The conjunction Therefore again marks a major change in perspective. It introduces a judgmental decision by Yahweh, as in 2.6 and 2.9, but this time the judgment is a positive one, a turning point: salvation instead of condemnation.

Behold, I will allure her: The word behold calls attention to what Yahweh is about to announce, as in 2.6. Good News Translation expresses it somewhat by beginning this clause with “I am going to…,” and so does New Revised Standard Version with “I will now….” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh expresses it more strongly with the word “Assuredly,” which is slightly archaic in English. “Certainly” sounds more common. The pronoun I refers to Yahweh. If a section heading is inserted before this verse, it may be helpful to the reader to make this explicit by saying “I, Yahweh.”

The Hebrew word for allure can mean “entice,” “seduce,” or “persuade.” Although the term can refer to logical persuasion, it commonly means attracting someone sexually. It is highly unusual for a prophet to apply such a sexual figure to something that Yahweh does, but this seems to be the prophet’s intent in this case. After all, this book is about a marriage. Each translator will want to use a term that is most fitting for this context.

And bring her into the wilderness reminds the hearers of the wilderness in which Israel once wandered on the way from Egypt to Canaan. 2.15 shows clearly that Yahweh has that event in mind: “when she came out of the land of Egypt.” Good News Translation adds the word “again” to reflect this idea of a return to the wilderness. The verb bring is better translated “lead” ( NET Bible). The verb “lead” combines well with allure in the preceding clause. Good News Translation combines both clauses, saying simply “I am going to take her into the desert again.” This model is not recommended, since it does not give expression to the intended romantic connotations of the context. Moreover, there is a significant difference between “taking someone” and “leading someone” into the desert. A term for wilderness should be used that will cause today’s reader to think of the Exodus wanderings (see comments on 2.3). But from the context it seems that God is not thinking of the geographical place as much as he is thinking of the religious experiences that took place in the wilderness, especially the establishing of a covenant between his people and him.

And speak tenderly to her is literally “and I will speak to her heart.” The Hebrew expression here is used of a man speaking to a woman when he wants to win her love (Gen 34.3; Jdg 19.3; Ruth 2.13; compare Isa 40.2). Good News Translation has “there I will win her back with words of love.” The receptor language may offer idioms or figures of speech to express this clause properly.

A translation model for this verse is:

• Now, for that reason I, the LORD, will seduce her.
I will lead her into the wilderness
and speak to her heart.

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 .