moth

The Greek and Hebrew that is translated into English as “moth(s)” was translated as “cockroach(es)” in Gola “since moths are not seen as destroying things but cockroaches are” (source: Don Slager). The same translation was chosen for Uripiv (source: Ross McKerras).

In Yakan it is translated as “termites” (source: Yakan Back Translation) and in Tagbanwa as “chewing-insects” (source: Tagbanwa Back Translation).

Judah, Judea

The name that is transliterated as “Judah” or “Judea” in English (referring to the son of Jacob, the tribe, and the territory) is translated in Spanish Sign Language as “lion” (referring to Genesis 49:9 and Revelation 5:5). This sign for lion is reserved for regions and kingdoms. (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. and Steve Parkhurst)


“Judah” and “Judea” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

See also Judah.

Translation commentary on Hosea 5:12

Yahweh now uses two similes to picture himself as a destructive force against both the northern and the southern kingdoms.

Therefore renders the Hebrew waw conjunction, which Good News Translation and many other versions omit. Here it does not appear to introduce a semantic relationship, so it may be left untranslated.

I am like a moth to Ephraim: The moth is an insect with large wings, belongs to the same family as the butterfly, lays its eggs in woolen cloth, and the larvae eat the wool before they, in turn, mature into adult moths. The damage to unprotected clothing can be severe. According to the lexicon by Koehler and Baumgartner, the Hebrew word here means “pus,” which is the discharge from a festering wound. The immediate context (5.13) also points in that direction. Others suggest this word means “larvae,” which are maggots that infest open wounds and devour the flesh.

And like dry rot to the house of Judah: The Hebrew word for dry rot refers to any kind of rottenness or decay, especially the kind that attacks trees or articles made of wood (compare Job 41.27). The moral corruption of the people and their leaders makes this figure especially appropriate. For the house of Judah, see 1.7.

Good News Translation does not use the similes in this verse but gives their implied meaning. “I will bring destruction on Israel” reflects the activity of the moth, while “and ruin on the people of Judah” reflects the effect of dry rot. There is no specific or significant difference in meaning in the way the two similes are applied to the two kingdoms, since they are used in parallel lines that are nearly synonymous in meaning, but some of the appeal of the original figures is lost in Good News Translation. In any case, most translators will understand the damage from moths and dry rot, so the images should be easy to understand in many languages.

A translation model for this verse is:

• I am like maggots in a festering wound to Ephraim,
like rottenness in wood to the people of Judah.

Quoted with permission from Dorn, Louis & van Steenbergen, Gerrit. A Handbook on Hosea. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2020. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .