Hosea 2 23

Hosea 2:23 kjv

And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.

Hosea 2:23 nkjv

Then I will sow her for Myself in the earth, And I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy; Then I will say to those who were not My people, 'You are My people!' And they shall say, 'You are my God!' "

Hosea 2:23 niv

I will plant her for myself in the land; I will show my love to the one I called 'Not my loved one.' I will say to those called 'Not my people,' 'You are my people'; and they will say, 'You are my God.'?"

Hosea 2:23 esv

and I will sow her for myself in the land. And I will have mercy on No Mercy, and I will say to Not My People, 'You are my people'; and he shall say, 'You are my God.'"

Hosea 2:23 nlt

At that time I will plant a crop of Israelites
and raise them for myself.
I will show love
to those I called 'Not loved.'
And to those I called 'Not my people,'
I will say, 'Now you are my people.'
And they will reply, 'You are our God!'"

Hosea 2 verses

Hosea 2 23 Meaning

Hosea 2:23 is a prophetic promise of radical restoration and renewal for Israel, symbolizing God's deep commitment to reversing their judgment and re-establishing His covenant relationship with them. It signifies God's sovereign act of mercy and grace, transforming a "no-people" into "My people" and those "without mercy" into recipients of divine compassion. The verse depicts God's initiative to 'sow' them back into the land, not merely for physical return but for spiritual flourishing, ultimately leading to a restored, intimate bond where both God and His people reaffirm their unique relationship.

Hosea 2 23 Context

Hosea chapter 2 vividly portrays Israel's spiritual adultery and the LORD's disciplinary judgment, symbolized by the broken marriage of Hosea and Gomer. The chapter describes the consequences of Israel's unfaithfulness—forsaking God for idols (specifically Baal), leading to barrenness and dispersion. However, amidst this pronouncement of judgment, God declares His unyielding love and intent for reconciliation. He promises to lure His unfaithful bride back into the wilderness, speak tenderly to her, and restore their broken covenant. Verse 23 culminates this theme by explicitly reversing the earlier curses of "not My people" (Lo-Ammi) and "no mercy" (Lo-Ruhamah) into a resounding promise of renewed relationship and fruitfulness, showcasing God's persistent and redemptive love that triumphs over judgment.

Hosea 2 23 Word analysis

• And I will sow her for myself in the land:
  • sow (זרע - zara'): This word carries a powerful double meaning. While often referring to "sowing" or "planting" for growth and fruitfulness, it can also mean "scatter." In Hosea's immediate context of judgment and dispersion (e.g., "Jezreel" signifying God scattering), the "sowing" here represents God gathering and re-planting them in their land after their dispersion, ensuring future abundance and re-establishment. It signifies God's active involvement in their restoration, creating life where there was desolation. The phrase "for myself" highlights God's proprietary claim and purpose in this act.
  • her: Refers to Israel, often depicted as God's bride, previously chastised for her unfaithfulness.
  • in the land: Signifies their physical return to the promised land, essential for a people whose identity was tied to their inheritance, and implies a restoration of fruitfulness, a contrast to the barrenness under Baal worship.
• and I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy:
  • mercy (רחם - racham): Derived from rechem (womb), indicating deep, motherly, visceral compassion and tenderness. This is a profound, empathetic mercy, not merely an act of leniency.
  • her who had not obtained mercy (לֹא-רֻחָמָה - Lo-Ruhamah): This directly references Hosea's second child, whose name symbolized God's declared withdrawal of compassion from unrepentant Israel (Hos 1:6). God now pledges to actively grant mercy to those previously denied it due to their sin. This is divine grace overriding judgment.
• and I will say to those who were not My people, ‘You are My people!’:
  • not My people (לֹא-עַמִּי - Lo-Ammi): This refers to Hosea's third child, symbolizing Israel's broken covenant relationship with God (Hos 1:9). God disowned them due to their spiritual idolatry.
  • ‘You are My people!’ (עַמִּי - Ammi): This is a direct reversal and reaffirmation of the foundational covenant promise (Ex 6:7). God initiates the restoration of this sacred relationship, asserting His claim and inviting them back into the covenant, a demonstration of His unfailing love. This includes not just physical Israel, but spiritually, through the New Covenant, the inclusion of those (Gentiles) who were not historically part of God's covenant people, as highlighted in the New Testament.
• And they shall say, ‘You are my God!’:
  • my God: This completes the covenant restoration, moving from God's declaration to the people's heartfelt acknowledgment and submission. It indicates genuine repentance, renewed allegiance, and an intimate, reciprocal relationship where they confess Him as their sole and true divine authority. This is the ultimate goal of God's redemptive plan—a willing people united with their God.

Hosea 2 23 Bonus section

This verse stands as a powerful demonstration of the core biblical theme of redemption—God’s ability to take what is broken, lost, and disowned, and restore it beyond recognition, infusing it with new life and purpose. It speaks to the eschatological hope for the full restoration of Israel, while also having been applied by New Testament apostles (notably Paul in Rom 9 and Peter in 1 Pet 2) to the spiritual inclusion of Gentiles into the covenant family of God through faith in Jesus Christ. Thus, its scope extends beyond ancient Israel to encompass all believers, signifying the universal nature of God's saving grace and the creation of a new, unified "people of God." The reversal of "Lo-Ammi" and "Lo-Ruhamah" by divine declaration ("I will say") illustrates God's sovereign authority to redefine identity and destiny purely on the basis of His compassion and faithfulness, not human merit. This concept prefigures the New Covenant emphasis on salvation by grace through faith.

Hosea 2 23 Commentary

Hosea 2:23 is the climax of divine grace following severe divine judgment. After graphically portraying Israel's spiritual infidelity as an adulterous wife (Gomer) and declaring judicial curses through the symbolic names of Hosea’s children (Jezreel, Lo-Ruhamah, Lo-Ammi), God pivots to an astounding promise of unconditional love and restoration. This verse is fundamentally about God's initiative in renewing the covenant. He pledges to "sow" them, indicating not only a regathering after dispersion but also a re-planting for future growth and blessing, like good seed. The reversal of "Lo-Ruhamah" ("no mercy") to "have mercy" and "Lo-Ammi" ("not My people") to "My people" underscores the triumph of divine compassion over divine justice, a radical act of grace where God gives what was previously withheld. The culmination "they shall say, ‘You are my God!’" signifies genuine repentance and a restored, intimate covenant bond, a reciprocal affirmation between God and His reconciled people. This prophecy finds broad fulfillment not only in the partial return of Israel but more profoundly in the New Covenant through Christ, where believers, Jew and Gentile alike, are brought into God's family and receive His mercy, becoming His people who call Him their God. It demonstrates that God's steadfast love and covenant faithfulness are eternal, prevailing even over humanity's greatest betrayals.