Hosea 3

Another Symbolic Marriage

1 And Yahweh said to me again,

"Go, love a woman

who has a lover*Literally "who is beloved of a friend" and is committing adultery,

just like the love of Yahweh for the children of Israel,

but they are turning to other gods

and love raisin cakes."

2 So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver

and a homer of barely and a measure of wine.*Hebrew "a measure of barley"; the LXX has "a nebel of wine," although some modern translations, e.g. NASB, have "a homer and a half of barley"

3 And I said to her,

"You must remain as mine*Literally "You must sit at home for me" for many days,

and you will not play the whore;

you will not belong*Literally "you will not be" to a man,

and I will belong to you."

4 The children of Israel will remain for many days

without a king and prince,

without sacrifice and stone pillar, ephod and teraphim.

5 Afterward the children of Israel will return

and seek Yahweh their God and David their king.

They will come in fear to Yahweh

and to his goodness at the end of days.