Revised Literal Translation

Hosea 2

1SayH559ye unto your brethrenלַאֲחֵיכֶ֖םla.'a.chei.KhemH251,AmmiH5971;and to your sistersוְלַאֲחֽוֹתֵיכֶ֖םve.la.'a.cho.tei.KhemH269,Ru–hamahרֻחָֽמָה׃ru.Cha.mahH7355.

2Pleadרִ֤יבוּRi.vuH7378with your motherבְאִמְּכֶם֙ve.'i.me.KhemH517,pleadרִ֔יבוּRi.vuH7378: for she isnot my wifeאִשְׁתִּ֔י'ish.TiH802, neither amI her husbandאִישָׁ֑הּ'i.ShahH376:let her therefore put awayוְתָסֵ֤רve.ta.SerH5493her whoredomsזְנוּנֶ֙יהָ֙ze.nu.Nei.haH2183out of her sightמִפָּנֶ֔יהmi.pa.NeihH6440,and her adulteriesוְנַאֲפוּפֶ֖יהָve.na.'a.fu.Fei.haH5005from between her breastsשָׁדֶֽיהָ׃sha.Dei.haH7699;

3Lest I stripאַפְשִׁיטֶ֣נָּה'af.shi.Te.nahH6584her nakedעֲרֻמָּ֔ה'a.ru.MahH6174,and setוְהִ֨צַּגְתִּ֔יהָve.Hi.tzag.Ti.haH3322her as in the dayכְּי֖וֹםke.YomH3117that she was bornהִוָּֽלְדָ֑הּhi.val.DahH3205,and makeוְשַׂמְתִּ֣יהָve.sam.Ti.haH7760her as a wildernessכַמִּדְבָּ֗רkha.mid.BarH4057,and setוְשַׁתִּ֙הָ֙ve.sha.Ti.haH7896her like a dryצִיָּ֔הtzi.YahH6723landכְּאֶ֣רֶץke.'E.retzH776,and slayוַהֲמִתִּ֖יהָva.ha.mi.Ti.haH4191her with thirstבַּצָּמָֽא׃ba.tza.Ma'H6772.

4And I will not have mercyאֲרַחֵ֑ם'a.ra.ChemH7355upon her childrenבָּנֶ֖יהָba.Nei.haH1121; for they bethe childrenבְנֵ֥יve.NeiH1121of whoredomsH2183.

5For their motherאִמָּ֔ם'i.MamH517hath played the harlotזָֽנְתָה֙za.ne.TahH2181:she that conceivedהֽוֹרָתָ֑םho.ra.TamH2029them hath done shamefullyH3001:for she saidאָמְרָ֗ה'a.me.RahH559,I will goH3212afterאַחֲרֵ֤י'a.cha.ReiH310my loversמְאַהֲבַי֙me.'a.ha.VaiH157,that giveנֹתְנֵ֤יno.te.NeiH5414memy breadלַחְמִי֙lach.MiH3899and my waterוּמֵימַ֔יu.mei.MaiH4325,my woolצַמְרִ֣יtzam.RiH6785and my flaxוּפִשְׁתִּ֔יu.fish.TiH6593,mine oilשַׁמְנִ֖יsham.NiH8081and my drinkוְשִׁקּוּיָֽי׃ve.shi.ku.YaiH8250.

6Therefore, behold, I will hedgeשָׂ֥ךְsakhH7753up thy wayדַּרְכֵּ֖ךְdar.KekhH1870with thornsבַּסִּירִ֑יםba.si.RimH5518,and makeוְגָֽדַרְתִּי֙ve.ga.dar.TiH1443a wallגְּדֵרָ֔הּge.de.RahH1447,that she shall not findתִמְצָֽא׃tim.Tza'H4672her pathsוּנְתִיבוֹתֶ֖יהָu.ne.ti.vo.Tei.haH5410.

7And she shall followוְרִדְּפָ֤הve.ri.de.FahH7291after her loversH157,but she shall not overtakeתַשִּׂ֣יגta.SigH5381them; and she shall seekוּבִקְשָׁ֖תַםu.vik.Sha.tamH1245them, but shall not findתִמְצָ֑אtim.Tza'H4672them:then shall she sayH559,I will goH3212and returnוְאָשׁ֙וּבָה֙ve.'a.Shu.vahH7725to my firstהָֽרִאשׁ֔וֹןha.ri.ShonH7223husbandאִישִׁ֣י'i.ShiH376; for then was itbetterH2896with me than nowמֵעָֽתָּה׃me.'A.tahH6258.

8For she did not knowיָֽדְעָ֔הya.de.'AhH3045that I gaveנָתַ֣תִּיna.Ta.tiH5414her grainהַדָּגָ֖ןha.da.GanH1715,and wineוְהַתִּיר֣וֹשׁve.ha.ti.Ro.oshH8492,and oilוְהַיִּצְהָ֑רve.hai.yitz.HarH3323,and multipliedהִרְבֵּ֥יתִיhir.Bei.tiH7235her silverוְכֶ֨סֶףve.Khe.sefH3701and goldוְזָהָ֖בve.za.HavH2091, whichthey preparedעָשׂ֥וּ'a.SuH6213for Baalלַבָּֽעַל׃la.Ba.'alH1168.

