7 Or “humane cords” or “cords of human kindness.” The noun אָדָם (’adam) is traditionally related to I אָדָם (“man”) and translated either literally or figuratively (as a metonymy of association for humane compassion): “cords of a man” (, margin, ), “cords of human kindness” (, ), “human ties” (), “cords of compassion” (). It is better to relate it to II אָדָם (“leather”; אָדָם), as the parallelism with II אַהֲבָה (’ahavah, “leather”) suggests (see below). This homonymic root is well attested in Arabic ’adam (“skin”) and ’adim (“tanned skin; leather”). This better fits the context of 11:4 which compares Israel to a heifer: the Lord led him with leather cords, lifted the yoke from his neck, and fed him. Elsewhere, Hosea compares Israel to a stubborn cow (4:6) and harnessed heifer (10:11).
8 Or “ropes of love.” The noun אַהֲבָה (’ahava) is traditionally related to I אַהֲבָה (“love”; 13 אַהֲבָה 2). This approach is adopted by most English translations: “bands of love” (, ), “bonds of love” (), “ties of love” (), “cords of love” (). However, it is probably better to derive אַהֲבָה from the homonymic root II אַהֲבָה (“leather”; II אַהֲבָה). This root is attested in Arabic and Ugaritic. It probably occurs in the description of Solomon’s sedan chair: “upholstered with purple linen, and lined with leather” (Song 3:10). This fits the context of 11:4 which compares Israel to a young heifer: the Lord led him with leather ropes, lifted the yoke from his neck, and bent down to feed him. Elsewhere, Hosea compares Israel to a stubborn cow (4:6) and a young heifer harnessed for plowing (10:11). This is supported by the parallelism with II אָדָם (’adam, “leather”; II אָדָם). Of course, this might be an example of a homonymic wordplay on both roots: “ropes of leather/love.” For discussions of II אַהֲבָה, see G. R. Driver, “Supposed Arabisms in the Old Testament,” 55 (1936): 111; G. R. Driver, Canaanite Myths and Legends, 133; S. E. Loewenstamm, Thesaurus of the Language of the Bible, 1:39. D. Grossberg, “Canticles 3:10 in the Light of a Homeric Analogue and Biblical Poetics,” 11 (1981): 75–76. For homonymic wordplays, see W. G. E. Watson, Classical Hebrew Poetry [], ; J. Barr, Comparative Philology and the Text of the Old Testament, 151–55.
9 Heb “And I was to them like those who lift a yoke.”
10 Heb “their jaws” (so , , ).
11 Heb “him.” This is regarded as a collective singular by most English versions and thus translated as a plural pronoun.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

I led them with cords of kindness,

with the bands of love,

and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws,

and I bent down to them and fed them.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

I led them with cords of human kindness,

with ties of love.

To them I was like one who lifts

a little child to the cheek,

and I bent down to feed them.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

I led them with human cords,

with ropes of love.

To them I was like one

who eases the yoke from their jaws;

I bent down to give them food.

NLTNew Living Translation

I led Israel along

with my ropes of kindness and love.

I lifted the yoke from his neck,

and I myself stooped to feed him.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

I drew them with human ties,

with the bands of love.

I was to them like one who lifted up a yoke on their jaws,

though I bent down to them and let them eat.

KJV 1900King James Version

I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love:

And I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws,

And I laid meat unto them.

Public Domain