Hosea 2 17

Hosea 2:17 kjv

For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name.

Hosea 2:17 nkjv

For I will take from her mouth the names of the Baals, And they shall be remembered by their name no more.

Hosea 2:17 niv

I will remove the names of the Baals from her lips; no longer will their names be invoked.

Hosea 2:17 esv

For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth, and they shall be remembered by name no more.

Hosea 2:17 nlt

O Israel, I will wipe the many names of Baal from your lips,
and you will never mention them again.

Hosea 2 verses

Hosea 2 17 Meaning

Hosea 2:17 encapsulates a divine promise of radical restoration for unfaithful Israel. After a period of judgment and wilderness wandering, the Lord pledges to transform places of trouble and despair into sources of immense hope and blessing. The land, specifically described by the metaphor of vineyards, will be given directly by God, symbolizing renewed provision and prosperity. The Valley of Achor, historically a site of judgment and trouble, will be supernaturally repurposed as an entryway to a hopeful future. This profound reversal will lead Israel to a renewed joy and intimate covenant relationship with God, echoing the fresh enthusiasm and pure devotion experienced at the time of their miraculous deliverance from Egypt, which marked the foundational period of their national existence with God.

Hosea 2 17 Context

Hosea chapter 2 shifts dramatically from passages condemning Israel's spiritual infidelity (depicted as marital adultery) and pronouncing judgment. After outlining severe consequences for forsaking YHWH for Baal and other deities, verses 14-23 pivot to a powerful promise of restoration. The Lord declares His intention to "allure" His bride, Israel, back into the wilderness – a place of isolation and testing, reminiscent of their early national days. This wilderness journey, however, is not just punishment but also an act of divine love intended to bring repentance and renew intimacy. Verse 17 directly follows this promise of wilderness re-engagement, indicating that from this crucible, God Himself will provide, transform places of pain into portals of hope, and restore Israel's spiritual vitality to its foundational, pre-apostasy vigor, particularly referencing their joyous liberation from Egypt. Historically, Israel had embraced Baal worship for fertility and prosperity, forgetting that YHWH was the true provider. This verse directly refutes that mindset by proclaiming YHWH's sovereign power to grant prosperity and turn curse into blessing.

Hosea 2 17 Word analysis

• I will give her: This emphasizes God's sovereign initiative and grace. It's not something Israel earns but a gift bestowed by divine will, demonstrating Yahweh's persistent love despite Israel's infidelity. The subject is "I," which is God Himself, the one who both disciplined and now restores.
• vineyards (כְּרָמֶיהָ - kerameyha): Vineyards in the biblical context are symbols of prosperity, blessing, fruitfulness, joy, and often Israel itself as God's chosen "vine" (Isa 5:7). This reverses the previous threat in Hosea 2:12 to lay waste to her vines and fig trees. God promises to re-establish a source of abundant provision and delight directly, without Baal.
• from there (מִשָּׁם - misham): Refers back to the "wilderness" mentioned in Hosea 2:15 ("Therefore, behold, I will allure her and bring her into the wilderness"). This signifies that even in a place of isolation, discipline, or barrenness, God will cause prosperity and new beginnings to emerge. It underscores His power to create life and hope in seemingly desolate circumstances.
• the Valley of Achor (וְאֶת־עֵמֶק עָכוֹר - wə'et-ʻēmeq ʻĀḵōr): 'Emeq 'Akor literally means "Valley of Trouble" or "Valley of Achan's Trouble." It refers to the historical site where Achan's sin and subsequent stoning occurred, leading to Israel's defeat at Ai (Josh 7:24-26). It was a place of divine judgment, communal guilt, and despair. Mentioning this specific valley is powerful: God will transform the very symbol of sin and its punishment into something positive.
• as a door of hope (לְפֶתַח תִּקְוָה - ləpetaḥ tiqwah):
  • petaḥ: This word can mean "opening," "door," "gate," or "entrance." It implies accessibility, a new way forward.
  • tiqvah: Means "hope," "expectation," "a cord." The "cord" meaning can suggest a lifeline, a binding assurance. This phrase is central to the verse's redemptive message. It signifies a radical reversal where the scene of past tribulation becomes the threshold to a new and promising future. God opens up prospects where only despair existed.
• there she will sing (וְשָׁמָּה עָנְתָה - wəšammah ‘ānəṯāh): Singing is an expression of joy, praise, and deliverance. This stands in stark contrast to weeping, mourning, or shame. It indicates Israel's restored spirit of worship and celebration, no longer silent in distress but vocal in praise.
• as in the days of her youth (כִּימֵי נְעוּרֶיהָ - kîmê nǝ‘ûreyhā): "Youth" here refers to the early, pure, and passionate stages of Israel's relationship with God, particularly after their initial covenant with Him. It signifies a time of innocence, first love, and unswerving devotion, preceding their apostasy. This implies a restoration to their spiritual vigor and original commitment.
• as in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt (וּכְיוֹם עֲלֹתָהּ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם - ûkǝyôm ‘alōṯāh mē'ereṣ Miṣrayim): This is a powerful "new Exodus" motif. The Exodus from Egypt was the foundational salvific event for Israel, marking their birth as a nation, their liberation from bondage, and the establishment of their covenant with YHWH (Exo 15). The promise is that the coming restoration will be as grand, miraculous, joyous, and covenant-defining as that original deliverance, signifying a fresh, profound renewal of God's saving work and Israel's grateful response.

