Section 3:1–5

Hosea redeemed Gomer as the LORD will redeem Israel

In this section, the LORD commanded Hosea to take Gomer back as his wife. This probably occurred later in their marriage after Gomer had left Hosea and became an adulteress. Once more Hosea communicated the LORD’s message by his action as well as his words. His action was an illustration of the LORD’s unfailing love for the nation of Israel. Israel had been unfaithful to the LORD and had been worshiping other gods. In the same way, Gomer had been unfaithful to Hosea and had left him for other lovers. And just as Hosea was commanded to take Gomer back as his wife, so the LORD planned to restore Israel to himself.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

An Illustration of God’s Love for Idolatrous Israel (NET Bible)
-or-
Hosea Redeems His Wife (English Standard Version)
-or-
Hosea’s Reconciliation With His Wife (New International Version)

Paragraph 3:1

3:1a

Then the LORD said to me, “Go show love to your wife again: In this sentence, the Hebrew word order is “said the LORD to me again go show…” There are two ways to interpret the connection of the word again :

(1) Go again. The word again modifies the verb Go or the phrase Go show…. For example:

The Lord said to me, “Go again and show your love…” (Good News Translation)

(2) said again. The word again modifies the verb said. This interpretation may indicate that the LORD is continuing the series of speeches described in 1:2–9. For example:

The Lord said to me again, “Go, love… (New Revised Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most English versions. This command probably refers back to 1:2b, where the LORD told Hosea, “Go, take a prostitue as your wife…” Here the meaning is that Hosea should go and take back his wife so that he can once again show his love to her as her husband.

show love: The Hebrew word translated as love has a broad range of meaning. In this context, it probably means for Hosea to use words and acts of love to reaffirm his marriage. It probably does not mean to “court,” that is, to try to persuade the woman to respond, as in 2:16.

your wife: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as your wife is literally “a woman.” For example:

Go again, love a woman (English Standard Version)

Most scholars think that this phrase refers to Hosea’s wife, Gomer. The “woman” is further described as an adulteress. This accurately describes Gomer. It is unlikely that the LORD would command Hosea to commit adultery by marrying a different woman who was also an adulteress. A specific reference to Gomer also fits the symbolism of the LORD again showing his love to Israel, the nation that he first chose as his own.

In some languages, a literal translation of the Hebrew phrase may imply that God commanded Hosea to show his love to a different woman. You should translate this phrase so that it refers clearly to Hosea’s wife.

Here are some other ways to translate the whole clause:

Go and love your wife again (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Go and take back your wife so that you can show her again that you love her.

3:1b

though she is loved by another: There is a textual issue here:

(1) The Masoretic Text uses a passive form. It has “woman who is loved by… ” In other words, another person is the one who loves, and the woman receives the love. For example:

loved by someone else (New Century Version)

(2) The LXX uses an active form. It has “woman who loves… ” In other words, the woman is the one who loves, and another person receives the love. For example:

loves another man (New Jerusalem Bible)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with most versions.

If it is not natural to use a passive form in your language, here are two other ways to translate this clause:

• Use an active form that has the same meaning. For example:

love your wife although another man loves her

• Use a different expression that does not focus on who loves whom. For example:

love your wife even though she is having an affair

adulteress: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as adulteress is literally “[who] commits adultery.” It is more specific than a general term such as “immoral.” It refers to a married person who is unfaithful to his or her spouse.

3:1c

Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites: In Hebrew, the words Love her are only implied. The Berean Standard Bible and some other versions supply these words to make explicit that this statement is part of the command “love” in 3:1a. You may want to do the same in your translation.

the Israelites: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the Israelites is literally “sons of Israel.” It refers here to the entire nation.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Israel (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
the people of Israel (Good News Translation)

3:1d

though they turn to other gods and offer raisin cakes to idols: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as offer is literally “love.” This verse part indicates that loving raisin cakes is in some way connected to the worship of other gods. Worshipers may have eaten the cakes as a part of their worship of these false gods, or they may have given the cakes as offerings as the Berean Standard Bible indicates.

The repetition of the word love (in Hebrew) in this verse effectively contrasts the selfless love the LORD has toward the people of Israel and the self-centered, idolatrous love of the people.

In Hebrew and also in many English versions, a single word for “love” is used in four places in this verse: “show love to your wife,” “loved by another,” “as the LORD loves the Israelites,” and (New International Version🙂 “love the sacred raisin cakes.” In some languages, a single word can be used in all these contexts. If that is true in your language, consider using it in all four places to show the contrasts. Otherwise, you may need to use more than one word.

offer…to idols: In Hebrew, the words offer…to idols do not occur here. The Berean Standard Bible supplies them to make explicit that these raisin cakes were used in idol worship. Some versions also make explicit how the cakes were used. For example:

take offerings of raisins to idols (Good News Translation)
-or-
enjoy the offering cakes made with fruit (Contemporary English Version)

raisin cakes: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “cakes of grapes.” Raisin cakes were made of dried grapes pressed into a solid mass.

If you have no expression for raisin cakes in your language, here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

• Use a more general term. For example:

dried grapes
-or-
cakes made with fruit (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
choice gifts (New Living Translation (1996))

• Omit the reference to a fruit or a gift and use an expression that refers more generally to worshiping other gods. For example:

love to worship them (New Living Translation (2004))

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