Ephraim the Silly Dove
Hosea 7
Israel's wickedness is compared to a heated oven among a corrupt court where kings and princes are consumed, and the people have not returned to the Lord despite his healing. Ephraim is likened to a silly dove without sense, calling now to Egypt and now to Assyria for help, and to a bow that turns aside and fails.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonWHEN I have healed Israel, then shall be disclosed the iniquity of Ephraim and the wickedness of Samaria. Because they have framed lies, therefore a thief shall come in to him, a skulking robber shall be in his way:
BrentonWhen I have healed Israel, then shall the iniquity of Ephraim be revealed, and the wickedness of Samaria; for they have wrought falsehood: and a thief shall come in to him, even a robber spoiling in his way;
GreekἘν τῷ ἰάσασθαί με τὸν Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ ἀποκαλυφθήσεται ἡ ἀδικία Ἐφραὶμ, καὶ ἡ κακία Σαμαρείας, ὅτι εἰργάσαντο ψευδῆ· καὶ κλέπτης πρὸς αὐτὸν εἰσελεύσεται, ἐκδιδύσκων λῃστὴς ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ αὐτοῦ,
KJVWhen I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit falsehood; and the thief cometh in, and the troop of robbers spoileth without.
JPSWhen I would heal Israel, Then is the iniquity of Ephraim uncovered, And the wickedness of Samaria, For they commit falsehood; And the thief entereth in, And the troop of robbers maketh a raid without.
2
Thomsonthat they may chime together like them who sing in unison. I remembered all their wickedness, now their own devices have encompassed them. They were all open to My view.
Brentonthat they may concert together as men singing in their heart: I remember all their wickedness: now have their own counsels compassed them about; they came before my face.
Greekὅπως συνᾴδωσιν ὡς ᾄοντες τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτῶν· πάσας τὰς κακίας αὐτῶν ἐμνήσθην· νῦν ἐκύκλωσαν αὐτοὺς τὰ διαβούλια αὐτῶν, ἀπέναντι τοῦ προσώπου μου ἐγένοντο.
KJVAnd they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now their own doings have beset them about; they are before my face.
JPSAnd let them not say to their heart— I remember all their wickedness; Now their own doings have beset them about, They are before My face.
3
ThomsonThey made kings glad by their wickedness and chiefs by their lies.
BrentonThey gladdened kings with their wickedness, and princes with their lies.
GreekἘν ταῖς κακίαις αὐτῶν εὔφραναν βασιλεῖς, καὶ ἐν τοῖς ψεύδεσιν αὐτῶν ἄρχοντας.
KJVThey make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies.
JPSThey make the king glad with their wickedness, And the princes with their lies.
4
ThomsonThey all burn with adultery, like an oven for baking cakes, which, after putting in the fire, after mixing the dough, is kept burning till the dough is leavened.
BrentonThey are all adulterers, as an oven glowing with flame for hot-baking, on account of the kneading of the dough, until it is leavened.
GreekΠάντες μοιχεύοντες ὡς κλίβανος καιόμενος εἰς πέψιν κατακαύματος ἀπὸ τῆς φλογὸς, ἀπὸ φυράσεως στέατος, ἕως τοῦ ζυμωθῆναι αὐτό.
KJVThey are all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, who ceaseth from raising after he hath kneaded the dough, until it be leavened.
JPSThey are all adulterers, As an oven heated by the baker, Who ceaseth to stir From the kneading of the dough until it be leavened.
5
ThomsonWith regard to the days of your kings, the chiefs had begun to be inflamed with wine. He [the king] had stretched forth his hand with turbulent men.
BrentonIn the days of our kings, the princes began to be inflamed with wine: he stretched out his hand with pestilent fellows.
GreekἩμέραι τῶν βασιλέων ὑμῶν, ἤρξαντο οἱ ἄρχοντες θυμοῦσθαι ἐξ οἴνου, ἐξέτεινε τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ μετὰ λοιμῶν.
KJVIn the day of our king the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners.
JPSOn the day of our king The princes make him sick with the heat of wine, He stretcheth out his hand with scorners.
