Hosea 2:17

17 For I will remove the names of the ba'alim from her mouth; they will never again be mentioned by name.

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 I will give her her vineyards from there and the Akhor Valley as a gateway to hope. She will respond there as she did when young, as she did when she came up from Egypt.
16 "On that day," says ADONAI "you will call me Ishi [My Husband]; you will no longer call me Ba'ali [My Master].
17 For I will remove the names of the ba'alim from her mouth; they will never again be mentioned by name.
18 When that day comes, I will make a covenant for them with the wild animals, the birds in the air and the creeping things of the earth. I will break bow and sword, sweep battle from the land, and make them lie down securely.
19 I will betroth you to me forever; yes, I will betroth you to me in righteousness, in justice, in grace and in compassion;
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.