Hosea 10:11 Ephraim is a well-trained heifer that loves to thresh; but I will place a yoke on her fair neck. I will harness Ephraim, Judah will plow, and Jacob will break the hard ground.

◄ Hosea 10:11 ►

New International Version
Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh; so I will put a yoke on her fair neck. I will drive Ephraim, Judah must plow, and Jacob must break up the ground.

New Living Translation
“Israel is like a trained heifer treading out the grain— an easy job she loves. But I will put a heavy yoke on her tender neck. I will force Judah to pull the plow and Israel to break up the hard ground.

English Standard Version
Ephraim was a trained calf that loved to thresh, and I spared her fair neck; but I will put Ephraim to the yoke; Judah must plow; Jacob must harrow for himself.

Berean Standard Bible
Ephraim is a well-trained heifer that loves to thresh; but I will place a yoke on her fair neck. I will harness Ephraim, Judah will plow, and Jacob will break the hard ground.

King James Bible
And Ephraim is as an heifer that is taught, and loveth to tread out the corn; but I passed over upon her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to ride; Judah shall plow, and Jacob shall break his clods.

New King James Version
Ephraim is a trained heifer That loves to thresh grain; But I harnessed her fair neck, I will make Ephraim pull a plow. Judah shall plow; Jacob shall break his clods.”

New American Standard Bible
Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh, And I passed over her lovely neck; I will harness Ephraim, Judah will plow, Jacob will harrow for himself.

NASB 1995
Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh, But I will come over her fair neck with a yoke; I will harness Ephraim, Judah will plow, Jacob will harrow for himself.

NASB 1977
And Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh, But I will come over her fair neck with a yoke; I will harness Ephraim, Judah will plow, Jacob will harrow for himself.

Legacy Standard Bible
And Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh, But I will come over her fair neck with a yoke; I will harness Ephraim; Judah will plow; Jacob will harrow for himself.

Amplified Bible
Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to tread out the grain, But I will come over her fair neck with a heavy yoke [for hard field work]. I will harness Ephraim; Judah will plow and Jacob will harrow and rake for himself.

Christian Standard Bible
Ephraim is a well-trained calf that loves to thresh, but I will place a yoke on her fine neck. I will harness Ephraim; Judah will plow; Jacob will do the final plowing.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Ephraim is a well-trained calf that loves to thresh, but I will place a yoke on her fine neck. I will harness Ephraim; Judah will plow; Jacob will do the final plowing.

American Standard Version
And Ephraim is a heifer that is taught, that loveth to tread out the grain; but I have passed over upon her fair neck: I will set a rider on Ephraim; Judah shall plow, Jacob shall break his clods.

Contemporary English Version
Once you were obedient like a calf that loved to thresh grain. But I will put a harness on your beautiful neck; you and Judah must plow and cultivate the ground.

English Revised Version
And Ephraim is an heifer that is taught, that loveth to tread out the corn; but I have passed over upon her fair neck: I will set a rider on Ephraim; Judah shall plow, Jacob shall break his clods.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Ephraim is like a trained calf that loves to thresh grain. I will put a yoke on its beautiful neck. I will harness Ephraim. Judah must plow. Jacob must break up the ground.

Good News Translation
"Israel was once like a well-trained young cow, ready and willing to thresh grain. But I decided to put a yoke on her beautiful neck and to harness her for harder work. I made Judah pull the plow and Israel pull the harrow.

International Standard Version
"Ephraim, the well-trained heifer, loves to thresh grain, so I will spare her neck. I will turn Ephraim into a pack animal. Judah will pull the plow, and Jacob will turn up the fallow ground.

Majority Standard Bible
Ephraim is a well-trained heifer that loves to thresh; but I will place a yoke on her fair neck. I will harness Ephraim, Judah will plow, and Jacob will break the hard ground.

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

New Heart English Bible
Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh; so I will put a yoke on her beautiful neck. I will set a rider on Ephraim. Judah will plow. Jacob will break his clods.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Ephraim is as a heifer that is taught, and loveth to tread out the corn; but I passed over upon her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to ride; Judah shall plow, and Jacob shall break his clods.

World English Bible
Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh, so I will put a yoke on her beautiful neck. I will set a rider on Ephraim. Judah will plow. Jacob will break his clods.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And Ephraim [is] a trained heifer—loving to thresh, "" And I have passed over on the goodness of its neck, "" I cause [one] to ride Ephraim, "" Judah plows, Jacob harrows for him.

