Hosea 2 18

Hosea 2:18 kjv

And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely.

Hosea 2:18 nkjv

In that day I will make a covenant for them With the beasts of the field, With the birds of the air, And with the creeping things of the ground. Bow and sword of battle I will shatter from the earth, To make them lie down safely.

Hosea 2:18 niv

In that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky and the creatures that move along the ground. Bow and sword and battle I will abolish from the land, so that all may lie down in safety.

Hosea 2:18 esv

And I will make for them a covenant on that day with the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the creeping things of the ground. And I will abolish the bow, the sword, and war from the land, and I will make you lie down in safety.

Hosea 2:18 nlt

On that day I will make a covenant
with all the wild animals and the birds of the sky
and the animals that scurry along the ground
so they will not harm you.
I will remove all weapons of war from the land,
all swords and bows,
so you can live unafraid
in peace and safety.

Hosea 2 verses

Hosea 2 18 Meaning

Hosea 2:18 proclaims a future era of divine restoration and ultimate peace for God's people, Israel. In this coming "day," the Creator will establish a covenant ensuring harmony with all wild animals—beasts, birds, and creeping things—thereby reversing the ancient enmity and fear. Concurrently, God will decisively abolish all instruments and manifestations of warfare, removing bow, sword, and battle from the earth. This comprehensive removal of threat will allow Israel to dwell in absolute security and peace, safeguarded by divine power.

Hosea 2 18 Context

Hosea chapter 2 portrays Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness as a harlot (Gomer), illustrating their idolatrous worship of Ba'al, which led to divine judgment. This judgment involved removing material blessings (vv. 5-13), signifying God's discipline to draw His bride back to Himself. Yet, after depicting this severe disciplinary period, the chapter pivots to an astonishing promise of restoration (vv. 14-23). Hosea 2:18 lies within this pivotal section, marking a profound shift from desolation to renewal.

The immediate context is God's declaration that He will allure Israel into the wilderness, speak tenderly to her, and restore her to the state of their first love. Verse 18 then details a crucial aspect of this restoration: a world completely transformed, where past threats from both nature and warfare are irrevocably removed. This prophetic promise directly confronts the Ba'al cult, which Israel sought for agricultural prosperity, fertility, and protection. YHWH declares that He, not Ba'al, has ultimate control over nature and power over war, thereby providing true and lasting peace and security.

Hosea 2 18 Word analysis

• And in that day (בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא - bayyôm hahû): A recurring prophetic phrase denoting a specific future time of God's decisive intervention, often linked to a dramatic shift in history and eschatological fulfillment, highlighting a turning point when God fully manifests His power and purpose.
• will I make a covenant (בְּרִית - berît): Refers to a divinely initiated, solemn agreement. Unlike typical human treaties, God's covenants are often unilateral promises, establishing a relationship and guaranteeing blessings. Here, it is established for Israel but with creation, demonstrating God's sovereign care and total transformation of their environment.
• for them: The covenant is specifically for the benefit of His restored people, Israel.
• with the beasts of the field and with the fowls of heaven and with the creeping things of the ground: This comprehensive tripartite classification includes all forms of wild animal life. It points to a profound reversal of the curse of Gen 3 (enmity) and Gen 9:2 (fear) between humanity and the animal kingdom, indicating a return to an Edenic state of harmony.
• and I will break (וְשָׁבַרְתִּי - wəšāvartî): Implies a powerful, decisive, and irreversible shattering or removal. It is a divine action, not human effort, that achieves this ultimate peace.
• the bow and the sword and the battle (קֶשֶׁת וְחֶרֶב וּמִלְחָמָה - qešet wəḥerev ûmilḥāmāh): Represents a progression from a projectile weapon (bow) to a close-combat weapon (sword) and then to organized conflict itself (battle). This triad signifies the complete eradication of all means and manifestations of war. It is a polemic against reliance on human military might or false deities for security.
• out of the earth (מִן־הָאָרֶץ - min hāʾāreṣ): Implies a total removal from the land or the entire world, signifying a universal and permanent cessation of hostilities.
• and will make them to lie down safely (וְהִשְׁכַּבְתִּים לָבֶטַח - wəhiškabtîm lāveṭaḥ): Paints a vivid picture of perfect peace, rest, and security, free from any threat or fear. The Hebrew word bæṭaḥ (safety/security) indicates undisturbed trust and confidence. This stands in stark contrast to the insecurity Israel faced from internal strife and foreign invaders, and from relying on idols that could not deliver true safety.

Hosea 2 18 Bonus section

• The profound peace promised in Hosea 2:18 is sometimes referred to as shalom, which is more than mere absence of conflict; it signifies wholeness, completeness, prosperity, and wellbeing in all aspects of life, as granted by God.
• The phrase "make a covenant for them with the beasts..." goes beyond the Noahic covenant, which established a basic order for coexistence and involved a fear of man. Hosea's covenant speaks to a restored, harmonious relationship devoid of enmity, even implying the elimination of dangerous beasts or their inherent nature.
• This verse anticipates a core aspect of the New Covenant age and the future Millennial Kingdom, where the peaceable kingdom described in Isaiah 11:6-9 (lion with lamb, etc.) finds its ultimate expression, indicating the cosmic implications of redemption.
• "Lying down safely" suggests a pastoral image, where the people are like a flock under the care of the divine Shepherd, resting without concern for predators (animals or human adversaries), reinforcing God's role as Protector and Provider.

Hosea 2 18 Commentary

Hosea 2:18 encapsulates God's breathtaking vision for the ultimate restoration of His people, transforming a desolate landscape of judgment into an idyllic realm of peace. The verse reveals a dual aspect of divine action: establishing harmony with creation and abolishing war. The covenant with animals reverses the disorder introduced by sin, envisioning an Edenic harmony where humans and beasts coexist without fear, echoing the perfect order of creation. This is not merely an absence of wild animal danger but a restoration of profound ecological balance rooted in God's renewed relationship with Israel.

Simultaneously, God’s decisive act to "break the bow and the sword and the battle" signifies a complete end to all human conflict. This powerful declaration demolishes any reliance on military strength or false gods (like Ba'al) for security. Instead, divine intervention eradicates war from its very presence on earth, ensuring a universal and lasting peace. The outcome is absolute safety, allowing God's people to "lie down safely," a profound image of rest and security given solely by God's provision and protection. This prophetic word points to a future Messianic kingdom, fulfilling broader biblical promises of peace (Shalom) where divine justice and order prevail completely.