This verse is a smooth transition from 5.14 to 6.1, but it stands apart from both the preceding verse and the following one. Therefore it seems proper to make it a separate paragraph (so Good News Translation). The departure of the lion becomes Yahweh’s own departure from his people as he waits for them to repent and then seek him. The hope for their repentance, in turn, leads into the statement of repentance in 6.1. The metaphor of the lion is gradually fading away and no longer should remain the central picture in this verse.

I will return again to my place: My place may at first seem to refer to the Temple in Jerusalem as Yahweh’s “place” (so Contemporary English Version). But according to some scholars, his heavenly dwelling is more likely the intended place (see 1 Kgs 8.30), where he can remain out of contact until they repent. Bible en français courant renders this line as “I will return to my home” (similarly Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). Good News Translation says “I will abandon my people,” which gives a result of the action but not the action itself. Wolff takes this line as the last part of the lion metaphor: the lion withdraws to his place of hiding. NET Bible follows this interpretation with “Then I will return again to my lair.”

Until they acknowledge their guilt is literally “until they become guilty.” One interpretation for this clause is that Yahweh waits for them to commit a sin so that they will want to bring him a sacrifice, and that will be the moment of reconciliation. But they are already guilty, so most commentators favor the meaning that they become burdened with their guilt. The Hebrew verb here occurs in 4.15 (see comments there).

And seek my face: See the comments on the similar expression “seek the LORD” in 3.5 and 5.6. Here it again means to worship Yahweh, including offering a sacrifice for guilt.

And in their distress they seek me: This line is parallel to the previous one. In their distress is another way of speaking about them feeling their guilt. Andersen and Freedman note that it is more logical for them to feel their distress before realizing they are guilty. Good News Translation includes something of this idea by saying “until they have suffered enough for their sins” and then repeating the idea with “Perhaps in their suffering.” The word “Perhaps” makes explicit the sense of hope that is included in the tense of the Hebrew verb here. They seek me is a parallel way of saying seek my face, but the Hebrew verb for seek in this line includes the idea of doing it early, at dawn, implying eagerness to find Yahweh. Some believe this involved a dawn liturgy. Most translators will be able to express only the central ideas of these terms, as in Good News Translation with “come looking for me” and “will try to find me.” It probably is more important to retain the thought of seeking a God who has departed than to include the idea of worship. The two Hebrew verbs for seek were terms used in two different parts of the country. The first was commonly used in Judah, while the second was commonly used in Israel. Used together they seem to emphasize God’s hope that all the people will eagerly and truly seek God in repentance.

Saying is not in the Hebrew text, but Revised Standard Version believes this verse introduces chapter 6, so saying is therefore implied. Translators may or may not include a similar expression, as they determine the best form for this transitional verse. See especially the comments on 6.1.

A translation model for this verse is:

• I will go back to my place
until they realize their guilt.
Then they will seek me.
When they are distressed,
they will search for 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 .