HOS 3:1 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, blue:Elohim, green:YHWH.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

BrLXX Καὶ εἶπε, Κύριος πρὸς μὲ, ἔτι πορεύθητι, καὶ ἀγάπησον γυναῖκα ἀγαπῶσαν πονηρὰ, καὶ μοιχαλὶν, καθὼς ἀγαπᾷ ὁ Θεὸς τοὺς υἱοὺς Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐπιβλέπουσιν ἐπὶ θεοὺς αλλοτρίους, καὶ φιλοῦσι πέμματα μετὰ σταφίδος.
(Kai eipe, Kurios pros me, eti poreuthaʸti, kai agapaʸson gunaika agapōsan ponaʸra, kai moiⱪalin, kathōs agapa ho Theos tous huious Israaʸl, kai autoi epiblepousin epi theous allotrious, kai filousi pemmata meta stafidos. )

BrTr And the Lord said to me, Go yet, and love a woman that loves evil things, and an adulteress, even as the Lord loves the children of Israel, and they have respect to strange gods, and love cakes of dried grapes.

ULT Yahweh said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, even as Yahweh loves the sons of Israel, although they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes.”

UST Then Yahweh said to me, “Go and love a woman, even though she is loved by another man, and she is also unfaithful to her husband. You will be like me, because I love the people of Israel, even though they worship other gods and eat raisin cakes in their honor.”

3:1 Or Go show love to a woman who is loved by another

3:1 Literally and love raisin cakes

OEB Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go again, show love to this woman, who is loved by another, who commits adultery. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods, and love the raisin cakes offered to idols.

WEBBE The LORD said to me, “Go again, love a woman loved by another, and an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods, and love cakes of raisins.”

WMBB (Same as above)

NET The Lord said to me, “Go, show love to your wife again, even though she loves another man and continually commits adultery. Likewise, the Lord loves the Israelites although they turn to other gods and love to offer raisin cakes to idols.”

LSV And YHWH says to me: “Again, go, love a woman, loved of a friend, and an adulteress, like the loved of YHWH, the sons of Israel, and they are turning to other gods, and are lovers of grape-cakes.”

FBV The Lord told me, “Go again and love a woman[fn] who is loved by another and who is committing adultery, just as the Lord loves the children of Israel, even though they turn to other gods and love their sensual worship.”[fn]

3:1 “A woman”—understood to be Gomer from what follows. It may be that Gomer is not specifically identified since she cannot claim to be Hosea's wife because of her adultery.

3:1 Literally “raisin cakes”—part of the pagan worship rituals.

T4T Then Yahweh said to me, “Go and show to your wife that you still love her, even though she has been committing adultery with another man who loves her. That will show that I still love the people of Israel, even though they worship other gods/idols and eat raisin cakes in feasts that honor those gods.”

LEB No LEB HOS 3:1 verse available

BBE And the Lord said to me, Give your love again to a woman who has a lover and is false to her husband, even as the Lord has love for the children of Israel, though they are turned to other gods and are lovers of grape-cakes.

Moff The Eternal said to me, “Go again and love an adulterous woman, in love with a paramour, as the Eternal loves the Israelites, although they turn to other gods and love their idolatrous raisin-cakes.”

JPS And the LORD said unto me: 'Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend and an adulteress, even as the LORD loveth the children of Israel, though they turn unto other gods, and love cakes of raisins.

ASV And Jehovah said unto me, Go again, love a woman beloved of her friend, and an adulteress, even as Jehovah loveth the children of Israel, though they turn unto other gods, and love cakes of raisins.

DRA And the Lord said to me: Go yet again, and love a woman beloved of her friend, and an adulteress: as the Lord loveth the children of Israel, and they look to strange gods, and love the husks of the grapes.

YLT And Jehovah saith unto me: 'Again, go, love a woman, loved of a friend, and an adulteress, like the loved of Jehovah, the sons of Israel, and they are turning unto other gods, and are lovers of grape-cakes.'

Drby And Jehovah said unto me, Go again, love a woman beloved of a friend, and an adulteress, according to the love of Jehovah for the children of Israel, though they turn to other [fn]gods, and love raisin-cakes.

3.1 Elohim

RV And the LORD said unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend and an adulteress, even as the LORD loveth the children of Israel, though they turn unto other gods, and love cakes of raisins.
(And the LORD said unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend and an adulteress, even as the LORD loveth/loves the children of Israel, though they turn unto other gods, and love cakes of raisins. )

SLT And Jehovah will say to me, Yet go, love a woman loving evil and an adulteress, as Jehovah loves the sons of Israel, and they took to other gods and love raisin-cakes.

Wbstr Then said the LORD to me, Go yet, love a woman beloved by her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD towards the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine.

KJB-1769 Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine.[fn]

3.1 of wine: Heb. of grapes

KJB-1611 ¶ [fn]Then said the LORD vnto me, Goe yet, loue a woman (beloued of her friend, yet an adulteresse) according to the loue of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who looke to other gods, and loue flagons of wine.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation and footnotes)

3:1 Heb. of grapes.

Bshps Then sayd the Lorde to me: Go yet and loue a woman beloued of her husbande, and yet an adultresse, according to the loue of the Lorde towarde the chyldren of Israel: and yet they haue respect to straunge gods, and loue the wine pottes.
(Then said the Lord to me: Go yet and love a woman beloved of her husband, and yet an adulteress, according to the love of the Lord toward the children of Israel: and yet they have respect to strange gods, and love the wine pots.)

Gnva Then said the Lord to me, Goe yet, and loue a woman (beloued of her husband, and was an harlot) according to the loue of the Lord toward the children of Israel: yet they looked to other gods, and loued the wine bottels.
(Then said the Lord to me, Go yet, and love a woman (beloved of her husband, and was an harlot) according to the love of the Lord toward the children of Israel: yet they looked to other gods, and loved the wine bottles. )

Cvdl Then sayde ye LORDE to me: Go yet yi waye & wowe an aduouterous woma, who thy neghboure loueth, as ye LORDE doth the childre of Israel: how be it they haue respecte to straunge goddes, and loue the wyne kannes.
(Then said ye/you_all LORD to me: Go yet ye/you_all way and wow an adulterous woma, who thy/your neighbour loveth/loves, as ye/you_all LORD doth/does the children of Israel: how be it they have respect to strange gods, and love the wine kannes.)

Wycl And the Lord seide to me, Yit go thou, and loue a womman loued of a frend, and a womman auoutresse, as the Lord loueth the sones of Israel; and thei biholden to alien goddis, and louen the draffis of grapis.
(And the Lord said to me, Yet go thou/you, and love a woman loved of a friend, and a woman adulteress, as the Lord loveth/loves the sons of Israel; and they beholden to alien/foreign(er) gods, and love the drafts of grapes.)

Luth Und der HErr sprach zu mir: Gehe noch eins hin und buhle um das buhlerische und ehebrecherische Weib, wie denn der HErr um die Kinder Israel buhlet, und sie doch sich zu fremden Göttern kehren und buhlen um eine Kanne Weins.
(And the/of_the LORD spoke to/for to_me: Go still one there/therefore and buhle around/by/for the courteous and adulterous woman, as/like because/than the/of_the LORD around/by/for the children Israel buhlet, and they/she/them though/but itself/yourself/themselves to/for strangers gods sweep/bother and buhlen around/by/for a/one Kanne wine.)

ClVg Et dixit Dominus ad me: Adhuc vade, et dilige mulierem dilectam amico et adulteram, sicut diligit Dominus filios Israël, et ipsi respiciunt ad deos alienos, et diligunt vinacia uvarum.
(And he/she_said Master to me: Still go, and dilige woman beloved friend and adulteressm, like he_loves Master children Israel, and themselves respiciunt to the_gods strangers, and they_love vinacia graperum. )

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 3:1–5: Hosea redeemed Gomer as the LORD will redeem Israel