9Therefore will I returnH7725,and take awayוְלָקַחְתִּ֤יve.la.kach.TiH3947my grainדְגָנִי֙de.ga.NiH1715in the timeבְּעִתּ֔וֹbe.'i.ToH6256thereof, and my wineוְתִירוֹשִׁ֖יve.ti.ro.ShiH8492in the seasonבְּמֽוֹעֲד֑וֹbe.mo.'a.DoH4150thereof, and will recoverוְהִצַּלְתִּי֙ve.hi.tzal.TiH5337my woolצַמְרִ֣יtzam.RiH6785and my flaxוּפִשְׁתִּ֔יu.fish.TiH6593givento coverלְכַסּ֖וֹתle.kha.SotH3680her nakednessעֶרְוָתָֽהּ׃'er.va.TahH6172.

10And now will I discoverאֲגַלֶּ֥ה'a.ga.LehH1540her lewdnessנַבְלֻתָ֖הּnav.lu.TahH5040in the sightלְעֵינֵ֣יle.'ei.NeiH5869of her loversמְאַהֲבֶ֑יהָme.'a.ha.Vei.haH157,and noneוְאִ֖ישׁve.'IshH376shall deliverיַצִּילֶ֥נָּהya.tzi.Le.nahH5337her out of mine handמִיָּדִֽי׃mi.ya.DiH3027.

11I will also cause all her mirthמְשׂוֹשָׂ֔הּme.so.SahH4885to ceaseוְהִשְׁבַּתִּי֙ve.hish.ba.TiH7673,her feast daysחַגָּ֖הּcha.GahH2282,her new moonsחָדְשָׁ֣הּcha.de.ShahH2320,and her sabbathsוְשַׁבַּתָּ֑הּve.shab.ba.TahH7676,and all her solemn feastsH4150.

12And I will destroyוַהֲשִׁמֹּתִ֗יva.ha.shi.mo.TiH8074her vinesגַּפְנָהּ֙gaf.NahH1612and her fig treesוּתְאֵ֣נָתָ֔הּu.te.'E.na.TahH8384,whereof she hath saidאָמְרָ֗ה'a.me.RahH559, These aremy rewardsאֶתְנָ֥ה'et.NahH866that my loversH157have givenנָֽתְנוּ־na.te.nu-H5414me: and I will makeוְשַׂמְתִּ֣יםve.sam.TimH7760them a forestלְיַ֔עַרle.Ya.'arH3293,and the beastsחַיַּ֥תchai.YatH2416of the fieldהַשָּׂדֶֽה׃ha.sa.DehH7704shall eatוַאֲכָלָ֖תַםva.'a.kha.La.tamH398them.

13And I will visitוּפָקַדְתִּ֣יu.fa.kad.TiH6485upon her the daysיְמֵ֤יye.MeiH3117of Baalimהַבְּעָלִים֙ha.be.'a.LimH1168,wherein she burned incenseתַּקְטִ֣ירtak.TirH6999to them, and she deckedוַתַּ֤עַדva.Ta.'adH5710herself with her earringsנִזְמָהּ֙niz.MahH5141and her jewelsוְחֶלְיָתָ֔הּve.chel.ya.TahH2484,and she wentH3212afterאַחֲרֵ֣י'a.cha.ReiH310her loversמְאַהֲבֶ֑יהָme.'a.ha.Vei.haH157,and forgatשָׁכְחָ֖הsha.khe.ChahH7911me, saithנְאֻם־ne.'um-H5002Yhwhיְהוָֽה׃ פYah.wehH3068.

14Therefore, behold, I will allureמְפַתֶּ֔יהָme.fa.Tei.haH6601her, and bringH3212her into the wildernessהַמִּדְבָּ֑רha.mid.BarH4057,and speakוְדִבַּרְתִּ֖יve.di.bar.TiH1696comfortablyלִבָּֽהּ׃li.BahH3820unto her.

15And I will giveוְנָתַ֨תִּיve.na.Ta.tiH5414her her vineyardsכְּרָמֶ֙יהָ֙ke.ra.Mei.haH3754from thence, and the valleyעֵ֥מֶק'E.mekH6010of Achorעָכ֖וֹרa.KhorH5911for a doorלְפֶ֣תַחle.Fe.tachH6607of hopeתִּקְוָ֑הtik.VahH8615:and she shall singוְעָ֤נְתָהve.'A.ne.tahH6030there, as in the daysH3117of her youthנְעוּרֶ֔יהָne.'u.Rei.haH5271,and as in the dayH3117when she came upעֲלֹתָ֥הּ'a.lo.TahH5927out of the landמֵאֶֽרֶץ־me.'e.retz-H776of Egyptמִצְרָֽיִם׃ סmitz.Ra.yimH4714.

