Hos 10:11 | NETfull | 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 ^{▼▼ The MT is unintelligible: עַל־טוּב (’al-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 (’ol-tuv, “a fine yoke”), followed by many modern English versions (e.g., NAB, NASB, NIV, NCV, TEV, NLT). The noun עֹל (’ol, “yoke”) also appears in 11:4 in a metaphor which compares Israel to a young heifer as well.} on her neck.
I will harness Ephraim.
Let Judah plow! ^{▼▼ Or “Judah will plow” (so NASB); NIV, NRSV, CEV “Judah must plow.”}
Let Jacob break up ^{▼▼ Or “Jacob will break up.”} the unplowed ground for himself!