Commentary— Tyndale Open Study Notes (plain English)
2:3 Israel was holy because the Lord had separated her from other nations to be his special people and reflect his character (Exod 19:5-6; Lev 19; 22:31-33). • first of his children: Literally the firstfruits of his harvest. Mosaic law required the people to offer the first portion of every harvest to the Lord (Exod 23:16, 19; 34:22, 26; Lev 2:12, 14; 23:10, 17, 20; Num 18:12; 28:26; Deut 18:4; 26:10; Zech 14:20). The people who made the covenant with God at Mount Sinai pledged their full commitment to the one true God. In return, the Lord protected them and punished their enemies during their journey to Canaan.
Commentary— Tyndale Open Study Notes (plain English)
2:3 Israel was holy because the Lord had separated her from other nations to be his special people and reflect his character (Exod 19:5-6; Lev 19; 22:31-33). • first of his children: Literally the firstfruits of his harvest. Mosaic law required the people to offer the first portion of every harvest to the Lord (Exod 23:16, 19; 34:22, 26; Lev 2:12, 14; 23:10, 17, 20; Num 18:12; 28:26; Deut 18:4; 26:10; Zech 14:20). The people who made the covenant with God at Mount Sinai pledged their full commitment to the one true God. In return, the Lord protected them and punished their enemies during their journey to Canaan.
Literal English (Darby)ⓘThe Darby Bible (1890) — a deliberately literal, word-for-word translation used here as the Old Testament comparison text.The Darby Bible (1890) — a deliberately literal, word-for-word translation used here as the Old Testament comparison text.
Hear the word of Jehovah, house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel.
Hebrew (Masoretic Text)ⓘThe Masoretic Text — the authoritative Hebrew manuscript tradition behind most Old Testaments, standardized by Jewish scribes (the Masoretes) between roughly the 7th and 10th centuries AD.The Masoretic Text — the authoritative Hebrew manuscript tradition behind most Old Testaments, standardized by Jewish scribes (the Masoretes) between roughly the 7th and 10th centuries AD.
King James VersionⓘKing James Version (1611) — the classic formal, word-for-word English translation. Historic and widely memorized, but uses Early Modern English vocabulary.
King James Version (1611) — the classic formal, word-for-word English translation. Historic and widely memorized, but uses Early Modern English vocabulary.
Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:
American Standard VersionⓘAmerican Standard Version (1901) — a more literal, precision-focused revision in the King James tradition.American Standard Version (1901) — a more literal, precision-focused revision in the King James tradition.
Hear ye the word of Jehovah, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:
World English BibleⓘWorld English Bible — a modern, public-domain update to the KJV/ASV formal style, without archaic language.World English Bible — a modern, public-domain update to the KJV/ASV formal style, without archaic language.
Hear Yahweh’s word, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel!
Bible in Basic EnglishⓘBible in Basic English (1949) — deliberately written using a limited vocabulary of about 1,000 words.Bible in Basic English (1949) — deliberately written using a limited vocabulary of about 1,000 words.
Give ear to the words of the Lord, O sons of Jacob and all the families of Israel: