The Greek and Hebrew phrases that are often translated as “birds of the air” in English “refer to the undomesticated song birds or wild birds, to be distinguished in a number of languages from domesticated fowl. In Tzeltal these former are ‘field birds’.” (source: Bratcher / Nida)
Q’anjob’al also uses an established term for non-domesticated birds. Newberry and Kittie Cox (in The Bible Translator 1950, p. 91ff. ) explain: “Qʼanjobʼal has two distinct terms, one to identify domesticated birds and the other non-domesticated birds. The additional descriptive phrase ‘of the air’ seemed entirely misleading, for Qʼanjobʼal speakers had never heard of such creatures. Actually, of course, all that was necessary was the term for non-domesticated birds, for that is precisely the meaning of the Biblical expression.”
In Elhomwe they are just translated as “birds” or “birds of the bush” (i.e., wild birds) to “not give the impression that these are special type of birds.” (Source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Hosea 7:12:
Kupsabiny: “But I will catch them in nets when they are going. I will catch them like fish are caught. I will punish them for all the evil they have done.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “When they go, then I will spread my net over them. I will bring them down like the birds of the sky. When I hear them gathering like a flock of birds, then I will catch them.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “But while they go to those places, I will-stop- them -from-doing-(that) like a bird which was-trapped in a net and pulled down. I will-punish them according to what- I already -said in their gatherings.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “But wherever they go to get help, I will not allow them to succeed; it will be as though I will throw a net over them like a hunter uses a net to capture birds; I will punish them for the evil things that they do.” (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.
As they go probably means as the people of Israel go back and forth between Egypt and Assyria, seeking help, like a dove flying back and forth. The Hebrew verb for go is the same one used at the end of 7.11. Good News Translation moves this clause to the end of the first sentence without losing the connection to 7.11, saying “as they go by,” but not all languages will be able to do so.
I will spread over them my net: It is not certain what kind of hunter’s net is referred to here. The Hebrew word here is mostly used to refer to a net for catching animals (see, for example, Pro 29.5). In only two references it is used for catching birds, here and in Pro 1.17. It may be the kind that stretches between two poles or trees and is raised to trap birds as they fly by, or it may be the kind that is thrown over birds when they are on the ground to find food. The next line may suggest birds that are caught in the air. If a distinction is necessary, translators may use the expression that makes the best sense in this context. If necessary, the metaphor here can be changed to a simile: “I will catch them like birds in a net.” The figure of the net means that God will bring them trouble and make them captives because of their foolish actions in seeking help from nations that were trying to exploit Israel.
I will bring them down like birds of the air: This line is parallel to the previous one. The two lines show two aspects of a single action. Good News Translation joins them in a single sentence: “But I will spread out a net and catch them like birds….” In many receptor languages it may be possible to maintain the parallelism. Birds of the air is a standard Hebrew expression that may be translated simply “birds” (Good News Translation).
I will chastise them for their wicked deeds: The Hebrew verb for chastise can mean “admonish,” “discipline,” or “punish.” It is a general term to cover all means used by parents for disciplining their children.
Instead of for their wicked deeds, the Hebrew text reads “according to the report to their congregation” (Revised Standard Version footnote). The word for “congregation” refers to any assembly that gathers, usually because they have previously agreed to meet. NET Bible, following the figure of birds, translates “when I hear them flocking together” (similarly New English Bible), but it is questionable whether the Hebrew can mean this. Revised Standard Version partially follows the Septuagint and emends the text to read for their wicked deeds, and Good News Translation follows the same emendation with “for the evil they have done.” This emendation retains part of the Hebrew text, makes sense, and fits the context. However, Hebrew Old Testament Text Project prefers to follow the Hebrew text, rating it a {C} (that is, the committee has considerable doubt), and suggests “according to the announcement [made] to their assembly.” This translation assumes that “the announcement” was an oracle that warned against the very evil the Israelites have done. It is difficult to reconstruct a meaningful context around that suggestion, although it is possible. English Standard Version follows the Hebrew, saying “I will discipline them according to the report made to their congregation.” New English Bible emends the Hebrew verb here, saying “I will take them captive as soon as I hear them flocking” (similarly New International Version, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). Even though this is a smooth rendering, there is no textual support for it. New American Bible also emends the text: “In an instant I will send them captive from their land.” This emendation is less acceptable because it is rather far removed from the standard Hebrew text. A good number of translations emend the text in the same way as Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation. If a translation can make good sense using the recommendation of Hebrew Old Testament Text Project, that is fine. If not, then Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation provide good alternative models to follow.