In this section, the LORD commanded Hosea to take Gomer back as his wife. This probably occurred later in their marriage after Gomer had left Hosea and became an adulteress.There are two main views about how the events of chapters 1 and 2 relate to those of chapter 3. One view is that the events described in chapter 3 follow those described in chapters 1 and 2. (This is the view taken by this Translators Notes publication.) Another view is that in chapter 3, Hosea is describing most of the same events but from a different perspective and for a different purpose. Once more Hosea communicated the LORD’s message by his action as well as his words. His action was an illustration of the LORD’s unfailing love for the nation of Israel. Israel had been unfaithful to the LORD and had been worshiping other gods. In the same way, Gomer had been unfaithful to Hosea and had left him for other lovers. And just as Hosea was commanded to take Gomer back as his wife, so the LORD planned to restore Israel to himself.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

An Illustration of God’s Love for Idolatrous Israel (NET)

Hosea Redeems His Wife (ESV)

Hosea’s Reconciliation With His Wife (NIV)

3:1a

Then the LORD said to me, “Go show love to your wife again,

¶ Then Yahweh said to me, “Go again and show/demonstrate your^(sing) love for your wife,
¶ Then Yahweh said to me, “Go and take back your wife. Show her that you love her,

Then the LORD said to me, “Go show love to your wife again: In this sentence, the Hebrew word order is “said the LORD to me again go show…” There are two ways to interpret the connection of the word again:

Go again. The word again modifies the verb Go or the phrase Go show…. For example:
The Lord said to me, “Go again and show your love…” (GNT) (BSB, ESV, GNT, GW, KJV, NET, NIV, NJB, NLT, RSV)
said again. The word again modifies the verb said. This interpretation may indicate that the LORD is continuing the series of speeches described in 1:2–9.Andersen and Freedman (page 294). For example:
The Lord said to me again, “Go, love… (NRSV) (CEV, NCV, NJPS, NRSV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with most English versions.Interpretation (1) is also supported by the LXX, Vulgate, and Peshitta. Commentaries that support this interpretation include Macintosh (page 93), Wood (page 181), and Keil (page 66). Interpretation (2) is supported by Stuart, Hubbard (page 90), and Andersen and Freedman (page 294). This command probably refers back to 1:2b, where the LORD told Hosea, “Go, take a prostitue as your wife…” Here the meaning is that Hosea should go and take back his wife so that he can once again show his love to her as her husband.

show love: The Hebrew word translated as love has a broad range of meaning. In this context, it probably means for Hosea to use words and acts of love to reaffirm his marriage. It probably does not mean to “court,” that is, to try to persuade the woman to respond, as in 2:16.Andersen and Freedman (page 295).

your wife: The Hebrew phrase that the BSB translates as your wife is literally “a woman.” For example:

Go again, love a woman (ESV)

Most scholars think that this phrase refers to Hosea’s wife, Gomer.Versions that specify “your wife” include the BSB, GW, NET, NIV, and NLT. Most versions translate this phrase literally. These versions include the CEV, ESV, GNT, NASB, NCV, NJB, NJPS, NRSV, REB, and RSV. Most of these versions are ambiguous, but the ESV, NASB, and NJB indicate by means of a heading or a footnote that they understand the word “woman” to refer to Hosea’s wife, Gomer. Of the commentaries, Stuart thinks this phrase probably refers to a different woman. McComiskey (page 50), Macintosh (page 97), Hubbard (page 54), Wood (page 181), Andersen and Freedman (page 295), Dorsey (page 265), and Bush (page 336) think that it refers to Gomer. This has not been discussed in the Notes as an interpretation issue, because no versions clearly specify that the word “woman” clearly refers to a different woman. The “woman” is further described as an adulteress. This accurately describes Gomer. It is unlikely that the LORD would command Hosea to commit adultery by marrying a different woman who was also an adulteress. A specific reference to Gomer also fits the symbolism of the LORD again showing his love to Israel, the nation that he first chose as his own.Some of the commentators that support the first view are McComiskey, Macintosh, Hubbard, and Bush.

In some languages, a literal translation of the Hebrew phrase may imply that God commanded Hosea to show his love to a different woman. You should translate this phrase so that it refers clearly to Hosea’s wife.

