Hebrew Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Book of Hosea, Chapter 3הושע 3

Each verse opens with the running Hebrew, an English translation, and a discourse note (its connective, relation, and role in the argument). Below follows the word-by-word breakdown in six tiers: gloss, case/state or parsing, syntax, semantic force, and a lexical note.

Case Nominative Genitive Dative Accusative Vocative Verb (no case) Indeclinable

Discourse notes head each verse: relation · connective · clause-flow. Indentation marks prominence — flush-left = main line of argument; indented = supporting / subordinate material.

Theme

Hosea 3 (5 verses in the MT) opens: Then said YHWH to me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of YHWH toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine. The middle of the chapter continues: And I said to her, You shall abide for me many days; you shall not play the harlot, and you shall not be for man: so I also for you. It closes: Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek YHWH their God, and David their king; and shall fear YHWH and his goodness in the latter days.

Translation & textual notes

The Hebrew base text here follows the Masoretic Text in the Leningrad tradition as represented by the Westminster Leningrad Codex / MorphHB diplomatic stream imported from OSHB; distinctively copyrighted apparatus from BHS or BHQ is not reproduced. Hosea 3 comprises 5 verses in MT order. Movement I (vv. 1-4) — Then said YHWH to me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of friend, yet an adu. Then said YHWH to me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of YHWH toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine. So I bought her to me for fifteen of silver, and an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley: And I said to her, You shall abide for me many days; you shall not. Movement II (vv. 5) — Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek YHWH their God,. Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek YHWH their God, and David their king; and shall fear YHWH and his goodness in the latter days. Where English printed Bibles divide verses differently, this annotation follows MT versification throughout.

1

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה אֵלַ֗י ע֚וֹד לֵ֣ךְ אֱֽהַב אִשָּׁ֔ה אֲהֻ֥בַת רֵ֖עַ וּמְנָאָ֑פֶת כְּאַהֲבַ֤ת יְהוָה֙ אֶת בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְהֵ֗ם פֹּנִים֙ אֶל אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים וְאֹהֲבֵ֖י אֲשִׁישֵׁ֥י עֲנָבִֽים

Then said YHWH to me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of YHWH toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine.

Narrative wayyiqtol — foregrounded sequential actionwə
wə-chaining from the preceding clause. Narrative wayyiqtol — foregrounded sequential action. Lead predicate is 'and he said'. Opens the chapter. Speech formula or quoted address.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
וַיֹּ֨אמֶרand he saidconj וְ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · אָמַר (H559)Predicate verb (wayyiqtol of narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceאָמַר (H559) 'and he said'.
יְהוָ֜הYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
אֵלַ֗יto meprep + sfx 1cs · אֶל (H413)Particle or relational elementאֶל (H413) 'to me'.
ע֚וֹדagainart · עוֹד (H5750)Particle or relational elementעוֹד (H5750) 'again'.
לֵ֣ךְgoQal impv 2ms · הָלַךְ (H3212)Predicate verb (imperative)→ Volitional: imperativeהָלַךְ (H3212) 'go'.
אֱֽהַבlovedQal impv 2ms · אָהַב (H157)Predicate verb (imperative)→ Volitional: imperativeאָהַב (H157) 'loved'.
אִשָּׁ֔הa womanN c · אִשָּׁה (H802)Construct chain (genitival)אִשָּׁה (H802) 'a woman'.
אֲהֻ֥בַתyou loveQal ptc fs · אָהַב (H157)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorאָהַב (H157) 'you love'.
רֵ֖עַhis neighborN c · רֵעַ (H7453)Construct chain (genitival)רֵעַ (H7453) 'his neighbor'.
וּמְנָאָ֑פֶתyou shall commit adulteryconj וְ + Piel ptc fs · נָאַף (H5003)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorנָאַף (H5003) 'you shall commit adultery'.
כְּאַהֲבַ֤תout of the love ofprep + Qal inf constr · אַהֲבָה (H160)Infinitive construct→ Infinitive construct: purpose, result, or complementאַהֲבָה (H160) 'out of the love of'.
יְהוָה֙YHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
אֶת(obj)obj marker · אֵת (H853)Particle or relational elementאֵת (H853) '(obj)'.
בְּנֵ֣יthe sons ofN c · בֵּן (H1121)Construct chain (genitival)בֵּן (H1121) 'the sons of'.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לIsraelN · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478) 'Israel'.
וְהֵ֗םand theyconj וְ + pron 3mp · הֵמָּה (H1992)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)הֵמָּה (H1992) 'and they'.
פֹּנִים֙and they turnedQal ptc mp · פָּנָה (H6437)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorפָּנָה (H6437) 'and they turned'.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Particle or relational elementאֶל (H413) 'to'.
אֱלֹהִ֣יםGodN c · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Construct chain (genitival)אֱלֹהִים (H430) 'God'.
אֲחֵרִ֔יםotherAdj · אַחֵר (H312)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)אַחֵר (H312) 'other'.
וְאֹהֲבֵ֖יto loveconj וְ + Qal ptc mp · אָהַב (H157)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorאָהַב (H157) 'to love'.
אֲשִׁישֵׁ֥יandN c · אֲשִׁישָׁה (H809)Construct chain (genitival)אֲשִׁישָׁה (H809) 'and'.
עֲנָבִֽיםgrapesN c · עֵנָב (H6025)Construct chain (genitival)עֵנָב (H6025) 'grapes'.
2

