Calves of the Lips
Calves Of The Lips
CALVES OF THE LIPS.Hos 14:2 (AV [Note: Authorized Version.] so will we render the calves of our lips; RV [Note: Revised Version.] [as] bullocks [the offering of] our lips), an obscure passage. A very slight change of the MT [Note: Massoretic Text.] yields the LXX [Note: Septuagint.] and Syr. rendering the fruit of our lips.
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Calves of the Lips
kavz, (Septuagint: , karpon cheileon): This is the King James Version rendering of a dubious Hebrew text in Hos 14:2 ( , parm sephathenu). The Revised Version (British and American) runs So will we render as bullocks the offering of our lips. Strange as the text is, it may be retained, and it admits of at least a possible explanation. The prophet calls on his contemporaries to return in penitence to Yahweh. Their worship should consist not of meaningless dumb ritual, but of words – hymns and prayers, expressive of real gratitude and of actual needs – or perhaps pledges of repentance and reform. The people respond and undertake that their worship shall consist of calves or bullocks of lips, i.e. not of animal offerings, but of promises of reform or vows of obedience. But this explanation is forced and most modern commentators follow the Septuagint, which presupposes a slightly different Hebrew text, and renders , per sephathenu, fruit of our lips, i.e. adoring gratitude or, as the author of the Epistle to the He, who quotes this verse from the Septuagint, explains it, sacrifice of praise (Heb 13:15). The same phrase occurs in Isa 57:19, where it signifies gladsome gratitude.