16And it shall be at that dayבַיּוֹם־vai.yom-H3117,saithנְאֻם־ne.'um-H5002Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068, thatthou shalt callתִּקְרְאִ֖יtik.re.'IH7121me Ishiאִישִׁ֑י'i.ShiH376;and shalt callתִקְרְאִי־tik.re.'i-H7121me no more Baaliבַּעְלִֽי׃ba'.LiH1180.

17For I will take awayוַהֲסִרֹתִ֛יva.ha.si.ro.TiH5493the namesשְׁמ֥וֹתshe.MotH8034of Baalimהַבְּעָלִ֖יםha.be.'a.LimH1168out of her mouthמִפִּ֑יהָmi.Pi.haH6310,and they shall no more be rememberedיִזָּכְר֥וּyi.za.khe.RuH2142by their nameבִּשְׁמָֽם׃bish.MamH8034.

18And in that dayH3117will I makeוְכָרַתִּ֨יve.kha.ra.TiH3772a covenantבְּרִית֙be.RitH1285for them with the beastsחַיַּ֤תchai.YatH2416of the fieldהַשָּׂדֶה֙ha.sa.DehH7704,and with the fowlsע֣וֹףofH5775of heavenהַשָּׁמַ֔יִםha.sha.Ma.yimH8064, and withthe creeping thingsוְרֶ֖מֶשׂve.Re.mesH7431of the groundהָֽאֲדָמָ֑הha.'a.da.MahH127:and I will breakאֶשְׁבּ֣וֹר'esh.BorH7665the bowוְקֶ֨שֶׁתve.Ke.shetH7198and the swordוְחֶ֤רֶבve.Che.revH2719and the battleוּמִלְחָמָה֙u.mil.cha.MahH4421out of the earthהָאָ֔רֶץha.'A.retzH776,and will make them to lie downוְהִשְׁכַּבְתִּ֖יםve.hish.kav.TimH7901safelyלָבֶֽטַח׃la.Ve.tachH983.

19And I will betrothוְאֵרַשְׂתִּ֥יךְve.'e.ras.TikhH781thee unto me for everלְעוֹלָ֑םle.'o.LamH5769;yea, I will betrothוְאֵרַשְׂתִּ֥יךְve.'e.ras.TikhH781thee unto me in righteousnessבְּצֶ֣דֶקbe.Tze.dekH6664,and in judgmentוּבְמִשְׁפָּ֔טu.ve.mish.PatH4941,and in lovingkindnessוּבְחֶ֖סֶדu.ve.Che.sedH2617,and in merciesוּֽבְרַחֲמִֽים׃U.ve.ra.cha.MimH7356.

20I will even betrothוְאֵרַשְׂתִּ֥יךְve.'e.ras.TikhH781thee unto me in faithfulnessבֶּאֱמוּנָ֑הbe.'e.mu.NahH530:and thou shalt knowוְיָדַ֖עַתְּve.ya.Da.'atH3045Yhwhיְהוָֽה׃ סYah.wehH3068.

21And it shall come to pass in that dayבַּיּ֣וֹםbai.YomH3117,I will hearאֶֽעֱנֶה֙'e.'e.NehH6030,saithנְאֻם־ne.'um-H5002Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,I will hearאֶעֱנֶ֖ה'e.'e.NehH6030the heavensהַשָּׁמָ֑יִםha.sha.Ma.yimH8064,and they shall hearיַעֲנ֥וּya.'a.NuH6030the earthהָאָֽרֶץ׃ha.'A.retzH776;

22And the earthוְהָאָ֣רֶץve.ha.'A.retzH776shall hearתַּעֲנֶ֔הta.'a.NehH6030the grainהַדָּגָ֖ןha.da.GanH1715,and the wineהַתִּיר֣וֹשׁha.ti.Ro.oshH8492,and the oilהַיִּצְהָ֑רhai.yitz.HarH3323;and they shall hearיַעֲנ֥וּya.'a.NuH6030Jezreelיִזְרְעֶֽאל׃yiz.re.'ElH3157.

23And I will sowוּזְרַעְתִּ֤יהָu.ze.ra'.Ti.haH2232her unto me in the earthH776;and I will have mercyוְרִֽחַמְתִּ֖יve.ri.cham.TiH7355upon her that had not obtained mercyרֻחָ֑מָהru.Cha.mahH3818 H7355;and I will sayוְאָמַרְתִּ֤יve.'a.mar.TiH559to them which werenot my peopleעַמִּי֙'a.MiH5971, Thou artmy peopleעַמִּי־'a.mi-H5971;and they shall sayיֹאמַ֥רyo.MarH559, Thou artmy Godאֱלֹהָֽי׃ פ'e.lo.HaiH430.

Commentaries on Hosea 2