Hosea 3:1

Then the LORD said to me, “Go show love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and offer raisin cakes to idols.”

2 So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethech of barley.

3 Then I said to her, “You must live with me for many days; you must not be promiscuous or belong to another, and I will do the same for you.”

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Then the LORD said to me, “Go show love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and offer raisin cakes to idols.”
KJV
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.
WEB
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.”
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.
DARBY
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 gods, and love raisin-cakes.
BLB
And YHWH said to me: “Again go, love a woman loved by by another and is committing adultery, according to the love of YHWH [for] the sons of Israel, and they are turning to other gods and are loving the cakes of raisins!”
ÅB
Og Herren sa til meg: Gå igjen bort og elsk en kvinne som er elsket av sin venn og allikevel driver hor, slik som Herren elsker Israels barn, men de vender seg til andre guder og elsker rosinkaker[^1]!
OTB
Herren talte til meg: “Gå enda en gang og vis kjærlighet til en kvinne som er elsket av en annen og er utro, slik som Herren elsker Israels folk, selv om de vender seg til andre guder og gleder seg over rosinkaker.”
B1930
Og Herren sa til mig: Gå atter bort og elsk en kvinne som er elsket av sin venn og allikevel driver hor, likesom Herren elsker Israels barn, men de vender sig til andre guder og elsker rosinkaker!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Jeremiah 3:12–14

    Go, proclaim this message toward the north: ‘Return, O faithless Israel,’ declares the LORD. ‘I will no longer look on you with anger, for I am merciful,’ declares the LORD. ‘I will not be angry forever.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 45:22

    Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.

    Read in context
  • Hosea 1:2–3

    When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, He told him, “Go, take a prostitute as your wife and have children of adultery, because this land is flagrantly prostituting itself by departing from the LORD.”

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 31:20

    Is not Ephraim a precious son to Me, a delightful child? Though I often speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore My heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him,” declares the LORD.

    Read in context
  • Micah 7:18–20

    Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance— who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion?

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 7:6–7

    For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His prized possession out of all peoples on the face of the earth.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 106:43–46

    Many times He rescued them, but they were bent on rebellion and sank down in their iniquity.

    Read in context
  • Micah 7:7

    But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.

    Read in context