Hosea 2:20 kjv
I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD.
Hosea 2:20 nkjv
I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, And you shall know the LORD.
Hosea 2:20 niv
I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the LORD.
Hosea 2:20 esv
I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the LORD.
Hosea 2:20 nlt
I will be faithful to you and make you mine,
and you will finally know me as the LORD.
Hosea 2 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 31:33 | "I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." | New Covenant intimacy |
| Jer 31:34 | "No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me," | Universal knowledge of God |
| Eze 16:8 | "When I passed by you again and looked upon you, indeed your time was the time of love; so I spread My wing over you... indeed, I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you,' says the Lord G OD, 'and you became Mine.'" | God's initiatory covenant love |
| Isa 54:5 | "For your Maker is your husband, The L ORD of hosts is His name;" | God as Israel's divine Husband |
| Isa 11:9 | "For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea." | Eschatological knowledge of God |
| Jer 9:24 | "Let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the L ORD..." | Knowing God as ultimate boast |
| Deut 7:9 | "Therefore know that the L ORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy..." | God's faithfulness to covenant |
| Ps 89:24 | "But My faithfulness and My mercy shall be with him, And in My name his horn shall be exalted." | God's unchanging faithfulness |
| Ps 36:5 | "Your mercy, O L ORD, is in the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds." | Boundless divine faithfulness |
| Lam 3:23 | "They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness." | God's renewed faithfulness daily |
| 2 Tim 2:13 | "If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself." | God's faithfulness despite human failing |
| Hos 4:1 | "For the L ORD brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: 'Because there is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land.'" | Contrast: Israel's lack of knowledge |
| Hos 4:6 | "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you..." | Lack of knowledge leads to destruction |
| John 17:3 | "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." | Knowing God as eternal life |
| Phil 3:10 | "that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings..." | Knowing Christ experientially |
| Rom 11:26 | "And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: 'The Deliverer will come out of Zion...'" | Ultimate salvation of Israel |
| Rev 19:7 | "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." | Eschatological marriage of the Lamb |
| Rev 21:2 | "Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." | New Jerusalem as bride of Christ |
| Gen 18:19 | "For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the L ORD, to do righteousness and justice..." | Knowledge implies relationship and obedience |
| Ex 19:5 | "Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people..." | God's covenant with Israel as treasure |
| Jer 24:7 | "Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the L ORD; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart." | God gives the ability to know Him |
| Isa 53:11 | "By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities." | Knowledge connected to salvation |
Hosea 2 verses
Hosea 2 20 Meaning
Hosea 2:20 (Hebrew 2:22) signifies God's unwavering intention to fully restore His covenant relationship with Israel, envisioned as a remarriage after a period of separation due to their unfaithfulness. This betrothal is not contingent on Israel's merit but established in God's inherent faithfulness and loyalty. The profound outcome of this restored intimacy is that Israel will come to experientially and deeply "know the Lord," moving beyond mere intellectual acknowledgment to a vibrant, obedient, and personal relationship with their God, reversing their previous spiritual estrangement and idolatry.
Hosea 2 20 Context
Hosea chapter 2 depicts the cycle of Israel's spiritual adultery, divine judgment, and ultimate restoration, employing the vivid metaphor of God's troubled marriage to an unfaithful wife (Israel). Before verse 20, God declares He will "plead" with His wife, bringing her into the wilderness (v. 14) to speak tenderly to her, promising to transform barrenness into abundance. This sets the stage for a renewal of the marriage covenant, moving beyond the severe judgment pronounced earlier in the chapter (vv. 2-13). Verse 20 (and often verse 19, depending on translation) outlines the specific terms of this new betrothal, emphasizing its divine origin and lasting nature, leading to a profound transformation in Israel's relationship with YHWH, marked by intimate knowledge and exclusive devotion, in stark contrast to their previous idolatry and rebellion in the Northern Kingdom of Israel during the 8th century BC. This historical period was characterized by political instability, foreign alliances, and rampant Baal worship, directly addressed by Hosea's prophecy.
