HOS

Hosea 3

BSB

Hosea Redeems His Wife

(Zechariah 2:6–13)

1Then the LORD said to me, “Go show love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and offer raisin cakes to idols.”

2So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethech of barley. 3Then I said to her, “You must live with me for many days; you must not be promiscuous or belong to another, and I will do the same for you.”

4For the Israelites must live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, and without ephod or idol. 5Afterward, the people of Israel will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the LORD and to His goodness in the last days.

Matthew Henry's chapter overview

Introduction

Hosea 3

God is still by the prophet inculcating the same thing upon this careless people, and much in the same manner as before, by a type or sign, that of the dealings of a husband with an adulterous wife. In this chapter we have, I. The bad character which the people of Israel now had; they were, as is said of the Athenians (Act 17:16), "wholly given to idolatry," (Hos 3:1). II. The low condition which they should be reduced to by their captivity, and the other instances of God's controversy with them (Hos 3:2-4). III. The blessed reformation that should at length be wrought upon them in the latter days (Hos 3:5).

Cross-references: Acts 17:16 · Hos 3:1 · Hos 3:2 · Hos 3:5