I'm curious to hear your impressions to why the 1984 New World Translation edition translated Hosea 12:14 as you see it here: "Eʹphra·im caused offense to bitterness, and his deeds of bloodshed he leaves upon his own self, and his reproach his grand Master will repay to him.” And then changed the translation in the 2013 edition to what you see here: "Eʹphra·im has caused bitter offense; His bloodguilt remains on him; His Lord will repay him for his reproach.”
It seems that the correct translation is Lord and not master: ’ă-ḏō-nāw. אֲדֹנָֽיו׃. Nevertheless, Benson makes this comment: Hosea 12:14. Ephraim provoked him to anger, &c. — Notwithstanding all God’s favours showed to these people and their ancestors, they provoked him by their idolatries and other sins in a most outrageous manner. The word תמורים, translated, most bitterly, some render, with his bitterness; that is, by his wicked or impious deeds; and Schindler renders it, by his heaps, that is, his altars. Therefore shall he have his blood upon him — The Chaldee paraphrase renders it, His blood shall return upon him. Ephraim’s wickedness, and in particular the innocent blood he has shed, shall bring down punishment or destruction upon him. And his reproach shall his Lord return unto him — The reproach which Ephraim hath cast upon the prophets, upon the worshippers of God, and on God himself, in preferring idols before him, shall God, who is Lord of all, recompense upon him, in making him a reproach and by-word among the heathen. Instead of his Lord, Bp. Horsley reads, his Master, that is, says he, “his conqueror, who shall hold him in servitude, and be the instrument of God’s just vengeance to him.” http://biblehub.com/commentaries/hosea/12-14.htm
I guess I must be using the 1984 rendering of the NWT in my eSword software, because I didn't realize there'd been a change in the newer version. This 2013 reading seems less wordy, and the thoughts are the same between the two, if put more concise. As Baruq notes, the word found here is adonai, which typically is interpreted as "Lord" in English translations. The Watchtower organization uses the same expression "grand master" at Malachi 1:6 in the 1984 version: "'A son, for his part, honors a father; and a servant, his grand master. So if I am a father, where is the honor to me? And if I am a grand master, where is the fear of me?' Jehovah of armies has said to YOU, O priests who are despising my name. "'And YOU have said: "In what way have we despised your name?"' —Malachi 1:6 NWT Are they consistent about returning to the "Lord" rendering of adonai in the 2013 edition? --Timothy
Greetings brother... The reason I brought it up was their choice of words in the 1984 edition. Some have argued this use of the term "Grand Master" pays homage to their Masonic background.
I couldn't speak to that aspect of it. But I'm still curious if they stopped using the "grand master" phrase in Malachi, which is the only other place in the NWT (1984 edition) I am aware of it being used. If they only changed it in Hosea, THAT would be curious, indeed. --Tim
At least they're being consistent. Had you given the expression "grand master" any thought in the past when you'd read through the prophets, as to its use in the NWT, I mean...? --Tim
Nope, only when I had read someones opinion that they included it based of Masonic influence, had I even took notice. Of course I would have read it many times, but it never sparked research into the translation for me previously.