Upvote:0
I would recommend comparing Hosea 3 to Hosea 1:2-3. The infidelity of Hosea's wife, Gomer, will act as a symbol and reflection of the infidelity of the Lord's bride, Israel. The point is that Hosea was instructed to marry a loose woman. As the Oxford Bible Commentary points out, chapter 3 is a reference back to chapter 1. In chapter 3 the Lord is encouraging Hosea to love Gomer even though she has been unfaithful to him. Various translations get at the same point by including the word "again" in the verse (link). The bridal price referenced in 3:2 is admittedly confusing, but the basic theme is quite clear.
In chapter 1 Gomer was an unmarried, loose woman. In chapter 3 she is Hosea's wife and has committed adultery. This is the simplest explanation.
See also Gomer: Bible, and Is the Woman in Hosea 3 Gomer?
Upvote:1
As I understand the verse: βGo, love a woman who has a lover and is an adulteress..." It says there, "adulteress" and so she was married. The question is, "To whom?" The answer is to Hosea.
In Good News Translation it says, "The Lord said to me, "Go again and show your love for a woman who is committing adultery with a lover." It says, "AGAIN," which means she was with Hosea and therefore his wife who was an adulteress.
So, what we can learn from this is we should use a Bible translation, which is easier for us to understand. I also struggled understanding God's word because of the Bible translation I was using. Good News Translation (GNT) is just about right (for me, with the Lord's guidance).