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

2 Rebuke 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.

3 Otherwise, 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.

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

5 For 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.’

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

7 She 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.’

8 For 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.

9 Therefore 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.

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

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

12 I 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.

13 I 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

Rebuke רִ֤יבוּ H7378 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural your mother בְאִמְּכֶם֙ H517 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine plural rebuke her רִ֔יבוּ H7378 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural for כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction she הִיא֙ H1931 Pronoun - third person feminine singular is not לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle My wife אִשְׁתִּ֔י H802 Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular and I וְאָנֹכִ֖י H595 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular am not לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle her husband אִישָׁ֑הּ H376 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular Let her remove וְתָסֵ֤ר H5493 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect Jussive - third person feminine singular the adultery זְנוּנֶ֙יהָ֙ H2183 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular from her face מִפָּנֶ֔יה H6440 Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct | third person feminine singular and the unfaithfulness וְנַאֲפוּפֶ֖יהָ H5005 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular from between מִבֵּ֥ין H996 Preposition-m her breasts שָׁדֶֽיהָ׃ H7699 Noun - masculine dual construct | third person feminine singular
Verse 3

Original words

Otherwise פֶּן־ H6435 Conjunction I will strip her אַפְשִׁיטֶ֣נָּה H6584 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular naked עֲרֻמָּ֔ה H6174 Adjective - feminine singular and expose her וְהִ֨צַּגְתִּ֔יהָ H3322 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular like the day כְּי֖וֹם H3117 Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct of her birth הִוָּֽלְדָ֑הּ H3205 Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular I will make her וְשַׂמְתִּ֣יהָ H7760 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular like a desert כַמִּדְבָּ֗ר H4057 Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular and turn her into וְשַׁתִּ֙הָ֙ H7896 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular a parched צִיָּ֔ה H6723 Adjective - feminine singular land כְּאֶ֣רֶץ H776 Preposition-k | Noun - feminine singular construct and I will let her die וַהֲמִתִּ֖יהָ H4191 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular of thirst בַּצָּמָֽא׃ H6772 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 4

Original words

- וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker I will have no לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle compassion אֲרַחֵ֑ם H7355 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular on her children בָּנֶ֖יהָ H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular because כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction they הֵֽמָּה׃ H1992 Pronoun - third person masculine plural are the children בְנֵ֥י H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct of adultery זְנוּנִ֖ים H2183 Noun - masculine plural
Verse 5

Original words

For כִּ֤י H3588 Conjunction their mother אִמָּ֔ם H517 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural has played the harlot זָֽנְתָה֙ H2181 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular and has conceived them הֽוֹרָתָ֑ם H2029 Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural in disgrace הֹבִ֖ישָׁה H954 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person feminine singular For כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction she thought אָמְרָ֗ה H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular I will go אֵלְכָ֞ה H1980 Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular after אַחֲרֵ֤י H310 Preposition my lovers מְאַהֲבַי֙ H157 Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singular who give me נֹתְנֵ֤י H5414 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct bread לַחְמִי֙ H3899 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular and water וּמֵימַ֔י H4325 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular wool צַמְרִ֣י H6785 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular and linen וּפִשְׁתִּ֔י H6593 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular oil שַׁמְנִ֖י H8081 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular and drink וְשִׁקּוּיָֽי׃ H8250 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Verse 6

Original words

Therefore לָכֵ֛ן H3651 Adverb behold הִנְנִי־ H2005 Interjection | first person common singular I will hedge up שָׂ֥ךְ H7753 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular her אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker path דַּרְכֵּ֖ךְ H1870 Noun - common singular construct | second person feminine singular with thorns בַּסִּירִ֑ים H5518 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine plural I will enclose her with a wall וְגָֽדַרְתִּי֙ H1443 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker - גְּדֵרָ֔הּ H1447 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular so she cannot לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle find תִמְצָֽא׃ H4672 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular her way וּנְתִיבוֹתֶ֖יהָ H5410 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person feminine singular

BSB notes

  • Hebrew your path
Verse 7

Original words

She will pursue וְרִדְּפָ֤ה H7291 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker her lovers מְאַהֲבֶ֙יהָ֙ H157 Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular but not וְלֹֽא־ H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle catch תַשִּׂ֣יג H5381 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person feminine singular them אֹתָ֔ם H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine plural she will seek them וּבִקְשָׁ֖תַם H1245 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine plural but not וְלֹ֣א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle find them תִמְצָ֑א H4672 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular Then she will say וְאָמְרָ֗ה H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular . . . אֵלְכָ֤ה H1980 Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular I will return וְאָשׁ֙וּבָה֙ H7725 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition my first הָֽרִאשׁ֔וֹן H7223 Article | Adjective - masculine singular husband אִישִׁ֣י H376 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular for כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction then אָ֖ז H227 Adverb I was better off ט֥וֹב H2896 Adjective - masculine singular . . . לִ֛י Preposition | first person common singular than now מֵעָֽתָּה׃ H6258 Preposition-m | Adverb
Verse 8

