Texts and Versions of the Book of Hosea

Abstract

Abstract The Hebrew text of the book of Hosea has a reputation for obscurity and difficult readings that pose challenges for the interpretation of specific utterances. While a number of scholars have argued that these difficulties come from Hosea’s particular dialect, it is also possible, and perhaps more likely, that the text was corrupted in transmission. If so, this occurred quite early, because other ancient manuscripts of Hosea, such as the fragmentary Hebrew texts from the Judean Desert as well as the translated versions, often reflect the same difficulties. While each of the major translations of Hosea (Greek Septuagint, Aramaic Targum, Syriac Peshitta, and Latin Vulgate) have their own distinctive translation character, their respective Vorlagen seem to have been quite similar to the Hebrew text behind the Masoretic Text (MT). Furthermore, the translators all had a high regard for their Hebrew source texts and typically restricted adjustments in their translations to those shifts that would increase clarity or encourage a particular theological reading.