Focused Passage

Hosea 2:2-13

The LORD's Lawsuit, Alluring Mercy, and Covenant Betrothal

The chapter moves from a summons to affirm restored names, into a marriage lawsuit against Israel's mother, through disciplinary stripping and blocked pursuit of lovers, then turns with the LORD's alluring mercy, renewed wilderness courtship, covenant peace, everlasting betrothal, and the reversal of Lo-Ruhamah and Lo-Ammi.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

2Rebuke your mother, rebuke her, for she is not My wife, and I am not her husband. Let her remove the adultery from her face and the unfaithfulness from between her breasts.

3Otherwise, I will strip her naked and expose her like the day of her birth. I will make her like a desert and turn her into a parched land, and I will let her die of thirst.

4I will have no compassion on her children, because they are the children of adultery.

5For their mother has played the harlot and has conceived them in disgrace. For she thought, ‘I will go after my lovers, who give me bread and water, wool and linen, oil and drink.’

6Therefore, behold, I will hedge up her path with thorns; I will enclose her with a wall, so she cannot find her way.

7She will pursue her lovers but not catch them; she will seek them but not find them. Then she will say, ‘I will return to my first husband, for then I was better off than now.’

8For she does not acknowledge that it was I who gave her grain, new wine, and oil, who lavished on her silver and gold—which they crafted for Baal.

9Therefore I will take back My grain in its time and My new wine in its season; I will take away My wool and linen, which were given to cover her nakedness.

10And then I will expose her lewdness in the sight of her lovers, and no one will deliver her out of My hands.

11I will put an end to all her exultation: her feasts, New Moons, and Sabbaths—all her appointed feasts.

12I will destroy her vines and fig trees, which she thinks are the wages paid by her lovers. So I will make them into a thicket, and the beasts of the field will devour them.

13I will punish her for the days of the Baals when she burned incense to them, when she adorned herself with rings and jewelry, and went after her lovers. But Me she forgot,” declares the LORD.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 2

Original words

Rebukeרִ֤יבוּH7378Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralyour motherבְאִמְּכֶם֙H517Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine pluralrebuke herרִ֔יבוּH7378Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralforכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionsheהִיא֙H1931Pronoun - third person feminine singularis notלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particleMy wifeאִשְׁתִּ֔יH802Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularand Iוְאָנֹכִ֖יH595Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singularam notלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particleher husbandאִישָׁ֑הּH376Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singularLet her removeוְתָסֵ֤רH5493Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect Jussive - third person feminine singularthe adulteryזְנוּנֶ֙יהָ֙H2183Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singularfrom her faceמִפָּנֶ֔יהH6440Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct | third person feminine singularand the unfaithfulnessוְנַאֲפוּפֶ֖יהָH5005Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singularfrom betweenמִבֵּ֥יןH996Preposition-mher breastsשָׁדֶֽיהָ׃H7699Noun - masculine dual construct | third person feminine singular
Verse 3

Original words

Otherwiseפֶּן־H6435ConjunctionI will strip herאַפְשִׁיטֶ֣נָּהH6584Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singularnakedעֲרֻמָּ֔הH6174Adjective - feminine singularand expose herוְהִ֨צַּגְתִּ֔יהָH3322Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singularlike the dayכְּי֖וֹםH3117Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular constructof her birthהִוָּֽלְדָ֑הּH3205Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singularI will make herוְשַׂמְתִּ֣יהָH7760Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singularlike a desertכַמִּדְבָּ֗רH4057Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singularand turn her intoוְשַׁתִּ֙הָ֙H7896Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singulara parchedצִיָּ֔הH6723Adjective - feminine singularlandכְּאֶ֣רֶץH776Preposition-k | Noun - feminine singular constructand I will let her dieוַהֲמִתִּ֖יהָH4191Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singularof thirstבַּצָּמָֽא׃H6772Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 4

Original words

-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerI will have noלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particlecompassionאֲרַחֵ֑םH7355Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singularon her childrenבָּנֶ֖יהָH1121Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singularbecauseכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctiontheyהֵֽמָּה׃H1992Pronoun - third person masculine pluralare the childrenבְנֵ֥יH1121Noun - masculine plural constructof adulteryזְנוּנִ֖יםH2183Noun - masculine plural
Verse 5

