And in that day is literally “And it will be on that day.” The Hebrew phrase for in that day also occurs in 2.18 and 2.21. In all three cases it occurs in speech of Yahweh, two of which appear in combination with the formula says the LORD (also in 2.21). It marks the beginning of the three important promises that reverse the three punishments pronounced earlier. The first is that he will remove Baal from Israel. New Revised Standard Version renders this phrase as “On that day,” but the word for day does not refer to a specific date on the calendar but to an event that will happen at a future time. In Hebrew this phrase marks the beginning of a new era: the time of salvation. Such an event could take several days or only several hours. It is not specifically determined by time. Good News Translation renders this expression simply as “Then,” which may not sufficiently articulate the marking of a new era. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch is better with “When that happens.” Another possible model is “When that time comes” (similarly New Living Translation).

Says the LORD (literally “utterance of Yahweh”) is the expression prophets used to show that a message came from Yahweh (see comments on 2.13). Here it introduces his message. Good News Translation omits this expression because the context clearly shows that Yahweh is speaking. However, the significance of this formula is not so much to identify the speaker, but to add divine authority.

You will call me, ‘My husband,’ and no longer will you call me, ‘My Baal’: In the Hebrew text you will call me, ‘My husband’ is literally “you will call my husband,” even though the latter part says “no longer will you call me my Baal.” Some scholars believe the first part of the original text had “you will call me my husband,” even though there is no evidence of such a text. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project accepts the Hebrew text as it stands (a {B} decision), but it understands that the verb for call can mean either to address someone by name or to call out someone’s name, as when calling for help. If translators prefer to follow the Hebrew text here, they may use “you will call out, ‘My husband!’ ” for the first part, but “you will call me ‘My Baal’ ” for the second part. If this is too difficult, the emended reading in Revised Standard Version is acceptable as an alternative, since the basic intended information remains clearly in place.

Good News Translation changes the second person references (you) to Israel to third person (“she”) for continuity with the previous verses. In this way Good News Translation recognizes that the topic of marital relations continues throughout 2.14-17, and considers this as more important than the Hebrew structuring. A switch in person, as in Hebrew, does not necessarily change that topic. It does make the impact of the words more dramatic. Translators will have to determine for their own languages how to choose between respecting Hebrew structure and respecting topical arrangement when there is a difference.

The GNT footnote on this verse explains that the name for the Canaanite god Baal can mean both “Lord” and “husband.” The term basically means “master” or “lord” and had become a term both for the head of the family and for the deity. Some people apparently used this term for “lord” when worshiping Israel’s God. No longer is this to happen. Instead, they are to address him as husband since they are his “bride.” The Hebrew term for husband reflects more the idea of man and wife as counterparts of each other rather than the idea of the man as master.

A translation model for this verse is:

• When that happens
-The LORD speaks-
you will say, “You are my husband.”
You will not call me, “My master.”

Quoted with permission from Dorn, Louis & van Steenbergen, Gerrit. A Handbook on Hosea. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2020. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .