The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Ephraim” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign for “palm tree” referring to the palm of Deborah in the land of Ephraim (see Judges 4:5. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Hosea 6:10:
Kupsabiny: “I have seen very bad matters in Israel. Ephraim has entered itself in matters of adultery. Israel has spoilt/defiled itself” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “I have seen repulsive work being done in the house of Israel. the prostitution of Ephraim is there, Israel has defiled itself.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Those (who) come-from-Israel, what I saw among you (plur.) (is) terrible; you (plur.) worship little-gods, therefore you (plur.) became-dirty.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “Extremely evil is what-I-am-seeing that is-being-done in Israel. They have-made-filthy themselves/their bodies, because they sleep-with prostitutes in the temples of false/imitation-gods.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
English: “I have seen horrible things being done in Israel. The people have abandoned me like prostitutes who have abandoned their husbands ; so the people of Israel have become unacceptable to me.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.
One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a first person singular and plural pronoun (“I” and “we” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The most commonly used watashi/watakushi (私) is typically used when the speaker is humble and asking for help. In these verses, where God / Jesus is referring to himself, watashi is also used but instead of the kanji writing system (私) the syllabary hiragana (わたし) is used to distinguish God from others.
This verse moves on from describing the evils of specific towns to speaking of Israel in general. The sins mentioned are no longer against other people, but involve idolatry and therefore are against Yahweh.
In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing: Elsewhere the book of Hosea uses the phrase the house of Israel to mean the people of Israel (1.4, 6; 5.1; 11.12), so Good News Translation‘s “Israel” alone is justified. Some scholars think the house of Israel in this context refers to Israel’s sanctuary at Bethel, although this is not the meaning of the phrase in its four other occurrences in Hosea. However, the use of the locative there in the next line (as in 6.7) may suggest that the house of Israel refers to the sanctuary in Bethel and not to the people of Israel, so NET Bible says “the temple of Israel.” If this model is followed, a footnote is recommended. Most scholars assume that this phrase refers to the country or nation of Israel. This interpretation also fits well with the locative there. Some translations emend the Hebrew text to read “At Bethel” (Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible), but this is not recommended.
The Hebrew term for horrible thing refers to something that is very detestable, disgusting, and unclean. It is most abominable if it interrupts proper ritual or is introduced into the ritual.
Ephraim’s harlotry is there, Israel is defiled: This line resembles 5.3. Many of the expressions used there can and should be repeated here, as needed.
The locative there refers to the house of Israel (see the comments above). Ephraim’s harlotry again is an image for “worshiping idols” (Good News Translation), a clear act of unfaithfulness to Yahweh.
Israel is defiled means that Israel is ritually unclean because of sin and should not be permitted to engage in sacred worship at the sanctuary.
Ephraim and Israel are again synonymous and parallel (see comments on 4.17), so Good News Translation combines them and uses “my people” to avoid repeating the name Israel.
A translation model for this verse is:
• In the temple of Israel* I have seen something disgusting:
the harlotry of Ephraim is there.
Israel makes itself unclean.
* “The temple of Israel” is literally “the house of Israel,” which can also be translated “the people of Israel” or “the land of Israel.”
Quoted with permission from Dorn, Louis & van Steenbergen, Gerrit. A Handbook on Hosea. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2020. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
In the house of Israel: The expression house of Israel is a figure of speech that probably refers to the land of the northern kingdom of Israel.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
in Israel (Good News Translation) -or-
in the nation of Israel (God’s Word)
See how you translated this phrase in 1:6c.
I have seen: These words indicate that the LORD personally witnessed the evil that the people did.
a horrible thing: This phrase refers to something disgusting that people react to with horror. In this context, it probably refers to all kinds of wickedness, including the shameful crimes in 6:9 and also the prostitution in 6:10b–c. Use a general term for something disgusting or horrible that can refer to all these sins. For example:
terrible thing (New American Standard Bible) -or-
disgusting thing (NET Bible) -or-
something horrible (New Living Translation (2004))
6:10b–c
Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:
10b Ephraimpractices prostitution there,
10c and Israelis defiled.
Ephraim…Israel: In this context, the parallel names Ephraim and Israel are used for poetic effect. They both refer to the people of Israel. Some versions make only the name Israel explicit here. For example:
Look at Israel’s prostitution; Israel has become unclean. (New Century Version)
6:10b
practices prostitution: This phrase is similar to the phrase “be promiscuous” in 4:10b. (See that note for more discussion.) It refers literally to the people committing sexual sin. It also refers symbolically to their worship of false gods. If possible, translate this phrase in a way that can refer to both referents. For example:
Ephraim is acting like a prostitute (God’s Word) -or-
you are unfaithful (Contemporary English Version)
there: This word refers back to the phrase “in the house of Israel” in 6:10a. Some versions leave this word implied. For example:
Ephraim is acting like a prostitute (God’s Word)
6:10c
is defiled: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as is defiled is literally “it has made itself unclean.” The Berean Standard Bible translated the it the same way in 5:3c–d. The word refers to the people’s moral impurity. It also refers to their becoming spiritually impure by breaking the commands of their covenant with the LORD. The people were guilty of both kinds of impurity.
Here are some other ways to translate this Hebrew word:
has become unclean (New Century Version) -or-
have defiled themselves (New Living Translation (1996))
General Comment on 6:10b–c
In some languages, it may be more natural to combine the parallel parts into one line. For example:
you are unfaithful and unfit to worship me (Contemporary English Version)
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