', 'afi' means 'my anger', 'bam' means 'against them' or 'in them', 'ad-matai' means 'until when', 'lo' means 'not', 'yuchlu' means 'they will be able', 'nikkayon' means 'to become pure' or 'to be clean'.
[HOS.8.6] Because from Israel and he a craftsman made him, and not the Gods he, because rebels will be a calf of Samaria. [§]
Ki miYisrael vehu harash asahu velo Elohim hu ki-shevavim yihye egel shomron.
'Ki' means 'because', 'miYisrael' means 'from Israel' (the prefix mi- indicating origin), 'vehu' means 'and he', 'harash' means 'craftsman' or 'artisan', 'asahu' means 'made him' (from the verb asa), 'velo' means 'and not', 'Elohim' means 'the Gods' (plural), 'hu' means 'he', 'ki-shevavim' means 'because rebels' (shevavim = rebels or stubborn ones), 'yihye' means 'will be', 'egel' means 'a calf', and 'shomron' means 'of Samaria'.
[HOS.8.7] Because the wind will sow and the wind will reap, it rises; there is no plant for him without making grain; perhaps he will make strangers and he will swallow them. [§]
ki ruach yizra'u vesupatah yiktzoru kama ein lo tzemach beli yasa'eh kemach ulai yasa'eh zarim yivlahu.
'ki' means 'because', 'ruach' means 'wind' or 'spirit', 'yizra'u' means 'they will sow', 'vesupatah' means 'and the wind', 'yiktzoru' means 'they will cut' or 'reap', 'kama' means 'it rises' or 'stands', 'ein lo' means 'there is none for him', 'tzemach' means 'plant' or 'vegetation', 'beli' means 'without', 'yasa'eh' means 'he will make', 'kemach' means 'grain', 'ulai' means 'perhaps', 'zarim' means 'foreigners' or 'strangers', 'yivlahu' means 'he will swallow it'.
[HOS.8.8] Israel is devoured; now they are among the nations as a vessel, there is no desirability in it. [§]
nivla yisrael attah hayu bagoyim kikheli ein-chephetz bo.
'nivla' means 'is devoured', 'yisrael' means 'Israel', 'attah' means 'now', 'hayu' means 'they were', 'bagoyim' means 'among the nations', 'kikheli' means 'as a vessel' (an idiom for something worthless or used), 'ein-chephetz' means 'there is no pleasure' or 'no desirability', 'bo' means 'in it'.
[HOS.8.9] Because they went up Assyria, a bitter devastation to him; Ephraim have become lovers. [§]
Ki hemmah aloo Ashur pereh boded lo Ephrayim hitnu ahavim.
'Ki' means 'because', 'hemmah' means 'they', 'aloo' means 'went up' or 'rose', 'Ashur' is the name of the nation Assyria, 'pereh' means 'bitter' or 'scorching', 'boded' means 'destructive' or 'devastating', 'lo' means 'to him', 'Ephrayim' is the tribe name Ephraim, 'hitnu' means 'they have become' or 'they turned', 'ahavim' means 'lovers' or 'friends'.
[HOS.8.10] Even if they are among the nations now, I will gather them, and they began a little from the burden, the king of princes. [§]
gam ki-yitnu bagoyim atta aqabetzem vayachelu me'at mimmassa melech sarim.
'gam' means 'also' or 'even', 'ki' means 'because' or 'if', 'yitnu' is the verb 'they will bring' or 'they will be', 'bagoyim' means 'among the nations', 'atta' means 'now', 'aqabetzem' means 'I will gather them', 'vayachelu' means 'and they began', 'me\'at' means 'a little', 'mimmassa' means 'from the load' or 'from the burden', 'melech' means 'king', and 'sarim' means 'princes' (often a title "king of princes").
[HOS.8.11] For Ephraim has multiplied altars for sin; they were his altars for sin. [§]
ki hirbah Ephraim mizbechot lachato hayu lo mizbechot lachato.
'ki' means 'for', 'hirbah' means 'has increased' (from the verb rabbah), 'Ephraim' is the name of the northern tribe, 'mizbechot' means 'altars', 'lachato' means 'for sin', 'hayu' means 'they were', 'lo' means 'to him' or 'his', the second 'mizbechot' again means 'altars', and the final 'lachato' again means 'for sin'.
[HOS.8.12] I will write to him, the abundance of my law, like a stranger they were counted. [§]
ekhtav-lo ruve torati kemo-zar necheshu.
'ekhtav' means 'I will write', 'lo' means 'to him', 'ruve' means 'its abundance' or 'greatness', 'torati' means 'my law' or 'my teaching', 'kemo' means 'like' or 'as', 'zar' means 'a stranger' or 'foreign', 'necheshu' means 'they were counted' or 'they were regarded'.
[HOS.8.13] The offerings of the sacrifices they will sacrifice flesh and they ate; Yahweh did not accept them. Now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins; they will return to Egypt. [§]
zivchei habhavah yizbechu basar vayochelu Yahweh lo ratzam atah yizkor avonam veyifkod chatotam hemmah Mitzrayim yashvu
'zivchei' means 'the offerings of', 'habhavah' means 'the sacrifices', 'yizbechu' means 'they will sacrifice', 'basar' means 'flesh', 'vayochelu' means 'and they ate', 'Yahweh' is the divine name, 'lo' means 'not', 'ratzam' means 'they pleased' or 'accepted', 'atah' means 'now', 'yizkor' means 'he will remember', 'avonam' means 'their iniquity', 'veyifkod' means 'and he will punish', 'chatotam' means 'their sins', 'hemmah' means 'they', 'Mitzrayim' means 'Egypt', 'yashvu' means 'they will return'.
[HOS.8.14] And Israel forgot his Maker, and he built temples; and Judah greatly increased cities in fortresses, and I will send fire into his cities, and it will eat its towers. [§]
Vayyishkach Yisrael et-osehhu vayiven heikalot vihudah hirbah arim btsurot veshilachti esh bearia veachlah armnoteyha.
'Vayyishkach' means 'and (he) forgot', 'Yisrael' means 'Israel', 'et-osehhu' means 'the Maker of him' (the one who made him), 'vayiven' means 'and (he) built', 'heikalot' means 'temples' or 'sanctuaries', 'vihudah' means 'and Judah', 'hirbah' means 'has many' or 'greatly increased', 'arim' means 'cities', 'btsurot' means 'in fortresses', 'veshilachti' means 'and I will send', 'esh' means 'fire', 'bearia' means 'in his cities', 'veachlah' means 'and it will eat', 'armnoteyha' means 'its towers' or 'its high places'.
HOS.9
[HOS.9.1] Do not rejoice, Israel, in a joy like the nations, for you have been unfaithful to your God; you loved grain upon all the storehouses of grain. [§]
Al-tismach Yisrael el-gil ka'amim ki zanita me'al Elohecha ahavta etnan al kol-garnot dagan.
'Al' means 'do not', 'tismach' means 'rejoice', 'Yisrael' means 'Israel', 'el-gil' means 'in joy', 'ka'amim' means 'like the nations', 'ki' means 'because', 'zanita' means 'you have been unfaithful', 'me\'al' means 'from above', 'Elohecha' means 'your God', 'ahavta' means 'you loved', 'etnan' means 'grain', 'al' means 'upon', 'kol-garnot' means 'all the storehouses', 'dagan' means 'grain'.
[HOS.9.2] Grain will not feed them, and new wine will mock in it. [§]
Goren vayekev lo yire'em ve-tirosh yekachesh bah.
'Goren' means 'grain' or 'seed'. 'Vayekev' means 'and (it) will become' or 'and (it) will be' (the verb from the root KVB). 'Lo' means 'not'. 'Yire'em' is a verb meaning 'will feed' or 'will cause to graze'. 'Ve-tirosh' means 'and new wine' (tirosh = fresh wine). 'Yekachesh' is a verb meaning 'will mock' or 'will be a scorn'. 'Bah' means 'in it' or 'within it'.
[HOS.9.3] Not will they dwell in the land of Yahveh, and Ephraim will return from Egypt, and in Assyria the impure will eat. [§]
Lo yeshvu be'eretz Yahveh ve-shav Efrayim mi-Tzrayim u-ve-Ashur tameh yokhelu.
'Lo' means 'not', 'yeshvu' means 'they will dwell', 'be'eretz' means 'in the land', 'Yahveh' is the literal translation of YHVH, 've-shav' means 'and will return', 'Efrayim' means 'Ephraim', 'mi-Tzrayim' means 'from Egypt', 'u-ve-Ashur' means 'and in Assyria', 'tameh' means 'unclean' or 'impure', 'yokhelu' means 'they will eat'.
