Hebrew Word Study – Unfaithful Spouse – Zanah – Zayin Nun Hei
Hosea 14:8: “Ephraim shall say, What have I to do anymore with idols, I have heard him and observed him, I am like a green fir tree, from me is thy fruit found.
Little is known about Hosea. What we do know is that he was a prophet during the time when the Northern kingdom of Israel was in its deepest state of idolatry. He was most likely a priest and lived in about the 8th century B.C. during the reign of King Uzziah. The Talmud teaches that Hosea was the greatest prophet of his generation and that generation included Isaiah (Pesachim 87a).
The religion at this time focused on the worship of the Canaanite god, Baal, and its female counterpart, Ashtart which can be traced to the Ugaritic goddess Anat. When studying the Ugaritic language I recall translating a Ugaritic Poem about the goddess Anat who had this unusual attraction to mortal men and would seek to lead them into adulterous relationships. The goddess Ashtart is most likely the goddess referred to as the queen of heaven that Israel worshipped in hope of having a prosperous harvest. At one point human sacrifice was even made to this goddess to encourage her to produce a good harvest. You have the account in Isaiah where the people of Israel even said that when they worshipped the queen of heaven they were fed but with God Jehovah, they were in want.
It was probably in this light that Hosea was commanded by God to marry a woman in whoredom Hosea 1:3. The word used here for whoredom is zanah. In secular literature, we find a zanah is used to refer to a woman who is unfaithful, not unlike many of your movie queens today. No wonder they are called idols. She was not a prostitute, as we think of a prostitute, but a woman with an adulterous heart. It is possible that Hosea was not even aware of her unfaithfulness until their son Lo-ammi was born. Lo-ammi means not mine. Apparent Hosea didn’t even need a DNA test. It would appear that Jewish Literature does tend to back this up and that Hosea divorced his wife for her infidelities in Chapter 2, but then in Chapter 3 was commanded to purchase her back from either slavery as a result of the debt she incurred in her wild ways or it was the price that her lover who turned out to be a pimp charged to sell her to Hosea. Needless to say, we do not know how the story between Hosea and his wife ends, but we do know the picture of Israel and God, as illustrated by this relationship has a happy ending as we see in Hoesa 14:8:
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The syntax in this verse is not at all clear. It is a toss-up if God is saying “Ephraim, what more have you to do with idols” or it is Ephraim declaring they have nothing more to do with idols. Rabbinical literature tends to indicate that the use of the term Ephraim is metaphoric. The name means double fruitfulness and implies a state of Israel when it has God’s favor. Thus, I would say the KJV uses the right syntax here and it is Ephraim or Israel saying: “What have I to do anymore with idols.” We have a picture of Israel’s return to God in repentance and its promise to complete faithfulness.
I know why the NIV used a different syntax here and it is most likely why the other modern translations use a similar syntax. The NIV has God speaking and not Ephraim because the following statements could not apply to Ephraim. I mean is Ephraim going to be a green fir tree for God? A green fir tree is a lush tree providing shade and is a place one would rest under. Is Ephraim going to be a tree for God to rest under? Is Ephraim going to provide fruit for God? Translators of the NIV say “no” God does not need a man to rest under or to provide fruit.
Yet, I am on this journey to God’s heart so I can know His heart, and by knowing His heart I can be a husband to God and know how to protect His heart. I see another aspect to the Book of Hosea other than God loving us enough to forgive us of our infidelities. I also see a broken-hearted God and I am the one who caused that broken heart by seeking the gods of this world to satisfy my needs (health, finances, security). By turning to these gods to meet that need I have broken his heart. Returning to Him I want to be a husband to Him, to protect His heart from being broken again. I want to be that tree that He can trust and rest under knowing I will not move away from providing His shade. I want to bear fruit for Him and not for myself.
Like Gomer, I was married to God, I bore fruit for him, but I also kept one eye on the world and when the world seemingly offered me more than God, when the provisions of the world seemed to be more faithful than the provision of God, I took off to pursue that god. Now I have returned, I am that tree that is firmly planted and will be there always for God to rest under, because I know I broke his heart once and I do not want to do it again. Like Ephraim, I will declare: “What have I to do with any more idols.”
Oh, by the way, the word “idol” is a strange word to be rendered as “idol.’ It is the word ’astav. ‘Astav is rarely used in Jewish literature as an idol, it is usually rendered as bringing “grief, suffering or pain.” You see the word what is Mah: which can also be rendered as why. I believe Ephraim was saying here: “Why should I bring pain and grief (to God)? I’ve heard Him (his cry) I have observed Him (his grief) and I want now to be a tree of rest for Him from this heartbreak…
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Thanks & Blessings, it means a lot to me!
I recently returned from what was supposed to have been a seven-day “retreat of silence into the heart of God”, but was cut short by five days. Oh my. How the enemy works. But, those two days were amongst the most blessed days of my 50 yrs of a born-again life. Over the years all I knew concerning the love of God was John 3:16. I knew nothing of His heart towards me personally or how It affects Him when I enter His presence. I just knew He loved everybody in general and wanted no one to spend eternity in hell. So He sent His Son as a way for mankind to escape the torment. Jesus was my escape from Hell. I knew the overwhelming peace and joy His presence offers but could I actually add something to the Creator’s heart by entering His presence? I ask my wife who has been born again for over 60 yrs if God was moved by her presence. She had never thought about it. I never did either until studying Chaim’s books. To be honest, in the beginning, I did not accept the teaching of how God was moved when I “Godly” entered His presence. As one of the most dreadful children, a parent could have and the torment and turmoil I brought into their lives, I knew as God’s child, I could never bring pleasure to Him. God could never be excited when I would show up, honoring, worshipping, and adoring Him. How wrong I have been for these many years. “I thank you Father for the joy I bring into your presence” NEVER believing this before the TWO days of retreat of silence into the heart of God. Thank you, Chaim, for being led by the heart of the Lord for the books published.
I found this translation and note in “The Jewish Study Bible”, second ed., ‘Torah, Nevi’im, Kethuvim’, Oxford University Press, New York, 2014, p. 1153.Hosea 14.9:
Ephraim [shall say]: “What more have I to do with idols? When I respond and look to Him, I become like a verdant cypress.”
Your fruit is provided by Me.
It seems the first two sentences are by Ephraim, but the last is a response by God – a reminder that the fruit is from God alone, not of Ephraim’s abilities. However, there is a rabbinical sidenote indicating though that the meaning of this sentence in Hebrew is ‘uncertain’.
This is a beautiful metaphor indeed!! LORD GOD OF ISRAEL, Forgive us our pursuits which did not center upon YOU in JESUS CHRIST NAME!!
Thank you Chaim! Knowing the heart of God through the Bible and how you relate to Him, helps me to live my best self. I can see what breaks His heart, breaks mine and also how in the midst of pain and unfaithfulness, He loves us in-spite of us, because it’s Who He is. I now understand Paul saying, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” The story ends (between Hosea and Gomer) with the Lord never changing, His love endures forever and those who want Him will hide Him in their hearts so they don’t sin against Him.
There’s one point here between “the goddess of heaven” (or just described as “the idols of the world,”) and then God of Jesus and Moses and Isaiah:
To put it in a slightly more modern context, and supposing you already know the 1940s movie “It’s a Wonderful Life,” I realized something when I was watching this well known movie…
The big old house full of holes, which George Bailey calls his home? Yes, that leaky old and abused home is a mess of an abandoned house when it first starts out. George could have (years later) accepted Mr. Potter’s offer of a gigantic salary; getting bought out by “the big guy.” But the home, with all its holes and few window panes on that first night with rain dripping in many places, was still full of more love and value than all the money that mean old Mr. Potter could have possibly ever given with the route he was taking (or the routes he would take, were George not standing in “his” way.)
Biblically, the Proverbs speak like that: “Better a little with the fear of the LORD* than great treasure with turmoil.” – Prov. 15:16, and “Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues without right.” – Prov 16:8.
* = “the fear of the lord” being more so “the reverence of the lord.” The word “fear” had a broader scope of definitions in 1600 AD. (Just stating this in case one is reading who does not know.)
Perhaps Mr. Potter was worshiping “The Goddess of Heaven” (or just any other god/idol of the world) whereas George Bailey was not. The afternoon before George went home, in the Building & Loan, he did stare at a quote framed under a photo of his father. I forgot the exact wording of it, though – something like “The only thing you take with you is what you give away.” I might have gotten the quote horribly wrong, but it doesn’t really feel wrong.
In the (of course fictional) story, George always had enough in his life to work with and live by. He didn’t get to do what he wanted to as a young man with architecture, but what was driving that desire, and would it have landed him in trouble? I’m not really sure. Maybe he wanted to make a name for himself, but he stayed in the little town, opposing Mr. Potter.
I don’t suppose I have to delve far in the parts of the movie which show how Bedford Falls would be “Pottersville” if George was not born. But if there’s one person reading who hasn’t seen the movie, Clarence shows George what it would be like; the town would be a slummy sin center, full of drinking and gambling and (seemingly) adultery.
I’m not sure if the whole “This is what life would be without you” thing is quite entirely accurate, but it does show what Potter would have done if George wasn’t around.
Once more I am weeping at your ending. I too have done this to Father. I am more than astounded at His love for me, and His grace and His mercy continues to let me know I am forgiven, and that He still protects me and hears my cries, which are numerous at my age now, especially in these last days, I am constantly crying out Hebrews 4:16 and He sends it. Thank you for sharing your heart transparently.
In my one hand I see God gave His children the Earth to care for and enjoy. In my other hand I see unanswered questions as to what “a tree of rest for Him from this heartbreak…” truly is? In this life we are commanded to leave and inheritance for our children’s children. Is this effort idol worship? This human effort of toil and pain leaves little time for being a resting tree for God. Are we not all idol worshippers in some respects for just being alive?
But just being alive is joy and praise to Our Father in Heaven. Is it not? Sorry if I don’t understand, I am a mere babe in Christ, he saved me about 7 months ago, even though Holy spirit was helping me prepare me heart for 10 years prior. Talk about being dense, I’m speaking of me. I was looking for God, loved him in some sense but still didn’t pick up the Bible until almost 2 years ago. I don’t have a church other than then the true body of Christ, I yearn for baptism and teachings, but if God wills it, I much rather learn straight from the true source. I suffer with bi polar disorder and other so called mental Illnesess, but I know Jesus is teaching me gratitude, discipline, and joy in suffernng, patience as I still am walking with Him, l have faith he will perfect me to his liking in my weakness. God is so good, life is still so hard but I’m thankful and am in love with our Almighty God.
As I was reading this, I was reminded that Father would come down in the cool of the day to have communion with adam and Eve. He was looking for that tree with fruit to sit under. I then remembered The Song of Solomon, when the bride groom went looking for the
Garden of His Beloved to partake of her fruit in a the shade of her love. An annointed teacher always draws water out of the heart of his students; that is what you do. May Father continue to bless and strengthen you as we need the annointing He has given to you.