Here are some other ways to translate the whole clause:

Go and love your wife again (NLT)

Go and take back your wife so that you can show her again that you love her.

3:1b

though she is loved by another and is an adulteress.

although another man loves her and your^(sing) wife continues to commit adultery.
even though she is an adulteress and is even now having an affair.

though she is loved by another: There is a textual issue here:

The Masoretic Text uses a passive form. It has “woman who is loved by…” In other words, another person is the one who loves, and the woman receives the love. For example:
loved by someone else (NCV) (BSB, CEV, ESV, GNT, GW, KJV, NASB, NCV, NIV, NJPS, NRSV, REB)The CEV, NRSV, and GNT have, “woman who has (who is committing adultery with) a lover.” Even though they do not retain the Hebrew passive form, they do retain the same meaning. The word “lover” indicates a person who loves the woman.
The LXX uses an active form. It has “woman who loves…” In other words, the woman is the one who loves, and another person receives the love. For example:
loves another man (NJB) (NET, NJB)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) along with most versions.

If it is not natural to use a passive form in your language, here are two other ways to translate this clause:

Use an active form that has the same meaning. For example:
love your wife although another man loves her
Use a different expression that does not focus on who loves whom. For example:
love your wife even though she is having an affair

adulteress: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as adulteress is literally “[who] commits adultery.”BART interlinear. It is more specific than a general term such as “immoral.” It refers to a married person who is unfaithful to his or her spouse.

3:1c

Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites,

You^(sing) must love her just as I, Yahweh, love Israel.
Show her your love as I, Yahweh, show my love to the people of Israel.

Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites: In Hebrew, the words Love her are only implied. The BSB and some other versions supply these words to make explicit that this statement is part of the command “love” in 3:1a. You may want to do the same in your translation.

the Israelites: The Hebrew phrase that the BSB translates as the Israelites is literally “sons of Israel.” It refers here to the entire nation.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Israel (NLT)

the people of Israel (GNT)

3:1d

though they turn to other gods and offer raisin cakes to idols.”

I love them even though they turn away from me to worship other gods. Instead of loving me they love the cakes made of raisins that they use in their false worship.”
For I love them dearly even though they turn away from me. What do they love? They love to worship other gods!”

though they turn to other gods and offer raisin cakes to idols: The word that the BSB translates as offer is literally “love.” This verse part indicates that loving raisin cakes is in some way connected to the worship of other gods. Worshipers may have eaten the cakes as a part of their worship of these false gods, or they may have given the cakes as offerings as the BSB indicates.Macintosh (page 97) and Andersen and Freedman (page 298).

The repetition of the word love (in Hebrew) in this verse effectively contrasts the selfless love the LORD has toward the people of Israel and the self-centered, idolatrous love of the people.Hubbard (pages 91–92).

In Hebrew and also in many English versions, a single word for “love" is used in four places in this verse: “show love to your wife,” “loved by another,” “as the LORD loves the Israelites,” and (NIV:) “love the sacred raisin cakes.” In some languages, a single word can be used in all these contexts. If that is true in your language, consider using it in all four places to show the contrasts. Otherwise, you may need to use more than one word.

offer…to idols: In Hebrew, the words offer…to idols do not occur here. The BSB supplies them to make explicit that these raisin cakes were used in idol worship. Some versions also make explicit how the cakes were used. For example:

take offerings of raisins to idols (GNT)

enjoy the offering cakes made with fruit (CEV)

raisin cakes: In Hebrew, this phrase is literally “cakes of grapes.” Raisin cakes were made of dried grapes pressed into a solid mass.Andersen and Freedman (page 298).

If you have no expression for raisin cakes in your language, here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Use a more general term. For example:
dried grapes
cakes made with fruit (CEV)
choice gifts (NLT96)
Omit the reference to a fruit or a gift and use an expression that refers more generally to worshiping other gods. For example:
love to worship them (NLT)

Parallel HOS 3:1

Section 3:1–5: Hosea redeemed Gomer as the LORD will redeem Israel

3:1a

3:1b

3:1c

3:1d