And there I will give her her vineyards: There is literally “From there” (New Revised Standard Version), but it is hard to interpret exactly the meaning of this expression. Yahweh will not give Israel the vineyards while she is in the wilderness, but he will lead her from the lovers’ place of meeting in the wilderness to the place where the vineyards will grow. “From there” may imply that they are already traveling together on their way to the promised vineyards away from the wilderness where Yahweh had led her.

The possessive pronoun her in the phrase her vineyards suggests that they already belonged to Israel (see 2.12). Commentators disagree about the significance of the vineyards. Do they represent arable land in general and therefore a new beginning (so Wolff), or a bridal gift (so Andersen and Freedman)? The last interpretation fits the wider context, but the first one can be supported on the basis of intertextual evidence. This discussion has little impact on the actual choice to be made in translation. The text itself is clear.

And make the Valley of Achor a door of hope: The location of the Valley of Achor cannot be identified with certainty in this context. Most scholars think it is close to Jericho. Every Israelite would have remembered this as the valley where Achan was stoned to death because he brought “trouble” on Israel, and that this event took place as they were entering the land under Joshua (see Josh 7.24-26). The Hebrew word for Valley refers to a rather broad, arable plain, bordered by hills or mountains. The name Achor means “trouble,” and some translators may wish to give its meaning, either in the text (so Good News Translation with “Trouble Valley”) or in a footnote (so New International Version). The decision also depends on the way it has been translated in Joshua.

Here we see how this section is truly a turning point in our outline and in the text, since Yahweh will turn that “Trouble Valley” into a door of hope through which the Israelites will pass on their way home. Originally this valley blocked the entrance of Israel into Canaan. Here it becomes a gateway to hope. NET Bible translates this phrase as “an ‘Opportunity for Hope,’ ” but this rendering does not convey the idea of passing through trouble and entering into a new land of renewed hope. New Living Translation communicates that idea better with “a gateway of hope.” In some languages it may be necessary to make the genitive construction more explicit by saying “a gateway leading to hope.”

And there she shall answer: The adverb for there refers again to the wilderness, but this time with a directional marker in the Hebrew, implying motion. In this context there has the sense “when she goes there” or “when she arrives there.” The Hebrew verb for answer would normally indicate a response to the tender words of verse 14, while Israel is in the wilderness. But in this context of the adverb of motion, it may be better rendered “be compliant” in the sense of following Yahweh through this figurative wilderness. Wolff therefore suggests “answers and follows after” or “willingly follows.” Another attested meaning of the form of the Hebrew verb here is “sing” (New International Version). In the given context this is also a viable translation option. It can be interpreted as a reminder of the singing of Miriam when Israel came out of Egypt (see Exo 15.20-21).

As in the days of her youth, as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt: When Israel left Egypt and was newly formed as a nation, she responded, for example, by saying “All the words which the LORD has spoken we will do” (Exo 24.3). It is this kind of compliance Israel showed “when she was young” (Good News Translation) and which Yahweh says she will repeat again.

A translation model for this verse is:

• From there I will give her vineyards to her,
and turn the Valley of Misery into a gateway to hope.
There she will sing [or, be compliant to me] as in her youth,
as in the days when she came out of Egypt.

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 .