And the people of Judah and the people of Israel shall be gathered together: The people of Judah and the people of Israel refers to the people of the southern and northern kingdoms. Both times people is literally “sons [or, children]” as in 1.10 (see comments there). Since they will choose a common leader, be gathered together means being politically united as a single nation. Good News Translation says “be reunited,” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “come together from out of the whole land,” and Bible en français courant translates “find their unity again.”

And they shall appoint for themselves one head: This clause reflects the manner in which the tribes formerly selected a leader (compare Jdg 11.8). Hosea seems to be avoiding the term “king” here, perhaps because he normally condemns kings (see 1.4-5). Therefore translators should avoid the word “king” also. A more generic term such as “leader” (New International Version, NET Bible, Revised English Bible [Revised English Bible]) is a good rendering for head. A local term that designates a generic type of leadership is also acceptable. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch renders this clause as “and select for themselves a common chief.”

And they shall go up from the land is a clause that is difficult to explain. Some translations interpret it as a promise of return from exile (so New American Bible, Segond). This is unlikely, since no exile has been mentioned. This clause most likely views God’s people to be like seeds and plants that go up from the earth, so Good News Translation understands it to refer to Israel inhabiting and filling the land that the Assyrians had taken: “and once again they will grow and prosper in their land.” This interpretation fits the meaning of Jezreel, which is “God sows [seed]” (see the GNT footnote). Wolff suggests “and take possession of the land.” New Revised Standard Version is similar with “and they shall take possession of the land,” and so is New English Bible with “and they shall become masters of the earth” (similarly Einheitsübersetzung, NJPSV footnote). Such translations move away from the basic meaning of the Hebrew words here (see the following comments on the day of Jezreel). Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch successfully combines both the figure here and its meaning: “They will cover the land like grass that sprouts out of the ground.”

For great shall be the day of Jezreel: Important things are going to happen some day (or, time) in Jezreel (see 1.4). In this verse and the next one, all three names of Hosea’s children are referred to symbolically. It is not his son Jezreel who will have a great day, but the place called Jezreel. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch provides the meaning of this name in the text: “That will be a great day, when what the name Jezreel means will happen: ‘God sows.’ ”

Some scholars relate the day of Jezreel to the similar phrase “the day of Midian” in Isa 9.4, which was a day of defeat for Midian in battle. On this basis they believe go up from the land refers to gaining control of the valley of Jezreel once more in the future. However, if 1.10-11 is seen as an address to the common people of Israel and Judah (see comments on previous verse), the day of Jezreel may well refer to the defeat of the kingship of Israel (1.4-5) in the past. The Hebrew Bible frequently talks about “the day of…” to refer to a military defeat, as in “the day of Midian” (Isa 9.3), “the day of Jerusalem” (Psa 137.7), and “the day of Egypt’s doom” (Ezek 30.9). So different interpretations are possible and acceptable here.

Translation models for this verse are:

• The children of Israel and the children of Judah will be united again. They will choose for themselves a chief, and they will shoot up everywhere in the land, for great was the day of the defeat at Jezreel.

• The people of Israel and the people of Judah will be reunited. They will appoint a leader and control the land. The day of Jezreel will be a great day.

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 .