[HOS.9.4] They will not pour wine to Yahveh, and they will not increase for him their sacrifices; bread of grapes for them; all who eat it will become defiled, because their bread for their soul will not enter the house of Yahveh. [§]
Lo yiskhu laYahveh yayin velo ye'arvu lo zivchehem k'lechem onim lahem kol okhlav yitama'u ki lachmam lenafsham lo yavo beit Yahveh.
'Lo' means 'not', 'yiskhu' means 'they will pour', 'laYahveh' means 'to Yahveh' (the name YHVH rendered as Yahveh), 'yayin' means 'wine', 'velo' means 'and not', 'ye'arvu' means 'they will increase', 'lo' means 'for him', 'zivchehem' means 'their sacrifices', 'k'lechem' means 'bread', 'onim' means 'grapes', 'lahem' means 'for them', 'kol' means 'all', 'okhlav' means 'who eat it', 'yitama'u' means 'they will become defiled', 'ki' means 'because', 'lachmam' means 'their bread', 'lenafsham' means 'for their soul', 'lo' means 'not', 'yavo' means 'will enter', 'beit' means 'house', 'Yahveh' is the literal translation of the divine name YHVH.
[HOS.9.5] What shall you do for the appointed day and for the feast of Yahveh? [§]
Mah ta'asu le-yom moed u-le-yom chag Yahveh.
'Mah' means 'what', 'ta'asu' means 'shall you do', 'le-yom' means 'for the day', 'moed' means 'appointed time' or 'assembly', 'u-' means 'and', 'le-yom' again 'for the day', 'chag' means 'feast' or 'festival', 'Yahveh' is the literal rendering of the divine name YHVH.
[HOS.9.6] For behold, they go from Shod, Egypt; you will gather them, a pit you will bury them, desire for their money, a fine garment they will inherit, hollow in their tents. [§]
ki hine halchu mishod Mitzrayim tekabtzem mof tekabrem machmad lechasfam kimmos yirasham choach beahalehem.
'ki' means 'for', 'hine' means 'behold', 'halchu' means 'they go', 'mishod' means 'from (a place called) Shod', 'Mitzrayim' means 'Egypt', 'tekabtzem' means 'you will gather them', 'mof' means 'a pit', 'tekabrem' means 'you will bury them', 'machmad' means 'desire' or 'delight', 'lechasfam' means 'for their money', 'kimmos' means 'a fine garment', 'yirasham' means 'they will inherit', 'choach' means 'hollow' or 'emptiness', 'beahalehem' means 'in their tents'.
[HOS.9.7] The days of the command have come, the days of peace have come; Israel will know the fool who is the prophet, a misguided man of spirit, because of your many iniquities and great corruption. [§]
Bau yeme ha-pekudah bau yeme ha-shillum ye'da'u Yisrael evil ha-nabi mushuga' ish ha-ruach al rov avonka ve-rabba mastemah.
'Bau' means 'have come' (verb). 'yeme' means 'days of'. 'ha-pekudah' means 'the command' or 'the decree'. 'bau' repeats 'have come'. 'yeme' again 'days of'. 'ha-shillum' means 'the peace'. 'ye'da'u' means 'they will know'. 'Yisrael' is the name of the people Israel. 'evil' means 'fool' or 'stupid'. 'ha-nabi' means 'the prophet'. 'mushuga'' means 'misguided' or 'perverse'. 'ish' means 'man'. 'ha-ruach' means 'of the spirit' or 'of the wind'. 'al' means 'because of' or 'for'. 'rov' means 'many'. 'avonka' means 'your iniquities'. 've-rabba' means 'and great'. 'mastemah' means 'defilement' or 'corruption'.
[HOS.9.8] A watcher of Ephraim with my God, a prophet, a fool, mocking over all his ways, ruin in the house of his God. [§]
tzofe Ephraim im Elohai navi pach yakosh al kol derakhav mastema beveit Elohav.
'tzofe' means 'watcher', 'Ephraim' is a proper name, 'im' means 'with', 'Elohai' means 'my God', 'navi' means 'prophet', 'pach' means 'fool', 'yakosh' means 'mocking', 'al' means 'over', 'kol' means 'all', 'derakhav' means 'his ways', 'mastema' means 'ruin', 'beveit' means 'in the house of', 'Elohav' means 'his God'.
[HOS.9.9] They have set a ruin like the hill; He will remember their guilt and will punish their sins. [§]
He'emiku-shichetu kimay hagivah yizkor avonam yifkod chatotam.
'He'emiku' means 'they have set' or 'they have dug', 'shichetu' means 'ruin' or 'destruction', 'kimay' means 'like' or 'as', 'hagivah' means 'the hill', 'yizkor' means 'he will remember', 'avonam' means 'their guilt' or 'their iniquity', 'yifkod' means 'he will punish', 'chatotam' means 'their sins'.
[HOS.9.10] Like grapes in the desert I found Israel, like a cluster in a fig at its beginning I saw your fathers. They came, the god Baal of Peor, and they were cast for nakedness and became filthy like a dog. [§]
ka'anevim bamidbar matzati yisrael kevikurah bite'ena bereshitah ra'iti avoteichem hem ba'u ba'al-peor vayinnazru laboshet vayihyu shikkutzim ke'ahav.
'ka'anevim' means 'like grapes', 'bamidbar' means 'in the desert', 'matzati' means 'I found', 'yisrael' means 'Israel', 'kevikurah' means 'like a cluster', 'bite'ena' means 'in a fig (tree)', 'bereshitah' means 'its beginning', 'ra'iti' means 'I saw', 'avoteichem' means 'your fathers', 'hem' means 'they', 'ba'u' means 'came', 'ba'al-peor' means 'the god Baal of Peor', 'vayinnazru' means 'and they were cast', 'laboshet' means 'for nakedness', 'vayihyu' means 'and they became', 'shikkutzim' means 'filthy ones', 'ke'ahav' means 'like a dog'.
[HOS.9.11] Ephraim, like a bird, will flutter; their glory from birth and from the womb and from the heights. [§]
Ephrayim ka'of yit'ofef kevodam mil'eda u-mibeten u-meherayon.
'Ephrayim' means 'Ephraim', 'ka'of' means 'like a bird', 'yit'ofef' means 'will flutter', 'kevodam' means 'their glory', 'mil'eda' means 'from birth', 'u-mibeten' means 'and from the womb', 'u-meherayon' means 'and from the heights'.
[HOS.9.12] Because if they increase their children and make them foolish from mortal men, for also woe to them, my flesh from them. [§]
Ki im-yegadlu et-b'neihem ve-shikhaltim me'adam ki gam-oi lahem be-suri mehem.
'Ki' means 'because', 'im' means 'if', 'yegadlu' means 'they become great' or 'they increase', 'et' is the direct‑object marker, 'b'neihem' means 'their children', 've' means 'and', 'shikhaltim' means 'you make them foolish' or 'you cause them to be confused', 'me'adam' means 'from man' (i.e., mortal), 'ki' again means 'for' or 'because', 'gam' means 'also', 'oi' means 'woe', 'lahem' means 'to them', 'be-suri' means 'my flesh' (literally 'in my flesh'), 'mehem' means 'from them'.
[HOS.9.13] Ephraim, as I saw a rock planted in the plain, and Ephraim brings forth his sons to the slayer. [§]
Ephraim ka'asher ra'iti le-tzor shtula be-naveh ve-Ephraim le-hotzi el-horeg banav.
'Ephraim' is the name of a tribe of Israel. 'ka'asher' means 'as' or 'just as'. 'ra'iti' means 'I saw'. 'le-tzor' means 'to the rock' (or 'as a rock'). 'shtula' means 'planted'. 'be-naveh' means 'in the plain' or 'in the pasture'. 've-' is the conjunction 'and'. The second clause repeats 'Ephraim' as the subject. 'le-hotzi' means 'to bring forth' or 'to lead out'. 'el-horeg' means 'to the slayer' or 'to the one who kills'. 'banav' means 'his sons' or 'his children'. The verse is a poetic image comparing Ephraim to a planted rock and then saying Ephraim will lead his children to the one who kills them.
[HOS.9.14] Give them, Yahveh, whatever you will give; give them womb, wisdom, and suckling breasts. [§]
Ten-lahem Yahveh mah-titen Ten-lahem rechem mashkil ve-shadayim tzmikim.
