Hosea 2:19

2:19 I will commit myself to you ¹  forever;

I will commit myself to you in ²  righteousness and justice,

in steadfast love and tender compassion.

Hosea 4:3

4:3 Therefore the land will mourn,

and all its inhabitants will perish. ³ 

The wild animals, ⁴  the birds of the sky,

and even the fish in the sea will perish.

[2:19]  ¹ tn Heb “I will betroth you to me” (so NIV) here and in the following lines. Cf. NRSV “I will take you for my wife forever.”

[2:19]  ² tn The preposition בְּ (bet), which is repeated throughout 2:19-20 [21-22], denotes price paid (BDB 90 s.v. בְּ III.3; e.g., Ezek 3:14). The text contains an allusion to the payment of bridal gifts. The Lord will impute the moral character to Israel that will be necessary for a successful covenant relationship (contra 4:1).

[4:3]  ³ tn Or “languish” (so KJV, NRSV); NIV “waste away.”

[4:3]  ⁴ tn Heb “the beasts of the field” (so NAB, NIV).