Hosea — Hebrew and Greek compared
Choose a chapter to explore the source readings and their notes. Original references, source labels, and review records are retained.
Source guide and review record
SAINTS TRANSLATION
Hosea
V1 • Working translation draft • Sep 8, 2026
Complete working translation draft. Every verse in the declared Hebrew and Greek running texts was read directly and independently translated; English, verse alignment and comparison notes received an editorial pass. Selective reception passages were checked directly in the sources registered below. No critical apparatus, manuscript collation, exhaustive reception survey or independent specialist review is claimed. Document layout review is a separate production step.
14 chapters • 197 translation rows
Reader’s guide
Read across each row to compare independent literal-smooth English renderings of the declared Hebrew and Greek texts. Rabbinic Priority and Saints Priority identify interpretive traditions, not alternate sources of biblical wording. Actual source references remain visible.
Navigation preserves the complete BHS and Rahlfs–Hanhart source numbering: fourteen chapters and one hundred ninety-seven verses in each column. Source 1:1–9 equals common English 1:1–9; source 2:1–2 equals common English 1:10–11, and source 2:3–25 equals common English 2:1–23. Chapters three through ten and 11:1–11 follow their usual references. Source 12:1 equals common English 11:12; source 12:2–15 equals common English 12:1–14. Source 13:1–15 equals common English 13:1–15; source 14:1 equals common English 13:16, and source 14:2–10 equals common English 14:1–9. Both declared sources use the same chapter boundaries. Clause attachments sometimes differ across rows, particularly 4:11–12, 6:10–11, 7:14–15, 8:5–6 and 13:11–12; notes distinguish movement from addition.
Source basis and review scope
Hebrew: Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, fifth corrected edition (1997). Greek: Rahlfs–Hanhart Septuaginta, second revised edition (2006). Complete running texts were directly checked; the registered reception passages were consulted selectively. No unregistered critical-text reconstruction or reading tradition was substituted for the displayed source wording.
Same: corresponding meaning. Similar: modest expression or emphasis difference. Different: meaningful specific detail. Divergent: addition, omission, or rearrangement. Disparate: major difference in meaning or consequence. Each row uses one governing category under the updated project reference.
Sources, method and decisions
Source register
[BHS1] Karl Elliger and Wilhelm Rudolph, eds., Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; fifth corrected edition prepared by Adrian Schenker (1997), German Bible Society official online main text. Scope: Hosea 1, complete chapter. Access: Direct Hebrew main text. Checked Sep 8, 2026.
[BHS2] Karl Elliger and Wilhelm Rudolph, eds., Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; fifth corrected edition prepared by Adrian Schenker (1997), German Bible Society official online main text. Scope: Hosea 2, complete chapter. Access: Direct Hebrew main text. Checked Sep 8, 2026.
[BHS3] Karl Elliger and Wilhelm Rudolph, eds., Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; fifth corrected edition prepared by Adrian Schenker (1997), German Bible Society official online main text. Scope: Hosea 3, complete chapter. Access: Direct Hebrew main text. Checked Sep 8, 2026.
[BHS4] Karl Elliger and Wilhelm Rudolph, eds., Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; fifth corrected edition prepared by Adrian Schenker (1997), German Bible Society official online main text. Scope: Hosea 4, complete chapter. Access: Direct Hebrew main text. Checked Sep 8, 2026.
[BHS5] Karl Elliger and Wilhelm Rudolph, eds., Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; fifth corrected edition prepared by Adrian Schenker (1997), German Bible Society official online main text. Scope: Hosea 5, complete chapter. Access: Direct Hebrew main text. Checked Sep 8, 2026.
[BHS6] Karl Elliger and Wilhelm Rudolph, eds., Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; fifth corrected edition prepared by Adrian Schenker (1997), German Bible Society official online main text. Scope: Hosea 6, complete chapter. Access: Direct Hebrew main text. Checked Sep 8, 2026.
[BHS7] Karl Elliger and Wilhelm Rudolph, eds., Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; fifth corrected edition prepared by Adrian Schenker (1997), German Bible Society official online main text. Scope: Hosea 7, complete chapter. Access: Direct Hebrew main text. Checked Sep 8, 2026.
[BHS8] Karl Elliger and Wilhelm Rudolph, eds., Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; fifth corrected edition prepared by Adrian Schenker (1997), German Bible Society official online main text. Scope: Hosea 8, complete chapter. Access: Direct Hebrew main text. Checked Sep 8, 2026.
[BHS9] Karl Elliger and Wilhelm Rudolph, eds., Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; fifth corrected edition prepared by Adrian Schenker (1997), German Bible Society official online main text. Scope: Hosea 9, complete chapter. Access: Direct Hebrew main text. Checked Sep 8, 2026.