Original words

Forכִּ֤יH3588Conjunctiontheir motherאִמָּ֔םH517Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine pluralhas played the harlotזָֽנְתָה֙H2181Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singularand has conceived themהֽוֹרָתָ֑םH2029Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular construct | third person masculine pluralin disgraceהֹבִ֖ישָׁהH954Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person feminine singularForכִּ֣יH3588Conjunctionshe thoughtאָמְרָ֗הH559Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singularI will goאֵלְכָ֞הH1980Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common singularafterאַחֲרֵ֤יH310Prepositionmy loversמְאַהֲבַי֙H157Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singularwho give meנֹתְנֵ֤יH5414Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructbreadלַחְמִי֙H3899Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularand waterוּמֵימַ֔יH4325Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singularwoolצַמְרִ֣יH6785Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularand linenוּפִשְׁתִּ֔יH6593Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularoilשַׁמְנִ֖יH8081Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularand drinkוְשִׁקּוּיָֽי׃H8250Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Verse 6

Original words

Thereforeלָכֵ֛ןH3651Adverbbeholdהִנְנִי־H2005Interjection | first person common singularI will hedge upשָׂ֥ךְH7753Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularherאֶת־H853Direct object markerpathדַּרְכֵּ֖ךְH1870Noun - common singular construct | second person feminine singularwith thornsבַּסִּירִ֑יםH5518Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine pluralI will enclose her with a wallוְגָֽדַרְתִּי֙H1443Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object marker-גְּדֵרָ֔הּH1447Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singularso she cannotלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particlefindתִמְצָֽא׃H4672Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularher wayוּנְתִיבוֹתֶ֖יהָH5410Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person feminine singular

BSB notes

  • Hebrew your path
Verse 7

Original words

She will pursueוְרִדְּפָ֤הH7291Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerher loversמְאַהֲבֶ֙יהָ֙H157Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singularbut notוְלֹֽא־H3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particlecatchתַשִּׂ֣יגH5381Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person feminine singularthemאֹתָ֔םH853Direct object marker | third person masculine pluralshe will seek themוּבִקְשָׁ֖תַםH1245Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine pluralbut notוְלֹ֣אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particlefind themתִמְצָ֑אH4672Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularThen she will sayוְאָמְרָ֗הH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular. . .אֵלְכָ֤הH1980Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common singularI will returnוְאָשׁ֙וּבָה֙H7725Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common singulartoאֶל־H413Prepositionmy firstהָֽרִאשׁ֔וֹןH7223Article | Adjective - masculine singularhusbandאִישִׁ֣יH376Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularforכִּ֣יH3588Conjunctionthenאָ֖זH227AdverbI was better offט֥וֹבH2896Adjective - masculine singular. . .לִ֛יPreposition | first person common singularthan nowמֵעָֽתָּה׃H6258Preposition-m | Adverb
Verse 8

Original words

For sheוְהִיא֙H1931Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person feminine singulardoes notלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particleacknowledgeיָֽדְעָ֔הH3045Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singularthatכִּ֤יH3588Conjunctionit was Iאָֽנֹכִי֙H595Pronoun - first person common singularwho gaveנָתַ֣תִּיH5414Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularherלָ֔הּPreposition | third person feminine singulargrainהַדָּגָ֖ןH1715Article | Noun - masculine singularnew wineוְהַתִּיר֣וֹשׁH8492Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singularand oilוְהַיִּצְהָ֑רH3323Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singularwho lavishedהִרְבֵּ֥יתִיH7235Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singularon herלָ֛הּPreposition | third person feminine singularsilverוְכֶ֨סֶףH3701Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularand goldוְזָהָ֖בH2091Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularwhich they craftedעָשׂ֥וּH6213Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralfor Baalלַבָּֽעַל׃H1168Preposition-l, Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 9