'Ten' means 'give', 'lahem' means 'to them', 'Yahveh' is the literal translation of YHVH, 'mah' means 'what', 'titen' means 'you will give', the second 'Ten' repeats 'give', 'rechem' means 'womb' or figuratively 'fruitfulness', 'mashkil' is a noun from 'wise/understanding', 've' is the conjunction 'and', 'shadayim' means 'breasts', 'tzmikim' means 'suckling' or 'nourishing'.
[HOS.9.15] All their evil in Gilgal because there they hate against evil their deeds from my house I will uproot them not I will add their love all their princes rebellious. [§]
Kol-ra'otam bagilgal ki-sham s'neitim al ro'a ma'alleihem mibeti agar'shem lo osef ahavatah kol-sareihom sor'rim.
'Kol' means 'all', 'ra'otam' means 'their evil', 'bagilgal' means 'in Gilgal', 'ki' means 'because', 'sham' means 'there', 's'neitim' means 'they hate', 'al' means 'against', 'ro'a' means 'evil', 'ma'alleihem' means 'their deeds', 'mibeti' means 'from my house', 'agar'shem' means 'I will uproot them', 'lo' means 'not', 'osef' means 'I will add', 'ahavatah' means 'their love', 'kol' means 'all', 'sareihom' means 'their princes', 'sor'rim' means 'rebellious'.
[HOS.9.16] Ephraim is humbled, its roots are dry, its fruit will have no sweetness, even though they will bear, and its wombs are delightful. [§]
hukah Efrayim sharsham yavesh peri bali-ya'asu gam ki yeladun vehematti machamdey bitnam.
'hukah' means 'is humbled' or 'is broken', 'Efrayim' is the proper name 'Ephraim', 'sharsham' means 'its roots', 'yavesh' means 'are dry', 'peri' means 'its fruit', 'bali-ya'asu' means 'without (it) they will make/do', 'gam' means 'also' or 'even', 'ki' means 'because' or 'though', 'yeladun' means 'they will bear (give birth)', 'vehematti' means 'and its sweetness', 'machamdey' means 'delicacies' or 'pleasant things', 'bitnam' means 'of the womb'.
[HOS.9.17] My God will be angry because they did not hear him, and they will become wanderers among the nations. [§]
Yim'osem Elohai ki lo shamu lo ve-yihyu noddim ba-goyim.
'Yim'osem' means 'will be angry with', 'Elohai' means 'my God', 'ki' means 'because', 'lo' means 'they did not', 'shamu' means 'listen/hear', the second 'lo' is the object pronoun 'him', 've-yihyu' means 'and they will be', 'noddim' means 'wanderers' or 'nomads', 'ba-goyim' means 'among the nations'.
HOS.10
[HOS.10.1] A vine sprouting Israel, fruit that brings forth for him, abundant in its fruit, increase to the altars, as good for its land, they improved the monuments. [§]
Gefen bokeq Yisrael peri yeshaveh-lo kerov le-firio hirbah lamizbechot ke-tov le-artzo heitibu matzveot.
'Gefen' means 'vine', 'bokeq' means 'sprouting', 'Yisrael' means 'Israel', 'peri' means 'fruit', 'yeshaveh-lo' means 'that brings forth for him', 'kerov' means 'abundant', 'le-firio' means 'to its fruit', 'hirbah' means 'increase', 'lamizbechot' means 'to the altars', 'ke-tov' means 'as good', 'le-artzo' means 'to its land', 'heitibu' means 'they improved', 'matzveot' means 'monuments' or 'pillars'.
[HOS.10.2] He divided their hearts; now they will be ashamed; he will snatch away their altars; he will plunder their standing stones. [§]
Chalak livam attah ye'ashamu hu ya'aref mizbechotam yeshoded matzevotam.
'Chalak' means 'divided', 'livam' means 'their hearts', 'attah' means 'now', 'ye'ashamu' means 'they will be ashamed', 'hu' means 'he', 'ya'aref' means 'will snatch away', 'mizbechotam' means 'their altars', 'yeshoded' means 'will plunder', 'matzevotam' means 'their standing stones'.
[HOS.10.3] Because now they will say, 'There is no king for us, because we do not fear Yahveh; and the king, what will he do for us?' [§]
ki atah yomru ein melekh lanu ki lo yirenu et Yahveh veha-melekh ma yaaseh lanu.
'ki' means 'because', 'atah' means 'now', 'yomru' means 'they will say', 'ein' means 'there is not', 'melekh' means 'king', 'lanu' means 'for us', 'lo' means 'not', 'yirenu' means 'we will fear', 'et' is a direct object marker (untranslated), 'Yahveh' is the literal name of God, 'veha-melekh' means 'and the king', 'ma' means 'what', 'yaaseh' means 'will do', 'lanu' means 'for us'.
[HOS.10.4] They spoke words, vain shouts; a covenant was cut and a headlike judgment blossomed over the youths of the fields. [§]
Dibru devarim alot shav karot berit uparach karosh mishpat al talmey sadi.
'Dibru' means 'they spoke', 'devarim' means 'words', 'alot' means 'shouts' or 'calls', 'shav' means 'vain' or 'empty', 'karot' means 'cut' or 'made', 'berit' means 'covenant', 'uparach' means 'and blossomed', 'karosh' means 'like a head' (literally 'headlike'), 'mishpat' means 'judgment' or 'justice', 'al' means 'upon' or 'over', 'talmey' means 'young ones' or 'youths', 'sadi' means 'fields' or 'the countryside'.
[HOS.10.5] To the calves of the house of iniquity they will dwell in the dwelling of Samaria, because his people have become weak over him, and his princes over him will rejoice in his glory, because his glory has departed from him. [§]
Le-eglot beit aven yaguru shechan shomron ki-avel alav ammo u-kemarav alav yagilu al-kevodoh ki-galah mimenu.
'Le-eglot' means 'to the calves', 'beit aven' means 'house of iniquity', 'yaguru' means 'they will dwell', 'shechan shomron' means 'the dwelling of Samaria', 'ki-avel alav ammo' means 'because his people have become weak over him', 'u-kemarav alav' means 'and his princes over him', 'yagilu al-kevodoh' means 'they will rejoice over his glory', 'ki-galah mimenu' means 'because his glory has departed from him'.
[HOS.10.6] Even him to Asshur will be offered a grain offering to the king Yareb; in the second [year] Ephraim will seize, and Israel will be ashamed of his counsel. [§]
Gam-oto le'ashur yubul mincha lemelech yarev bashna efrayim yikkach veyevosh yisrael me'atzato.
'Gam' means 'also' or 'even', 'oto' means 'him', 'le'ashur' means 'to Asshur', 'yubul' means 'will be poured' or 'will be offered', 'mincha' means 'a grain offering' or 'offering', 'lemelech' means 'to the king', 'yarev' is a proper name meaning 'he will bite' or a king named Yareb, 'bashna' means 'in the second [year/season]', 'efrayim' means 'Ephraim', 'yikkach' means 'will take' or 'will seize', 'veyevosh' means 'and will be ashamed', 'yisrael' means 'Israel', 'me'atzato' means 'from his counsel' or 'from his advice'.
[HOS.10.7] Let us be ashamed, O Samaria, her king, like a storm upon the face of the waters. [§]
Nidmeh Shomron malkeha ke-retzef al-penei-mayim.
'Nidmeh' means 'let us be ashamed', 'Shomron' is the proper name Samaria, 'malkeha' means 'her king' (king of Samaria), 'ke-retzef' means 'like a storm' or 'like a whirlwind', 'al-penei' means 'upon the face of', and 'mayim' means 'waters'.
[HOS.10.8] And they will be shamed in the high places, the iniquity of Israel’s sin, the end and terror will rise upon their altars, and they will say to the mountains, "Cover us," and to the hills, "Fall upon us." [§]
Ve-nishmedu ba-mot aven chatat Yisrael qot ve-dardar yaaleh al-mizbachotam ve-amru le-harim kassunu ve-le-gvaot nipleu alenu.
'Ve' means 'and', 'nishmedu' means 'they will be shamed' or 'become despised', 'ba-mot' means 'in the high places' (plural of bamah, a shrine), 'aven' means 'iniquity', 'chatat' means 'sin', 'Yisrael' means 'Israel', 'qot' means 'the end' or 'conclusion', 've-dardar' means 'and terror' or 'dread', 'yaaleh' means 'will rise', 'al' means 'upon', 'mizbachotam' means 'their altars', 've-amru' means 'and they said', 'le-harim' means 'to the mountains', 'kassunu' means 'cover us' or 'hide us', 've-le-gvaot' means 'and to the hills', 'nipleu' means 'they fell' or 'they collapse', 'alenu' means 'upon us'. No divine name appears in this verse, so no special translation of a name is required.