[BHS10] Karl Elliger and Wilhelm Rudolph, eds., Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; fifth corrected edition prepared by Adrian Schenker (1997), German Bible Society official online main text. Scope: Hosea 10, complete chapter. Access: Direct Hebrew main text. Checked Sep 8, 2026.
[BHS11] Karl Elliger and Wilhelm Rudolph, eds., Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; fifth corrected edition prepared by Adrian Schenker (1997), German Bible Society official online main text. Scope: Hosea 11, complete chapter. Access: Direct Hebrew main text. Checked Sep 8, 2026.
[BHS12] Karl Elliger and Wilhelm Rudolph, eds., Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; fifth corrected edition prepared by Adrian Schenker (1997), German Bible Society official online main text. Scope: Hosea 12, complete chapter. Access: Direct Hebrew main text. Checked Sep 8, 2026.
[BHS13] Karl Elliger and Wilhelm Rudolph, eds., Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; fifth corrected edition prepared by Adrian Schenker (1997), German Bible Society official online main text. Scope: Hosea 13, complete chapter. Access: Direct Hebrew main text. Checked Sep 8, 2026.
[BHS14] Karl Elliger and Wilhelm Rudolph, eds., Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; fifth corrected edition prepared by Adrian Schenker (1997), German Bible Society official online main text. Scope: Hosea 14, complete chapter. Access: Direct Hebrew main text. Checked Sep 8, 2026.
[LXX1] Alfred Rahlfs, Septuaginta; second revised edition prepared by Robert Hanhart (2006), German Bible Society official online main text. Scope: Hosea 1, complete chapter. Access: Direct Greek main text. Checked Sep 8, 2026.
[LXX2] Alfred Rahlfs, Septuaginta; second revised edition prepared by Robert Hanhart (2006), German Bible Society official online main text. Scope: Hosea 2, complete chapter. Access: Direct Greek main text. Checked Sep 8, 2026.
[LXX3] Alfred Rahlfs, Septuaginta; second revised edition prepared by Robert Hanhart (2006), German Bible Society official online main text. Scope: Hosea 3, complete chapter. Access: Direct Greek main text. Checked Sep 8, 2026.
[LXX4] Alfred Rahlfs, Septuaginta; second revised edition prepared by Robert Hanhart (2006), German Bible Society official online main text. Scope: Hosea 4, complete chapter. Access: Direct Greek main text. Checked Sep 8, 2026.
[LXX5] Alfred Rahlfs, Septuaginta; second revised edition prepared by Robert Hanhart (2006), German Bible Society official online main text. Scope: Hosea 5, complete chapter. Access: Direct Greek main text. Checked Sep 8, 2026.
[LXX6] Alfred Rahlfs, Septuaginta; second revised edition prepared by Robert Hanhart (2006), German Bible Society official online main text. Scope: Hosea 6, complete chapter. Access: Direct Greek main text. Checked Sep 8, 2026.
[LXX7] Alfred Rahlfs, Septuaginta; second revised edition prepared by Robert Hanhart (2006), German Bible Society official online main text. Scope: Hosea 7, complete chapter. Access: Direct Greek main text. Checked Sep 8, 2026.
[LXX8] Alfred Rahlfs, Septuaginta; second revised edition prepared by Robert Hanhart (2006), German Bible Society official online main text. Scope: Hosea 8, complete chapter. Access: Direct Greek main text. Checked Sep 8, 2026.
[LXX9] Alfred Rahlfs, Septuaginta; second revised edition prepared by Robert Hanhart (2006), German Bible Society official online main text. Scope: Hosea 9, complete chapter. Access: Direct Greek main text. Checked Sep 8, 2026.
[LXX10] Alfred Rahlfs, Septuaginta; second revised edition prepared by Robert Hanhart (2006), German Bible Society official online main text. Scope: Hosea 10, complete chapter. Access: Direct Greek main text. Checked Sep 8, 2026.
[LXX11] Alfred Rahlfs, Septuaginta; second revised edition prepared by Robert Hanhart (2006), German Bible Society official online main text. Scope: Hosea 11, complete chapter. Access: Direct Greek main text. Checked Sep 8, 2026.
[LXX12] Alfred Rahlfs, Septuaginta; second revised edition prepared by Robert Hanhart (2006), German Bible Society official online main text. Scope: Hosea 12, complete chapter. Access: Direct Greek main text. Checked Sep 8, 2026.
[LXX13] Alfred Rahlfs, Septuaginta; second revised edition prepared by Robert Hanhart (2006), German Bible Society official online main text. Scope: Hosea 13, complete chapter. Access: Direct Greek main text. Checked Sep 8, 2026.