Hosea 2 20 Word analysis
- I will betroth you to me (ʾĒrḗśtîk bî):
- ʾĒrḗśtîk (אארשׂתיךְ - from ʾāras, to betroth, engage): This verb signifies a legal and binding engagement that establishes an exclusive claim. It's a deep, covenantal bond, even more solemn and irreversible than simply 'marry' (which could involve divorce). This indicates God's unwavering initiative to re-establish an intimate and exclusive relationship with Israel, taking the responsibility upon Himself. The repetition of "I will betroth you" (ESV uses this twice in v.19) highlights the certainty and divine initiative of this renewed covenant, transforming Israel from a "not my people" (Hos 1:9) back into His bride.
- bî (לי - "to me"): Emphasizes the personal and exclusive nature of the renewed relationship directly with YHWH. It's a call away from all foreign deities and alliances.
- in faithfulness (bəʾĕmūnâ):
- ʾĕmūnâ (בֶּאֱמוּנָה - faithfulness, steadfastness, loyalty, truth, trustworthiness): This key theological term describes God's unwavering character and commitment. It is the basis for the renewed covenant. Unlike Israel's past treachery (Hosea often indicts Israel for lacking emet, 'truth/faithfulness'), God's loyalty remains unshaken. This quality will be foundational to the restored relationship, fostering trust and security. It directly contrasts the unreliable, capricious nature of the Baal gods whom Israel previously served.
- And you shall know the Lord (wəyādaʿt lă-YHWH):
- wəyādaʿt (וידעתּ - from yādaʿ, to know): This is not merely intellectual recognition but deep, intimate, experiential, and relational knowledge, as in the covenant sense (Gen 18:19 - "I have known him"). It implies an understanding that leads to allegiance, obedience, and reciprocal love. It encompasses communion and commitment. This contrasts sharply with Israel's prior spiritual ignorance and practical rejection of God (Hos 4:1, 4:6), which was the root cause of their decay.
- lă-YHWH (ליהוה - "the Lord" / "to YHWH"): The full personal name of God, emphasizing the exclusive and proper object of this deep, salvific knowledge. This is a personal God, not an abstract deity, and Israel will finally acknowledge and relate to Him fully and truly.
Hosea 2 20 Bonus section
The fulfillment of "knowing the Lord" encompasses both intellectual understanding and practical living, leading to a changed life marked by justice, righteousness, and love (Jer 9:24). This prophetic knowledge also points to a future time when knowledge of God will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea, indicative of the ultimate global reign of Christ (Isa 11:9). The concept of betrothal here highlights the permanence of God's love and the certainty of His promise. Unlike a marriage which can be broken by divorce, a betrothal was largely indissoluble under Israelite law. Thus, God committing to "betroth" Israel suggests a bond that He will never break, ensuring their final redemption. This covenant knowledge implies not only knowing about God but knowing Him in a way that aligns one's will with His, leading to transformation from within, akin to the New Covenant's promise of God writing His law on hearts.
Hosea 2 20 Commentary
Hosea 2:20 is a profound promise of restorative grace, serving as the climax of God's redemptive "I will" statements in Hosea 2. After outlining the judgment Israel would endure due to their unfaithfulness, God pivots to a vision of their future restoration, expressed through the intimate metaphor of re-betrothal. The emphasis lies entirely on God's initiative and His unchangeable character. He, the offended Party, extends grace, choosing to re-establish a covenant "in faithfulness," which speaks to His unwavering reliability, His commitment to His covenant people, and His constant, steadfast love. This divine act of hesed (loyal love) is the bedrock of the renewed relationship. The desired and divinely guaranteed outcome of this spiritual reconciliation is that Israel "will know the Lord"—a deep, experiential, covenantal knowledge that transforms their relationship from one of spiritual prostitution and rebellion into genuine intimacy and obedience. This prophetic vision not only addresses ancient Israel but prefigures the New Covenant in Christ, where believers are brought into a personal, abiding knowledge of God through faith, sealed by His unfailing faithfulness. It serves as a testament to God's ultimate desire for His people to dwell in faithful, loving communion with Him.