Hosea 2 9

Hosea 2:9 kjv

Therefore will I return, and take away my corn in the time thereof, and my wine in the season thereof, and will recover my wool and my flax given to cover her nakedness.

Hosea 2:9 nkjv

"Therefore I will return and take away My grain in its time And My new wine in its season, And will take back My wool and My linen, Given to cover her nakedness.

Hosea 2:9 niv

"Therefore I will take away my grain when it ripens, and my new wine when it is ready. I will take back my wool and my linen, intended to cover her naked body.

Hosea 2:9 esv

Therefore I will take back my grain in its time, and my wine in its season, and I will take away my wool and my flax, which were to cover her nakedness.

Hosea 2:9 nlt

"But now I will take back the ripened grain and new wine
I generously provided each harvest season.
I will take away the wool and linen clothing
I gave her to cover her nakedness.

Hosea 2 verses

Hosea 2 9 Meaning

Hosea 2:9 proclaims the Lord's resolve to reclaim the material blessings He previously bestowed upon Israel, specifically grain, new wine, wool, and linen. These provisions were given for sustenance and covering, but Israel had attributed them to their pagan deities, particularly Baal, whom they pursued in spiritual adultery. God's action here is a just and direct consequence, demonstrating His sole proprietorship over creation's bounty and aiming to expose the emptiness of idol worship and bring Israel to recognize Him as their true provider. It reveals a punitive measure designed to discipline Israel by withholding the very resources they wrongfully believed came from other gods, thereby exposing their idolatrous folly and leaving them exposed and destitute.

Hosea 2 9 Context

Hosea 2:9 is nestled within a powerful prophetic lament and judgment against Israel, depicted metaphorically as God's unfaithful wife, Gomer. Chapters 1-3 serve as a dramatic representation of God's covenant relationship with Israel and their spiritual harlotry. Chapter 2 opens with a "divorce suit" where God exposes Israel's pursuit of "lovers" (idols) whom they wrongly believed provided their blessings (v. 5). The preceding verses describe God's efforts to block her path (v. 6) and her subsequent realization that her former security was better (v. 7). Verse 8 explicitly states Israel's failure to acknowledge that God, not Baal, was the source of their grain, new wine, oil, silver, and gold. Therefore, verse 9 directly introduces God's punitive response to this spiritual infidelity and misattribution of divine blessing.

Historically, this prophetic word was primarily addressed to the Northern Kingdom of Israel in the 8th century BC. This period was characterized by widespread Baal worship, an agricultural fertility cult that promised good harvests, rain, and abundance. The Israelites adopted these practices, intertwining them with the worship of Yahweh or abandoning Yahweh altogether. Hosea's message powerfully refutes this syncretism and polytheism, asserting Yahweh's exclusive sovereignty over the very aspects of life that Baal was purported to control—agricultural fertility, the seasonal rains, and material prosperity. God’s act of taking back these specific resources is a direct polemic, revealing the impotence of Baal and other idols to truly provide and demonstrating that Yahweh is the true Giver of all good things, who also has the power to withhold them.

