From the Greek Septuagint text as was used by First Century Christians
A prophecy primarily against the 10-tribe Kingdom of IsraEl, which was written sometime in the 9th Century B.C.E.

Chapter 1

¹ These are the words of Jehovah that came to Hosea (the son of BeEri) in the days of UzziAh, JoTham, Ahaz, and HezekiAh, the kings of Judah, and in the days of JeroBoam (the son of JoAsh) the king of IsraEl.

² This is the beginning of the word of Jehovah by Hosea:

The Lord spoke to Hosea and said, 'Take a woman for yourself from the whores… so that children [can be born] from her whoring; because, by chasing after immoral sex, the land has strayed from Jehovah.'

³ So, he went and took Gomer the daughter of DiBlaim, and she got pregnant and bore him a son.

⁴ Then the Lord said to him, 'Call his name JezreEl, for in a while I'll bring vengeance, on the house of Judah for JezreEl's blood, and I'll bring an end to IsraEl's kingdom. ⁵ In that day, I'll break IsraEl's bow, in the valley of JezreEl.'

⁶ Then she got pregnant again and gave birth to a daughter. And He said to him, 'Call her name Show No Mercy, for on IsraEl's house I'll show no mercy, but I'll stand against and oppose them. ⁷ Yet, by the power of Jehovah their God, I will show mercy upon Judah's sons, and I will bring them salvation. But I will not save by the bow or the broadsword, nor by the battles of horses and horsemen.'

⁸ And after she weaned Show No Mercy, she got pregnant again and bore a son. ⁹ And He said, 'Call his name Not My People, because you're no longer My people, and I am no part of you. ¹⁰ But the number of IsraEl's sons, will become like the sands of the sea, and they'll neither be measured nor counted. And it will be in that place, where they were told you're not My people, they'll be called the Living God's sons. ¹¹ Then they'll gather the sons of IsraEl and Judah, and appoint someone to rule over them. But from the land they'll [be taken], for JezreEl's day will be great.'

Chapter 2

¹ 'Speak to your brother, Not My People, and to your sister, Show No Mercy! ² Plead with your mother… yes plead; for she isn't really My wife, and I'm not really her husband. For, I'll remove all her whoring from Me, and her adultery from between [both] her breasts. ³ I'll strip her down 'til she's naked, and restore her like the day she was born. To desolation I will appoint her, and make her a waterless land; then I will kill her with thirst.

⁴ 'There's no way I'll show mercy on her children, for they are the children of her whoring, ⁵ because their mother was immoral, and the one who bore them disgraced them. For she said: I will follow my lovers; those who provide my water and bread… my clothes and my linen robes… my olive oil and all I deserve.

⁶ 'For this; {Look!} With barbs I'll close up her way… I'll block her ways and her roads, so she will not find them thereafter. ⁷ Then, when she pursues all her lovers, there'll be no way she can catch them… she'll search for them but not find them.

'Then she will say: I'll now return to my husband, where things were much better than now. ⁸ But, she doesn't know it was I, who gave her the grain and the wine, as well as her silver and olive oil. But she took my silver and gold, in order to make things for BaAl.

⁹ 'It's because of this that I will return, and remove all My grain in its season, as well as My wine in its time; I will remove all her clothes, as well as My linen robes, so she'll have nothing to cover her shame. ¹⁰ Before her lovers I'll uncover her filth, and from My hand none will save her.

¹¹ 'I'll remove all the joy of her holiday feasts, as well as her festivals, New Moons, and Sabbaths.

¹² 'I'll remove all her grapevines and fig trees, for she said: These wages were paid by my lovers. So, I'll appoint them to witness [against her], and wild animals in the fields will consume her, as well as winged creatures that fly in the skies, and things that crawl on the ground.

¹³ 'I will take vengeance upon her, for each day that she sacrificed to the BaAls… when she donned her necklaces and earrings… when she forgot Me and chased after lovers,' says Jehovah.

¹⁴ 'Because of this, {Look!} I'll make her wander, and I'll order desolation upon her. Then I'll speak to her heart and return her possessions… and turn the Valley of Trouble to a Valley of Hope. ¹⁵ Then she'll become humble like the days of her youth… like the day she ascended from Egypt.

¹⁶ 'And it will be in that day,' says Jehovah, 'that she'll call out to Me, O My husband! No more will she call to the BaAls. ¹⁷ For, the names of BaAls I'll lift from her mouth… she'll no longer remember their names.

¹⁸ 'In that day; I'll make a Sacred Agreement, with all the wild beasts of the fields, all the flying creatures in the skies, and all the crawling things on the ground. I will break all the broadswords and bows, then I'll end the wars and bring hope to the land.

¹⁹ 'Then I'll take you as My wife through the age… in righteousness and fairness I'll take you… in mercy and in compassion. ²⁰ I'll take you to Myself in full trust, and you'll recognize Me as your Lord.

²¹ 'And it will be in that day,' says Jehovah, 'that I'll give My attention to the skies, and the skies will give attention to the land. ²² Then the land will give attention to the grain, as well as the wine and olive oil, and they'll give attention to JezreEl.

²³ 'I'll plant her on the earth for Myself, and I'll love the one that's unloved. Then I will say, You're My people, to those who aren't really Mine, and she will say, Jehovah's My God!'

Chapter 3

¹ And the Lord said to me: 'Go again and love an adulteress, who wishes to do what is evil! For, though IsraEl's sons are loved by Jehovah, they have looked to strange gods, and of raisin cakes they've become very fond!'

