35 Hosea employs three preterites (vayyiqtol forms) in verse 13a–b to describe a past-time situation.
36 Heb “went to” (so , , ); “asked help from.”
37 Heb “sent to” (so , , ).
38 The reads מֶלֶךְ יָרֵב (melekh yarev, “a contentious king”). This is translated as a proper name (“king Jareb”) by , , . However, the stative adjective יָרֵב (“contentious”) is somewhat awkward. The words should be redivided as an archaic genitive-construct מַלְכִּי רָב (malki rav, “great king”; cf. , , , ) which preserves the old genitive hireq yod ending. This is the equivalent of the Assyrian royal epithet sarru rabbu (“the great king”). See also the note on the same phrase in .
39 Heb “your wound will not depart from you.” Hosea personifies Ephraim’s “wound” as if it could depart from the sickly Ephraim (see the formal equivalent rendering in the preceding ). Ephraim’s sinful action in relying upon an Assyrian treaty for protection will not dispense with its problems.

In other versions

When Ephraim saw his sickness,

and Judah his wound,

then Ephraim went to Assyria,

and sent to the great king.

But he is not able to cure you

or heal your wound.

“When Ephraim saw his sickness,

and Judah his sores,

then Ephraim turned to Assyria,

and sent to the great king for help.

But he is not able to cure you,

not able to heal your sores.

When Ephraim saw his sickness

and Judah his wound,

Ephraim went to Assyria

and sent a delegation to the great king.

But he cannot cure you or heal your wound.

“When Israel and Judah saw how sick they were,

Israel turned to Assyria—

to the great king there—

but he could neither help nor cure them.

And when Ephraim saw his illness,

and Judah his wound,

Ephraim went to Assyria,

he sent to the great king.

But he was unable to cure you

and heal your wound.

When Ephraim saw his sickness,

And Judah saw his wound,

Then went Ephraim to the Assyrian,

And sent to king Jareb:

Yet could he not heal you,

Nor cure you of your wound.

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