Hosea 2 9 Word analysis

• Therefore (לָכֵן - lakhen): This Hebrew adverb signifies a direct consequence, indicating that what follows is a logical result or conclusion drawn from the preceding statements. In this context, it links God's actions directly to Israel's idolatrous ingratitude as described in verse 8.
• I will take back (אֶקַּח - eqqaḥ): Derived from the root לָקַח (laqah), meaning "to take, receive, seize, fetch." The active voice "I will take back" implies an intentional act of reclamation. It emphasizes God's sovereign right to withdraw what was originally His to give, reversing His prior blessing. It’s a divine re-possession.
• My grain (דְּגָנִי - d'gānī): Dagan (grain, corn) is a staple food, representing basic sustenance and agricultural wealth. The possessive suffix "-i" (My) is crucial, explicitly declaring divine ownership, challenging Israel's (and Baal's) claims over the harvest. This reiterates the point that God is the provider, not Baal.
• in its time (בְעִתּוֹ - b'itto): This phrase (lit. "in its time") refers to the regular, appointed season for harvest. God’s withdrawal is precisely at the time when the people would expect abundance, thereby magnifying the impact and proving His control over natural cycles.
• And My new wine (וְתִירֹושִׁי - w'tirôshī): Tirosh refers to freshly pressed wine, symbolic of joyous celebration and prosperity. Like grain, the "My" indicates divine ownership and refutes any idea that Baal grants the grape harvest.
• in its season (בְמוֹעֲדוֹ - b'moʿădô): Similar to "in its time," this specifies the fixed season or appointed time, again highlighting God's meticulous control over the timing of agricultural yields.
• I will also take away (וְהִצַּלְתִּי - w'hitstaltī): This verb can mean "to deliver," "to rescue," but in this context from the Hiphil stem, it signifies "to cause to escape," or "to snatch away" - God removing something for His purposes. The meaning "to take away" or "rescue from them" fits the punitive context. It is an act of divestment.
• My wool and My linen (צַמְרִי וּפִשְׁתִּי - tsamrī ūphish'tī): Wool (from sheep) and linen (from flax) are raw materials for clothing, representing comfort, dignity, and often wealth or status in ancient societies. The repeated "My" again underscores divine ownership of these resources.
• which were to cover (לְכַסּוֹת - lekhassōt): From kasah, meaning "to cover." This refers to their intended purpose – to provide clothing.
• her nakedness (עֶרְוָתָהּ - ʿerwatah): ʿErwah literally means "nakedness," often carrying connotations of shame, disgrace, vulnerability, or exposure due to punishment. Spiritually, Israel’s "nakedness" refers to her spiritual barrenness and shame resulting from her idolatry. God withdrawing these materials leaves them physically bare, symbolizing their spiritual disgrace before Him and before other nations.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Therefore I will take back My grain in its time And My new wine in its season": This pairing highlights the basic sustenance provided by God through the agricultural cycles. It underscores God's meticulous timing, not just in providing, but also in withdrawing. This reversal of blessing serves as a stark lesson: the source of life is not Baal, but Yahweh.
• "I will also take away My wool and My linen, which were to cover her nakedness": This refers to comfort, dignity, and protection. Losing these would mean public shame, vulnerability, and hardship. The phrase "to cover her nakedness" is critical, indicating that God is withdrawing protection from exposure and humiliation, a direct consequence of her spiritual promiscuity which led to disgrace. It’s a revelation of Israel's shameful state.

Hosea 2 9 Bonus section

The withdrawal of these tangible blessings served not only as punishment but also as an intense pedagogical tool. By experiencing the loss of their physical provisions, the Israelites would be compelled to rethink their dependence and re-evaluate their source of blessing. The nakedness described here is more than physical exposure; it is a profound spiritual and public shaming, meant to awaken Israel to the ignominy of their idolatrous pursuits and break their allegiance to false gods. This specific form of judgment (reclaiming goods they thought came from Baal) mirrors Israel's spiritual abandonment (they gave their affections to Baal) and shows a reciprocal action from God. While harsh, this discipline aligns with God's ultimate intention to restore His people, as seen later in Hosea 2 where reconciliation is promised once they repent and acknowledge Him alone.

Hosea 2 9 Commentary

Hosea 2:9 delivers a powerful and direct message of divine judgment. After exposing Israel’s spiritual adultery in crediting false gods with their prosperity, the Lord announces His deliberate intervention. By stating "Therefore I will take back My grain... My new wine... My wool and My linen," God asserts His ultimate ownership and control over all blessings. These are not merely general misfortunes but specific retractions of gifts that Israel attributed to Baal, directly undermining the false god's perceived power. This divine reclamation leaves Israel destitute and publicly shamed ("nakedness"), a visible consequence of their spiritual harlotry. The act of God removing the very garments and food symbolizes His rejection of their syncretism and their unfaithfulness. The judgment is purposeful: to expose the impotence of idols, lead Israel to deep regret over their betrayal, and ultimately, to force them to acknowledge Yahweh as their one true provider, preparing them for restoration based on genuine repentance. It's a severe discipline from a jealous God who loves His covenant people enough to inflict pain for their purification and return.