וְרִדְּפָ֤ה אֶת־מְאַהֲבֶ֨יהָ֙ וְלֹֽא־תַשִּׂ֣יג אֹתָ֔ם וּבִקְשָׁ֖תַם וְלֹ֣א תִמְצָ֑א וְאָמְרָ֗ה אֵלְכָ֤ה וְאָשׁ֨וּבָה֙ אֶל־אִישִׁ֣י הָֽרִאשֹׁ֔ון כִּ֣י טֹ֥וב לִ֛י אָ֖ז מֵעָֽתָּה׃
And she will pursue her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; she will seek them, but she shall not find them. Then she will say, ‘I will go and return to my first husband, for it was better for me then than now.’
Morphology
- וְרִדְּפָה (veriddefah) – Root: רדף (r-d-p); Form: Qal perfect 3fs with conjunctive וְ; Translation: “and she will pursue”; Notes: Describes Israel’s futile chase after false gods or foreign benefactors. The feminine subject personifies the nation.
- אֶת־מְאַהֲבֶיהָ (et-meʾahaveha) – Root: אהב (ʾ-h-v); Form: Direct object marker + participle masculine plural + 3fs suffix; Translation: “her lovers”; Notes: Represents idols or foreign alliances Israel trusted for prosperity.
- וְלֹא־תַשִּׂיג (velo-tassig) – Root: נשׂג (n-ś-g); Form: Hifil imperfect 3fs with conjunctive וְ; Translation: “but she shall not overtake”; Notes: Conveys inability—divine intervention frustrates her pursuit.
- אֹתָם (otam) – Root: —; Form: Direct object marker + 3mp suffix; Translation: “them”; Notes: Refers to the same “lovers” (idols or nations) as direct objects of her vain chase.
- וּבִקְשָׁתַם (uvikeshatam) – Root: בקשׁ (b-q-š); Form: Conjunction וְ + Qal perfect 3fs + 3mp suffix; Translation: “and she will seek them”; Notes: Denotes persistent searching motivated by desperation for lost favor.
- וְלֹא תִמְצָא (velo-timtza) – Root: מצא (m-ts-ʾ); Form: Qal imperfect 3fs; Translation: “but she shall not find”; Notes: Emphasizes complete failure—YHWH ensures her idolatrous pursuits yield no result.
- וְאָמְרָה (veʾamrah) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Form: Qal perfect 3fs with conjunctive וְ; Translation: “then she will say”; Notes: Marks a turning point—realization and reflection after futility.
- אֵלְכָה (ʾelkhah) – Root: הלך (h-l-k); Form: Qal cohortative 1cs; Translation: “I will go”; Notes: Expresses resolution or renewed direction—movement toward repentance.
- וְאָשׁוּבָה (veʾashuvah) – Root: שׁוב (š-w-b); Form: Qal cohortative 1cs with conjunctive וְ; Translation: “and I will return”; Notes: The pivotal verb in Hosea’s theology—symbol of repentance and restoration to YHWH.
- אֶל־אִישִׁי (el-ishi) – Root: אישׁ (ʾ-y-š); Form: Preposition אֶל + noun masculine singular + 1cs suffix; Translation: “to my husband”; Notes: Refers metaphorically to YHWH, Israel’s covenantal spouse.
- הָרִאשֹׁון (harishon) – Root: ראשׁ (r-ʾ-š); Form: Adjective masculine singular definite; Translation: “the first”; Notes: Points to the original, rightful relationship with YHWH before apostasy.
- כִּי (ki) – Root: —; Form: Conjunction; Translation: “for” or “because”; Notes: Introduces the rationale for repentance—recognition of past blessing under YHWH.
- טֹוב (tov) – Root: טוב (ṭ-w-v); Form: Adjective masculine singular; Translation: “good” or “better”; Notes: Evaluative—acknowledges the superiority of life under divine covenant.
- לִי (li) – Root: —; Form: Preposition לְ + first cs suffix; Translation: “for me”; Notes: Personal acknowledgment of blessing or benefit.
- אָז (ʾaz) – Root: —; Form: Adverb; Translation: “then”; Notes: Temporal contrast between past blessing and present misery.
- מֵעָתָּה (meʿattah) – Root: עת (ʿ-t); Form: Preposition מִן + noun feminine singular “now”; Translation: “than now”; Notes: Comparative phrase—underscores how prosperity has turned into deprivation since turning from YHWH.