Hosea 2:12
Context2:12 I will destroy her vines and fig trees,
about which she said, “These are my wages for prostitution 1
that my lovers gave to me!”
I will turn her cultivated vines and fig trees 2 into an uncultivated thicket,
so that wild animals 3 will devour them.
Hosea 4:3
Context4:3 Therefore the land will mourn,
and all its inhabitants will perish. 4
The wild animals, 5 the birds of the sky,
and even the fish in the sea will perish.
Hosea 4:15
Context4:15 Although you, O Israel, commit adultery,
do not let Judah become guilty!
Do not journey to Gilgal!
Do not go up to Beth Aven! 6
Do not swear, “As surely as the Lord lives!”


[2:12] 1 tn Heb “my wages.” The words “for prostitution” are not in the Hebrew text but are supplied for clarity; cf. CEV “gave…as payment for sex.”
[2:12] 2 tn Heb “I will turn them”; the referents (vines and fig trees) have been specified in the translation for clarity.
[2:12] 3 tn Heb “the beasts of the field” (so KJV, NASB); the same expression also occurs in v. 18).
[4:3] 4 tn Or “languish” (so KJV, NRSV); NIV “waste away.”
[4:3] 5 tn Heb “the beasts of the field” (so NAB, NIV).
[4:15] 7 sn Beth Aven means “house of wickedness” in Hebrew; it is a polemic reference to “Bethel,” which means “house of God.” Cf. CEV “at sinful Bethel.”