OET interlinear HOS 2:7

2:7a–b

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^7a She will pursue her lovers but not catch them;

^7b she will seek them but not find them.

The underlined parts indicate the woman’s persistence in trying to have sex with her lovers. The parts in italics indicate the failure of her efforts.

2:7a

She will pursue her lovers but not catch them: This verse describes what the woman will do after her husband has figuratively enclosed her with a wall of thornbushes. In Hebrew, a conjunction is used at the start of this verse to introduce the woman’s action. Some versions, such as the BSB, do not translate this conjunction explicitly. Other versions use an explicit conjunction. For example:

then if she chases her lovers she will not catch them (NJB)

Use a natural word or phrase in your language to introduce the next thing that will happen.

but not catch them: This phrase describes an intended result that will not happen. The woman will try to catch her lovers, but she will not succeed.

Here is another way to express this relationship:

Though she pursues her lovers, she will not overtake them (REB)

This line has a similar meaning to 2:5c. It refers to the woman’s persistent efforts to go and have sex with other men. In some languages, a literal translation may wrongly imply that the lovers are trying to run away or that the woman cannot run fast enough to catch them. Use an expression in your language that gives the right meaning. For example:

Then, although she keeps trying to go and have sex with other men, she will not succeed.

If it is inappropriate to refer directly to having sex, use an acceptable euphemism in your language. For example:

sleep with other men

2:7b

she will seek them but not find them: This line is very similar in meaning to 2:7a. It describes the woman’s persistent searching for her lovers. In some languages, a literal translation may wrongly imply that the lovers are lost and that the woman is trying to find them. The correct meaning is that she tries hard to find opportunities to have sex with them. For example:

she will look carefully/diligently for opportunities to go and meet with her lovers.

2:7c

Then she will say, ‘I will return: See the note on the direct quote in 2:5c. In some languages, it may be more natural to use indirect speech. For example:

Then she will say to herself that she will return to her first husband…

Then she will decide to go back to her first husband…

Then: The Hebrew word that the BSB and some other versions translate as Then introduces the woman’s next action or decision. Here is another way to translate this:

At last (REB)

I will return: This phrase emphasizes her deliberate, willful intention to return. It contrasts with her willful intention to be unfaithful in 2:5c.

to my first husband: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “to my man/husband the original/former.” It refers to the woman’s true, original husband in contrast to the many men she had slept with since she first got married.McComiskey (page 36), Stuart (page 49), and Macintosh (pages 52–53).

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

to my husband as at first (NIV)

The word first does not imply that she had actually married other men. Some versions leave first implied to avoid implying this wrong meaning. For example:

my husband (NET)

Translate this verse part in a way that clearly refers to Gomer’s/Israel’s intention to return to Hosea/the LORD.

2:7d

for: This word introduces the reason that she will decide to return to her husband. Some versions leave it implied. Use a natural way in your language to introduce a reason. See the note on 2:4b.

then I was better off than now: The word then indicates the time in her past when she lived with her husband. Her memory of that better time was the reason she decided to return to her husband.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

it was better for me then than now (ESV)

my life with him was better than my life now