Section 6:1–3

The people will urge one another to repent

In the last paragraph of chapter 5, the LORD warned the people of Israel and Judah that he would abandon them until they turned to him and earnestly desired to worship and serve him. Section 6:1–3 is closely connected to this paragraph. It contains the people’s response to the LORD’s warning.

Here are some other examples of section headings:

The people will respond to the LORD’s warning
-or-
An invitation to repent

Some versions indicate in their section headings that these words of repentance are insincere or temporary. However, the words themselves appear to exemplify the true repentance that the LORD described in 5:15c. It was prophesied that this repentance would take place in the “last days” (3:5). The last chapter (14:1–7) describes the blessings that will result from this repentance. So it is recommended that you not imply in a section heading that this call to repentance is insincere or superficial. You may also want to add a footnote that cross-references the other verses in Hosea that describe this kind of repentance.

Paragraph 6:1–3

This paragraph gives the words that the people will say to each other when they repent and seek the LORD.

6:1a

Come, let us return to the LORD: This verse part is a plea in which one or more of the people urge one another to turn away from evil. They must turn to the LORD to do what is right and good.

In many languages, it will be necessary to specify the speaker(s) of these words. For example:

The people say, “…
-or-
They will say, “…

Come: In this context, the word Come has more than one function:

(a) It is an exclamation that encourages people to listen.

(b) It strengthens the invitation “let us return to the LORD.”

It does not mean that the people are to move closer to the speaker.

If the word Come is not understood correctly in your language, here are some other ways to translate it:

• Leave it implied. For example:

Let’s return to the Lord. (Contemporary English Version)

• Substitute a different word that has the same function in your language. For example:

Listen!

let us return: In Hebrew, this phrase expresses a plea. This phrase does not mean “allow us to return.”

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

We(incl.) should return
-or-
It will be good if we(incl.) return

6:1b–c

The clauses in this verse contrast with the similar ones in 5:13. In that verse, the people turned to the king of Assyria to heal their wounds, but the king could not heal them. Here the people understand that no human king can heal them, only the LORD.

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

1b For He has torn us to pieces, but He will heal us;

1c
he has wounded us, but He will bind up our wounds.

In these lines, the people acknowledge that the LORD has punished them (underlined parts). At the same time, they express confidence that the LORD will show compassion and heal them (parts in bold print).

Verse 6:1b–c gives the reason for the plea in 6:1a. The reason that the people should return to the LORD is because he will heal them. The Berean Standard Bible follows the Hebrew in using a conjunction to indicate that 6:1b–c is the reason for the plea.

Some versions let the context imply the correct relationship. Use a natural way in your language to indicate that 6:1b–c is a reason for the plea in 6:1a.

He has torn us to pieces…He has wounded us: These parallel clauses refer back to 5:14, where the LORD compared himself to a lion. A lion tears apart his prey. Similarly, the LORD had caused them to suffer severe punishment for their sins.

In Hebrew, He (in 6:1b) is an emphatic pronoun. For example:

He himself has torn us to pieces, but he will heal us! (NET Bible)

Use a natural way in your language to indicate this emphasis on the LORD.

but He will heal us…but He will bind up our wounds: There are several ways to interpret the relationship between the underlined parallel parts (He has torn us to pieces…he has wounded us) and the parts in bold print (He will heal us…He will bind up our wounds). Most versions use the same relationship in both lines, so the examples will show only the first line (6:1b).

(1) The LORD will heal the people. This is a contrast with the hurt that the LORD caused them. For example:

He has hurt us but he will heal us (New Century Version)

(2) Although the LORD caused hurt, yet he will heal. Some versions use a conjunction to indicate that this is a concession. For example:

Even though he has torn us to pieces, he will heal us. (God’s Word)

(God’s Word)

(3) The LORD will heal the people. This is in addition to the hurt that the LORD caused them. For example:

He has rent us and he will heal us (New Jerusalem Bible)

(King James Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures, New Revised Standard Version)

(4) The LORD will heal the people. This is the purpose of the hurt the LORD caused them. Some versions use a conjunction to indicate that this is the purpose. For example:

for he has torn us, that he may heal us (English Standard Version)

(English Standard Version, Revised Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most versions. But interpretation (2) is also acceptable. Both interpretations clearly show the contrast between hurting and healing.

In some languages, it may be more natural to leave the relationship implied and not have an explicit conjunction here. For example:

He has torn us to pieces; now he will heal us. (New Living Translation (2004))

Use a natural way in your language to show the contrast between the LORD hurting the people and healing them.

heal us…bind up our wounds: These parallel phrases refer to healing a person who is sick or caring for a person who is injured. In this context, they indicate that the LORD will restore the people to good health.

Here are some other ways to translate these phrases:

heal us…bandage us (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
make us well and bandage our wounds (Contemporary English Version)

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