Hosea 2:9

9 So at harvest time I will take back my gifts of grain and wine, and will take away the wool and the linen I gave her for clothing.

Hosea 2:9 Meaning and Commentary

Hosea 2:9

Therefore will I return, and take away
Or, "take away again" F11; an usual Hebraism: my corn in the time thereof, and my wine in the season thereof;
for though these are the gifts of God to men for their use, and to dispose of for the good of others; yet he retains his property in them, and can and will call them to an account for their stewardship; and, when he pleases, take away both their office, and the good things they were intrusted with, not making a right use of them; and this he does in his own appointed time and season, or at such a time when these are at the best, and the greatest good is expected from them, and which therefore is the more afflictive; as in the time of harvest and vintage, so Kimchi, when corn and grapes are fully ripe; or, as the Targum, in the time of the corn being on the floor, and of the pressure of the wine: and will recover my wool, and my flax,
given "to cover her nakedness"; or, "I will take away"; by force and violence, as out of the hands of thieves, and robbers, and usurpers, who have no right to them, being forfeited; these were given to cover her nakedness, but not to deck herself with for the honour of her idols, or to cherish pride and superstition; see ( Matthew 23:5 ) these were all taken away when the Romans came and took away their place and nation, ( John 11:48 ) . The Septuagint and Arabic versions give the sense as if these were taken, that they might not cover her nakedness,
or "shame"; but that it might be exposed, as follows:


FOOTNOTES:

F11 (ytxqlw bwva) "iterum capiam", Drusius; "recipiam", Liveleus.

Hosea 2:9 In-Context

7 She will run after her lovers but will not catch them. She will look for them but will not find them. Then she will say, "I am going back to my first husband - I was better off then than I am now."
8 She would never acknowledge that I am the one who gave her the grain, the wine, the olive oil, and all the silver and gold that she used in the worship of Baal.
9 So at harvest time I will take back my gifts of grain and wine, and will take away the wool and the linen I gave her for clothing.
10 I will strip her naked in front of her lovers, and no one will be able to save her from my power.
11 I will put an end to all her festivities - her annual and monthly festivals and her Sabbath celebrations - all her religious meetings.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.