² So, I hired [such a woman] for myself, for fifteen silver coins, two hundred quarts of barley, and a skin flask of wine. ³ And I said to her, 'You must sit next to me, and you may not commit immoral acts or be with [another] man for many days; for, I alone will be yours. ⁴ Because, this is how the sons of IsraEl will sit for many days, without a king or a ruler, and there'll be no sacrifices, Altar, or Priesthood… there just won't be any direction. ⁵ But, after all these things are completed, the sons of IsraEl will return and they'll search for Jehovah their God, as well as for David their king. And in the end of the days, they'll be ecstatic over Jehovah and over all of His good things.'

Chapter 4

¹ O sons of IsraEl; Hear the word of the Lord! For, Jehovah has a case against all who live in this land, because there is no truth and no mercy, and no knowledge of God in the land. ² Cursing and lying, murder, fraud, and adultery, have been poured out over the land, and you've mingled blood with the blood. So, this is why the land will [soon] mourn, ³ and those living here will diminish. Then the wild beasts in the fields, the winged creatures [that live] in the skies, and the fish in the seas will all fail.

⁴ [The Lord says:] 'No one should judge and no one should scold, for My dispute, O Priests, is with you. ⁵ Each day [our God] will bring weakness upon you… the prophets among you will weaken, and night will serve as your mother, ⁶ for you've removed knowledge from My people. And since you've pushed away greater knowledge, I will push you away, and you'll not be My priests anymore. Since you've forgotten the laws of your God, I will forget all your children. ⁷ For all the sins that they've sinned against Me, I'll appoint their glory to dishonor… ⁸ My people will eat their own sins, and their unrighteous ways will claim all their lives.

⁹ 'And what happens to the people will happen to the priests, for I'll bring vengeance on them for their ways, and pay them back for their [wicked] thoughts. ¹⁰ Then they will eat, but never be filled, for they've become whores who cannot get straight. They don't watch [for Me] anymore, because they've abandoned Jehovah… ¹¹ whoring, wine, and strong drink, have captured the hearts of My people.

¹² 'They look to signs for their answers, and [wave magic] wands for replies. In a spirit of whoring they've wandered, and to their God been unfaithful. ¹³ On the tops of the hills they bring sacrifices… beneath the oaks and white poplars, and under all other shade trees, [asking] for good and protection. For this, your daughters will all become whores, and your brides will be filled with adultery. ¹⁴ Then I will not visit your daughters, when they are guilty of whoring, nor [will I visit] your daughters-in-law, when they are committing adultery. For, they've become mixed among whores, and those practicing sacrificial rites… the people do not perceive, and so they join with the whores.

¹⁵ 'But you, O IsraEl… don't be stupid! And you O Judah… don't go up to GilGal… don't ascend to the temple at BethEl, and swear by the oath, As the Lord lives!

¹⁶ 'IsraEl is hot like a heifer in heat, so, Jehovah will feed them as lambs in a feedlot.

¹⁷ 'Ephraim was a partner with idols, and made his own snares for himself. ¹⁸ He took up with CanaAnite whores and had sex, and they loved the dishonor of their neighing. ¹⁹ So, into her wings there'll come a wind storm, and because of their altars, they'll be disgraced.'

Chapter 5

¹ 'Hear these things, O you priests; O house of IsraEl, pay attention, and house of the king give an ear! For, there is a judgment against you, because you've become a snare in the heights, and a net being stretched on [Mount] Tabor, ² which is fastened by those who catch game. Yes, it is I who will be your corrector.

³ 'Both Ephraim and IsraEl I have known, when they hadn't strayed far from Me. But Ephraim has since been immoral, and IsraEl is also defiled, ⁴ and they don't think to turn toward their God. For, the spirit of whoring is among them, and they've [forgotten] Jehovah. ⁵ So, for all of his insolent ways, IsraEl's face of will be humbled, and Ephraim's unrighteous ways, will bring weakness upon him… and along with him, Judah will be weakened.

⁶ 'They seek Jehovah with their sheep and their calves, but there's no way that they follow the Lord, nor will they ever be able to find Him, for from them they've turned away. ⁷ They have abandoned Jehovah, and to children of aliens they've given birth. So, now they and all that they would inherit, will be eaten by blight.

⁸ 'Sound the trumpets from the hilltops! Blow it from the high places! Proclaim it in the temple at BethEl! Tell them that BenJamin has been startled, ⁹ and Ephraim died in his day of correction!

'To the tribes of IsraEl I was trustworthy, ¹⁰ yet, Judah's rulers changed the property markers! So, I'll pour out My feelings like water upon them.

¹¹ 'Ephraim was a tyrant to his opponents… he trampled on justice and chased after vain things. ¹² So, upon Ephraim I'll bring disturbance, and to the house of Judah I'll be a spur.

¹³ 'Though Ephraim saw his disease, and Judah recognized his grief; when Ephraim [was attacked] by Assyria, [he turned] to the king of Jareb [for aid]. Yet, [Jareb] was unable to save him, so there's no way he'd see an end to his grief. ¹⁴ Because, to Ephraim I've become like a panther, and to the house of Judah, a lion… for I'll snatch them away, then I'll go… I'll take them and no one will save them. ¹⁵ Then I will leave and return to My place, and not be seen in that time… but then they will search for My face.'

Chapter 6

¹ 'In their affliction they'll rise early to Me, and then they will say: We should return to Jehovah our God, for He'll snatch us away and He'll heal us. He'll attack and then He'll dress all our wounds! ² Then after two days He will heal us, and on the third day we will arise, and then before Him we'll live. ³ Knowledge of Him we'll know and pursue, and at the crack of dawn we will find Him. Then He'll come to us like morning rain, and as evening rain on the ground.

