What does it mean that the people will go up from the land?

Before we can answer this, we first need to understand what is meant by the land. Is it the land of their captivity (Assyria) or is it the Promised Land of Canaan? If it is the former then to go up would mean something like depart. This would be a promise of a new exodus, a return from exile. Support for this view is found in Exodus 1:10, the only other place in the Old Testament where the phrase, to go up from the land, occurs.¹ If, however, this is a reference to the Promised Land, to go up is unlikely to mean depart (departing for exile).² This view would be the opposite of peace and restoration for Israel.

It seems best to read this as a reference to the Promised Land of Canaan. It virtually always has this meaning in the Old Testament.³ Furthermore, it is in the place (Hosea 1:10) where Israel were judged that they will now be blessed. Therefore, to go up is not to be taken literally but metaphorically. It can be translated as grow up, the way crops increase and yield an abundant harvest.⁴ This would make it a clever wordplay on Jezreel’s (Hosea 1:11) agricultural meaning, God sows.⁵ It is thus a promise of future blessing, as the Lord makes his people flourish again.