Hosea 10:11

Ephraim was a well-trained heifer who loved to thresh grain; I myself put a fine yoke ¹ on her neck. I will harness Ephraim. Let Judah plow! ²  Let Jacob break up ³  the unplowed ground for himself!

De 25:4; 2Ch 28:5-8; Isa 28:24; Jer 50:11; Ho 2:5; Ho 3:1; Ho 4:16; Ho 9:1; Ho 11:4; Ro 16:18

¹ tc The MT is unintelligible: עַל־טוּב (’al-tuv, “upon a fine [thing]”?). Cf. KJV “I passed over upon her fair neck”; NRSV “I spared her fair neck.” The BHS editors suggest the revocalization עֹל־טוּב (’ol-tuv, “a fine yoke”), followed by many modern English versions (e.g., NAB, NASB, NIV, NCV, TEV, NLT). The noun עֹל (’ol, “yoke”) also appears in 11:4 in a metaphor which compares Israel to a young heifer as well.

² tn Or “Judah will plow” (so NASB); NIV, NRSV, CEV “Judah must plow.”

³ tn Or “Jacob will break up.”