This verse refers to three successive events that show some degree of decline (they were filled, their heart was lifted up, they forgot me). The Israelites progressively moved away from God. Similar patterns also occur in Deut 8.12-14 and 31.20.

In this verse Revised Standard Version follows the Hebrew closely by speaking of the Israelites in the third person (they, their). Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation, and other meaning-based translations use second person references for them, here and in the following verses, since they are referred to in the second person in verses 4-5. Normally translators follow the form of the Hebrew unless there is a good reason for this kind of adjustment. In this case, if in the receptor language a pronominal switch would suggest that other people are in focus, it is recommended to follow the meaning-based models.

But when they had fed to the full: As the Revised Standard Version footnote indicates, but when they had fed is a conjecture. Following the Hebrew text with a {B} decision, Hebrew Old Testament Text Project prefers “as they were pastured” or “as I pastured them.” A possible model for this whole line that follows the Hebrew is “When I pastured you, you were full.” However, the meaning of the Hebrew text and the Revised Standard Version reading is the same. Good News Translation says “But when you entered the good land, you became full,” which assumes the Israelites were well fed after they entered the land of Canaan. This is not impossible, since Canaan is elsewhere called “a land flowing with milk and honey” (see, for example, Exo 3.8), which means it produced abundant crops. However, there were times when many of the Israelites were unfaithful already in the desert, as when they worshiped the golden calf. So it seems safer to leave it unspecified when they were well fed by God.

To the full, they were filled is literally “they were satisfied they were satisfied,” which uses the same Hebrew verb in two different forms to express emphasis. Good News Translation says “you became full and satisfied,” using two different expressions. Translators may follow either example according to what is best in their language.

And their heart was lifted up is a literal translation of a Hebrew idiom for becoming proud. Good News Translation uses the nonfigurative expression “and then you grew proud.” The receptor language may have a different idiom that expresses the idea of becoming proud.

Therefore they forgot me may be rendered “as a result [or, thus], you forgot me.” Compare 2.13.

A translation model for this verse is:

• When I pastured you, you were satisfied,
when you were satisfied, you became proud.
Therefore you forgot me.

Quoted with permission from Dorn, Louis & van Steenbergen, Gerrit. A Handbook on Hosea. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2020. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .