I drew them with cords of a man, with ties of love; And I was to them like those who lift up the yoke on their necks; And I bent down to him and I fed him.
"I drew them with cords of a man ..."  This is evidently a reference to the leading strings by which small children are kept near their parents, a device one may see to this day in certain sections of New York City. "Cords" here contrasts with "ropes" by which animals were restrained.  The view of such "cords" as "bands of love" is very expressive.