⁴ 'O Ephraim, what must I do? And, O Judah, what must I do? For your mercy is like morning clouds, which, like the dew, fade away. ⁵ Thus, by the Prophets, I've mowed you; I've killed you with the words from My mouth; the judgments on you have gone forth like light. ⁶ Because, I want mercy, not sacrifices… higher-knowledge instead of burnt-offerings. ⁷ But, they have broken My Sacred Agreement, and have shown hatred for Me.

⁸ 'GileAd is a city of wasted deeds… as one [who makes waves] in the water. ⁹ Your strength is like a man who's a thief, and your priests are like men who murder from ambush.

'SheChem has committed unrighteous acts, upon those in the house of IsraEl. ¹⁰ Causes for shuddering I've seen there; and by Ephraim's whoring, both IsraEl and Judah have been defiled.

¹¹ 'So reap [from the vine] of rebellion against Me, until I bring back My people.'

Chapter 7

¹ 'In My healing of IsraEl, the injustice of Ephraim was uncovered, as well as the evils of Samaria. For they told lies, then a thief came among them, and robbers led them out to the roadways. ² So they sang together of the evil in their hearts, remembering all the [bad things] they'd done. And now they're surrounded by the things that they chose; these things that happened in front of My face.

³ 'And the bad things that they have done, gladdened [the hearts] of their kings… their lies have delighted their rulers. ⁴ All the adultery that they've committed, has become like the fire in an oven, that burns for the purpose of baking… together the flames [warm] the fat, until it's all filled with fermentation.

⁵ 'And in the days of their kings, their rulers became enraged by their wine, and stretched out their [arms] toward those who were vile. ⁶ For, their hearts were burning like ovens, and the sleep of Ephraim was then filled, with [thoughts of destroying] all night… and in the morning it burst into flames. ⁷ They all became heated like ovens, and then they devoured their judges.

'All their kings have now fallen, so upon Me none of them call. ⁸ Ephraim's people are all intermixed… he's become like a cake that is baked in hot ash, which [no one has bothered] to turn. ⁹ Then strangers ate all his strength… however, he didn't know it, and then he developed grey hair, but he still remained unaware. ¹⁰ So, soon the insolence of IsraEl, will bring humility to his face, for they haven't turned toward Jehovah their God… after all these things happened, they never went looking for Him.

¹¹ 'Ephraim was like a dove, for he had no mind and no heart. He first called out to Egypt, and then to the Assyrians he [turned]. ¹² But, when they go there I'll throw out My net, and I'll catch them like birds… I'll drag them down and correct them, and listen [to the sounds] of their torment.

¹³ 'Woe to them, for they've leaped away! O how wretched they are, in their irreverence toward Me. Though I was the One who paid their ransom, they spoke against Me and lied… ¹⁴ they failed to call Me whole-heartedly, they just laid there and shrieked in their beds, and sold themselves for grain and wine.

¹⁵ 'When they were corrected by Me, it was I who strengthened their arms! But, then against Me they hatched wicked plots. ¹⁶ So, when they return they'll have nothing; they'll be like a bow that's stretched tight, and their rulers will fall by the broadsword… because of the stupid things they said, in the land of Egypt, they'll be befouled.'

Chapter 8

¹ 'For their land is now in [Egypt's hands], and against My [Temple] there fly eagles. Because, [IsraEl] has broken My Sacred Agreement, and they showed irreverence toward My Law. ² But then, to Me, they will cry out: O God, have we not known You? ³ Yet, IsraEl threw away all the good things, and chased after an enemy of Mine.

⁴ 'By themselves they chose rulers (they didn't do it through Me), who ruled, but they didn't tell Me. Then they made idols of silver and gold, so they should be totally destroyed.

⁵ 'Get rid of your calf, O Samaria, for against you My rage is provoked. How long will IsraEl be unable, to finally make themselves clean? ⁶ Why, [the calf] is just something you've made, so it [really] isn't a god… O Samaria; because of your calf you have strayed!

⁷ 'Seeds of destruction they've sown to the wind, and now their end is searching for them. They're a stalk of grain too weak to give flour, and if it still could produce some, it would be eaten by strangers.

⁸ 'IsraEl has been swallowed down, and become something useless among nations. ⁹ For, up to Assyria they traveled, and in the way that Ephraim loves to do, he offered them bribes [for their aid]. ¹⁰ So, among the nations they'll be [scattered]… I'll take them and they'll be too weak, to anoint for themselves rulers or kings.

¹¹ 'Ephraim has built many altars, and the alters he loves are the [roots] of his sins. ¹² So, for him, I'll write extra laws, because he loves the strange altars. ¹³ And if they sacrifice on them, and if they should then eat the meat, Jehovah won't receive them in favor. Their unrighteous ways are what He'll recall, and for their sins He'll bring vengeance. Because, they have gone back to Egypt, ¹⁴ and IsraEl forgot He who made him. Then they established sacred precincts, and Judah built cities with walls. But I will send fire to his cities, and it will consume their foundations.

Chapter 9

¹ 'So, do not rejoice, O IsraEl, nor should your people be glad. For, you went whoring against Jehovah your God… you loved the gifts of the grain, where you laid upon threshing floors. ² But you threshing-floor grain [will not feed you], and the wine vats will also [soon fail].

³ 'For, in Jehovah's land they didn't dwell; Ephraim [preferred] life in Egypt, and among the Assyrians they ate what's unclean. ⁴ They offered no wine as drink to the Lord, or anything delicious before Him. Their sacrifices were like bread of mourning, which defiled all those who ate them. So, their bread may not enter [My Temple], for [the purpose of saving] their lives. ⁵ So now; What will you do on your festival days, and the holiday feasts of Jehovah?

⁶ 'Because of this; Look… they are gone, back to the misery of Egypt! Memphis will watch over them, and Machmas will lay them in tombs. Ruin will inherit their silver, and thorn bushes will grow in their tents. ⁷ For, the days of vengeance have arrived… the days for receiving what's due. As a prophet without inspiration, IsraEl will now be afflicted… like a man who is blown away by the wind. Because you were so unrighteous, the frenzy [in your lives] will increase.

⁸ 'Ephraim's watchmen once [walked] with God, but now their prophets are just crooked snares, and madness [reigns] in their temples. ⁹ They've been corrupt since the days of the hills, so He'll not forget their unrighteous ways, and He'll punish them for their sins.

¹⁰ 'O IsraEl; When I first found you, it was like finding grapes in the desert, and as early figs on a fig tree. But then I watched their fathers [bow to] BaAl Peor… that's when they left [Me] in shame, and became something disgusting… something that's no longer loved.

¹¹ 'Ephraim was a bird that flew [from its nest], [losing] the glory of [the place of] its birth, and its pangs of conception. ¹² So, even if they nourish children, they'll be the childless among other men. O woe, when I tear this flesh away, ¹³ for Ephraim's children will be treated like game… their children will be led out and stabbed.'

¹⁴ Give it to them, O Jehovah! [O Lord], what will you give them? Give them a womb that is childless, as well as breasts that are dry!

¹⁵ 'All their evils are in GilGal, for there's where [they've gained] all My hatred. Because of the evils that they do there, I'll throw them a way and love them no more, for none of their rulers [will listen].

¹⁶ 'Ephraim has been hoed, and yet his roots became dry, so he could no longer bear fruit. So now, when they give birth, I'll destroy those they love from their bellies… ¹⁷ God will push them away, for they refused to listen to Him; so, among the nations they'll wander.

Chapter 10

¹ 'IsraEl was a grapevine with many good branches, and her fruit was [once] straight and true. But, the greater the abundance of her fruit, the more they built altars [to false gods]. And the more prosperity there was in the land, the more they built [shrines of false worship]. ² They gave their hearts to such things, but now they will be wiped away. For, He'll cut their altars to the ground, and allow all their shrines to be empty.

³ 'Yet, now they say: Though we don't have a king anymore, we feared him [more than] Jehovah, for what can [God] do to us?

⁴ 'They give excuses and lie, but He had a contract with them. So, judgment will soon rise upon them, like weeds in an untended field.

⁵ 'To the calf in the [temple] at BethEl, the people of Samaria have gone. [God's] people have wailed over it, which made Him feel very bitter. They should rather rejoice in His glory; but far from Him they have moved.

⁶ 'For this they were tied and carried away, by Assyria as a gift and a tribute to Jareb. Yes, by His decree, both Ephraim and IsraEl were shamed.

⁷ 'Samaria threw off her [true] king, like throwing a stick across water. ⁸ So, the shrines at BethEl (IsraEl's sin), will soon be lifted away. Then, upon all of their altars, thistles and thorns will soon grow, and they'll say to the mountains, Come cover us over! And to the hills, Come fall upon us!

⁹ 'For as long as the hills have existed, IsraEl has stood in her sins. But no way will the hills [come to her aid], when war arrives on these unrighteous young, ¹⁰ to correct them and bind them together… it will come to straighten their crooked ways.

¹¹ 'Ephraim is a heifer that was taught to love fights. But I will [grab hold] of her neck, and lead Ephraim away; I'll silently pass over Judah, and Jacob will grow strong against her.

¹² 'So, [as you sow], sow what is righteous… gather the vintage of the fruitage of life… light for yourselves light of knowledge… keep on asking Jehovah, until the offspring of righteousness enters your [hearts]!

¹³ 'Why overlook your irreverence in silence, and gather the vintage of what's unrighteous? You are all eating false fruit, and in your chariots you're putting your hope… [you are trusting] in the abundance of your power. ¹⁴ Now destruction will arise 'midst your people, and all your walled [cities] will fall.

'O house of IsraEl; As Shalman left the house of JeroBoam (in the day of the battle), and dashed mothers on top of their children; ¹⁵ that's how I'll treat you for your wicked ways.'

Chapter 11

¹ 'They were disowned early on, and IsraEl's kings were also disowned. For, IsraEl is a child that I've loved, so I called back his children from Egypt. ² But as I was calling them back, they were moving away from before Me. To BaAl Im they offered sacrifices, and to carved images burned incense.

³ 'It was I who wrapped Ephraim and took him in My arms, and when they didn't know Me I healed them. ⁴ While in the corruption of men, I wrapped them in the bonds of My love. So, to them I'll be like a [father]… one who disciplines [his sons]. Thus, I'll watch over him and I'll win.

⁵ 'To the land of Egypt they shall not return, but Assyria's king will now rule them, because they refused to come back to Me. ⁶ So, swords will rage 'gainst their cities, and consume the bars of their gates… for their [bad] decisions they'll be consumed.

⁷ 'His people have clung to things in their homes, and God is enraged by what they hold dear; so, there's no way that He will exalt them.

⁸ 'How should I treat you, O Ephraim? How will I shield you, O IsraEl? Should I treat you as [I did to] AdMah? Will I appoint you as Zeboim? Will My heart be changed about such a thing? Should I repent because it disturbs Me? ⁹ There's no way that I'll act in the anger of My rage; there's no way that I'll make Ephraim extinct. For, I am God not a man; I am the Holy One among you; so I will not enter your city.'

¹⁰ 'They will [return to] Jehovah, for He will roar like a lion, and startle the children of the sea in the west. ¹¹ They'll be startled like a bird out of Egypt, and like an Assyrian dove; then I'll restore them to their homes,' says Jehovah.

¹² 'By Ephraim I was circled with lies, and the irreverence of the houses of IsraEl and Judah. But they will be known by Jehovah, and be called the holy people of God.'

Chapter 12

¹ 'Ephraim is like an evil wind, for he pursues burning winds through the day… empty and vain things he's done. For, with Assyria he [signed] a treaty, and he traded olive oil down in Egypt.

² 'The Lord has a case against Judah, so He'll punish Jacob according to His ways, and pay him back for the bad things he's done. ³ While he was still in the womb, he caught the heel of his brother, and grew in strength with his God. ⁴ With a messenger [of God] he wrestled and won, then he wept and begged [for a blessing]. So, at the house at [BethEl] he found Me. ⁵ It was there that he was then told: As Jehovah God the Almighty, I must be remembered hereafter.

⁶ 'So, you should return to your God… show mercy and also be fair… always [stay close] to your God!

⁷ 'In the hands of CanaAn are unrighteous scales, and they love to tyrannize others. ⁸ Ephraim said, I am rich; so I've found a way to relax. But he'll never see the fruits of his toil, because of the [sins] he's committed.

⁹ 'I am Jehovah your God; it was I who led you from Egypt; and in tents I'll again settle you, as in the days of the holiday feasts.

¹⁰ 'I will speak by the Prophets, and provide them with many visions; for, through the hands of the Prophets I am described.

¹¹ 'If GilGal no longer exists, it's because their kings brought false sacrifices. So, like heaps of turtle dung are their altars… that which is found in unplanted fields.

¹² 'To the plains of Syria Jacob withdrew, as IsraEl's servant searched for a wife; then for a wife he guarded sheep. ¹³ And by a Prophet of Jehovah, to the land of Egypt IsraEl was led, and by a Prophet he was protected.

¹⁴ 'But Ephraim was angry and enraged, so his blood will be poured out upon him, as Jehovah repays him for his scorn.'

Chapter 13

¹ 'According to all that Ephraim says, IsraEl's righteous rules came from him… but then he turned to BaAl and he died. ² They've proceeded to sin, and to make castings with silver, into the image of idols… and then they were finished by craftsmen, who said: Let's now sacrifice men, because the calves are all gone!

³ 'For this, they are like morning fog, and like morning dew they'll be gone… as chaff on the floors they'll just blow away, and like tears they will dry.

⁴ 'But I'm Jehovah your God; it was I who led you from Egypt, and no God beside Me shall you know, for, other than Me there's no Savior! ⁵ I was your shepherd in the desert; yet, you were filled from the pastures of barren lands.

⁶ 'But then they made their hearts haughty; and because of this, they forgot Me. ⁷ So, I'll be like a panther or leopard to them… according to the ways of Assyria. ⁸ Like an angry bear I'll attack them. I'll rip them open to be eaten by cubs in the woods… so wild beasts of the fields can pull them apart.

⁹ 'In your corruption, O IsraEl, who will come to your aid? ¹⁰ Where now is your [great] king? Let him come save your cities! Yes, let him now be your judge! For it's you who once said, Give me a king and a ruler! ¹¹ So I gave you a king in My anger, and My rage was then satisfied.

¹² 'But, Ephraim became a plot of injustice, and he hid all his sins. ¹³ Thus, upon him will come birth pangs, and though he's your intelligent son, there's no way that he'll stop his children's destruction.

¹⁴ 'Will I save them from the hands of the grave? Will I [pay] their ransom from death? Where is your punishment, O death? And where is your sting, O grave? Their consoling ways are hidden from My eyes.

¹⁵ 'Because of this, I will separate brothers, and bring burning winds from the desert upon them. Then it will dry up his veins, and bring desolation to his springs… his land and desirable things it will dry.

¹⁶ 'Samaria will be totally gone, because she resisted her God. Then they will fall by the broadsword; those by her breasts will be dashed [to the ground], and those in the womb, torn to pieces!'

Chapter 14

¹ 'O IsraEl; Return to Jehovah your God, for you have been weakened by your transgressions! ² Follow your own [good advice], and then turn back to your Lord! Just ask Him to overlook, all of your unrighteous ways, so you may then receive good things! For, you'll be repaid for the fruit of your lips.

³ 'Why, Assyria will not be your savior, and you'll not mount their war horses. So, stop calling hand-made things gods, and start showing mercy to orphans!

⁴ 'Then I will repair all your homes; I will confess that I love you, and My rage will have turned away. ⁵ To IsraEl I'll be like early morning dew; then like a lily they will blossom, and as Lebanon's [trees] they'll grow roots. ⁶ His branches will grow very full, and bear as much fruit as olive trees, that carry Lebanon's scent.

⁷ 'Then they will return, and under His protection they'll sit. They'll live amidst plenty of grain; like a grapevine they will then blossom; and they'll be remembered like Lebanon's wine.

⁸ 'O Ephraim; What good are all of your idols? Am I not the One who humbles you, and is it not Me who makes you strong? For, I'm a dense juniper tree, and it's from Me that your fruit comes!

⁹ 'Who is wise and understands all these things… who [among you can] recognize them? For, the ways of Jehovah are straight, and those who are righteous will live by these ways, as by them the godless are stumbled.'

Notes

Soul

The Greek word psyche (as in psychology) has been translated many ways, including soul, life, etc. However, psyche actually means something that breathes. It is used in the Bible to describe both breathing animals and breathing humans. So by definition, a soul cannot leave the body, because a soul is what the living body (whether human or animal) is (see Genesis 2:7).

In ancient Greece, philosophers eventually added another meaning to psyche: The inner person (as opposed to the person that others see and come to know). And with time, the pagan religion of Greece started to teach that this inner person is its own entity and can never die (is immortal). Over the centuries, this pagan Greek doctrine thereafter crept into the Christian religions. Please see the Wikipedia definition Soul for more history of the word.

However, such Greek philosophical thought never influenced Jesus and his Apostles. So, they consistently used psyche to indicate a living person or animal. Therefore, the later teaching that the soul is immortal stands in direct conflict with Jesus' promise of a resurrection, because, if a person is immortal (can never die) he/she can never be resurrected (brought back to life).

In addition, the teaching of the immortality of the human soul is totally without support from the Bible. For the word immortal(ity) (Gr: athanasia or undying) is only mentioned in the Bible in two places, and it isn't used with or applied to the word soul in either case. Both of these scriptures show that immortality is only given by God as a reward for righteousness. And as EzekiEl 18:4 says, 'The person (gr. psyche or soul) that is sinning will die (gr. apothaneitai).'

Of course, there are places in the Bible where the word soul means more than just a living, fleshly body. For example, God is recorded to have spoken of 'My Soul' in several places. Obviously, God is much more than just a 'soul' as most people think of that term, and He surely wasn't talking about His having a human body. So we must conclude that what He was referring to is His life or His person.

Then there are Jesus' words found at Matthew 10:28, which read, 'Don't be afraid of those who kill the body but can't kill the person (psyche or soul). Rather, be afraid of him who can destroy both the person (soul) and the body in the garbage dump.' Here, Jesus is using the word psyche (soul) to refer to the value of life that remains with God until the resurrection. And he obviously isn't referring the soul as immortal in this instance, because he says God will destroy (gr. apolesai) the [unrighteous] soul or person.

Unfortunately, no single word can be used to translate psyche in every possible Bible application, so various terms are used herein, depending on the circumstances, but always in an attempt to harmonize with the meaning.

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The Heavens or Sky, the Earth or the Land?

In both the Ancient Scriptures of IsraEl (OT) and the Christian Era Scriptures (NT), we find all the realm of non-living creation divided into just three entities; the heavens (or sky), the earth (the land or ground), and the seas (or the waters) and rivers.

Now, in contemporary English, we understand that there is a difference between the heavens and the sky, the earth and the land (or ground), and the seas and waters. However, in both Hebrew and Greek, these fine distinctions that we accept because of our modern technology, can't be found. So, Genesis 1:1 is literally translated herein as, 'In the beginning, The God created the skies and the lands.' This is very accurate, because it was man's view of creation from the earth. There was just the land that he stood on, the sky above him, and the waters or seas over there. He had no technical understanding of the earth as a planet, because men had never seen the earth as a globe in space, as most of us have done today. However, because of these distinctions that we are aware of, translators must choose the proper words to provide the right nuances in English, in order for readers to grasp the proper meaning of each text. And as you will see, something as simple as selecting another synonym can give us a quite different view of the meanings of some common verses.

The Greek word ourano(n), for example, can be correctly translated as heaven, heavens, sky, and skies, depending on the context and tense. But if the translator should choose the wrong word, people will reach very different (and often wrong) conclusions, because of the nuances implied in English.

Likewise, the Greek words ge, ges, and gen can be translated as earth, earths, ground, grounds, land, or lands, depending on the context and tense. So, the symbolic words at 2 Peter 3:5, 6, for example, are translated herein as, 'The thing that they don't want to understand is this: That the ancient skies and land were out of the water, but (in obedience to God's instructions) they stood together between the waters.' (For an example of the problems created by the wrong use of the words ge, ges, and gen, see the linked document Isaiah 24 - Is It Speaking of Armageddon?).

Notice that the 'skies and land' were located 'between the water.' So, although other Bibles translated this verse as speaking of the 'heavens and earth,' the reference is to the portion of the heavens that are close to the earth… to the skies.

The same is true of the famous words of Jesus at Matthew 5:5, which read in Greek: 'Makarioi oi praeis hoti outoi kleronomesousin ten gen,' or, Blest the gentle for they will/inherit the (earth, ground, or land).' Notice that in some Bibles Jesus is recorded as saying, 'The meek will inherit the earth;' while in others he said, 'The meek will inherit the land.' Do you see the difference in nuances implied here? Yet, both word choices are equally correct.

And finally, when it comes to the seas (gr. tas thalassan), there are already distinctions as to different types of waters in the Greek text. For instance, seas are called thalassan and rivers are called potamos (or 'flowing'). However, notice (in Revelation 20: 13) how the resurrection of the dead is divided between those who died on land and those who were lost in the water; 'The sea gave up its dead, death and the grave gave up those dead in them, and they were all judged by the things that they did.'

We again find all three of these realms of creation brought together symbolically at Revelation 21:1, whIch we have translated as saying, 'Then I saw new skies and new lands, because the previous sky and land had disappeared, as did the sea.' So, did John see 'a new heavens and a new earth,' as some translate his words, or did he see 'new skies and new lands,' as we have quoted him? The Greek words that are used in the beginning of this verse are both in the plural tense, but in the singular tense in the latter half of the verse. So, what John says that he saw was 'new skies and new lands' which took the place of the old 'sky, land, and sea' that had just disappeared before him (he didn't see the globe and the realm of God disappear).

Also, in the case of where EliJah was taken away in a celestial chariot; most people think he was taken (as their Bibles put it) 'to heaven,' where he went to live with God. This isn't true, because King JehoRam later received a letter from Elijah (see 2 Chronicles 21:12). So, God had apparently used the celestial chariot to take him into 'the sky' (the proper translation here), where he was then sent to another place here on the earth. For more information on this, see the linked document, The Hereafter.

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Hades: Hell or the Grave?