Young's Literal Translation
And Ephraim is a trained heifer -- loving to thresh, And I -- I have passed over on the goodness of its neck, I cause one to ride Ephraim, Plough doth Judah, harrow for him doth Jacob.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Ephraim a heifer being taught, loving to tread out the grain, and I passed over upon the good of her neck: I will cause Ephraim to ride; Judah shall be silent, and Jacob shall be strong to him.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Ephraim is a heifer taught to love to tread out corn, but I passed over upon the beauty of her neck: I will ride upon Ephraim, Juda shall plough, Jacob shall break the furrows for himself.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Ephraim is a heifer that has been taught to love treading out the grain, but I passed over the beauty of her neck. I will rise over Ephraim. Judah will plough; Jacob will break up the soil for himself.

New American Bible
Ephraim was a trained heifer, that loved to thresh; I myself laid a yoke upon her beautiful neck; I will make Ephraim break ground, Judah must plow, Jacob must harrow for himself:

New Revised Standard Version
Ephraim was a trained heifer that loved to thresh, and I spared her fair neck; but I will make Ephraim break the ground; Judah must plow; Jacob must harrow for himself.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Ephraim is like a heifer that is trained, and loves to tread out the wheat; but I bent her neck under the yoke; I will make Ephraim to be ridden upon, I will cause Judah to tread wheat, and Jacob shall be plundered.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Aphreim is a trained heifer that loves to tread and I passed over his neck; I will mount Aphreim and he will tread Yehuda and shall plunder Yaqob

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And Ephraim is a heifer well broken, That loveth to thresh, And I have passed over upon her fair neck; I will make Ephraim to ride, Judah shall plow, Jacob shall break his clods.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Ephraim is a heifer taught to love victory, but I will come upon the fairest part of her neck: I will mount Ephraim; I will pass over Juda in silence; Jacob shall prevail against him.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Retribution for Israel's Sin
…10I will chasten them when I please; nations will be gathered against them to put them in bondage for their double transgression. 11Ephraim is a well-trained heifer that loves to thresh; but I will place a yoke on her fair neck. I will harness Ephraim, Judah will plow, and Jacob will break the hard ground. 12Sow for yourselves righteousness and reap the fruit of loving devotion; break up your unplowed ground. For it is time to seek the LORD until He comes and sends righteousness upon you like rain.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Jeremiah 50:11
“Because you rejoice, because you sing in triumph—you who plunder My inheritance—because you frolic like a heifer treading grain and neigh like stallions,

Isaiah 28:24-28
Does the plowman plow for planting every day? Does he continuously loosen and harrow the soil? / When he has leveled its surface, does he not sow caraway and scatter cumin? He plants wheat in rows and barley in plots, and rye within its border. / For his God instructs and teaches him properly. ...

Jeremiah 31:18
I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning: ‘You disciplined me severely, like an untrained calf. Restore me, that I may return, for You are the LORD my God.

Deuteronomy 25:4
Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.

Isaiah 30:24
The oxen and donkeys that work the ground will eat salted fodder, winnowed with shovel and pitchfork.

Proverbs 14:4
Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of the ox.

1 Corinthians 9:9-10
For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? / Isn’t He actually speaking on our behalf? Indeed, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they should also expect to share in the harvest.

1 Timothy 5:18
For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and, “The worker is worthy of his wages.”

Matthew 11:28-30
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. / Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. / For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Romans 8:21
that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

Galatians 5:1
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery.

Isaiah 10:27
On that day the burden will be lifted from your shoulders, and the yoke from your neck. The yoke will be broken because your neck will be too large.

Jeremiah 2:20
“For long ago you broke your yoke and tore off your chains, saying, ‘I will not serve!’ Indeed, on every high hill and under every green tree you lay down as a prostitute.

Ezekiel 34:27
The trees of the field will give their fruit, and the land will yield its produce; My flock will be secure in their land. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bars of their yoke and delivered them from the hands that enslaved them.

Psalm 129:3
The plowmen plowed over my back; they made their furrows long.

Treasury of Scripture

And Ephraim is as an heifer that is taught, and loves to tread out the corn; but I passed over on her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to ride; Judah shall plow, and Jacob shall break his clods.

an heifer.

Hosea 4:16
For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place.

Jeremiah 50:11
Because ye were glad, because ye rejoiced, O ye destroyers of mine heritage, because ye are grown fat as the heifer at grass, and bellow as bulls;

and loveth.

Hosea 2:5
For their mother hath played the harlot: she that conceived them hath done shamefully: for she said, I will go after my lovers, that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink.

Hosea 3:1
Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine.

Hosea 9:1
Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, as other people: for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God, thou hast loved a reward upon every cornfloor.

but.

Hosea 11:4
I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.

her fair neck.

2 Chronicles 28:5-8
Wherefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter…

Isaiah 28:24
Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? doth he open and break the clods of his ground?

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Hosea 10

1. Israel is reproved and threatened for their impiety and idolatry,
12. and exhorted to repentance.

Berean Study Bible

Ephraim is a well-trained heifer
The term "Ephraim" refers to one of the tribes of Israel, often used to represent the Northern Kingdom as a whole. The imagery of a "well-trained heifer" suggests a creature that is accustomed to labor, yet also implies a sense of privilege and ease in its work. In the agricultural context of ancient Israel, a heifer that "loves to thresh" would be one that enjoys the relatively easy task of separating grain from chaff, a task that allows for freedom of movement and access to food. This metaphor highlights Ephraim's past blessings and prosperity, as well as its potential for productivity in God's service.

that loves to thresh
Threshing was a process that involved separating the edible part of grain from the husks and straw. It was a task that allowed the animal to eat as it worked, symbolizing a life of ease and abundance. Spiritually, this phrase can be seen as a critique of Ephraim's complacency and self-indulgence. The love for threshing indicates a preference for comfort and self-serving activities rather than the harder, more disciplined work of plowing or breaking ground, which requires submission and effort.

but I will place a yoke on her fair neck
The "yoke" is a symbol of submission and servitude. In the biblical context, placing a yoke on an animal was necessary for it to perform more demanding tasks, such as plowing. The "fair neck" of Ephraim suggests beauty and strength, yet it is also a neck that has not been accustomed to the burden of a yoke. This signifies a coming change in Ephraim's circumstances, from ease to discipline, from freedom to subjection. It is a divine intervention intended to redirect Ephraim from its wayward path back to a place of obedience and purpose.

I will harness Ephraim
To "harness" implies preparation for work, particularly work that requires guidance and control. This phrase indicates God's intention to bring Ephraim into a state of discipline and productivity. The harnessing is not merely punitive but is designed to restore Ephraim to its intended role and function within God's plan. It reflects God's sovereignty and His desire to correct and guide His people towards righteousness.

Judah will plow
Judah, representing the Southern Kingdom, is depicted as taking on the role of plowing. Plowing is a more labor-intensive and foundational task than threshing, symbolizing preparation and groundwork for future growth. This phrase suggests a division of labor and responsibility among God's people, with Judah being called to a role of leadership and preparation. It also implies a future hope, as plowing is the first step towards planting and eventual harvest.

and Jacob will break up the ground
"Jacob" here refers to the collective people of Israel, encompassing both the Northern and Southern Kingdoms. Breaking up the ground is a metaphor for repentance and renewal. It involves turning over the hard, fallow soil of the heart to make it receptive to God's word and purposes. This phrase underscores the necessity of spiritual renewal and transformation, a call for the entire nation to return to God with contrite hearts, ready to receive His blessings and fulfill His covenant promises.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(11) Heifer.--Translate, Ephraim is a trained heifer, which loves to thresh. Here the idea may be that Ephraim loves the easy and free work of treading out the corn, and so becomes fat and sleek; or the act of treading and threshing may point to the rough treatment which Ephraim has in her pride dealt out to her neighbours and enemies. But the former interpretation is more probable. The verse should continue to read thus:--And I passed by the fairness of her neck (to arrest her self-indulgence). I will harness Ephraim for riding--i.e., I will cause a rider, Assyria, to take possession of her, and she shall be bound in unwelcome toil to do the bidding of another.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 11. - And Ephraim is as an heifer that is taught, and loveth to tread out the corn. Ephraim is compared to a heifer trained. The work she was taught to do was treading cut the corn; by training and habit it had became a second nature, so that she took delight in it. The connecting vowel occurs seldom, and usually with an antique coloring in prose, according to Ewald; it is poetical besides, and used in the concourse of words somewhat closely connected, but not in the strict construct state. Thus is לֺאהַבֵתִּי accounted for. This work was probably easier, at all events pleasanter, than plowing or harrowing. In treading out corn oxen were not yoked together, but worked singly, treading it with their feet, or drawing a threshing-sledge, or iron-armed cylinder, over it; they were unmuzzled also, so that they were free to snatch an occasional mouthful of the grain, and frequently fattened by such indulgence. Such had been the position of Ephraim in easy employment, comfortable circumstances like the heifer threshing and allowed to eat at pleasure, pleasantly situated prosperous, self-indulgent, and luxurious. The victories of Ephraim - threshing and treading down may perhaps be also hinted at. But I passed over upon her fair neck (margin, the beauty of her neck): I will make Ephraim to ride; Judak shall plough, and Jacob shall break his clods. Times have changed, as is here indicated a yoke, that of Assyria, is placed on the fair neck, a rider is set on the sleek back. Mere onerous and less pleasant labor is now imposed. Judah too is to share the toil, being put to the heavier work of plowing while Jacob - the ten tribes, or the twelve including both Judah and Israel - shall cross plough; and thus both alike shall be henceforth employed in the heaviest labors of the field and the severest toils of agriculture. Once victorious, Ephraim is now to be subdued; once free and intractable, it must now receive the yoke and engage in laborious service. The expression עבר, followed by על, is generally used in a bad sense; "to pass over," says Jerome, "especially when it is said of God, always signifies inflictions and troubles." The fatness of the neck is the ox's ornament or beauty. That is now to be assaulted or invaded gently it may be, and softly, as men are wont to approach a young untamed animal in order to put the yoke upon it. This passing over, however tender, fixes the yoke on Ephraim's neck all the same. A more difficult word is אדכיב, which Ewald

(1) renders, "I will set a rider" on Ephraim, of course to subdue and tame;

(2) Jerome has, "I will mount or ride," thus representing Jehovah himself as the mediate rider on Ephraim. The first sense has a parallel in Psalm 56:12, "Thou hast made men to ride over our head," and thus ruling them at pleasure. Unwilling to bear the easy yoke of their Divine Ruler, they shall be subjected to the tyrant mastery of man. But

(3) Keil says the word here is "not" to mount or ride, 'but' to drive or use for drawing and driving,' i.e. to harness," as to the plough and harrow. This meaning is best reached by understanding the words thus: "I will make the yoke to ride on Ephraim's neck;" as הרכב is used in 2 Kings 13:16, for "put thine hand upon the bow," margin, "make thine hand to ride upon the bow." The remaining clauses of the verse is a further development of this expression, but extending to Judah; and thus including both Judah and Ephraim, or Jacob - both kingdoms. The Septuagint version of the last clause is peculiar; it is Παρασιωπήσομαι Ἰούδαν ἐνισχύσει αὐτῷ Ἰακώβ. That is, as explained by Jerome, "I shall leave Judah for the present and say nothing about him; but whoever, whether of Ephraim or Judah, shall observe my precepts, he shall acquire strength for himself and be called Jacob."

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Ephraim
וְאֶפְרַ֜יִם (wə·’ep̄·ra·yim)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 669: Ephraim -- a son of Joseph, also his descendants and their territory

is a well-trained
מְלֻמָּדָה֙ (mə·lum·mā·ḏāh)
Verb - Pual - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 3925: To exercise in, learn

heifer
עֶגְלָ֤ה (‘eḡ·lāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5697: A, calf, one nearly grown

that loves
אֹהַ֣בְתִּי (’ō·haḇ·tî)
Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular construct
Strong's 157: To have affection f

to thresh;
לָד֔וּשׁ (lā·ḏūš)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1758: To trample, thresh

but I
וַאֲנִ֣י (wa·’ă·nî)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

will place a yoke
עָבַ֔רְתִּי (‘ā·ḇar·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

her fair
ט֖וּב (ṭūḇ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2898: Good, goodness, beauty, gladness, welfare

neck.
צַוָּארָ֑הּ (ṣaw·wā·rāh)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 6676: The back of the neck

I will harness
אַרְכִּ֤יב (’ar·kîḇ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7392: To ride, to place upon, to despatch

Ephraim,
אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ (’ep̄·ra·yim)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 669: Ephraim -- a son of Joseph, also his descendants and their territory

Judah
יְהוּדָ֔ה (yə·hū·ḏāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites

will plow,
יַחֲר֣וֹשׁ (ya·ḥă·rō·wōš)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2790: To cut in, engrave, plow, devise

[and] Jacob
יַעֲקֹֽב׃ (ya·‘ă·qōḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3290: Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his desc

will break the hard ground.
יְשַׂדֶּד־ (yə·śad·deḏ-)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7702: To abrade, harrow a, field

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OT Prophets: Hosea 10:11 Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves (Ho Hs Hos.)