[HOS.10.9] From the waters of the hill you have sinned, Israel; there they stood, you will not reach them in the hill war against the sons of Alvah. [§]
Miimei hagiv'ah chatata Yisrael sham amadu lo tasigem ba-giv'ah milchamah al-b'nei alvah.
'Miimei' means 'from the waters of', 'hagiv'ah' means 'the hill', 'chatata' means 'you have sinned', 'Yisrael' means 'Israel', 'sham' means 'there', 'amadu' means 'they stood', 'lo' means 'not', 'tasigem' means 'you will reach', 'ba-giv'ah' means 'in the hill', 'milchamah' means 'war', 'al' means 'against', 'b'nei' means 'the sons of', 'alvah' is a proper name.
[HOS.10.10] In my desire I will bind them, and they will be gathered against them the nations in their binding for two their eyes. [§]
beavati ve'esorem veusfu aleihem amim beosram lishtei onotam.
'beavati' means 'in my desire', 've'esorem' means 'and I will bind them', 'veusfu' means 'and they will be gathered', 'aleihem' means 'against them', 'amim' means 'nations', 'beosram' means 'in their binding', 'lishtei' means 'for two', 'onotam' means 'their eyes'.
[HOS.10.11] And Ephraim a trained heifer I love the pure, and I have passed over the goodness of her neck; I will lay Ephraim, Judah will be hushed, Jacob will cherish him. [§]
veEphraim eglah melummadah ohevti ladush vaani avarti al tuv tzavvarah archiv ephraim yacharosh yehudah yishaddell o yaakov.
'veEphraim' means 'and Ephraim', 'eglah' means 'a heifer', 'melummadah' means 'trained' or 'taught', 'ohevti' means 'I love', 'ladush' means 'the clean' or 'the pure', 'vaani' means 'and I', 'avarti' means 'have passed over' or 'have crossed', 'al' means 'upon' or 'over', 'tuv' means 'goodness', 'tzavvarah' means 'her neck' or 'her collar', 'archiv' means 'I will lay' or 'I will spread', 'ephraim' again is the proper name 'Ephraim', 'yacharosh' means 'will be silent' or 'will be hushed', 'yehudah' means 'Judah', 'yishaddell o' means 'will cherish him' or 'will be delighted for him', 'yaakov' means 'Jacob'.
[HOS.10.12] Plant for you in righteousness; be brief according to mercy; shine for you, a shining, and there is a time to seek the Yahveh until He comes and will show righteousness for you. [§]
Zir'u lakhem litzdakah kitsru lefi-chesed nir'u lakhem nir ve'et lidrosh et-Yahveh ad-yavo veyoreh tzedek lakhem.
'Zir'u' means 'plant', 'lakhem' means 'for you (plural)', 'litzdakah' means 'for righteousness', 'kitsru' means 'be brief/short', 'lefi-chesed' means 'according to mercy', 'nir'u' means 'be bright/shining', 'nir' means 'brightness', 've'et' means 'and a time', 'lidrosh' means 'to seek', 'et-Yahveh' means 'the Yahveh', 'ad-yavo' means 'until He comes', 'veyoreh' means 'and will show/teach', 'tzedek' means 'righteousness', 'lakhem' means 'for you'.
[HOS.10.13] You have plotted wickedness and injustice, you have cut short and you have eaten the fruit of bitterness, because you trusted in your way in the multitude of your mighty ones. [§]
Charashtem resha avlatah katsartem akhaltem peri kachash ki-batachta bedarkekha berov gibborikha.
'Charashtem' means 'you (plural) have plotted' or 'you have fashioned'; 'resha' means 'wickedness' or 'evil'; 'avlatah' means 'injustice' or 'oppression'; 'katsartem' means 'you have shortened' or 'cut short'; 'akhaltem' means 'you have eaten' or 'you will eat'; 'peri' means 'fruit' and 'kachash' means 'bitterness' or 'bitter thing', so 'peri kachash' is 'fruit of bitterness'; 'ki-batachta' means 'because you trusted' or 'for you have trusted'; 'bedarkekha' means 'in your way' or 'in your path'; 'berov' means 'in the multitude' or 'in the great number of'; 'gibborikha' means 'your mighty ones' or 'your warriors'.
[HOS.10.14] And a storm shall arise in your people, and all your strongholds shall be broken, as the ruin that Shalman inflicted on the house of Arbel in a day of war, a mother over sons is shredded. [§]
vekaam shaon be'ammecha vechol-mivtsareicha yushad keshod shalman beit arvel beyom milchamah em al-banim rutasha.
'vekaam' means 'and shall arise', 'shaon' means 'storm', 'be'ammecha' means 'in your people', 'vechol' means 'and all', 'mivtsareicha' means 'your strongholds', 'yushad' means 'shall be broken', 'keshod' means 'as the ruin', 'shalman' is a proper name (king Shalman), 'beit' means 'house', 'arvel' means 'Arbel (a place)', 'beyom' means 'in a day', 'milchamah' means 'of war', 'em' means 'a mother', 'al-banim' means 'over sons', 'rutasha' means 'is shredded' or 'torn'.
[HOS.10.15] Thus He made for you a house of God because of your evil, at dawn we shall be silent, silent is the king of Israel. [§]
Kakha asah lachem beit-God mipnei raat raatem bashachar nidmo nidmah melech Yisrael.
'Kakha' means 'thus' or 'in this way', 'asah' means 'made', 'lachem' means 'to you', 'beit-God' is the literal translation of 'beit-El' where 'El' is rendered as 'God', so 'house of God', 'mipnei' means 'because of' or 'on account of', 'raat' means 'evil', 'raatem' means 'your evil', 'bashachar' means 'in the morning' or 'at dawn', 'nidmo' means 'we will be silent' (from the root meaning 'to fall silent'), 'nidmah' is a parallel form meaning 'silence' or 'we shall be silent', and 'melech Yisrael' means 'king of Israel'.
HOS.11
[HOS.11.1] Because the Israelite youth, I loved him, and from Egypt I called my son. [§]
Ki na'ar Yisrael va'ohaveihu u-mimtzyrayim karati livni.
'Ki' means 'because', 'na'ar' means 'youth' or 'boy', 'Yisrael' means 'Israel', 'va'ohaveihu' means 'and I loved him', 'u-mimtzyrayim' means 'and from Egypt', 'karati' means 'I called', 'livni' means 'my son' (or 'my child').
[HOS.11.2] They called them, 'Thus they went before them; to the Baals they will sacrifice, and to the idols they will cut down.' [§]
karu lahem ken halchu mipnehem labbaalim yezabchu velapsilim yekaterun.
'karu' means 'they called', 'lahem' means 'to them', 'ken' means 'thus' or 'so', 'halchu' means 'they went', 'mipnehem' means 'in front of them' or 'before them', 'labbaalim' means 'to the Baals' (the plural form of Baal, a deity), 'yezabchu' means 'they will sacrifice', 'velapsilim' means 'and to the idols', 'yekaterun' means 'they will cut [them] down' or 'they will destroy'.
[HOS.11.3] And I will roll them to Ephraim, I will seize them on his arm, and they will not know that they are weak. [§]
Ve-anokhi tirgalteti le-Ephraim kaham al zer'otav ve-lo yadu ki refatim.
'Ve-anokhi' means 'and I'; 'tirgalteti' means 'will roll' or 'will bring down'; 'le-Ephraim' means 'to Ephraim'; 'kaham' means 'I will seize them' (from the root for 'take'); 'al' means 'on' or 'upon'; 'zer'otav' means 'his arm' (literally 'the arm of him'); 've-lo' means 'and not'; 'yadu' means 'they will know'; 'ki' means 'that'; 'refatim' means 'are weak' or 'feeble'.
[HOS.11.4] In the cords of man I will bind you in the embraces of love, and I will be to them like those who lift a burnt offering upon their flesh, and I will strike to him and feed. [§]
Bechablei adam emshekhem ba'avot ahavah va'ehyeh lahem kimrimei ol al lechehem ve'at elav okhil.
'Bechablei' means 'in the cords/strings of', 'adam' means 'man' or 'human', 'emshekhem' means 'I will bind you' (plural), 'ba'avot' means 'in the embraces' (or 'in the bindings'), 'ahavah' means 'love', 'va'ehyeh' means 'and I will be', 'lahem' means 'to them', 'kimrimei' means 'like those who lift/raise', 'ol' means 'a burnt offering', 'al' means 'upon', 'lechehem' means 'their flesh/people', 've'at' means 'and I will strike/act', 'elav' means 'to him', 'okhil' means 'I will feed'.
[HOS.11.5] He will not return to the land of Egypt, and Assyria is his king, because we will not turn back. [§]
Lo yashuv el-eretz Mitzrayim ve-‘Assur hu malko ki me'anu lashuv.
'Lo' means 'not'. 'Yashuv' means 'will return' (future masculine singular of return). 'El' means 'to'. 'Eretz' means 'land'. 'Mitzrayim' means 'Egypt' (plural form). 'Ve' means 'and'. 'Assur' means 'Assyria'. 'Hu' means 'he' or 'it'. 'Malko' means 'his king' (literally 'king of him'). 'Ki' means 'because'. 'Me'anu' means 'from us' or 'of us'. 'Lashuv' means 'to return' or 'to turn back'.
[HOS.11.6] And a sword was drawn in his cities, and it cut off the judges, and it devoured their counsel. [§]
vechala yereb be'areav ve'kilta vadav ve'achalah mimmo'atzotehem.
've' means 'and', 'chala' means 'drew' (as in draw a sword), 'yereb' means 'a sword', 'be'areav' means 'in his cities', 've' again means 'and', 'kilta' means 'cut off', 'vadav' means 'the judges', 've' again means 'and', 'achalah' means 'ate' or 'devoured', 'mimmo'atzotehem' means 'from their counsel' (their plans or advice).
[HOS.11.7] And my people will be humbled for my restoration, and to God the High they will call together, not exalt. [§]
ve'ami telu'im limshuvati ve'el al yikra'uhu yachad lo yerolem.
've'ami' means 'and my people', 'telu'im' means 'will be humbled' (or 'are humbled'), 'limshuvati' means 'for my restoration', 've'el' means 'and to God' (the divine name El rendered as God), 'al' means 'the High', 'yikra'uhu' means 'they will call him', 'yachad' means 'together', 'lo' means 'not', 'yerolem' means 'they will exalt'.
[HOS.11.8] How shall I give you, Ephraim? I will preserve you, Israel. How shall I give you like the earth? I will set you as the stones. I have turned upon me; my heart together is broken, my comfort is shattered. [§]
Eich ettenkha Ephrayim amagenkha Yisrael eich ettenkha ke'adama ashimkha kitzvaim nehpach alai libi yachad nikhamru nichumai.
'Eich' means 'how', 'ettenkha' means 'shall I give you', 'Ephrayim' is the name of the tribe of Ephraim, 'amagenkha' means 'I will preserve you', 'Yisrael' means 'Israel', the second 'eich' repeats 'how', 'ke'adama' means 'like the earth', 'ashimkha' means 'I will set you', 'kitzvaim' means 'as the stones', 'nehpach' means 'I am turned' or 'I have turned', 'alai' means 'upon me', 'libi' means 'my heart', 'yachad' means 'together', 'nikhamru' means 'we have been broken', and 'nichumai' means 'my consolation' or 'my comfort'.
[HOS.11.9] I will not act in anger, I will not turn to destroy Ephraim, for I am God and not a man in your midst holy, and I will not come to the city. [§]
Lo e'eseh charon afi lo ashuv leshachet Ephraim ki El anochi ve'lo ish be'kirbecha kadosh ve'lo avo be'ir.
'Lo' means 'not', 'e'eseh' means 'I will do', 'charon' means 'anger', 'afi' means 'my wrath', 'lo' means 'not', 'ashuv' means 'I will return', 'leshachet' means 'to spoil', 'Ephraim' is a proper name, 'ki' means 'because', 'El' means 'God', 'anochi' means 'I am', 've'lo' means 'and not', 'ish' means 'man', 'be'kirbecha' means 'in your midst', 'kadosh' means 'holy', 've'lo' means 'and not', 'avo' means 'I will come', 'be'ir' means 'to the city'.
[HOS.11.10] After Yahveh they will go like a lion that roars, for he roars and they will be terrified, sons from the sea. [§]
acharei Yahveh yelchu ke'arie yishag ki hu yishag veyecherdu banim mi-yam.
'acharei' means 'after' or 'behind', 'Yahveh' is the literal translation of YHVH, 'yelchu' means 'they will go', 'ke'arie' means 'like a lion', 'yishag' means 'will roar', 'ki' means 'for' or 'because', 'hu' means 'he', the second 'yishag' repeats 'will roar', 'veyecherdu' means 'and they will be terrified', 'banim' means 'sons' or 'children', 'mi-yam' means 'from the sea'.
[HOS.11.11] Let them go like a bird from Egypt, and like a dove from the land of Assyria, and I will cause them to dwell in their houses, says Yahveh. [§]
yecherdu ke-tzipor mi-mitzrayim u-kyona me-eretz Ashur ve-hoshavtim al-bateihem ne'um-Yahveh.
"yecherdu" means "let them go" (imperative), "ke-tzipor" means "like a bird", "mi-mitzrayim" means "from Egypt", "u-kyona" means "and like a dove", "me-eretz" means "from the land of", "Ashur" means "Assyria", "ve-hoshavtim" means "and I will cause them to dwell", "al-bateihem" means "in their houses", "ne'um" means "says", "Yahveh" is the literal translation of the divine name YHVH.
HOS.12
[HOS.12.1] They have surrounded me with deceit, O Ephraim, and with fraud the house of Israel; and Judah still walks with God and with the holy ones, faithful. [§]
sevabuni bechachash Ephraim uvmirmah beit Yisrael viyhudah od rad im-El ve-im-kedoshim ne'eman.
'sevabuni' means 'they have surrounded me', 'bechachash' means 'with deceit', 'Ephraim' is a proper name of a tribe, 'uvmirmah' means 'and with fraud', 'beit Yisrael' means 'the house of Israel', 'viyhudah' means 'and Judah', 'od' means 'still', 'rad' means 'walks' or 'goes', 'im-El' means 'with God', 've-im-kedoshim' means 'and with the holy ones', 'ne'eman' means 'faithful'.
[HOS.12.2] Ephraim shepherds the wind and pursues east all day, lies and boasts, multiplies, and they will cut a covenant with Assyria, and oil for Egypt will be poured. [§]
Ephraim roeh ruach ve'rodef kadim kol-hayom kazav vashod yarbeh u'verit im Ashur yichrotu ve'shemen leMitzrayim yubal.
'Ephraim' is the name of the northern Israelite tribe; 'roeh' means 'shepherd' (one who tends); 'ruach' means 'wind' or 'spirit'; 've'rodef' means 'and pursues' or 'chases'; 'kadim' means 'east' or 'eastward'; 'kol-hayom' means 'all day' or 'continually'; 'kazav' means 'lies' or 'falsehood'; 'vashod' means 'and boasts' or 'prides'; 'yarbeh' means 'increases' or 'multiplies'; 'u'verit' means 'and a covenant'; 'im Ashur' means 'with Assyria'; 'yichrotu' means 'they will cut' or 'they will break'; 've'shemen' means 'and oil'; 'leMitzrayim' means 'to Egypt'; 'yubal' means 'will be poured' or 'will flow'.
[HOS.12.3] And a dispute with Yahveh against Judah, and to bring judgment upon Jacob according to his ways, as his deeds will be repaid to him. [§]
ve-riv laYahveh im Yehudah ve-lifkod al Yaakov kidrakhav ke-maalalav yashiv lo.
've-riv' means 'and dispute' or 'and strife', 'laYahveh' means 'to Yahveh' (the name YHVH rendered as Yahveh), 'im' means 'with', 'Yehudah' means 'Judah', 've-lifkod' means 'and to bring judgment' or 'to punish', 'al' means 'upon' or 'against', 'Yaakov' means 'Jacob', 'kidrakhav' means 'according to his ways' (kidd = according to, drakhav = his ways), 'ke-maalalav' means 'as his deeds' (ke = as, maalalav = his deeds), 'yashiv' means 'will return' or 'will bring back', 'lo' means 'to him'.
[HOS.12.4] In the belly he pursued his brother, and in his vigor Sarah the Gods. [§]
ba-beten aqav et achiv uve'ono sarah et elohim.