The Greek word Hades (the Greeks pronounced it hah-dess) has been translated both as Hell (which many today think of as a place of torture) and as the Grave in other Bible versions (such as the King James). Since one word can't mean two very different things, which translation is correct?

Hades (like the English word Hell) actually means the place of the dead. However, as pagan Greek philosophy started to develop and creep into Christianity, the later-day Greek view of Hades (a place of torture) was applied to it. Was this a correct application?

An insight into how the ancient Hebrews and the early Christians understood the word can be gained from looking at how it was applied in the Greek Septuagint translation of the Ancient Scriptures of IsraEl (the 'Old Testament' Bible of Jesus' day). There, the Hebrew word Sheol is translated into Greek as Hades in every instance; yet in each case, these are obvious references to the grave (the place of the dead), not to a place of conscious torture (see Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10).

Another revealing application of the word Hades is found at Revelation the 20:13. It says there, 'The sea (gr. he thalassa) gave up its dead, death and the grave (gr. thanatos kai ho hades) gave up those dead in them, and they were all judged by the things that they did.'

So, notice that those who die at sea are differentiated from those who are buried in graves (Hades) and in other places (thanatos). Therefore, Hades is better translated as grave, and even better translated as the place of the dead.

In the book of Job, another word that is used once in the Christian-era Scriptures and often translated as Hell, is found twice. That Greek word is Tartarus, which refers to the place where evil gods or angels are sent. For more information on this and other words that are translated as Hell, see the linked document, Is There a Burning Hell?

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Blest or Happy?

There is quite a debate as to whether the Greek word makarios found in many places throughout the Bible should be translated as blessed or happy.

Notice that we have chosen to translate it as blest, which is an older spelling of the word blessed, to get rid the affected pronunciation that was likely introduced by early preachers (bless-ed).

According to Zodhiates' Complete Word Study Dictionary, the word should never translated as happy, because happy is derived from the words happen, happening, or happenstance (luck). His reasoning (which we agree with) is that, when someone suffers for the sake of righteous principles, his/her reward isn't just happiness (which can come from any source of good luck or fortune), but rather, it is a joy that comes from gaining a better relationship with God.

In other words, there is no exact word in English to use here, but blest seems to be a closer alternative than happy.

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Zeal

At Psalm 37:8 we read, 'Stop being angry and abandon your rage. Don't allow zeal to make you act wicked' (yes, we know, the word should be wickedly, but this is poetic license). However, those words could also be translated as, 'Do not allow jealously to cause you to act wickedly,' because the Greek word zelos can either be translated as zealous or as jealous, depending on the circumstances, for both words mean the same thing. Yet, the two words imply different things in English.

Zeal is usually thought of as something good… something that all Christians should have, as in zeal for God and righteousness. And jealously is thought of as something bad… as wanting something that belongs to someone else. Yet, God may be spoken of as being jealous over His Name and His position as God, so jealously isn't always a bad thing. And we can have zeal for things that are ours and we are proud of (which is not bad), and be jealous for things that belong to others (which is bad). So, the same Greek word (zelos) may be correctly translated as zeal in one place, and as jealously in another, depending on the context.

Then, is it proper for a man to be jealous of his wife, or for a wife to be jealous of her husband? No, we should never be jealous of each other, but rather, for each other. We shouldn't want what the other has, but we should have a burning zeal for each other. So, if one has good reason to worry about losing the love of the other, that is zeal. However, if such concern is baseless, that is wicked suspicion, not jealously.

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Age, Eternal, Perpetual, Everlasting, Immortal, or Forever?

Two words imply infinite states in the Bible; one is the Greek word athanasia (undying), which is only found in two places, 1 Corinthians 15:53, where it mentions resurrected ones as clothing themselves with immortality, and at 1 Timothy 6:16, where Paul speaks of Jesus alone as having it. The other Greek word is aidios, which is used at Romans 1:20 to describe God's Power and Might as eternal, and at Jude 6 when speaking of the perpetual state of gloomy darkness that rebellious angels have been confined to.

However, the Greek word aionos, which is used throughout the Bible in various conjugated forms and is often translated as eternal and forever, is what the English word eon is derived from. It means an indefinite period, and there is no exact English word to translate it. The best equivalents are age or era.

Where the singular form (aionos) is used, this appears to mean a period such as a lifetime, generation, or era. And where the plural form of the word (aiōnōn) is used, it refers to a longer time… at least multiple generations. Also, where the term ages of the ages is used (such as at Ephesians 3:21), which is usually said in reference to The God, we would assume that this truly means forever.

It is noteworthy that aionos is the word that is used in the Greek Septuagint in place of the Hebrew word ohlam, which is also translated as forever and time indefinite in popular versions of the Ancient Scriptures of IsraEl. So, this one word (aionos) is translated as forever, everlasting, eternal, system of things, time indefinite, [end of] the world, long ago, from of old, etc. Obviously, something is very wrong here, because the word can't mean a period having a definite end in one place and infinity in another.

Take for example, the unique way that aionos is used in the question that Jesus' Apostles asked him, which is found at Matthew 24:3: 'Tell us; When will these things happen… what will be the signs when you are to arrive and this age will come to its conclusion?' Notice that aionos is also translated as world here in many Bibles, such as the KJ, and as system of things in other Bibles, such as the NWT. However, if the Apostles had meant any of those things, they would have used the Greek word cosmos (world or arrangement), not aionos.

You can see that aionos obviously doesn't mean forever, everlasting, or eternal in this case, nor did it mean world or system of things. It simply meant the age, or, the time before the end would come. And for them, that meant the age when God's Temple in JeruSalem would be destroyed, because that's what Jesus was explaining to them.

