Hosea 2:6-13

Divine correction

6 Therefore, I will line her path with thorns; and I will build a wall against her, so that she can't find her paths.

7 She will go after her lovers, but she won't catch up with them; she will seek them, but she won't find them. Then she will say, "I will return to my first husband, for I had it better then than now."

8 She didn't know that I gave her the corn, the new wine, and the fresh oil, and that I gave her much silver, and gold that they used for Baal.

9 So now I will take back my corn in its time, and my wine in its season; and I will take away my wool and my linen cloth, which were to cover her nakedness.

10 Now I will uncover her nakedness in plain view of her lovers, and no one will rescue her from me.

11 I will end all her religious celebrations, her festivals, her new moons, her Sabbath days, and all her sacred seasons.

12 I will destroy her vines and her fig trees, of which she said, "These are my pay, which my lovers have given to me." I will change them into a forest, and the wild animals will eat them.

13 I will punish her for the days dedicated to the Baals, when she offered sweet-smelling sacrifices to them and dressed herself up with rings and jewelry, and went after her lovers, and forgot me, says the LORD.

Hosea 2:6-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO HOSEA 2

This chapter is an explanation of the former, proceeding upon the same argument in more express words. The godly Israelites are here called upon to lay before the body of the people their idolatry, ingratitude, obstinacy, and ignorance of the God of their mercies; and to exhort them to repentance, lest they should be stripped of all their good things, and be brought into great distress and difficulties; all their joy and comfort cease, and be exposed to shame and contempt, Ho 2:1-13, yet, notwithstanding, many gracious promises are made unto them, of their having the alluring and comfortable word of the Gospel; of a door of hope; of salvation being opened to them; of faith in the Lord, and affection to him as their husband; of the removal of all idolatry from them; of safety from all enemies; of their open espousal to Christ; of his hearing of their prayers, and giving them plenty of all good things; and of their multiplication, conversion, and covenant relation to God, Ho 2:14-23.