'ba-beten' means 'in the belly' or 'in the womb', 'aqav' means 'he pursued' or 'he followed', 'et' is a grammatical marker that is not rendered in English, 'achiv' means 'his brother', 'uve'ono' means 'and in his vigor/strength', 'sarah' is the proper name Sarah, 'et' again is the grammatical marker, 'elohim' means 'the Gods' (plural).
[HOS.12.5] And he sent to an angel, and he was able to weep, and he pleaded to him; the house of God he will find, and there he will speak with us. [§]
vayasar el malakh vayukal bacha vayitchanen lo beit El yimtzaenu vesham yedaber imanu.
'vayasar' means 'and he sent', 'el' means 'to', 'malakh' means 'angel', 'vayukal' means 'and he was able', 'bacha' means 'to weep', 'vayitchanen' means 'and he pleaded', 'lo' means 'to him', 'beit' means 'house', 'El' means 'God', 'yimtzaenu' means 'he will find him', 'vesham' means 'and there', 'yedaber' means 'will speak', 'imanu' means 'with us'.
[HOS.12.6] and Yahveh God of the hosts, Yahveh his remembrance. [§]
Vayehovah Elohei hatzvaot Yehovah zichro.
'Vayehovah' means 'and Yahveh (the LORD)'; 'Elohei' is the construct form of 'Elohim', meaning 'God of'; 'hatzvaot' means 'the hosts' or 'the armies'; 'Yehovah' is the personal name Yahveh; 'zichro' means 'his remembrance' or 'his memorial'.
[HOS.12.7] And you, in your God you will return; keep kindness and justice, and hope to your God always. [§]
Ve'atah be'elohecha tashuv chesed u-mishpat shmor ve-kaveh el-elohecha tamid.
'Ve'atah' means 'and you', 'be'elohecha' means 'in your God' (El = God, so Elohecha = your God), 'tashuv' means 'you will return', 'chesed' means 'kindness' or 'lovingkindness', 'u-mishpat' means 'and justice', 'shmor' means 'keep' or 'guard', 've-kaveh' means 'and hope' or 'and look forward', 'el-elohecha' means 'to your God', 'tamid' means 'always' or 'ever'.
[HOS.12.8] Like Canaan, in his hand the scales of deception for oppression love. [§]
k'na'an beyado mo'aznei mirmah la'ashok ahav.
'k'na'an' means 'like Canaan', 'beyado' means 'in his hand', 'mo'aznei' means 'the scales of', 'mirmah' means 'deception', 'la'ashok' means 'for oppression', 'ahav' means 'love'.
[HOS.12.9] And Ephraim said, 'Only I have earned, I have found guilt for myself; all my [that reach] will not find for me a guilt that is sin.' [§]
Vayomer Ephraim ach asharti matzati on li kol-yegiai lo yimtzeu-li avon asher chet.
'Vayomer' means 'and he said', 'Ephraim' is a proper name, 'ach' means 'only', 'asharti' means 'I have earned', 'matzati' means 'I have found', 'on' means 'guilt', 'li' means 'for me', 'kol-yegiai' means 'all my [that reach]', 'lo' means 'not', 'yimtzeu-li' means 'they will find for me', 'avon' means 'guilt', 'asher' means 'that', 'chet' means 'sin'.
[HOS.12.10] And I, Yahveh your God, from the land of Egypt, still I will bring you back to the tents as in the days of the appointed time. [§]
ve anokhi Yahveh Elohekha me eretz Mitzrayim od oshivkha ba ohalim ki mey moed
've' means 'and', 'anokhi' means 'I', 'Yahveh' is the personal name of God (YHVH), 'Elohekha' means 'your God' (El = God, with the suffix -kha meaning 'your'), 'me' means 'from', 'eretz' means 'land', 'Mitzrayim' means 'Egypt', 'od' means 'still' or 'yet', 'oshivkha' means 'I will bring you back' (oshiv = bring back, -kha = you), 'ba' means 'to the', 'ohalim' means 'tents', 'ki' means 'as' or 'like', 'mey' means 'days of', and 'moed' means 'appointed time' or 'festival'.
[HOS.12.11] And I spoke concerning the prophets, and I, a vision, have multiplied, and by the hand of the prophets I will become red. [§]
ve-dibbarti al ha-nevi'im ve-anokhi chazon hirbiti uve-yad ha-nevi'im adammeh.
've-dibbarti' means 'and I spoke'; 'al' means 'concerning' or 'against'; 'ha-nevi'im' means 'the prophets'; 've-anokhi' means 'and I'; 'chazon' means 'vision' or 'prophecy'; 'hirbiti' means 'I have multiplied' or 'I have increased'; 'u-ve-yad' means 'and by the hand'; 'adammeh' is a verb form meaning 'I will become red' (from the root meaning 'to be red').
[HOS.12.12] If Gilad is iniquity, only vanity they were in the circle of cattle; they offered sacrifices, also their altars like waves upon the offspring of the fields. [§]
Im Gilad aven akh-shav hayu ba-gilgal shvarim zibechu gam mizbechotam ke-galim al talmei sadei.
'Im' means 'if', 'Gilad' is a proper name meaning 'eternal hill', 'aven' means 'iniquity' or 'evil', 'akh-shav' means 'only vanity', 'hayu' means 'they were', 'ba-gilgal' means 'in the circle' or 'in the wheel', 'shvarim' means 'cattle' or 'livestock', 'zibechu' means 'they offered sacrifices', 'gam' means 'also', 'mizbechotam' means 'their altars', 'ke-galim' means 'like waves', 'al' means 'upon' or 'on', 'talmei' means 'young of' or 'offspring', 'sadei' means 'the fields'.
[HOS.12.13] And Jacob fled the field of Aram, and he served Israel with a woman and with a woman kept. [§]
Vayyivrach Ya'akov sadeh Aram vayya'avod Yisrael be'isha uve'isha shamar.
'Vayyivrach' means 'and he fled', 'Ya'akov' is the proper name 'Jacob', 'sadeh' means 'field', 'Aram' is the proper name of a region, 'vayya'avod' means 'and he served' or 'worked', 'Yisrael' is the proper name 'Israel', 'be'isha' means 'with a woman', 'uve'isha' means 'and with a woman', 'shamar' means 'kept' or 'guarded'.
[HOS.12.14] And by a prophet Yahveh brought Israel from Egypt, and by a prophet (the people) was kept. [§]
Uvenavi heela Yahveh et Israel mimitzrayim uvenavi nishmar.
'Uvenavi' means 'and by a prophet', 'heela' means 'brought out', 'Yahveh' is the literal translation of YHVH, 'et' is a grammatical marker (no English equivalent), 'Israel' is the name of the people, 'mimitzrayim' means 'from Egypt', the second 'uvenavi' repeats 'and by a prophet', and 'nishmar' means 'was kept or guarded'.
[HOS.12.15] He provoked Ephraim, bitter, and his blood he will cast upon him, and he will return his insult to him, his Lord. [§]
hik'ais Ephraim tamrurim ve-damav alav yittosh ve-cherpato yashiv lo adonav.
'hik'ais' means 'he provoked' or 'he incited'; 'Ephraim' is the proper name of a tribe or person; 'tamrurim' means 'bitter' (plural adjective); 've-damav' means 'and his blood'; 'alav' means 'upon him'; 'yittosh' means 'he will cast' or 'he will shed'; 've-cherpato' means 'and his insult'; 'yashiv' means 'he will return' or 'he will give back'; 'lo' means 'to him'; 'adonav' is a form of 'Adonai' meaning 'his Lord'.
HOS.13
[HOS.13.1] When Ephraim spoke, Rteet lifted himself in Israel, and he was accused by Baal and died. [§]
kedabber Ephraim rteet nasa hu beYisrael vaye'asham babba'al vayamot.
'kedabber' means 'when (he) spoke', 'Ephraim' is a proper name, 'rteet' is an obscure term retained as is, 'nasa' means 'he lifted' or 'he bore', 'hu' means 'he', 'beYisrael' means 'in Israel', 'vaye'asham' means 'and he was accused', 'babba'al' means 'by Baal', and 'vayamot' means 'and he died'.
[HOS.13.2] Now they will add to sin and they made for them a feast from their money according to their intention, stones, the work of craftsmen, all for them. They say, ‘those who sacrifice man, circles will be kissed.’ [§]
veatah yosfu lachato vayasa'u lahem masecha mikaspam kitvunum atsabbim maaseh charashim kullo lahem hem omrim zobchei adam agalim yishaqun.