וָאֶכְּרֶ֣הָ לִּ֔י בַּחֲמִשָּׁ֥ה עָשָׂ֖ר כָּ֑סֶף וְחֹ֥מֶר שְׂעֹרִ֖ים וְלֵ֥תֶךְ שְׂעֹרִֽים

So I bought her to me for fifteen of silver, and an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley:

Narrative wayyiqtol — foregrounded sequential actionwə
wə-chaining from the preceding clause. Narrative wayyiqtol — foregrounded sequential action. Lead predicate is 'you shall buy'.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
וָאֶכְּרֶ֣הָyou shall buyconj וְ + Qal wayyiqtol 1cs + sfx 3fs · כָּרָה (H3739)Predicate verb (wayyiqtol of narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceכָּרָה (H3739) 'you shall buy'.
לִּ֔יto meprep + sfx 1csParticle or relational elementFunction word: 'to me'.
בַּחֲמִשָּׁ֥הon the fifthprep + Adj c · חֲמִשָּׁה (H2568)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)חֲמִשָּׁה (H2568) 'on the fifth'.
עָשָׂ֖ר-teenAdj · עָשָׂר (H6240)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)עָשָׂר (H6240) '-teen'.
כָּ֑סֶףsilverN c · כֶּסֶף (H3701)Construct chain (genitival)כֶּסֶף (H3701) 'silver'.
וְחֹ֥מֶרwith mortarconj וְ + N com m sg constr · חֹמֶר (H2563)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)חֹמֶר (H2563) 'with mortar'.
שְׂעֹרִ֖יםbarleyN c · שְׂעֹרָה (H8184)Construct chain (genitival)שְׂעֹרָה (H8184) 'barley'.
וְלֵ֥תֶךְandconj וְ + N com m sg constr · לֶתֶךְ (H3963)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)לֶתֶךְ (H3963) 'and'.
שְׂעֹרִֽיםbarleyN c · שְׂעֹרָה (H8184)Construct chain (genitival)שְׂעֹרָה (H8184) 'barley'.
3

וָאֹמַ֣ר אֵלֶ֗יהָ יָמִ֤ים רַבִּים֙ תֵּ֣שְׁבִי לִ֔י לֹ֣א תִזְנִ֔י וְלֹ֥א תִֽהְיִ֖י לְאִ֑ישׁ וְגַם אֲנִ֖י אֵלָֽיִךְ

And I said to her, You shall abide for me many days; you shall not play the harlot, and you shall not be for man: so I also for you.