A translation model for this verse is:
• As they go, I will catch them like birds in a net,
I will bring them down like birds from the air.
I will punish them as they were told.
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 .
As they go: This clause probably implies “As they go to Assyria” or “As they go to Assyria and Egypt.” The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as As has various possible meanings, depending on the context.
Here are some other ways to translate the clause:
When they go (New International Version) -or-
while they are flying (NET Bible) -or-
Wherever they turn (New Jerusalem Bible)
7:12b–c
Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:
12b I will spread My net overthem;
12c I will bringthemdown like birds of the air.
These lines expand the simile that compares Ephraim to a dove. Here the people of Israel are compared to a flock of birds that the LORD will capture in a net. The nonfigurative meaning is that the LORD will stop the Israelites as they attempt to go to Assyria and Egypt to negotiate alliances.
I will spread My net over them; I will bring them down like birds of the air: These lines figuratively describe the LORD as a bird trapper. A trapper throws a net over the birds just as they are beginning to take off. The net prevents them from flying away so that he can capture them.
birds of the air: In Hebrew, this phrase is a common way to refer to birds. In many languages, it is not natural to make the phrase of the air explicit. For example:
birds (Revised English Bible)
7:12d
I will chastise them when I hear them flocking together: In Hebrew, this verse part is literally “I will chasten them at/when (or: “according to”) a report about/to their assembly.” There is a textual issue here:
(1) The Masoretic Text has the words “report” and “assembly.” For example:
I shall take them captive when I hear them gathering. (Revised English Bible)
(2) Some versions delete the word “report” and change the word “assembly” to “wicked.” For example:
I will chastise them for their wicked deeds. (Revised Standard Version)
It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with all the commentaries used in preparing these Notes. The LXX and Vulgate both support the use of these words.
There are two main ways to interpret the Hebrew word that precedes “report”:
(1) The word means “at” or when. With this meaning, verse 7:12d refers to the time when the LORD will hear about the Israelites gathering together like a flock of birds. At that time, he will discipline them. For example:
I will discipline them when I hear them flocking together. (NET Bible)
(2) The word means “according to.” With this meaning, verse 7:12d indicates that the LORD will discipline the Israelites. He will do this in a way that accords with a report that is made to an assembly of people. For example:
I will discipline them according to the report made to their congregation. (English Standard Version)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This interpretation continues the figurative description of the LORD as a trapper who catches birds in a net.
I will chastise them: In Hebrew, the word chastise is literally “chasten.” This word can refer to moral instruction, rebuke, or punishment. The purpose is to correct wrong behavior. In this context, it indicates that the LORD will discipline or punish the people of Israel. He will probably do this by allowing Assyria to capture them and take them into exile.
Here are some ways to translate 7:12d:
• Use one or more metaphors that continue the figurative language of 7:12b–c. See the New International Version, Revised English Bible, and NET Bible (quoted above).
• Change one or more of the metaphors to a simile. For example:
When I hear them gathering together like a flock of birds, I will punish them.
• Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:
I will chastise them when I hear their bargaining. (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
when I hear them flocking together: This clause translates the Hebrew words in a figurative way. It describes the time when a trapper hears the noise of birds that have gathered together in a flock.
This clause refers to the time when the LORD hears news about a group of people who have gathered together. This gathering may refer to Israel’s leaders who meet with representatives of Egypt and/or Assyria to seek aid from them.
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