'veatah' means 'now', 'yosfu' means 'they will increase' or 'they will add', 'lachato' means 'to sin', 'vayasa'u' means 'and they did' or 'and they made', 'lahem' means 'for them', 'masecha' means 'a banquet' or 'feast', 'mikaspam' means 'from their money', 'kitvunum' means 'according to their intention' or 'as they planned', 'atsabbim' means 'stones' or 'statues', 'maaseh' means 'work' or 'craft', 'charashim' means 'craftsmen' or 'artisans', 'kullo' means 'all', 'lahem' means 'to them', 'hem' means 'they', 'omrim' means 'are saying', 'zobchei' means 'those who sacrifice', 'adam' means 'man' or 'human', 'agalim' means 'circles' or 'rings', 'yishaqun' means 'they will kiss' or 'will be kissed'.
[HOS.13.3] Therefore they will be like a morning cloud and like the dew that rises, walking, like a moth that flies from a furnace, and like smoke from a burning place. [§]
Lachen yihyu ka'anan-boker ve'khatte'l mashkim holech ke'mots yeso'er migoren u'ke'ashan me'arubah.
'Lachen' means 'therefore', 'yihyu' means 'they will be', 'ka'anan-boker' means 'like a morning cloud', 've'khatte'l' means 'and like the dew', 'mashkim' means 'that rises', 'holech' means 'walking' or 'going', 'ke'mots' means 'like a moth', 'yeso'er' means 'that flies', 'migoren' means 'from a furnace', 'u'ke'ashan' means 'and like smoke', 'me'arubah' means 'from a burning place'.
[HOS.13.4] And I Yahveh, your God, from the land of Egypt, and the Gods besides me you will not know, and there is no savior except (me). [§]
ve-anokhi Yahweh Elohecha mei-erets Mitzrayim ve-Elohim zulati lo tedah u-moshia ayin bilti.
've-anokhi' means 'and I'; 'Yahweh' is the transliteration of YHVH, which is translated as 'Yahveh'; 'Elohecha' means 'your God' (El = God); 'mei-erets' means 'from the land'; 'Mitzrayim' means 'Egypt'; 've-Elohim' means 'and the Gods' (Elohim = the Gods, plural); 'zulati' means 'besides me'; 'lo' means 'not'; 'tedah' means 'you will know'; 'u-moshia' means 'and savior'; 'ayin' means 'none' or 'there is no'; 'bilti' means 'except' or 'without'.
[HOS.13.5] I know you in the wilderness, in the land of wandering. [§]
Ani yedateeka bamidbar be'aretz talubot.
'Ani' means 'I', 'yedateeka' means 'know you', 'bamidbar' means 'in the wilderness', 'be'aretz' means 'in the land', 'talubot' is a plural form meaning 'wandering places' or 'places of wandering'.
[HOS.13.6] As their feast they became satisfied; they were full, and their hearts were lifted; therefore they have forgotten me. [§]
ke-maritam vayisavu savu vayaram libam al-ken shekheuni.
'ke-maritam' means 'as their feast', 'vayisavu' means 'and they became satisfied', 'savu' means 'they were full', 'vayaram' means 'and their hearts were lifted', 'libam' means 'their heart', 'al-ken' means 'therefore' or 'because of this', 'shekheuni' means 'they have forgotten me'.
[HOS.13.7] And I was to them like a jackal, like a leopard on the road of Assyria. [§]
va'ehí lam hem kemo shachal kenamer al derekh Ashur.
'va'ehí' means 'and I was', 'lam' means 'to', 'hem' is the pronoun suffix meaning 'them', together 'lam hem' = 'to them', 'kemo' means 'like', 'shachal' means 'a jackal', 'kenamer' means 'a leopard', 'al' means 'on', 'derekh' means 'the road', 'Ashur' is the proper name for Assyria.
[HOS.13.8] I will meet them like a bear, a wild beast, and I will tear the fence of their hearts, and I will devour them there like a dog, the beast of the field I will tear them. [§]
Epgesshem kedov shakool ve'ekra segor livam ve'okhlem sham kelevia chayat hasadeh tebake'em.
'Epgesshem' means 'I will meet them', 'kedov' means 'like a bear', 'shakool' means 'a wild beast', 've'ekra' means 'and I will tear', 'segor' means 'a fence' or 'barrier', 'livam' means 'of their heart(s)', 've'okhlem' means 'and I will devour them', 'sham' means 'there', 'kelevia' means 'like a dog', 'chayat hasadeh' means 'the beast of the field', 'tebake'em' means 'I will tear them'.
[HOS.13.9] Your destruction, Israel, because in me your help. [§]
shichtekha Yisrael ki bi veezrekha.
'shichtekha' means 'your destruction', 'Yisrael' means 'Israel', 'ki' means 'because' or 'for', 'bi' means 'in me', 'veezrekha' means 'with your help' (the 've' is the conjunction 'and' or 'with').
[HOS.13.10] I am your king, Epo, and I will save you in all your cities and your judges, that you said: give me a king and princes. [§]
Ehi malkeka epo veyoshiacha bechol-arecha veshofetecha asher amarta tena-li melech vesharim.
'Ehi' means 'I am', 'malkeka' means 'your king', 'epo' is a proper name or term (possibly a place or object), 'veyoshiacha' means 'and I will save you', 'bechol-arecha' means 'in all your cities', 'veshofetecha' means 'and your judges', 'asher' means 'that', 'amarta' means 'you said', 'tena-li' means 'give to me', 'melech' means 'a king', 'vesharim' means 'and princes'.
[HOS.13.11] I will give you a king in my wrath, and I will seize in my iniquity. [§]
Etten lecha melekh ba'api ve'ekach be'evrati
'Etten' means 'I will give', 'lecha' means 'to you', 'melekh' means 'king', 'ba'api' means 'in my wrath', 've'ekach' means 'and I will seize/take', 'be'evrati' means 'in my iniquity/ transgression'.
[HOS.13.12] Ephraim's sin is bound, his iniquity is hidden. [§]
Tzarur avon Ephrayim tzephunah chatato.
'Tzarur' means 'bound' or 'tight', 'avon' means 'iniquity' or 'sin', 'Ephrayim' is the proper name 'Ephraim', 'tzephunah' means 'hidden' or 'concealed', and 'chatato' means 'his sin' (the word for 'sin' with a third‑person singular possessive suffix).
[HOS.13.13] The cords of birth will come to him; he is a son not wise because time will not stand in the breaking of children. [§]
Chevlei Yoleda Yavohu lo hu-ben lo chacham ki-et lo-yaamod b'mishbar banim.
'Chevlei' means 'cords' (construct form of 'rope'), 'Yoleda' means 'of birth', 'Yavohu' means 'will come', 'lo' means 'to him', 'hu' means 'he', 'ben' means 'son', the second 'lo' means 'not', 'chacham' means 'wise', 'ki' means 'because', 'et' means 'time', the third 'lo' means 'not', 'yaamod' means 'will stand', 'b'mishbar' means 'in breaking', 'banim' means 'children'.
[HOS.13.14] From the hand of the realm of the dead I will redeem them; from death I will bring them back. I am your words, death; I am your writing, the realm of the dead. Comfort will be hidden from my eyes. [§]
mi-yad sheol efdeem mi-mavet egolem ehi dvarikha mavet ehi katavkha sheol nokham yisater me-einei.
'mi-yad' means 'from the hand', 'sheol' means 'the realm of the dead', 'efdeem' means 'I will redeem them', 'mi-mavet' means 'from death', 'egolem' means 'I will bring them back', 'ehi' means 'I am', 'dvarikha' means 'your words', 'mavet' means 'death', 'katavkha' means 'your writing', 'nokham' means 'comfort', 'yisater' means 'will be hidden', 'me-einei' means 'from my eyes'.
[HOS.13.15] For he is a son of brothers, he will bring disgrace, he will come from the east, the wind of Yahveh from the desert rising, and his source will be ashamed and his spring will be scorched; he will drink the storehouse of all delightful vessels. [§]
ki hu ben achim yafri yavo kadim ruach Yahveh mimidbar oleh veyevosh mekoro vecherav mayanho hu yisheh otzar kol-keli chemdah.
