Hosea 2:13 kjv
And I will visit upon her the days of Baalim, wherein she burned incense to them, and she decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, and she went after her lovers, and forgat me, saith the LORD.
Hosea 2:13 nkjv
I will punish her For the days of the Baals to which she burned incense. She decked herself with her earrings and jewelry, And went after her lovers; But Me she forgot," says the LORD.
Hosea 2:13 niv
I will punish her for the days she burned incense to the Baals; she decked herself with rings and jewelry, and went after her lovers, but me she forgot," declares the LORD.
Hosea 2:13 esv
And I will punish her for the feast days of the Baals when she burned offerings to them and adorned herself with her ring and jewelry, and went after her lovers and forgot me, declares the LORD.
Hosea 2:13 nlt
I will punish her for all those times
when she burned incense to her images of Baal,
when she put on her earrings and jewels
and went out to look for her lovers
but forgot all about me,"
says the LORD.
Hosea 2 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Judg 3:7 | The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and forgot...served the Baals and the Asherahs. | Forgetting God and serving idols. |
| 2 Kgs 17:7-12 | They walked in the customs of the nations whom the LORD drove out...served idols...made molten images...worshipped all the host of heaven. | Idolatry as reason for judgment. |
| Ps 106:21 | They forgot God, their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt. | Forgetting God's deliverance and identity. |
| Isa 42:8 | I am the LORD; that is My name; My glory I give to no other, nor My praise to carved idols. | God's unique glory not shared with idols. |
| Jer 2:13 | My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain...and hewed out cisterns that can hold no water. | Forsaking God for useless idols. |
| Jer 2:32 | Can a virgin forget her ornaments...My people have forgotten Me days without number. | The depth of forgetting God. |
| Jer 3:6-9 | Have you seen what faithless Israel did...? She played the whore upon every high hill...did not return. | Idolatry as spiritual prostitution. |
| Ezek 16:15-19 | You played the whore because of your renown and lavished your whorings on everyone...You took your beautiful jewels...and made images of men. | Misuse of gifts for idolatry/harlotry. |
| Ezek 16:32-34 | An adulterous wife, who receives strangers instead of her husband! | Israel as an adulterous wife. |
| Ezek 23:36-39 | ...You have played the whore with them...You sacrificed your children to them. | Idolatry's vile depths. |
| Hos 2:5 | For she said, 'I will go after my lovers, who give me my bread and my water...My wool and My flax...' | Believing idols provide necessities. |
| Hos 2:8 | She did not know that it was I who gave her the grain, the wine, and the oil...they used for Baal. | God as the true, unrecognized provider. |
| Amos 2:4 | For three transgressions of Judah...because they have despised the law of the LORD...their idols led them astray. | Judgment for despising God's law and idols. |
| Mal 3:5 | Then I will draw near to you for judgment...against those who oppress the wage earner...who do not fear Me. | God Himself draws near for judgment. |
| Rom 1:21-25 | Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images... | Exchanging God for creation/idolatry. |
| 1 Cor 10:14 | Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. | Direct call to avoid idolatry. |
| Jas 4:4 | You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? | Spiritual adultery with the world. |
| Rev 17:1-6 | I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names...the mother of prostitutes. | Ultimate picture of spiritual prostitution. |
| Deut 6:10-12 | When the LORD your God brings you into the land...beware lest you forget the LORD. | Warning not to forget God amid blessings. |
| Deut 32:18 | You forgot the Rock who gave you birth and out of mind the God who bore you. | Forgetting God as creator and sustainer. |
Hosea 2 verses
Hosea 2 13 Meaning
Hosea 2:13 reveals the Lord's coming judgment upon unfaithful Israel for her spiritual adultery. The "punishment" is a consequence for specific actions: worshipping the Canaanite fertility gods, known as Baals, burning offerings to them, and adorning herself with jewelry and rings to entice these false deities as "lovers." This idolatry constituted a profound betrayal of her covenant relationship with Yahweh, culminating in her "forgetting" Him, her true Husband and Provider. The verse concludes with the emphatic "declares the Lord," affirming the divine certainty and authority of this pronouncement.
