Hosea 3:1 kjv
Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine.
Hosea 3:1 nkjv
Then the LORD said to me, "Go again, love a woman who is loved by a lover and is committing adultery, just like the love of the LORD for the children of Israel, who look to other gods and love the raisin cakes of the pagans."
Hosea 3:1 niv
The LORD said to me, "Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes."
Hosea 3:1 esv
And the LORD said to me, "Go again, love a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love cakes of raisins."
Hosea 3:1 nlt
Then the LORD said to me, "Go and love your wife again, even though she commits adultery with another lover. This will illustrate that the LORD still loves Israel, even though the people have turned to other gods and love to worship them. "
Hosea 3 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Hosea 3:1 | "Then the LORD said to me, 'Go again, love a woman who is loved by another and is an adulteress, just as the LORD loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods.'" | Hosea 1:2 (God's command to Hosea to marry Gomer) |
| Hosea 3:2 | "'So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a half of barley.'" | Exodus 21:32 (Price for a female slave) |
| Hosea 3:3 | "'Then I said to her, “You must wait for me a long time; you are not to commit sexual immorality, nor are you to have sexual relations with a man, nor I with you.”'" | Jeremiah 3:1-2 (Israel's spiritual adultery) |
| Hosea 3:4 | "'For the sons of Israel shall sit many days without a king or prince, and without a sacrifice or a pillar, and without an ephod or teraphim.'" | Jeremiah 3:6-9 (Israel's spiritual harlotry) |
| Hosea 3:5 | "'Afterward the sons of Israel shall return and seek the LORD their God, and David their king, and they shall come with trembling to the LORD and to his goodness in the last days.'" | Isaiah 55:6-7 (Call to return to God) |
| Hosea 14:1-2 | "'Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. Take words with you and return to the LORD; say to him, “Take away all iniquity; accept that which is good, and we will render the speech of our lips instead of the bull. We will not again take up our father’s name with our lips.”'" | Jeremiah 31:18-20 (Repentance and restoration of Ephraim) |
| Jeremiah 3:8 | "'I saw when, for all the adulteries of faithless Israel, I gave her notice and sent her away. Yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but went and played the whore also.'" | Ezekiel 16:15-16 (Describing Jerusalem's idolatry) |
| Ezekiel 23:5 | "'She looked upon Assyria, neighbors, all of them, men of renown, upon whom she doted, with drunkards, all of them, rulers and commanders, gorgeously appareled, horsemen riding on horses, all of them goodly young men.'" | 1 Corinthians 6:15-17 (Sexual immorality and union with Christ) |
| 1 Corinthians 6:18 | "'Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.'" | Revelation 21:9 (The bride of Christ) |
| Revelation 19:7 | "'Let us rejoice and exult and give him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready.'" | Song of Solomon 5:1 (Love of the Shulamite) |
| Romans 9:25-26 | "'As he says also in Hosea, “Those who were not my people shall be called ‘my people,’ and she who was not beloved, ‘beloved.’” And in the very place where it was said to them, “You are not my people,” it shall be said to them, “Children of the living God.”'" | John 10:16 (One flock, one shepherd) |
| Galatians 3:28 | "'There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free, there are neither male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.'" | Isaiah 60:1-3 (Enlargement and blessing of Israel) |
| Ephesians 5:25-27 | "'Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.'" | Revelation 19:7-9 (Marriage supper of the Lamb) |
| Ephesians 5:31-32 | "'However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.' This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church." | Song of Solomon 4:7 (Absence of flaw in the bride) |
| Hebrews 13:4 | "'Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.'" | 1 Peter 1:16 (Be holy, because I am holy) |
| 1 Peter 1:18-19 | "'knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not withperishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.'" | 1 John 3:1-2 (Children of God) |
| Revelation 17:1-2 | "'Then one of the seven angels who were holding the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.”'" | Revelation 18:3 (Idolatrous nations) |
| Psalm 130:7 | "'with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption.'" | Psalm 51:1 (Mercy and forgiveness) |
| Zechariah 10:6 | "'I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph. I will bring them back to the land I gave them, and I will settle them.'" | Acts 10:34-35 (God shows no partiality) |
| Matthew 22:30 | "'For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.'" | Song of Solomon 7:1 (Beauty of the beloved) |
Hosea 3 verses
Hosea 3 1 Meaning
The LORD instructed Hosea to love an unfaithful woman, marry her again, and redeem her. This act is a profound metaphor for God's persistent love and redemptive plan for Israel, who had strayed into idolatry. Hosea's obedience symbolizes God's willingness to forgive and restore His people despite their sins.
Hosea 3 1 Context
Hosea 3:1 occurs immediately after Hosea has been commanded in chapter 2 to confront his unfaithful wife, Gomer. In chapter 2, God speaks through Hosea to describe the unfaithfulness of Israel (symbolized by Gomer) to Him, comparing their idol worship and alliances with foreign nations to adultery. Chapter 3 presents a specific, direct command from God to Hosea to continue loving Gomer, even after her actions, and to buy her back, signifying God's intent to redeem Israel. Historically, this occurs during a period of great spiritual and political instability in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, marked by syncretism (blending of worship of Yahweh with Canaanite deities) and a pattern of disloyalty to God.
Hosea 3 1 Word Analysis
וַיֹּאמֶר (vayyōmer) - "And the LORD said" or "And He said". The conjunction "וַ" (va-) indicates sequence, connecting this action to what preceded. The root verb is "אָמַר" (amar), meaning to say, speak, tell, command. It establishes divine communication to the prophet.
