Thoughts

Introduction To Hosea

Hosea is the first book in what are called the Minor Prophets. They’re not called this  because they are less important than the Major Prophets (which we just completed with the reading of the book of Daniel). The reason they’re called the Minor Prophets is because these books are much shorter.

Of the twelve books in the Minor Prophets, nine were written before the time of the bondage of Israel to Egypt. The last three books were written after the Jews returned to their own land. 

The book of Hosea was the longest of the prophetic books written before the captivity. As he wrote, Israel was at its worst. The sinfulness of the nation had brought great judgment from God.

Hosea himself was the first prophet who wrote down the messages God gave him. Tradition says that he was from Bethshemish, and of the tribe of Issachar. He had a long ministry. He prophesied long enough to warn the Jews of God’s coming judgment, and then see it take place and lament it.

Hosea was alive at the same time as the prophets Isaiah, Amos and Micah. 

We read in chapter one that God told Hosea to marry a prostitute. The Lord looked upon the Jews as an unfaithful wife, and He wanted Hosea to experience the heartbreak He felt when his wife betrayed the marriage vows. 

There are few things in life that are as painful as learning that your spouse has been unfaithful. It can be more painful than the death of a loved one. Death from disease, an accident or old age hurts, but the one who dies had no choice in the matter. But an unfaithful spouse made an active decision to break the trust. That’s very hard to live with for the one who has been betrayed. 

We don’t often think of God as being the victim of an unfaithful spouse, do we? But that is how He saw Himself in this period of history. But as we know, God is love. Instead of putting His people, His wife, away permanently, in chapter three we see His promise that He will take her back.

And of course we know that the final chapter, the last great redemption is even now being played out. We know that Jesus came to make a bride for Himself, and that bride is the church. But God is not through with the Jews. They will have yet another chance to turn to God, and many will. In the book of Revelation, we see how that will happen.

My Take On Bible Translations

I’ve mentioned this before, but I think it bears repeating, partly because of the fact that some listening may not have heard my previous statement on the subject, and partly because I am not entirely happy with the way the first sentence of chapter 7 was translated in the New Living Translation, which is the version we read today.

My statement about Bible translations is this:

When studying the Bible, it is imperative to use more than one translation. It’s ok to have your preferred translation for casual reading, but if you are studying, especially if you are going to be teaching, use several.

Did the New Living Translation Get It Right?

Chapter 7 in the NLT began with these words: “I want to heal Israel, but its sins are too great. Samaria is filled with liars.”

When I read that, it didn’t sit right with me. So I looked at a few other translations. Listen to see if you can hear a difference in meaning.

NKJV: “When I would have healed Israel, Then the iniquity of Ephraim was uncovered, And the wickedness of Samaria.”

NASB: “When I would heal Israel, The iniquity of Ephraim is uncovered, And the evil deeds of Samaria…”

NIV: “…whenever I would heal Israel, the sins of Ephraim are exposed and the crimes of Samaria revealed.”

ESV: “When I would heal Israel, the iniquity of Ephraim is revealed, and the evil deeds of Samaria;”

As you can see, the NLT’s rendering of this verse is subtly different, but it does change the meaning.

The NLT adds the phrase “but its sins are too great”. I then I looked at the original Hebrew for this verse, and this is not there.

There is only one sin that is too great, one sin that is unforgivable, and that is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, as we are told in Matthew 12:31. 

God is always willing to forgive, if we are willing to ask Him and will turn from our sin. In the Old Testament, over and over God said to the people, “If you turn from your wicked ways, I will heal you.” What God was saying here in Hosea chapter seven was, “I was prepared to heal you, but you keep on sinning.”

God looks at the heart. What He saw in the hearts of the Jews was an unwillingness to repent. They did not want to obey the Lord, they wanted to continue practicing evil. As long as that continued, He would not heal them.

Only a contrite heart will see forgiveness. Only a heart that is willing to turn toward God.

As a general rule, I like the NLT just fine, but I believe it failed in this verse.

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 1-7 NLT

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