Hosea 10:13

How necessary is this exhortation! For hitherto the Israelites have done the exact opposite.

plowed wickedness i.e., formed wicked plans (as Job 4:8). The word for -to plough" has in fact another meaning -to plot."

reaped iniquity Better, reaped injustice i. e. the injustice of oppressors, which, being retributive, is, from the higher point of view, substantial justice. The tense is the prophetic perfect.

the fruit of lies To -lie" is sometimes = to disappoint (as Hosea 9:2), and probably this is the meaning here, viz. that the consequence of Israel's present policy shall be the disappointment of all his expectations. -Fruit" implies that that policy has been one of -lying", i.e. treason both to earthly kings and to Jehovah (comp. Hosea 11:12; Hosea 12:1; Isaiah 28:15).

in thy way i.e. in thy policy. But there is a reading of earlier date than the Massoretic, viz. in thy chariots (comp. Hosea 14:3; Isaiah 2:7) which, as it harmonizes better with the rest of the clause, is undoubtedly preferable. For few scholars will maintain that the ἐν ἁμαρτήμασι of the Vatican MS. of the Septuagint is more original than the ἐν ἅρμασι of the Alexandrine and other MSS. (confirmed by St Jerome and the Syro-Hexaplar text). The Vatican reading can easily be explained; the scribe wished to harmonize the translation with the reading -in thy way" found by him in his Hebrew Bible.