Paragraph 1:3

1:3a

So: Verses 1:2 and 1:3 are connected by a Hebrew word that English versions translate as So. In this context, this word expresses result. Hosea married Gomer as a result of the LORD’s command to him in 1:2b. Use a natural way in your language to introduce a result.

Hosea went and married: The Hebrew verbs that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Hosea went and married are literally “he went and he took.” These repeat the verbs of the LORD’s command to Hosea in 1:2b, “Go, take.” Many English versions follow the Hebrew pattern of repeating the same verbs in both places. For example, the Revised Standard Version has “Go and take” for the command in 1:2b and “he went and took” in 1:3. Other versions have “marry” in both places. You may wish to repeat the same verbs here that you used in 1:2b in order to highlight Hosea’s complete obedience to the LORD’s command.

Gomer daughter of Diblaim: This is the first time that Gomer is mentioned in this book. In some languages, it may be more natural to introduce her in a slightly different way. For example:

a woman named Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim (Good News Translation)

Use a natural way in your language to introduce a new participant in the story.

1:3b

and she conceived and bore him a son: This clause implies that Hosea was the child’s father. There are different ways to make this clear and at the same time to express the idea of conceiving a child. For example:

she became pregnant and gave birth to Hosea’s son (New Century Version)
-or-
After the birth of their first child, a son (Good News Translation)

In languages that do not use a gender-specific word such as son, you may need to use a phrase such as “male child.”

If you referred to Hosea in 1:1–2 with “I” or “me,” you may be able to translate this verse as the Contemporary English Version has done:

So I married Gomer the daughter of Diblaim, and we had a son. (Contemporary English Version)

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