Hosea 2:17

17 I will never let her say the names of Baal again; people won't use their names anymore.

Hosea 2:17 Meaning and Commentary

Hosea 2:17

For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth,
&c.] Out of the mouth of Israel, as Saadiah; out of the mouth of the converted Jews, and even out of the mouth of the Gentiles, as Kimchi owns; the several Baals, as Baalpeor, Baalberith, and Baalzebub, and others: the names of them should be no more used, should not be spoken of, unless with detestation and abhorrence; not with honour and respect, with love and affection, or so as to yield worship and homage to them; or otherwise their names may be lawfully mentioned, as in ( Romans 11:4 ) , there seems to be some reference to the law in ( Exodus 23:13 ) , the sense is, that idolatry shall be utterly abolished, even of every kind; not the worship of Baalim only, but of all other idols: and so the Targum is,

``and I will take away the name of the idols of the people out of their mouth;''
and may design the idolatry of the church of Rome; their worship of images of gold and silver, wood, brass, and stone in whose communion are many of the Jews at this time; but when the time of their conversion comes, all this will be abolished among them, and among the Gentiles also: and they shall no more be remembered by their name;
or made mention of by name; the same thing as before, in other words, repeated for the confirmation of it.

Hosea 2:17 In-Context

15 There I will give her back her vineyards, and I will make the Valley of Trouble a door of hope. There she will respond as when she was young, as when she came out of Egypt."
16 The Lord says, "In the future she will call me 'my husband;' no longer will she call me 'my baal.'
17 I will never let her say the names of Baal again; people won't use their names anymore.
18 At that time I will make an agreement for them with the wild animals, the birds, and the crawling things. I will smash from the land the bow and the sword and the weapons of war, so my people will live in safety.
19 And I will make you my promised bride forever. I will be good and fair; I will show you my love and mercy.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.