The conjunction Therefore introduces a change of topic from the complaint to the action Yahweh will take as a result of the evil described in the preceding verses. It is not a judgment in the normal sense, but a punishment as a means of correcting the evil. This conjunction occurs also in 2.9 and 2.14, where it again introduces the announcement of what Yahweh will do in response to the sins just mentioned. Translators should use a proper particle or conjunction that clearly marks a change of topic in the receptor language.

I will hedge up her way with thorns is literally “behold I hedging up your way with thorns.” The Hebrew word for “behold” often introduces a punishment or promise that God will implement in the near future. In this context it highlights an impending punishment. It is still possible to avert it at the last minute. For this clause Good News Translation says simply “I am going to fence her in with thorn bushes.” Good News Translation misses the imminence of the action here. Better models are “I will soon fence her in with thorns” ( NET Bible) and “I am about to….” It should be clear in translation that the pronoun I refers to the LORD, not to Hosea. Bible en français courant makes this explicit by saying “I, the Lord, I will block her path with a hedge of thorns.”

The Hebrew verb for hedge can refer to making either a fence or a hedge that will block someone from going over it, forcing someone to stay on the road. However, it can also refer to a blockage of the road. In this case the hedge is made using thorns. The Hebrew word for thorns refers to bushes with sharp thorns that cause pain if someone rubs against them. Such bushes were planted in rows and grew about 1 meter (3 feet) in height. Farmers planted them on the edges of gardens and fields to prevent animals from entering and destroying crops. The path left between such rows was the way where one could safely walk. Good News Translation renders hedge up her way with thorns as “fence her in with thorn bushes,” which may imply the idea of keeping her penned in like an animal rather than forcing her to stay on a restricted path. However, in the Hebrew text it is not entirely clear which of the two interpretations (“keeping her on the way” or “blocking her way”) is correct here. In the only other Old Testament occurrence of the Hebrew verb for hedge (Job 1.10), the meaning is clearly “to be surrounded by thorn bushes,” thus blocking the way. In the present context blocking her from going out to chase her lovers makes sense. Some translations clearly opt for blocking the way; for example, Revised English Bible has “close her road with thorn bushes,” and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch says “block her way with thorn bushes.” In some cultures it is quite common to block paths with thorn bushes. If so, such a translation is recommended here (so Swahili Union Version, Chewa).

Instead of her way, the Hebrew text has “your way,” speaking directly to the woman. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project recommends the Hebrew reading with a {B} decision. This is an example of Hebrew style easily shifting from third person to second person direct address, and back to third person again. However, many languages cannot do this in normal style, so Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, and many other versions keep referring to the woman in the third person. One can, of course, understand that the speaker in the courtroom is addressing everyone, but for a moment turns to address the woman, and then turns again to address other people present. A precise and formal translation will prefer to reflect the Hebrew by saying “your way” (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible), while a more natural way of saying the same thing in the local language may be her way or something similar. In both cases a footnote to explain the issue may be helpful to the reader.

The Hebrew words for way and paths are often used in the Bible figuratively to refer to a person’s manner of living. Here these words apparently refer to the woman’s habit of chasing after her lovers, such as by going through the streets and looking for them. The extended allegorical sense in this context refers to the people of Israel going out to worship Baal.

And I will build a wall against her is parallel in meaning to the previous line. God will block the woman’s way with a wall. This line can also mean that God will surround her with a wall without a possibility to escape, as in Lam 3.7. The Hebrew word for wall refers to low walls built primarily of stones to keep animals out of fields and vineyards.

The Hebrew text for this line is literally “and I will build her wall.” Hebrew Old Testament Text Project favors the Hebrew text as written, with a {B} decision, rather than suggesting an emended text for which there is no evidence. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project understands “her wall” to be a wall that would stand in her way, to prevent her from moving the wrong way, or from moving out altogether.

So that she cannot find her paths: She will not be able to follow her intended way to her lovers; that is, Israel will not be able to worship the Baals of Canaan. The combination of the thorn hedge and the wall will force her to walk along a designated path that she did not intend to follow; that is, her way of life will be different from what she intended it to be. Alternatively, she will be locked in and unable to see to her lovers. Good News Translation omits this line, which we do not recommend. The Hebrew text expresses explicitly the result that she will not find her paths. The Hebrew word for paths is plural, indicating that she follows more than one way to chase her lovers.

A translation model for this verse is:

• Now, for that reason I, the LORD, will put thorn bushes in her way.
I will put up a wall against her,
so that she will not find her paths.

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 .