Original words

Thereforeלָכֵ֣ןH3651AdverbI will take backאָשׁ֔וּבH7725Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular. . .וְלָקַחְתִּ֤יH3947Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularMy grainדְגָנִי֙H1715Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularin its timeבְּעִתּ֔וֹH6256Preposition-b | Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine singularand My new wineוְתִירוֹשִׁ֖יH8492Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularin its seasonבְּמֽוֹעֲד֑וֹH4150Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularI will take awayוְהִצַּלְתִּי֙H5337Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularMy woolצַמְרִ֣יH6785Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularand linenוּפִשְׁתִּ֔יH6593Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularwhich were [given] to coverלְכַסּ֖וֹתH3680Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct-אֶת־H853Direct object markerher nakednessעֶרְוָתָֽהּ׃H6172Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Verse 10

Original words

And thenוְעַתָּ֛הH6258Conjunctive waw | AdverbI will exposeאֲגַלֶּ֥הH1540Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerher lewdnessנַבְלֻתָ֖הּH5040Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singularin the sightלְעֵינֵ֣יH5869Preposition-l | Noun - cdcof her loversמְאַהֲבֶ֑יהָH157Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singularand noלֹֽא־H3808Adverb - Negative particleoneוְאִ֖ישׁH376Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularwill deliver herיַצִּילֶ֥נָּהH5337Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singularout of My handsמִיָּדִֽי׃H3027Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Verse 11

Original words

I will put an endוְהִשְׁבַּתִּי֙H7673Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularto allכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructher exultationמְשׂוֹשָׂ֔הּH4885Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singularher feastsחַגָּ֖הּH2282Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singularNew Moonsחָדְשָׁ֣הּH2320Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singularand Sabbathsוְשַׁבַּתָּ֑הּH7676Conjunctive waw | Noun - common singular construct | third person feminine singularallוְכֹ֖לH3605Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructher appointed feastsמוֹעֲדָֽהּ׃H4150Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Verse 12

Original words

I will destroyוַהֲשִׁמֹּתִ֗יH8074Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularher vinesגַּפְנָהּ֙H1612Noun - common singular construct | third person feminine singularand fig treesוּתְאֵ֣נָתָ֔הּH8384Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singularwhichאֲשֶׁ֣רH834Pronoun - relativeshe thinksאָמְרָ֗הH559Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular-הֵ֙מָּה֙H1992Pronoun - third person masculine pluralare the wagesאֶתְנָ֥הH866Noun - feminine singular-אֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativepaidנָֽתְנוּ־H5414Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralby her loversמְאַֽהֲבָ֑יH157Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singularSo I will make themוְשַׂמְתִּ֣יםH7760Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine pluralinto a thicketלְיַ֔עַרH3293Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singularand the beastsחַיַּ֥תH2416Noun - feminine singular constructof the fieldהַשָּׂדֶֽה׃H7704Article | Noun - masculine singularwill devour themוַאֲכָלָ֖תַםH398Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine plural
Verse 13

Original words

I will punishוּפָקַדְתִּ֣יH6485Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularherעָלֶ֗יהָH5921Preposition | third person feminine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerfor the daysיְמֵ֤יH3117Noun - masculine plural constructof the Baalsהַבְּעָלִים֙H1168Article | Noun - masculine pluralwhenאֲשֶׁ֣רH834Pronoun - relativeshe burned incense to themתַּקְטִ֣ירH6999Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person feminine singular. . .לָהֶ֔םPreposition-l | Pronoun - third person masculine pluralwhen she adorned herselfוַתַּ֤עַדH5710Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularwith ringsנִזְמָהּ֙H5141Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singularand jewelryוְחֶלְיָתָ֔הּH2484Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singularand wentוַתֵּ֖לֶךְH1980Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularafterאַחֲרֵ֣יH310Prepositionher loversמְאַהֲבֶ֑יהָH157Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singularBut Meוְאֹתִ֥יH853Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker | first person common singularshe forgotשָׁכְחָ֖הH7911Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singulardeclaresנְאֻם־H5002Noun - masculine singular constructthe LORDיְהוָֽה׃פH3068Noun - proper - masculine singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.