יְהוָה (Yĕhovah) - "The LORD". This is the covenant name of God, emphasizing His faithfulness and relational aspect with His people, despite their faithlessness.
אֵלַי (elai) - "to me". Refers to Hosea, the prophet receiving the divine instruction.
לֵךְ (lekh) - "Go". A command in the imperative form. It signifies the prophet's active obedience and the continuation of his prophetic mission.
שׁוּב (shūv) - "Again" or "Return". This indicates a repetition or recommencement of an action. It suggests Hosea is to continue in his prophetic role, specifically regarding his relationship with Gomer, in a manner mirroring God's persistent dealings with Israel.
אֹהֵב (ohēv) - "love". From the root "אָהַב" (ahav), meaning to love. This is a strong command to exercise love, particularly agape love, which is unconditional and volitional, even towards someone who has betrayed this love. It underscores the nature of God's love.
אִשָּׁה (isshā) - "woman". Specifically refers to Gomer, Hosea's wife.
מְנָאָפֶת (mena'ēphet) - "adulterous" or "unfaithful". This participle comes from the root "נָאַף" (na'af), meaning to commit adultery, especially sexual unfaithfulness. It describes Gomer's state or action, and by extension, Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness.
מְנָאֲפָה (mena'ăphāh) - "an adulteress" or "an unfaithful one". This form further emphasizes the adulterous nature of the woman, strongly paralleling Israel's repeated betrayals of God.
גַּם (gam) - "also" or "even". It links Gomer's infidelity with the love God commands Hosea to show, and by extension, to Israel's straying and God's enduring love for them.
כִּי (ki) - "for" or "because". Introduces the reason or comparison.
אָהַב (ahav) - "loves". Again, from the root "ahav", indicating God's active and persistent affection.
יְהוָה (Yĕhovah) - "The LORD". God's covenant name is reiterated to highlight His own character of love.
אֶת־בְּנֵי (et-bĕnē) - "the children of". The "et" is the direct object marker. It points to the offspring, symbolizing the people of Israel as a whole.
יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yiśrā'ēl) - "Israel". Refers to the nation, particularly the Northern Kingdom at this time, as a collective entity.
גַּם (gam) - "also" or "even". Again emphasizes the inclusivity of God's love.
הֵמָּה (hēmmāh) - "they". Pronoun referring to the children of Israel.
פֹּנִים (pōnim) - "turn". From the root "פָּנָה" (panah), meaning to turn, turn toward, turn away from. Here it implies actively turning towards other gods, indicating a deliberate deviation.
אֶל־אֱלֹהִים (el-ĕlōhim) - "to other gods". "Elokim" is a general term for deity, and "elohim acherim" means other gods, signifying idolatry and forsaking the true God. The preposition "el" indicates the direction of their turning.
אֲחֵרִֽים (ăchērim) - "other". Plural adjective modifying "elohim", signifying the multitude of foreign deities they worshipped.
Word Group Analysis: The phrase "Go again, love a woman who is loved by another and is an adulteress" encapsulates the core divine strategy. Hosea is not to divorce Gomer but to pursue her with love and purchase her back. This mirrors God's relentless pursuit of His unfaithful people. The juxtaposition of God's persistent "love" (אָהַב) for the "children of Israel" (בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל) who "turn to other gods" (פֹּנִים אֶל־אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים) powerfully illustrates the redemptive paradox of divine grace.
Hosea 3 1 Bonus Section
The act of buying back a wife, or redemption, was a known practice in ancient Near Eastern cultures. However, Hosea’s commission goes beyond a typical marriage repurchase; it’s a divinely orchestrated act symbolizing God’s initiative in redeeming Israel from sin and spiritual bondage. The specific quantities of silver (fifteen shekels) and barley (a homer and a half) have been subjects of much scholarly discussion, with some suggesting they reflect the market value of a slave or, possibly, a denigration of Gomer’s worth in the eyes of the world, thus magnifying God’s extraordinary grace in her redemption. This parallels the price of our redemption through Christ's blood, which was invaluable. The redemption foreshadows the New Covenant, where Christ, the ultimate Bridegroom, redeems His Church, His Bride, at the ultimate price. The command is a prophetic action designed to convey the depth of God's covenant loyalty and His determined purpose to restore His relationship with His people, even after repeated acts of unfaithfulness.
Hosea 3 1 Commentary
This verse establishes the central theme of Hosea: God's unfailing love and redemptive covenant with an unfaithful people. God commands Hosea to perform a radical act of love by redeeming his adulterous wife, Gomer. This is not a natural expression of affection but a costly, deliberate act. The price Hosea pays signifies the immense cost of Gomer's redemption. The verse immediately draws a parallel between Gomer's betrayal and Israel's idolatry. God, the divine husband, feels Hosea's pain keenly because Israel's turning to other gods is a direct affront to their covenant relationship with Him. Despite their deep spiritual infidelity, God reiterates His love and calls for Hosea to exemplify this by demonstrating active love and bringing about restoration, foreshadowing God's ultimate plan to redeem Israel and all humanity through the sacrifice of His Son.
- Practical Application: Like Hosea, believers are called to love sacrificially, reflecting God's agape love. This means pursuing restoration in relationships, especially in the church, even when faced with betrayal or sin. It encourages persevering prayer and active efforts to bring reconciliation, mirroring God's persistent desire to draw His children back to Himself.