Is Judah Faithful or Fickle? Hosea11:12 and the Mystery of Translation

Is Judah Faithful or Fickle? Hosea 11:12 and the Mystery of Translation

Have you ever come across a Bible verse that made you pause and wonder? For me, that moment came when I read Hosea 11:12.

Korean Revised Version (개역개정):

“Ephraim has surrounded me with lies, Israel with deceit. And Judah is unruly against God, even against the faithful Holy One.”

But in English, it reads quite differently.

ESV (English Standard Version):

“Ephraim has surrounded me with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit, but Judah still walks with God and is faithful to the Holy One.”

Same verse—but two very different tones. The Korean version describes Judah in a negative light, while the English translation portrays Judah as faithful. Why such a difference?

The Hebrew Original Holds the Key

The root of this contrast lies in the interpretation of the original Hebrew:

Hebrew (Hosea 11:12):

“וִיהוּדָה עוֹד רָד עִם־אֵל וְעִם־קְדוֹשִׁים נֶאֱמָן”

A wooden (literal) translation might be:

“Judah still walks with God and is faithful with the Holy One.”

English translators generally took this positively. But Korean translators, considering the broader context of Hosea and the poetic ambiguity of the Hebrew verbs “rad” (to wander/chase/pursue) and “ne’eman” (to be faithful), opted for a more critical rendering.

Two Scholarly Views

1. Positive Interpretation (Typical in English Bibles)

• Judah, unlike Ephraim, is still walking with God.
• This contrast serves to highlight the faithlessness of the northern kingdom.

2. Negative Interpretation (Typical in Korean Bibles)

• Judah is not truly faithful—only appearing to walk with God on the surface.
• The criticism of Judah in the following verses (Hosea 12:1ff) supports this interpretation.

So, What’s the Verdict?

Truthfully, both readings are possible. The Hebrew text allows for both. But when read within the entire flow of Hosea—especially chapters 11–12, where Judah too is called out for unfaithfulness—the negative interpretation aligns more closely with the prophet’s message.

What We Can Learn

The Bible requires more than a surface-level reading. It invites us to consider language, culture, poetry, and context. Each translation is shaped by years of scholarship and prayer. And as readers, we are called to seek deeper understanding—comparing translations and asking: What is God really saying here?