Hos 10:11 | NET2full | STEP | “ Ephraim was a well-trained heifer who loved to thresh grain ; I myself put a fine yoke on her neck . I will harness Ephraim . Let Judah plow ! Let Jacob break up the unplowed ground for himself!

‏ Hosea 10:11

Fertility Imagery: Plowing, Sowing, and Reaping

11 “Ephraim was a well-trained heifer who loved to thresh grain;
I myself put a fine yoke ^{▼▼tc The MT is unintelligible: עַל־טוּב (ʿal tuv, “upon a fine [thing]”?). Cf. KJV “I passed over upon her fair neck,” NRSV “I spared her fair neck.” The BHS editors suggest the revocalization עֹל־טוּב (ʿol tuv, “a fine yoke”), followed by many modern English versions (e.g., NAB, NASB, NIV, NCV, TEV, NLT). The noun עֹל (ʿol, “yoke”) also appears in 11:4 in a metaphor comparing Israel to a young heifer.} on her neck.
I will harness Ephraim.
Let Judah plow! ^{▼▼tn Or “Judah will plow” (so NASB); cf. NIV, NRSV, CEV “Judah must plow.”}
Let Jacob break up the unplowed ground ^{▼▼tn Or “Jacob will break up.”} for himself!