Narrative wayyiqtol — foregrounded sequential actionwə
wə-chaining from the preceding clause. Narrative wayyiqtol — foregrounded sequential action. Lead predicate is 'and I said'. Speech formula or quoted address.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
וָאֹמַ֣רand I saidconj וְ + Qal wayyiqtol 1cs · אָמַר (H559)Predicate verb (wayyiqtol of narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceאָמַר (H559) 'and I said'.
אֵלֶ֗יהָto herprep + sfx 3fs · אֶל (H413)Particle or relational elementאֶל (H413) 'to her'.
יָמִ֤יםdaysN c · יוֹם (H3117)Construct chain (genitival)יוֹם (H3117) 'days'.
רַבִּים֙manyAdj · רַב (H7227)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)רַב (H7227) 'many'.
תֵּ֣שְׁבִיthe inhabitants ofQal impf 2fs · יָשַׁב (H3427)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalיָשַׁב (H3427) 'the inhabitants of'.
לִ֔יto meprep + sfx 1csParticle or relational elementFunction word: 'to me'.
לֹ֣אnotneg. · לֹא (H3808)Particle or relational elementלֹא (H3808) 'not'.
תִזְנִ֔יa prostituteQal impf 2fs · זָנָה (H2181)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalזָנָה (H2181) 'a prostitute'.
וְלֹ֥אand notconj וְ + neg. · לֹא (H3808)Particle or relational elementלֹא (H3808) 'and not'.
תִֽהְיִ֖יand it happenedQal impf 2fs · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalהָיָה (H1961) 'and it happened'.
לְאִ֑ישׁto a manprep + N com m sg abs · אִישׁ (H376)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)אִישׁ (H376) 'to a man'.
וְגַםand alsoconj וְ + particle · גַּם (H1571)Particle or relational elementגַּם (H1571) 'and also'.
אֲנִ֖יIpron 1cs · אֲנִי (H589)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)אֲנִי (H589) 'I'.
אֵלָֽיִךְto youprep + sfx 2fs · אֶל (H413)Particle or relational elementאֶל (H413) 'to you'.
4

כִּ֣י יָמִ֣ים רַבִּ֗ים יֵֽשְׁבוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֵ֥ין מֶ֨לֶךְ֙ וְאֵ֣ין שָׂ֔ר וְאֵ֥ין זֶ֖בַח וְאֵ֣ין מַצֵּבָ֑ה וְאֵ֥ין אֵפ֖וֹד וּתְרָפִֽים

For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and teraphim:

Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-orientedwə
kî-clause (causal, recitative, or evidential). Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-oriented. Lead predicate is 'lived'.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
כִּ֣יforconj וְ · כִּי (H3588)Particle or relational elementכִּי (H3588) 'for'.
יָמִ֣יםdaysN c · יוֹם (H3117)Construct chain (genitival)יוֹם (H3117) 'days'.
רַבִּ֗יםmanyAdj · רַב (H7227)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)רַב (H7227) 'many'.
יֵֽשְׁבוּ֙livedQal impf 3mp · יָשַׁב (H3427)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalיָשַׁב (H3427) 'lived'.
בְּנֵ֣יthe sons ofN c · בֵּן (H1121)Construct chain (genitival)בֵּן (H1121) 'the sons of'.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לIsraelN · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478) 'Israel'.
אֵ֥יןthere is notneg. · אַיִן (H369)Particle or relational elementאַיִן (H369) 'there is not'.
מֶ֨לֶךְ֙king ofN c · מֶלֶךְ (H4428)Construct chain (genitival)מֶלֶךְ (H4428) 'king of'.
וְאֵ֣יןand there is noconj וְ + neg. · אַיִן (H369)Particle or relational elementאַיִן (H369) 'and there is no'.
שָׂ֔רchief ofN c · שַׂר (H8269)Construct chain (genitival)שַׂר (H8269) 'chief of'.
וְאֵ֥יןand there is noconj וְ + neg. · אַיִן (H369)Particle or relational elementאַיִן (H369) 'and there is no'.
זֶ֖בַחthe sacrifice ofN c · זֶבַח (H2077)Construct chain (genitival)זֶבַח (H2077) 'the sacrifice of'.
וְאֵ֣יןand there is noconj וְ + neg. · אַיִן (H369)Particle or relational elementאַיִן (H369) 'and there is no'.
מַצֵּבָ֑הa pillarN c · מַצֵּבָה (H4676)Construct chain (genitival)מַצֵּבָה (H4676) 'a pillar'.
וְאֵ֥יןand there is noconj וְ + neg. · אַיִן (H369)Particle or relational elementאַיִן (H369) 'and there is no'.
אֵפ֖וֹדthe ephodN c · אֵפוֹד (H646)Construct chain (genitival)אֵפוֹד (H646) 'the ephod'.
וּתְרָפִֽיםthe teraphimconj וְ + N com m pl abs · תְּרָפִים (H8655)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)תְּרָפִים (H8655) 'the teraphim'.
5

אַחַ֗ר יָשֻׁ֨בוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וּבִקְשׁוּ֙ אֶת יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֔ם וְאֵ֖ת דָּוִ֣ד מַלְכָּ֑ם וּפָחֲד֧וּ אֶל יְהוָ֛ה וְאֶל טוּב֖וֹ בְּאַחֲרִ֥ית הַיָּמִֽים

Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek YHWH their God, and David their king; and shall fear YHWH and his goodness in the latter days.

Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-orientedasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-oriented. Lead predicate is 'they would turn back'. Closes the chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
אַחַ֗רafterprep · אַחַר (H310)Particle or relational elementאַחַר (H310) 'after'.
יָשֻׁ֨בוּ֙they would turn backQal impf 3mp · שׁוּב (H7725)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalשׁוּב (H7725) 'they would turn back'.
בְּנֵ֣יthe sons ofN c · בֵּן (H1121)Construct chain (genitival)בֵּן (H1121) 'the sons of'.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לIsraelN · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478) 'Israel'.
וּבִקְשׁוּ֙seekingconj וְ + Piel q 3cp · בִּקֵּשׁ (H1245)Particle or relational elementבִּקֵּשׁ (H1245) 'seeking'.
אֶת(obj)obj marker · אֵת (H853)Particle or relational elementאֵת (H853) '(obj)'.
יְהוָ֣הYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֔םtheir godsN c · אֱלֹהִים (H430)Construct chain (genitival)אֱלֹהִים (H430) 'their gods'.
וְאֵ֖תand [obj]conj וְ + obj marker · אֵת (H853)Particle or relational elementאֵת (H853) 'and [obj]'.
דָּוִ֣דDavidN · דָּוִד (H1732)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)דָּוִד (H1732) 'David'.
מַלְכָּ֑םking ofN c · מֶלֶךְ (H4428)Construct chain (genitival)מֶלֶךְ (H4428) 'king of'.
וּפָחֲד֧וּand you will dreadconj וְ + Qal q 3cp · פָּחַד (H6342)Particle or relational elementפָּחַד (H6342) 'and you will dread'.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Particle or relational elementאֶל (H413) 'to'.
יְהוָ֛הYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
וְאֶלand toconj וְ + prep · אֶל (H413)Particle or relational elementאֶל (H413) 'and to'.
טוּב֖וֹthe good ofN c · טוּב (H2898)Construct chain (genitival)טוּב (H2898) 'the good of'.
בְּאַחֲרִ֥יתin the latterprep + N com f sg constr · אַחֲרִית (H319)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)אַחֲרִית (H319) 'in the latter'.
הַיָּמִֽיםthe daysart + N com m pl abs · יוֹם (H3117)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יוֹם (H3117) 'the days'.