6
ThomsonBecause their hearts were heated like an oven, when they had revelled the whole night, Ephraim fell fast asleep. The morning came, he was heated again like a flaming fire.
BrentonWherefore their hearts are inflamed as an oven, while they rage all the night: Ephraim is satisfied with sleep; the morning is come; he is burnt up as a flame of fire.
GreekΔιότι ἀνεκαύθησαν ὡς κλίβανος αἱ καρδίαι αὐτῶν, ἐν τῷ καταράσσειν αὐτοὺς ὅλην τὴν νύκτα· ὕπνου Ἐφραὶμ ἐνεπλήσθη, πρωῒ ἐνεγενήθη, ἀνεκαύθη ὡς πυρὸς φέγγος.
KJV—
JPSFor they have made ready their heart like an oven, while they lie in wait; Their baker sleepeth all the night, In the morning it burneth as a flaming fire.
7
ThomsonThey were all hot as an oven and devoured their judges; all their kings fell; there was none among them who appealed to Me.
BrentonThey are all heated like an oven, and have devoured their judges: all their kings are fallen; there was not among them one that called on me.
GreekΠάντες ἐθερμάνθησαν ὡς κλίβανος, καὶ κατέφαγον τοὺς κριτὰς αὐτῶν· πάντες οἱ βασιλεῖς αὐτῶν ἔπεσαν, οὐκ ἦν ἐν αὐτοῖς ὁ ἐπικαλούμενος πρὸς μέ.
KJVThey are all hot as an oven, and have devoured their judges; all their kings are fallen: there is none among them that calleth unto me.
JPSThey are all hot as an oven, And devour their judges; All their kings are fallen, There is none among them that calleth unto Me.
8
ThomsonEphraim was mingled among his tribes; Ephraim was a cake under ashes, which had not been turned.
BrentonEphraim is mixed among his people; Ephraim became a cake not turned.
GreekἘφραὶμ ἐν τοῖς λαοῖς αὐτοῦ συνεμίγνυτο, Ἐφραὶμ ἐγένετο ἐγκρυφίας, οὐ μεταστρεφόμενος.
KJVEphraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.
JPSEphraim, he mixeth himself with the peoples; Ephraim is become a cake not turned.
9
ThomsonStrangers devoured his strength and he did not know it; grey hairs grew upon him and he did not perceive it.
BrentonStrangers devoured his strength, and he knew it not; and grey hairs came upon him, and he knew it not.
GreekΚατέφαγον ἀλλότριοι τὴν ἰσχὺν αὐτοῦ, αὐτὸς δὲ οὐκ ἔγνω· καὶ πολιαὶ ἐξήνθησαν αὐτῷ, καὶ αὐτὸς οὐκ ἔγνω.
KJVStrangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.
JPSStrangers have devoured his strength, And he knoweth it not; Yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, And he knoweth it not.
10
Thomson(p) Though it was evident that the haughtiness of Israel would be humbled, yet despite all this they did not turn to the Lord their God, nor seek Him diligently.
BrentonAnd the pride of Israel shall be brought down before his face: yet they have not returned to the Lord their God, neither have they diligently sought him for all this.
GreekΚαὶ ταπεινωθήσεται ἡ ὕβρις Ἰσραὴλ εἰς πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ· καὶ οὐκ ἐπέστρεψαν πρὸς Κύριον τὸν Θεὸν αὐτῶν, καὶ οὐκ ἐξεζήτησαν αὐτὸν ἐν πᾶσι τούτοις.
KJVAnd the pride of Israel testifieth to his face: and they do not return to the LORD their God, nor seek him for all this.
JPSAnd the pride of Israel testifieth to his face; But they have not returned unto the LORD their God, Nor sought Him, for all this.
11
Thomson(J) Ephraim indeed was like a silly pigeon which had no understanding. He called upon Egypt: and they went to the Assyrians.
BrentonAnd Ephraim was as a silly dove, not having a heart: he called to Egypt, and they went to the Assyrians.
