Hosea 2:5-9

5 "For their mother has 1played the harlot; She who conceived them has acted shamefully. For she said, '2I will go after my lovers, Who 3give me my bread and my water, My wool and my flax, my 4oil and my drink.'
6 "Therefore, behold, I will 5hedge up her way with 6thorns, And I will build a wall against her so that she cannot find her 7paths.
7 "She will 8pursue her lovers, but she will not overtake them; And she will seek them, but will not find them. Then she will say, '9I will go back to my 10first husband, For it was 11better for me then than now!'
8 "For she does 12not know that it was 13I who gave her the grain, the new wine and the oil, And lavished on her silver and gold, Which they used for Baal.
9 "Therefore, I will 14take back My grain at harvest time And My new wine in its season. I will also take away My wool and My flax Given to cover her nakedness.

Hosea 2:5-9 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.

Cross References 14

  • 1. Isaiah 1:21; Jeremiah 2:25; Jeremiah 3:1, 2; Hosea 3:1
  • 2. Isaiah 1:21; Jeremiah 2:25; Jeremiah 3:1, 2; Hosea 3:1
  • 3. Jeremiah 44:17, 18; Hosea 2:12
  • 4. Hosea 2:8
  • 5. Job 19:8; Lamentations 3:7, 9
  • 6. Hosea 9:6; Hosea 10:8
  • 7. Jeremiah 18:15
  • 8. Hosea 5:13
  • 9. Luke 15:17, 18
  • 10. Jeremiah 2:2; Jeremiah 3:1; Ezekiel 16:8; Ezekiel 23:4
  • 11. Jeremiah 14:22; Hosea 13:6
  • 12. Isaiah 1:3
  • 13. Ezekiel 16:19
  • 14. Hosea 8:7; Hosea 9:2

Footnotes 4

  • [a]. So with some ancient versions; Heb "your"
  • [b]. Lit "her wall so that"
  • [c]. Or "made into the"
  • [d]. Lit "its time"
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.