Original words

For she וְהִיא֙ H1931 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person feminine singular does not לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle acknowledge יָֽדְעָ֔ה H3045 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular that כִּ֤י H3588 Conjunction it was I אָֽנֹכִי֙ H595 Pronoun - first person common singular who gave נָתַ֣תִּי H5414 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular her לָ֔הּ Preposition | third person feminine singular grain הַדָּגָ֖ן H1715 Article | Noun - masculine singular new wine וְהַתִּיר֣וֹשׁ H8492 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular and oil וְהַיִּצְהָ֑ר H3323 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular who lavished הִרְבֵּ֥יתִי H7235 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular on her לָ֛הּ Preposition | third person feminine singular silver וְכֶ֨סֶף H3701 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular and gold וְזָהָ֖ב H2091 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular which they crafted עָשׂ֥וּ H6213 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural for Baal לַבָּֽעַל׃ H1168 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 9

Original words

Therefore לָכֵ֣ן H3651 Adverb I will take back אָשׁ֔וּב H7725 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular . . . וְלָקַחְתִּ֤י H3947 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular My grain דְגָנִי֙ H1715 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular in its time בְּעִתּ֔וֹ H6256 Preposition-b | Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine singular and My new wine וְתִירוֹשִׁ֖י H8492 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular in its season בְּמֽוֹעֲד֑וֹ H4150 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular I will take away וְהִצַּלְתִּי֙ H5337 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular My wool צַמְרִ֣י H6785 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular and linen וּפִשְׁתִּ֔י H6593 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular which were [given] to cover לְכַסּ֖וֹת H3680 Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker her nakedness עֶרְוָתָֽהּ׃ H6172 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Verse 10

Original words

And then וְעַתָּ֛ה H6258 Conjunctive waw | Adverb I will expose אֲגַלֶּ֥ה H1540 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker her lewdness נַבְלֻתָ֖הּ H5040 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular in the sight לְעֵינֵ֣י H5869 Preposition-l | Noun - cdc of her lovers מְאַהֲבֶ֑יהָ H157 Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular and no לֹֽא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle one וְאִ֖ישׁ H376 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular will deliver her יַצִּילֶ֥נָּה H5337 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular out of My hands מִיָּדִֽי׃ H3027 Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Verse 11

Original words

I will put an end וְהִשְׁבַּתִּי֙ H7673 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular to all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct her exultation מְשׂוֹשָׂ֔הּ H4885 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular her feasts חַגָּ֖הּ H2282 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular New Moons חָדְשָׁ֣הּ H2320 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular and Sabbaths וְשַׁבַּתָּ֑הּ H7676 Conjunctive waw | Noun - common singular construct | third person feminine singular all וְכֹ֖ל H3605 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct her appointed feasts מוֹעֲדָֽהּ׃ H4150 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Verse 12

Original words

I will destroy וַהֲשִׁמֹּתִ֗י H8074 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular her vines גַּפְנָהּ֙ H1612 Noun - common singular construct | third person feminine singular and fig trees וּתְאֵ֣נָתָ֔הּ H8384 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular which אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative she thinks אָמְרָ֗ה H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular - הֵ֙מָּה֙ H1992 Pronoun - third person masculine plural are the wages אֶתְנָ֥ה H866 Noun - feminine singular - אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative paid נָֽתְנוּ־ H5414 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural by her lovers מְאַֽהֲבָ֑י H157 Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singular So I will make them וְשַׂמְתִּ֣ים H7760 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural into a thicket לְיַ֔עַר H3293 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular and the beasts חַיַּ֥ת H2416 Noun - feminine singular construct of the field הַשָּׂדֶֽה׃ H7704 Article | Noun - masculine singular will devour them וַאֲכָלָ֖תַם H398 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine plural
Verse 13

Original words

I will punish וּפָקַדְתִּ֣י H6485 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular her עָלֶ֗יהָ H5921 Preposition | third person feminine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker for the days יְמֵ֤י H3117 Noun - masculine plural construct of the Baals הַבְּעָלִים֙ H1168 Article | Noun - masculine plural when אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative she burned incense to them תַּקְטִ֣יר H6999 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person feminine singular . . . לָהֶ֔ם Preposition-l | Pronoun - third person masculine plural when she adorned herself וַתַּ֤עַד H5710 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular with rings נִזְמָהּ֙ H5141 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular and jewelry וְחֶלְיָתָ֔הּ H2484 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular and went וַתֵּ֖לֶךְ H1980 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular after אַחֲרֵ֣י H310 Preposition her lovers מְאַהֲבֶ֑יהָ H157 Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular But Me וְאֹתִ֥י H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker | first person common singular she forgot שָׁכְחָ֖ה H7911 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular declares נְאֻם־ H5002 Noun - masculine singular construct the LORD יְהוָֽה׃פ H3068 Noun - 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.