'ki' means 'for', 'hu' means 'he', 'ben' means 'son', 'achim' means 'brothers', 'yafri' means 'will bring disgrace', 'yavo' means 'will come', 'kadim' means 'east', 'ruach' means 'wind/spirit', 'Yahveh' is the literal translation of the Tetragrammaton YHVH, 'mimidbar' means 'from the desert', 'oleh' means 'rising', 'veyevosh' means 'and will be ashamed', 'mekoro' means 'its source', 'vecherav' means 'and will be scorched', 'mayanho' means 'its spring', 'hu' means 'he', 'yisheh' means 'will drink', 'otzar' means 'storehouse', 'kol-keli' means 'all vessels', 'chemdah' means 'delight' or 'precious thing'.
HOS.14
[HOS.14.1] The watchmen will be blamed because she has become bitter in her the Gods; by the sword they will fall, their young will be scattered, and their daughters will be broken. [§]
te'esham shomron ki martah be'eloheha bacheret yipolu olleihem yerutashu vehariyotav yevukau.
'te'esham' means 'will be blamed', 'shomron' means 'the watchmen', 'ki' means 'because', 'martah' means 'she has become bitter', 'be'eloheha' means 'in her the Gods' (Elohim = the Gods), 'bacheret' means 'by the sword', 'yipolu' means 'they will fall', 'olleihem' means 'their young', 'yerutashu' means 'will be scattered', 'vehariyotav' means 'and their daughters', 'yevukau' means 'will be broken'.
[HOS.14.2] Return, O Israel, to Yahveh your God, for you have sinned because of your iniquity. [§]
Shuvah Yisrael ad Yahveh Elohecha ki kashalta ba'avuneka.
'Shuvah' means 'return', an imperative directed to Israel. 'Yisrael' is the name of the people, Israel. 'ad' means 'to' or 'unto'. 'Yahveh' is the literal rendering of the divine name YHWH. 'Elohecha' is a construct form meaning 'your God', with 'El' rendered as 'God'. 'ki' introduces a cause, meaning 'for' or 'because'. 'kashalta' is the verb 'you have sinned' or 'you have become guilty'. 'ba'avuneka' is a prepositional phrase 'because of your iniquity' (avon = iniquity, guilt).
[HOS.14.3] Take with you words and return to Yahveh, say to him, all who bear guilt, take good and we will offer cattle with our lips. [§]
Kehu immekhem dvarim ve'shuvu el-Yahveh imru elav kol tisa avon ve-kach tov u-neshalemah parim s'fatenu.
'Kehu' means 'take', 'immekhem' means 'with you', 'dvarim' means 'words' or 'things', 've'shuvu' means 'and return', 'el-Yahveh' means 'to Yahveh', 'imru' means 'say', 'elav' means 'to him', 'kol' means 'all', 'tisa' means 'who bears', 'avon' means 'guilt' or 'injustice', 've-kach' means 'and take', 'tov' means 'good', 'u-neshalemah' means 'and we will offer', 'parim' means 'cattle', 's'fatenu' means 'our lips'.
[HOS.14.4] Assyria will not save us; we will not ride on a horse, and we will not again say, 'our God' for the work of our own hands, which in you will be heated, orphan. [§]
Ashur lo yoshieinu al-sus lo nirchav ve-lo no'amar od Eloheinu le-ma'aseh yadeinu asher becha yerucham yatom.
'Ashur' means 'Assyria', 'lo' means 'not', 'yoshieinu' means 'will save us', 'al-sus' means 'upon a horse', 'nirchav' means 'we will ride', 've-lo' means 'and not', 'no'amar' means 'shall say', 'od' means 'again', 'Eloheinu' means 'our God' (literally 'our El' where El = God), 'le-ma'aseh' means 'for the work', 'yadeinu' means 'of our hands', 'asher' means 'that' or 'which', 'becha' means 'in you', 'yerucham' means 'will be heated' or 'will become warm', 'yatom' means 'orphan' (used idiomatically for something left alone). The name of God is rendered according to the rule that 'El' translates as 'God'.
[HOS.14.5] I will heal their restoration, their loving gift, because my anger has turned away from them. [§]
Erpa meshubotam oh evem nedabah ki shav api mimmenu.
'Erpa' means 'I will heal', 'meshubotam' means 'their restoration' or 'their return', 'oh evem' means 'their love' or 'the one who loves them', 'nedabah' means 'a gift', 'ki' means 'because', 'shav' means 'has turned back' or 'has returned', 'api' means 'my anger', 'mimmenu' means 'from us' or 'away from them'.
[HOS.14.6] I will be as a fat (calf) for Israel, will flourish like a lily, and will strike its roots like Lebanon. [§]
Eheyeh ka-tal leYisrael yifraḥ ka-shoshana ve-yach sharashav ka-levanon.
'Eheyeh' means 'I will be', 'ka' is the comparative particle meaning 'like' or 'as', 'tal' means 'fat' (used idiomatically for a plump, well‑fed animal), 'leYisrael' means 'for Israel', 'yifraḥ' means 'will flourish' or 'will blossom', 'ka-shoshana' means 'like a lily', 've-yach' means 'and will strike' or 'cut', 'sharashav' means 'its roots', and 'ka-levanon' means 'like Lebanon' (a reference to the sturdy, mountainous region). The phrase 'ka‑tal' is an idiom for a well‑fattened calf, implying strength and abundance.
[HOS.14.7] May his children go, and let it be like an olive, his glory, and its fragrance like white. [§]
Yelchu yonkoteav vihey kezayit hodo vereiach lo kallelvanon.
'Yelchu' means 'they will go', 'yonkoteav' means 'his offspring' or 'his children', 'vihey' means 'and let it be' or 'and it shall be', 'kezayit' means 'like an olive', 'hodo' means 'his glory' or 'splendor', 'vereiach' means 'and fragrance', 'lo' means 'its' (referring to the olive), 'kallelvanon' means 'like white' (a term for pure white).
[HOS.14.8] They shall return, those who sit in his shade; they will cause the grain to live and the vine to flourish, his memory like wine of Lebanon. [§]
Yashuvu yoshvei vetsilo yechayu dagan ve-yif'ruchu kagafen zikro ke-yein levanon.
'Yashuvu' means 'they will return', 'yoshvei' means 'those who sit', 'vetsilo' means 'in his shade', 'yechayu' means 'they will cause to live', 'dagan' means 'grain', 've-yif'ruchu' means 'and will flourish', 'kagafen' means 'like a vine', 'zikro' means 'his memory' or 'his remembrance', 'ke-yein' means 'like wine', 'levanon' means 'of Lebanon'.
[HOS.14.9] Ephraim, what else is there for me to the angry? I have answered and corrected him; I am like a lion, fresh from me your fruit will be found. [§]
Ephraim mah li od laatzabim? Ani aniti vaashurenu? Ani kivrosh raanan mimeni peryeka nimtza.
'Ephraim' is a proper name referring to the tribe or northern kingdom. 'mah' means 'what', 'li' means 'to me', 'od' means 'still' or 'any more', 'laatzabim' is a construct meaning 'to the angry' (from the root meaning to become angry or proud). 'ani' means 'I'. 'aniti' is the verb meaning 'I answered' or 'I replied'. 'vaashurenu' is a conjunction plus verb meaning 'and I have corrected him' or 'and I have rebuked him'. 'kivrosh' literally means 'as a lion' (kiv = like, rosh = head, idiomatically a lion). 'raanan' means 'sprouting' or 'fresh'. 'mimeni' means 'from me'. 'peryeka' means 'your fruit' (possessive form). 'nimtza' is a verb meaning 'will be found' or 'is found'.
[HOS.14.10] Who is wise and understands these, the prudent and one who knows them? For the upright are the ways of Yahveh, and the righteous will walk in them, and the wicked will stumble in them. [§]
Mi chacham ve-yaven eleh navon ve-yeda'em ki yesharim darchei YHVH ve-tsaddikim yelchu bam u-fosh'im yikkashlu bam.
'Mi' means 'who', 'chacham' means 'wise', 've-yaven' means 'and understands', 'eleh' means 'these', 'navon' means 'prudent', 've-yeda'em' means 'and knows them', 'ki' means 'because' or 'for', 'yesharim' means 'the upright' or 'the righteous', 'darchei' means 'ways of', 'YHVH' is the divine name rendered as 'Yahveh', 've-tsaddikim' means 'and the righteous' (or 'the upright'), 'yelchu' means 'will walk', 'bam' means 'in them', 'u-fosh'im' means 'and the wicked', 'yikkashlu' means 'will stumble' or 'will be brought to ruin', 'bam' again means 'in them'. The translation follows the rule to render YHVH as 'Yahveh' and keeps other divine titles literal.