[LXX14] Alfred Rahlfs, Septuaginta; second revised edition prepared by Robert Hanhart (2006), German Bible Society official online main text. Scope: Hosea 14, complete chapter. Access: Direct Greek main text. Checked Sep 8, 2026.
[RASHI-HOS1] Rashi, Commentary on Hosea 1; Chabad.org bilingual presentation. Scope: Commentary on 1:2 and 1:6; the allocation explanation in 1:6 checked in displayed Hebrew. Access: Direct Hebrew and English commentary; biblical English not a translation base. Checked Sep 8, 2026.
[RASHI-HOS6] Rashi, Commentary on Hosea 6; Chabad.org bilingual presentation. Scope: Commentary on 6:2, 6:5 and 6:7. Access: Direct Hebrew and English commentary; biblical English not a translation base. Checked Sep 8, 2026.
[RASHI-HOS11] Rashi, Commentary on Hosea 11; Chabad.org bilingual presentation. Scope: Commentary on 11:1–4 and 11:9. Access: Direct Hebrew and English commentary; biblical English not a translation base. Checked Sep 8, 2026.
[RASHI-HOS13] Rashi, Commentary on Hosea 13; Chabad.org bilingual presentation. Scope: Commentary on 13:2, 13:7, 13:10 and 13:14. Access: Direct Hebrew and English commentary; cited Talmud and Targum passages not independently collated. Checked Sep 8, 2026.
[AUG-HOS] Augustine of Hippo, City of God XVIII.28; Marcus Dods translation, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, vol. 2 (1887), New Advent transcription. Scope: Interpretations of Hosea source 2:1–2, 3:4–5 and 6:2. Access: Direct reading of the historical English patristic translation; Latin not collated. Checked Sep 8, 2026.
[NT-MAT2] Nestle–Aland, Novum Testamentum Graece, twenty-eighth revised edition (2012), German Bible Society official online main text. Scope: Matthew 2:13–15, quotation corresponding to Hosea 11:1. Access: Direct Greek New Testament reception passage; no textual apparatus or manuscript collation. Checked Sep 8, 2026.
[NT-MAT9] Nestle–Aland, Novum Testamentum Graece, twenty-eighth revised edition (2012), German Bible Society official online main text. Scope: Matthew 9:10–13, quotation of Hosea 6:6. Access: Direct Greek New Testament reception passage; no textual apparatus or manuscript collation. Checked Sep 8, 2026.
[NT-ROM9] Nestle–Aland, Novum Testamentum Graece, twenty-eighth revised edition (2012), German Bible Society official online main text. Scope: Romans 9:24–26, Hosea citations. Access: Direct Greek New Testament reception passage; no textual apparatus or manuscript collation. Checked Sep 8, 2026.
[NT-1CO15] Nestle–Aland, Novum Testamentum Graece, twenty-eighth revised edition (2012), German Bible Society official online main text. Scope: First Corinthians 15:54–57, death and sting language. Access: Direct Greek New Testament reception passage; no textual apparatus or manuscript collation. Checked Sep 8, 2026.
[NT-HEB13] Nestle–Aland, Novum Testamentum Graece, twenty-eighth revised edition (2012), German Bible Society official online main text. Scope: Hebrews 13:15–16, fruit of lips and praise. Access: Direct Greek New Testament reception passage; no textual apparatus or manuscript collation. Checked Sep 8, 2026.
Key terms
יהוה / κύριος: YHWH / Lord. Preserve the source titles, including Greek expansions and Hebrew ʾadonaw as his Lord at 12:15.
חסד / ἔλεος: steadfast love / mercy. Covenant loyalty and mercy overlap without collapsing their imagery; 6:6 supplies an important later quotation.
לא רחמה / Οὐκ ἠλεημένη; לא עמי / Οὐ λαός μου: Lo-ruhamah—Not Pitied / Not Shown Mercy; Lo-ammi—Not My People / Not My People. Preserve the Hebrew names and their translated Greek forms, then the reversals at 2:25.
בית און / οἶκος Ων: Beth-aven / house of On. Preserve the wordplay and form differences without harmonizing all references to Bethel.
ישראל; אפרים: Israel; Ephraim. Keep the alternating national and tribal designations, with source shifts between singular and plural pronouns.
מלך ירב / βασιλεὺς Ιαριμ: King Jareb / King Jarim. No specific Assyrian monarch identified; Hebrew may be a polemical title.
שאול / ᾅδης: Sheol / Hades. Underworld designations retained at 13:14; not replaced with later hell terminology.
פרים / καρπός: bulls / fruit. 14:3: the Hebrew offering image is distinct from the Greek fruit-of-lips formulation.
חמר; לתך / γομορ; νεβελ: homer; lethech / gomor; nebel. 3:2: preserve named ancient measures and containers and the actual barley/wine difference; no unsupported metric conversion.