Words-group analysis

• I will give her vineyards from there: This phrase signifies God's divine provision emerging precisely from a challenging period or desolate location. It underscores that true prosperity comes from YHWH, even amidst or immediately after disciplinary seasons (the wilderness/trouble).
• the Valley of Achor as a door of hope: This is a powerful metaphor for God's transformative grace. It demonstrates that the Lord not only forgives past sins but also repurposes the very consequences or locations of sin and judgment into an opening for future blessing and renewed expectation. It's a profound reversal, turning despair into opportunity.
• there she will sing as in the days of her youth, as in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt: This vivid image promises a full spiritual and emotional restoration. It anticipates a return to Israel's original fervent love, trust, and celebratory worship of God, replicating the joy and commitment experienced at the Exodus. This indicates a deep, covenantal renewal and a fresh encounter with God's saving power.

Hosea 2 17 Bonus section

The promise of "new vineyards" signifies more than mere agricultural bounty; it represents renewed spiritual fruitfulness and prosperity tied directly to God's covenant blessings. This is a divine re-gardening of a spiritually desolate people. The transformation of Achor foreshadows the broader New Covenant principle that places of sin and suffering can become grounds for grace and new life through divine intervention. This echoes Christ's work on the cross, turning the instrument of curse into the ultimate source of hope. The repeated reference to the Exodus and the "days of youth" underscores God's desire not merely for Israel to return to Him, but to return to a vibrant, authentic relationship akin to a "first love," free from the corrupting influences that led to their infidelity. This speaks to the possibility of a "new Exodus" for all believers, a fresh deliverance from spiritual bondage and renewed zeal for God's ways.

Hosea 2 17 Commentary

Hosea 2:17 reveals the depth of God's unwavering redemptive love for Israel. Despite their idolatry and unfaithfulness, personified as an unfaithful wife, God announces a radical act of grace. He will take the very symbol of judgment and consequence—the wilderness and the Valley of Achor—and transform it. The wilderness, previously a place of testing, becomes the origin of abundant vineyards. The Valley of Achor, infamous for Achan's sin and its punitive consequences, is divinely converted into a "door of hope," an entryway to a renewed future. This transformation elicits an outpouring of joy from Israel, expressed through singing. The depth of this restored joy and spiritual fervor is likened to their foundational Exodus experience and the purity of their early covenant relationship. The verse highlights God's sovereign power to bring profound spiritual and material restoration, reversing curse into blessing and fostering a deeper intimacy than before, thereby revealing His faithful, transforming character.