Yet, there are instances when some forms of the word could imply forever, such as when we find it in the form aiōniŏn. This is an adjective in the singular case, which, when combined with the Greek word zoe (in its various forms) is usually translated in other Bibles as everlasting life. However, that isn't a totally-accurate description.

In the past, we had tried to reconcile the words zoe aiōniŏn as meaning, life in the age. However, the word age in this instance would not be an adjective, so we have recently chosen, in most cases where we find this word combination, to translate them more accurately as age-long life, which we will agree could mean everlasting life.

For more information, see the linked Scriptural Commentary, Does the Bible Promise Everlasting Life?

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Breath

The Greek word pneuma (as in pneumonia, a breathing disease) means breath or wind – the movement of air. In other Bible translations, this word is often translated as spirit or ghost, as in Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost. However, spirit is just a shortened form of the Latin word spiritu, which just means breath in Latin. And ghost conveys another meaning altogether.

In the Bible, the most common use of the word pneuma is to convey the idea of a force that can't be seen, such as breath or wind. And the problem with translating it as spirit or ghost, is that those words have been given religious meanings that aren't implied by the Greek texts.

Therefore, to prevent confusion, the Greek word pneuma is frequently translated as breath herein. However, there are exceptions, as in instances where the Bible refers to demons as 'spirits.' Translating pneuma as breath in these cases, although correct, might just be confusing. There are also places where we have left pneuma translated as spirit, when the word implies a person's tendency (or spirit). And, since the nuance implied by the word spirit in the English language (an unseen power) is correct, we recently changed back to translating pneuma as spirit in several places, when referring to God's Holy Spirit. However, recognize that pneuma is often best defined by calling it [God's] Holy Breath. For an example, see the Note Worshiping God In Spirit and Truth.

Another important use of the word pneuma is in the phrase, 'Breath of Life.' This phrase appears to mean more than just breathing, for it seems to refer to the entire mechanics of life itself. It's the unseen force of life for all creatures… it's what makes each cell alive. However, nowhere does the Bible describe the 'pneuma' as immortal, nor is it the same as the soul (a breathing thing), so it can (figuratively) 'return to God' at death,' because all hope of future life depends on God and His promise of a resurrection.

Note in particular how the term Breath is used at Job 27:3, where Job spoke of God's Breath or Spirit. For there he asked, 'Does the Breath of the Divine One remain in my nose?' As you can see from his application of this word, pneuma obviously referred to God's Breath, not to a person or to an unseen force. He was talking about that which comes from God and which caused him (Job) to breathe… the Breath of Life.

It is interesting that at Genesis 6:3, God said concerning the wicked people on earth before the Downpour: 'I won't allow My Breath to stay with these men through the age, for they are fleshly.' In Greek that reads, 'Ou me katameine to pneuma mou en tois anthropois toutoiseis ton aiona, dia ai einai autous sarka,' or, 'Not not should stay the Breath Mine with these men the age through, their being flesh.'

While the words Breath Mine (pneuma mou) here can refer to God's Holy Breath, it seems more likely that He is referring to the breath of life that He gave to Adam. So it appears as though what God was saying here, is that the breath of life (of the people of that age) would be removed prematurely. However, since God referred to it as 'My Breath,' there may be a link implied between God's Holy Breath and the breath of life.
For more information, see the linked document, 'The Powers of God's Holy Spirit.'

However, when Jesus died (as the words recorded at John 19:30 say), 'he hung his head and gave up the breath' (gr. kai klinas ten kephalen paredoken to pneuma, or, and inclined his head giving/up the breath). In this case, the obvious reference is to 'the breath of life,' or that force which gave him life as a human.

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Why the Name Changes?

You have likely noticed that we are putting some of the letters in Bible names in capital letters. For example, we've started spelling such names as Jonathan as JoNathan, Isaiah as IsaiAh, and Eliezer as EliEzer. Why? Well, partly to help with the correct pronunciations of the names, and partly to show some translating consistency.

Of course, the common English pronunciation of Jonathan (for example) is Jon-uh-thun. But did you know that the first part of the name (Io in Greek, Ieho in Hebrew) refers to the name Jehovah, and the second part of the Name (Nathan) means Gift? So, the name was originally pronounced closer to Ye-hoh-nuh-thahn.

In the case of names that end with an iah, as in Isaiah, the last part of the name often includes the name of God. Isaiah, for example, means Salvation [of] JehovAH, and it was originally pronounced Ee-sai-Yah. Yet, there are other names (such as EliJah), where the IEs have been changed to Js.

So, why have translators substituted a capital 'J' for the letters 'Ie' in both of the above cases? Well, there is an inconsistency here, because there was no letter 'J' in Hebrew or Greek alphabets. However, the letters were changed to coincide with the common English pronunciations of these names. Unfortunately though, this process wasn't followed consistently by ancient translators; so while some names are spelled with a J, many others are still spelled with an Ie or Iah.

Another important word in names that we usually capitalize is 'El' (from the Hebrew Elohe, or God). So EliEzer (which people commonly pronounce Eelai-eezer and means God [has] Helped), should actually be pronounced Elee-ehzer. The same is true for the letters Ai, especially in the names of cities, because Ai in Hebrew refers to the word city. So, AiLam (for example) probably meant the City of Lam.

Similar words, such as Bel (as in BelShazzar), Baal, and Beel, refer to 'the Lord' or 'the God.' Also, the prefixes 'Ben' and 'Bar' mean 'the son of.' 'Beth' means 'the house of,' 'Beer' refers to a 'well,' 'Is' or 'Ish' means 'Man,' etc.

Does this mean that we have put all the capitals in the right places? No, for we make no claim to Hebrew scholarship (all our translating here has been from Greek). So, what we are trying to do is provide a better understanding to how these names were pronounced by First-Century Christians.

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