Hosea 2 13 Context
Hosea 2 is a vivid metaphorical depiction of God's covenant relationship with Israel, using the analogy of a marriage between a faithful husband and an unfaithful wife. Israel, symbolized by Hosea's wife Gomer, had abandoned Yahweh to pursue "lovers," representing the Canaanite fertility gods (Baals) and possibly foreign political alliances. The chapter details Israel's folly in believing these "lovers" provided her prosperity (Hos 2:5) while it was Yahweh who sustained her. Verse 13 specifically names the "Baals" and particular idolatrous acts, serving as the climax of God's indictment against her deep-seated apostasy, necessitating severe punitive measures (Hos 2:6-13) before His redemptive love (Hos 2:14-23) can begin to heal the broken relationship and restore His people. Historically, the Northern Kingdom of Israel was heavily influenced by Canaanite agricultural and fertility cults, which promised abundance, tempting them away from the covenant with the Lord.
Hosea 2 13 Word analysis
- And I will punish her: The Hebrew word for "punish" is paqad (פקד), which means to visit, inspect, or call to account. In this context, it carries the force of a judicial visitation for judgment, implying God's detailed knowledge of their actions and His holding them responsible for their covenant breaking. This is a righteous divine reckoning.
- for the days of the Baals: The phrase yamot ha-B'alim (יְמֵי הַבְּעָלִים) refers to a long, sustained period or "days" where Baal worship was dominant. Ba'alim is the plural form of Ba'al, meaning "lord" or "owner," and refers to the various local manifestations of the Canaanite storm and fertility deity. This highlights the widespread, ingrained nature of Israel's idolatry, challenging Baal's claim as "owner" over the land and its productivity, directly contrasting with Yahweh as the true Husband and Landowner.
- when she burned offerings to them: The Hebrew verb qittarta (קִטְּרָה) indicates burning incense, a common act of worship. This signifies overt, ritualistic devotion paid to the false gods, a tangible expression of their apostasy.
- and wore her rings and jewelry: The words nizmah (נִזְמָהּ) for "rings" (often nose or ear rings) and ḥaliyāh (וַחֲלִיָּהּ) for "jewelry" or "ornaments" refer to adornments typically given as gifts by a husband or worn for attraction. Here, they symbolize Israel's lavish efforts to attract or appease her idol "lovers," or perhaps even represent the material blessings from Yahweh that were ironically used to honor the Baals, further offending Him. This indicates a misdirection of beauty, wealth, and affection.
- and went after her lovers: The Hebrew m'ahaveha (מְאַהֲבֶיהָ) means "her lovers," a metaphor for the Baals and the foreign nations/alliances Israel sought instead of Yahweh. This phrase underscores the deep spiritual infidelity and betrayal inherent in their idolatry, likening it to a wife abandoning her legitimate husband for illicit relationships.
- and forgot me: The Hebrew verb shakach (שָׁכַח) implies more than a simple memory lapse. It signifies a profound disregard, a deliberate turning away from remembrance, covenant relationship, and the goodness of God. It is a willful spiritual amnesia that breaks the foundational bond of loyalty and gratitude.
- declares the Lord: This prophetic formula, nəʼum YHWH (נְאֻם יְהוָה), powerfully emphasizes the divine origin and certainty of the judgment. It underscores God's sovereignty and His unwavering commitment to His righteous decrees.
Hosea 2 13 Bonus section
The "days of the Baals" signify a prolonged and pervasive societal issue in ancient Israel, not just isolated acts of sin. This persistent turning away from Yahweh despite His sustained provision underscores the theme of divine patience stretched to its limit. The use of "lovers" not only denotes the false gods but could also subtly refer to political alliances Israel sought with powerful nations, relying on them for security and prosperity rather than on the Lord. Such alliances often required acknowledging their gods or practices, blending political infidelity with spiritual apostasy. Furthermore, the rings and jewelry can be understood as evidence of blessings God had previously bestowed upon Israel (similar to how a husband gives gifts to his bride in Ezek 16), which were then prostituted, turning symbols of God's love into tools for illicit worship.
Hosea 2 13 Commentary
Hosea 2:13 is a pivotal declaration of divine judgment rooted in Israel's unyielding spiritual idolatry. It lays bare the extent of their unfaithfulness, framing their pursuit of the Baals as flagrant marital betrayal against Yahweh, their true covenant Husband. The Lord's "punishment" is not arbitrary but a just consequence for their consistent pattern of seeking illicit "lovers" (Baals) for prosperity, disregarding Him, the sole Giver of all good things. The specific imagery of burning offerings and wearing lavish adornments for these false gods paints a picture of intense, misguided devotion that should have been reserved for Him alone. Ultimately, "forgetting" God implies a deliberate abandonment of their relationship, covenant, and His very identity. This verse underscores the deep offense of idolatry, highlighting it as a personal wound to God and a direct violation of the covenant, thereby necessitating His just response before any prospect of future restoration.