GreekΚαὶ ἦν Ἐφραὶμ ὡς περιστερὰ ἄνους, οὐκ ἔχουσα καρδίαν· Αἴγυπτον ἐπεκαλεῖτο, καὶ εἰς Ἀσσυρίους ἐπορεύθησαν·
KJVEphraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.
JPSAnd Ephraim is become like a silly dove, without understanding; They call unto Egypt, they go to Assyria.
12
ThomsonLet them go where they will, I will spread My net for them and bring them down like the birds of the air, and instruct them with the report of one another’s affliction.
BrentonWhenever they shall go, I will cast my net upon them; I will bring them down as the birds of the sky, I will chasten them with the rumour of their coming affliction.
GreekΚαθὼς ἂν πορεύωνται, ἐπιβαλῶ ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς τὸ δίκτυόν μου, καθὼς τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ κατάξω αὐτοὺς, παιδεύσω αὐτοὺς ἐν τῇ ἀκοῇ τῆς θλίψεως αὐτῶν.
KJVWhen they shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise them, as their congregation hath heard.
JPSEven as they go, I will spread My net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise them, as their congregation hath been made to hear.
13
ThomsonAlas for them, because they have departed from Me! They are fainthearted, because they have transgressed against Me.
BrentonWoe to them! for they have started aside from me: they are cowards; for they have sinned against me: yet I redeemed them, but they spoke falsehoods against me.
GreekΟὐαὶ αὐτοῖς, ὅτι ἀπεπήδησαν ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ· δείλαιοί εἰσιν, ὅτι ἠσέβησαν εἰς ἐμέ· ἐγὼ δὲ ἐλυτρωσάμην αὐτοὺς, αὐτοὶ δὲ κατελάλησαν κατʼ ἐμοῦ ψευδῆ.
KJVWoe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me.
JPSWoe unto them! for they have strayed from Me; Destruction unto them! for they have transgressed against Me; Shall I then redeem them, Seeing they have spoken lies against Me?
14
ThomsonThough I redeemed them, yet they spoke lies against Me. Their hearts do not cry to Me, but only make moans on their beds—for corn and wine they were deeply affected.
BrentonAnd their hearts did not cry to me, but they howled on their beds: they pined for oil and wine.
GreekΚαὶ οὐκ ἐβόησαν πρὸς μὲ αἱ καρδίαι αὐτῶν, ἀλλʼ ἢ ὠλόλυζον ἐν ταῖς κοίταις αὐτῶν· ἐπὶ σίτῳ καὶ οἴνῳ κατετέμνοντο.
KJVAnd they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against me.
JPS—
15
ThomsonBy Me they were instructed—I indeed strengthened their arms; but they devised evils against Me.
BrentonThey were instructed by me, and I strengthened their arms; and they devised evils against me.
GreekἘπαιδεύθησαν ἐν ἐμοὶ, κᾀγὼ κατίσχυσα τοὺς βραχίονας αὐτῶν, καὶ εἰς ἐμὲ ἐλογίσαντο πονηρά.
KJVThough I have bound and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me.
JPSThough I have trained and strengthened their arms, Yet do they devise evil against Me.
16
ThomsonThey were turned back to no purpose. They were like a bended bow. Let their chiefs fall by the sword for the folly of their tongue; let the derision they endured in the land of Egypt come into their bosoms like dirt, like an eagle darting upon the house of the Lord.
BrentonThey turned aside to that which is not, they became as a bent bow: their princes shall fall by the sword, by reason of the unbridled state of their tongue: this is their setting at nought in the land of Egypt.
GreekἈπεστράφησαν εἰς οὐδὲν, ἐγένοντο ὡς τόξον ἐντεταμένον· πεσοῦνται ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ οἱ ἄρχοντες αὐτῶν διʼ ἀπαιδευσίαν γλώσσης αὐτῶν· οὗτος ὁ φαυλισμὸς αὐτῶν ἐν γῇ Αἰγύπτῳ.
KJVThey return, but not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.
JPSThey return, but not upwards; They are become like a deceitful bow; Their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue; This shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.