Hosea 8:10

8:10 Even though they have hired lovers among the nations, ¹ 

I will soon gather them together for judgment. ² 

Then ³  they will begin to waste away

under the oppression of a mighty king. ⁴ 

Hosea 1:11

1:11 Then the people ⁵  of Judah and the people of Israel will be gathered together. They will appoint for themselves one leader, ⁶  and will flourish in the land. ⁷  Certainly, ⁸  the day of Jezreel will be great!

Hosea 9:6

No Escape for the Israelites This Time!

9:6 Look! ⁹  Even if ¹⁰  they flee from the destruction,

Egypt will take hold ¹¹  of them,

and Memphis will bury them.

The weeds will inherit the silver they treasure ¹²  –

thorn bushes will occupy their homes. ¹³ 

[8:10]  ¹ tn Or “they have hired themselves out to lovers”; cf. NASB “they hire allies among the nations.”

[8:10]  ² tn The Piel stem of קָבַץ (qavats) is often used in a positive sense, meaning “to regather” a dispersed people (HALOT 1063 s.v. קבץ 3.a; BDB 868 s.v. קָבַץ 1.α). However, in Hosea 8:10 it is used in a negative sense, meaning “to assemble (people) for judgment” (e.g., Ezek 20:34; Hos 9:6; HALOT 1063 s.v. 3.e.i). Cf. JPS “I will hold them fast” (in judgment, see the parallel in 9:6).

[8:10]  ³ tn The vav consecutive + preterite וַיָּחֵלּוּ (vayyakhellu, Hiphil preterite 3rd person common plural from חָלַל, khalal, “to begin”]) denotes temporal subordination to the preceding clause: “then…” (so NLT); cf. TEV, CEV “Soon.”

[8:10]  ⁴ tn Heb “a king of princes” (cf. KJV, NASB); TEV “the emperor of Assyria.”

[1:11]  ⁵ tn Heb “sons” (twice in this verse, so NASB); KJV, ASV “children”; NIV, NRSV, TEV “people.”

[1:11]  ⁶ tn Heb “head” (so KJV, NAB, NRSV).

[1:11]  ⁷ tn Alternatively, “gain possession of the land” (cf. NRSV) or “rise up from the land” (cf. NIV). This clause may be understood in two ways: (1) Israel will gain ascendancy over the land or conquer the land (e.g., Exod 1:10; cf. NAB “come up from other lands”) or (2) Israel will be “planted” in the land (Hos 2:24-25; cf. NLT “will…plant his people”).

[1:11]  ⁸ tn Or “For” (so NASB); NCV “because”; TEV “Yes.”

[9:6]  ⁹ tn The deictic particle הִנֵּה (hinneh, “Behold!”) is used frequently in prophetic announcements, introducing a solemn or important declaration, particularly in threats of judgment (BDB 244 s.v. הִנֵּה b.β). Many modern English versions leave this particle untranslated here.

[9:6]  ¹⁰ tn The conjunction כִּי (ki) introduces a concessive clause: “Although, when, if, even if” (BDB 473 s.v. כִּי 2.c.β). It has a force approximating “even if” (so NIV, NCV, NRSV, CEV, NLT), but it represents a situation as more likely to occur than אִם (‘im, “if”). The concessive use of כִּי is normally followed by an imperfect, but occasionally a perfect is used, as is the case here (e.g., Mic 7:8; Nah 1:10; Pss 21:12; 119:83).

[9:6]  ¹¹ tn The verb קָבַץ (qavats, “to gather together”) should be nuanced “grab hold” in this context (HALOT 1063 s.v. קבץ). This pictures a personified Egypt taking the fugitives prisoner.

[9:6]  ¹² tn Heb “the treasured things of their silver”; NASB, NIV, TEV, NLT “treasures of silver.”

[9:6]  ¹³ tn Heb “their tents” (so NIV, NRSV); CEV “your tents.”