משובה and related return vocabulary / κατοικία and return verbs: turning away, return / dwelling, return. The Greek dwelling readings in 11:7 and 14:5 remain distinct from Hebrew apostasy.
Editorial decisions
Both complete ancient running texts were directly read and independently translated. No modern English Bible served as a base. BHS chapters thirteen and fourteen were accessed through the successful German-interface routes recorded in the source register; all others used the English-interface routes.
Preserved all one hundred ninety-seven source verses per column, including Greek 13:4’s extended creation passage, and distinguished cross-verse relocations from net additions.
Consulted selective directly read Rashi commentary, Augustine and Greek New Testament reception only. No claim is made to a comprehensive rabbinic or patristic survey or to directly reading sources merely cited by Rashi.
Kept textual translation separate from later christological, Temple and historical identifications. Priority labels identify reception perspectives rather than permission to rewrite the Hebrew or Greek.
Preserved difficult source wording and pronoun shifts, especially Greek 7:4, 8:1, 9:10–12, 11:3–7, 12:12 and 13:3. Proposed renderings are marked where lexical or syntactic review is still needed.
Rendered Hebrew 13:14’s initial clauses as rhetorical questions in context, while preserving Greek declarations. Hebrew can also be construed as affirmative or unrealized redemption; this punctuation decision is not a textual emendation.
Used source-consistent numerical quantities in words and ordinary chapter/verse numerals for navigation. Divine pronouns are capitalized when the referent is clear; ambiguous pronouns remain lower case.
All classifications are editorial judgments about these two declared main texts. They do not identify the historical origin of a variant or certify agreement among manuscripts.
Source chapter and verse references remain visible throughout.
Open questions
Hosea 1:6: review the force and negation-scope of nasoʾ essa lahem. Rashi’s allocation explanation is adopted provisionally; forgiveness or carrying-away construals remain possible.
Hosea 3:1–3: the woman’s identity, the relationship designated by companion, and the final reciprocal clause do not establish all biographical circumstances; ancient measures remain unconverted.
Hosea 4:8, 4:16, 4:18–19 and 5:2,11,13: review the sin/sin-offering sense, question punctuation, shields/Give sequence, slaughter syntax, ṣaw and Jareb title.
Hosea 6:5–9: Hebrew final verdict punctuation, Adam versus humanity or locality, and the priestly murder construction remain interpretive choices; Greek agents and objects differ.
Hosea 7:2,4–6 and 8:1,10,12–13: specialist Greek lexical and Hebrew syntactic review is especially needed for singing, kneaded fat, the furnace sequence, bosom/earth fragment, royal burden and altar/law clauses.
Hosea 9:6–13: preserve and review the Machmas geography, prophet/trap syntax, Greek fig-tree lookout, glories fragment, My flesh clause and Hebrew Tyre comparison.
Hosea 10:5–15: review Hebrew calf-priest rejoicing, floating qeṣep, two-offenses spelling, linking participle at 10:11, Hebrew rain/teach in 10:12, and Shalman/Beth-arbel versus Salaman/Jerobaal.
Hosea 11:3–9 and 12:1: the displayed third-person arms, caregiving/striking contrasts, return negation, suspended people, city clause and Judah’s rad with God require careful specialist assessment.
Hosea 12:5,9,12: determine the precise subjects of Jacob’s encounter, the Greek lost-labors construction and the force of the Greek Gilead fragment and tortoise/mound term.
Hosea 13:2–3,9–15: examine Hebrew human-sacrificer syntax, Greek locust vapor, destruction/help syntax, ʾehi, birth-crushing imagery, rhetorical versus affirmative redemption and the divided-brothers wording.
Hosea 14:3–9: the Hebrew bulls/lips syntax, Greek recipient language and orphan clause, healing of dwellings, grain intoxication, speaker at 14:9 and botanical identifications remain provisional.
No critical apparatus, manuscript witnesses or alternative Greek recension was collated. An independent Hebraist and Septuagint specialist should review these working renderings before an authoritative or liturgical edition is claimed.
Classification totals
Different: 84 • Disparate: 40 • Divergent: 9 • Same: 34 • Similar: 30
Disparate index
2:4; 2:5; 2:17; 3:1; 3:2; 4:4; 4:5; 4:11; 4:14; 4:17; 4:18; 5:11; 5:15; 6:5; 6:9; 7:2; 7:14; 8:1; 8:3; 8:9; 8:10; 9:6; 9:7; 9:10; 9:12; 10:5; 10:11; 10:12; 10:14; 11:1; 11:4; 11:6; 11:7; 11:10; 12:1; 12:5; 12:9; 12:12; 13:2; 14:3