Hosea 2

1 “Say of your brothers [Ammi], ‘My people [a nation],’ and of your sisters [Ruhamah, ones who have obtained mercy], ‘My loved one [one who has received God’s mercy and love].’ word study 2 Rebuke [contend with, plead with] your mother, rebuke [condemn] her, for she is not My wife [not in a covenant relationship with Me], and I am not her husband [not her Lord or master]. Let her remove [put away, take away] the adultery [whoredoms, prostitution] from her face [her outward appearance, her actions] and the unfaithfulness [adulteries, false ways] from between her breasts [her innermost being, her heart]. word study 3 Otherwise, I will strip her naked [leaving her uncovered, as in the day of her birth] and expose her [make her bare, like a wilderness] like the day of her birth. I will make her like a desert [a barren land, a dry land] and turn her into a parched land [a land that none can pass through], and I will let her die of thirst [slay her with thirst, kill her with drought]. word study 4 I [as the righteous Judge] will have no compassion [pity or mercy] on her children [the sons of whoredom], because they are the children [offspring, descendants] of adultery [fornication, unfaithfulness]. word study 5 For their mother [who conceived them] has played the harlot [acted as a prostitute, been unfaithful] and has conceived them in disgrace [shame, humiliation]. For she thought, ‘I will go after my lovers [idols, false gods], who give me bread [sustenance, provision] and water [nourishment, refreshment], wool [clothing, protection] and linen [covering, comfort], oil [anointing, joy] and drink [refreshment, satisfaction].’ word study 6 Therefore, behold, I will hedge up her path [with thorn bushes, to block her way] with thorns; I will enclose her [stop her up, build a wall against her] with a wall, so she cannot [will not be able to] find her way [her paths, her direction]. word study 7 She will pursue [follow after, chase] her lovers [idols, false gods] but not catch them; she will seek [search for, try to find] them but not find them. Then she will say, ‘I will return [go back, turn back to] to my first husband [original love, true companion], for then [at that time, previously] I was better off [more blessed, happier] than now [in my current state].’ word study 8 For she does not acknowledge [is not aware, has no knowledge] that it was I [the Lord, her God] who gave her grain [corn, food], new wine [fresh wine, abundance], and oil [olive oil, richness], who lavished on her silver [wealth, treasure] and gold [precious metal, riches]— which they crafted [used, prepared] for Baal [the false god, idol]. word study 9 Therefore I will take back [recover, reclaim] My grain [corn, crops] in its time [season, appointed hour] and My new wine [freshly made wine, vintage] in its season [harvest time, due time]; I will take away [remove, withdraw] My wool [flax, clothing material] and linen [garments, covering], which were given [provided, lent] to cover [conceal, hide] her nakedness [shame, vulnerability]. word study 10 And then I [the Lord] will expose [uncover, reveal] her lewdness [shame, immoral behavior] in the sight of her lovers [idolatrous relationships], and no one [none, not a single person] will deliver [rescue, save] her out of My [God’s, divine] hands [power, control]. word study 11 I will put an end [bring to a complete stop, cause to cease] to all her exultation [mirth, joyful celebrations]: her feasts [appointed festivals, solemn assemblies], New Moons [monthly celebrations, special times], and Sabbaths [weekly days of rest, holy days]— all her appointed [scheduled, sacred] feasts [festivals, gatherings]. word study 12 I will destroy [lay waste, make desolate] her vines and fig trees [which she considers rewards], which she thinks are the wages [payments, gifts] paid by her lovers [those who love her, idols]. So I will make them into a thicket [forest, wilderness], and the beasts of the field [wild animals, creatures] will devour [eat, consume] them. word study 13 I will punish [visit judgment upon] her for the days [times, periods] of the Baals [idols, false gods] when she burned [offered, made] incense [fragrant offerings, worship] to them, when she decked [adorned, arrayed] herself with rings [earrings, jewelry] and jewelry [ornaments, treasures], and went after [pursued, followed] her lovers [idolatrous loves, false affections]. But Me [myself, the one true God] she forgot [disregarded, neglected],” declares [says, proclaims] the LORD [Yehovah, the Almighty]. word study 14 “Therefore, behold, I will allure [win back, persuade] her and lead [bring, guide] her to the wilderness [desolate place, barren land], and speak [talk, communicate] to her tenderly [comfortably, with kindness, in a loving manner]. word study 15 There I will give back her vineyards [and restore her fertile lands] and make the Valley of Achor into a gateway [or door] of hope [and new opportunity]. There she will respond [with love and devotion, singing] as she did in the days [or periods] of her youth [when she was first loved and redeemed], as in the day [or time] she came up out of Egypt [a place of bondage and slavery]. word study 16 In that day [at that future time, in the day of the Lord],” declares the LORD [the covenant God, Yehovah], “you will call Me ‘my Husband [Ishi, my loving companion],’ and no longer call Me ‘my Master [Baali, my lord or owner].’ word study 17 For I will remove [take away, eliminate] from her lips the names [invocations, utterances] of the Baals [false gods, idols]; no longer [never again, not anymore] will their names [titles, designations] be invoked [called upon, remembered]. word study 18 On that day [in the future, at a specific time] I will make a covenant [a solemn agreement, a promise] for them with the beasts [wild animals, creatures] of the field and the birds [fowls] of the air and the creatures [creeping things] that crawl [move low] on the ground. And I will abolish [break, destroy] bow [weapons] and sword [instruments of war] and weapons [instruments] of war in the land, and will make them lie down [sleep, rest] in safety [security, peace]. word study 19 So I will betroth [espouse, marry] you to Me forever; I will betroth [pledge, commit] you in righteousness [justice, moral integrity] and justice [fairness, right judgment], in loving devotion [kindness, faithful love] and compassion [mercy, tender affection]. word study 20 And I will betroth [take as my bride, marry] you in faithfulness [loyalty, trustworthiness], and you will know [have an intimate understanding of, be acquainted with] the LORD [Yehovah, the one true God].” word study 21 “On that day [when the time is right, in that future era] I will respond [answer, hear and act]—” declares the LORD [the covenant God, Yehovah]— “I will respond [speak and act] to the heavens [the sky, the celestial realm], and they will respond [answer, give back] to the earth [the land, the physical world]. word study 22 And the earth [the land, the material world] will respond [answer, hear] to the grain [corn, crops], to the new wine [fresh wine, wine from the current harvest] and oil [olive oil], and they will respond [answer, hear] to Jezreel [God sows]. word study 23 And I will sow her [in a special relationship] as My own in the land [the earth, a promised territory], and I will have compassion [mercy, pity, and love] on ‘No Compassion.’ I will say to those called ‘Not My People,’ ‘You are My people [beloved, chosen ones],’ and they will say, ‘You are my God [the Lord, my Rock and Redeemer].’” word study