Hosea 2:17

17 For I will take away the names of the Ba`alim out of her mouth, And they will no more be mentioned by their 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 vineyards from there, And the valley of `Akhor for a door of hope; And she will respond there, As in the days of her youth, And as in the day when she came up out of the land of Mitzrayim.
16 It will be in that day," says the LORD, "That you will call me 'my husband,' And no longer call me 'my master.'
17 For I will take away the names of the Ba`alim out of her mouth, And they will no more be mentioned by their name.
18 In that day I will make a covenant for them with the animals of the field, And with the birds of the sky, And with the creeping things of the ground. I will break the bow, the sword, and the battle out of the land, And will make them lie down safely.
19 I will betroth you to me forever. Yes, I will betroth you to me in righteousness, in justice, in lovingkindness, and in compassion.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.