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Hosea 3
1Yahweh said to me, "Go again, love a woman loved by another, and an adulteress, even as Yahweh loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods, and love cakes of raisins."
2So I bought her for myself for fifteen pieces of silver and a homer and a half of barley.
3I said to her, "You shall stay with me many days. You shall not play the prostitute, and you shall not be with any other man. I will also be so toward you."
4For the children of Israel shall live many days without king, and without prince, and without sacrifice, and without sacred stone, and without ephod or idols.
5Afterward the children of Israel shall return, and seek Yahweh their God, and David their king, and shall come with trembling to Yahweh and to his blessings in the last days.
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Backsliders: Backsliding of Israel Hosea 3:1
Then the LORD said to me, “Go show love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and offer raisin cakes to idols.”
Backsliders: Return of Hosea 3:5
Afterward, the people of Israel will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the LORD and to His goodness in the last days.
Barley: Traffic In Hosea 3:2
So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethech of barley.
Bear: Ferocity of Hosea 3:3
Then I said to her, “You must live with me for many days; you must not be promiscuous or belong to another, and I will do the same for you.”
David: A Prophetic Name for Christ Hosea 3:5
Afterward, the people of Israel will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the LORD and to His goodness in the last days.
Ephod: A Sacred Vestment Worn by the High Priest: Prophecy Concerning the Absence of the Ephod from Israel Hosea 3:4
For the Israelites must live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, and without ephod or idol.
Flagon: Erroneously Translated (Av) Flagon of Wine, but More Accurately, Cake of Raisin (Rv) Hosea 3:1
Then the LORD said to me, “Go show love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and offer raisin cakes to idols.”
God: Goodness of Hosea 3:5
Afterward, the people of Israel will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the LORD and to His goodness in the last days.
Idolatry: Consists in Looking to Other Gods Hosea 3:1
Then the LORD said to me, “Go show love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and offer raisin cakes to idols.”
Jesus, the Christ: King Hosea 3:5
Afterward, the people of Israel will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the LORD and to His goodness in the last days.
Marriage: A Dowry Given to the Woman's Parents Before Hosea 3:2
So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethech of barley.
Marriage: Presents Given to Parents to Secure Their Favor Hosea 3:2
So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethech of barley.
Marriage: Wives Obtained by Purchase Hosea 3:2
So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethech of barley.
Measure: A Half-Homer, About Five and a Half Bushels Hosea 3:2
So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethech of barley.
Measure: A Homer, About Eleven Bushels, Equal to a Cor or Ten Ephahs Hosea 3:2
So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethech of barley.
Polygamy: Hosea Hosea 3:1, 2
Then the LORD said to me, “Go show love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and offer raisin cakes to idols.” / So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethech of barley.
Repentance: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Hosea 3:5
Afterward, the people of Israel will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the LORD and to His goodness in the last days.
Seekers: General Scriptures Concerning Hosea 3:5
Afterward, the people of Israel will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the LORD and to His goodness in the last days.
Symbols and Similitudes: Marrying a Whore Hosea 3:1–4
Then the LORD said to me, “Go show love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and offer raisin cakes to idols.” / So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethech of barley. / Then I said to her, “You must live with me for many days; you must not be promiscuous or belong to another, and I will do the same for you.”
The Ephod for the High Priest: Israel Deprived of, for Sin Hosea 3:4
For the Israelites must live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, and without ephod or idol.
The Ephod: The Emblem of the Priestly office Hosea 3:4
For the Israelites must live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, and without ephod or idol.
The Goodness of God: Manifested: Reverence Hosea 3:5
Afterward, the people of Israel will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the LORD and to His goodness in the last days.
The Jews: Deprived of Civil and Religious Privileges Hosea 3:4
For the Israelites must live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, and without ephod or idol.
The Jews: Promises Respecting: Their Return and Seeking to God Hosea 3:5
Afterward, the people of Israel will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the LORD and to His goodness in the last days.
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Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
Pastoral and devotional reflections focused on spiritual formation and application.
Hosea 3:1-3 Hos. 3:1-3
The dislike of men to true religion is because they love objects and forms, which allow them to indulge, instead of mortifying their lusts. How wonderful that a holy God should have good-will to those whose carnal mind is enmity against Him! Here is represented God's gracious dealings with the fallen race of mankind, that had gone from him. This is the covenant of grace he is willing to enter into with them, they must be to him a people, and he will be to them a God. They must accept the punishment of their sin, and must not return to folly. And it is a certain sign that our afflictions are means of good to us, when we are kept from being overcome by the temptations of an afflicted state.
Hosea 3:1-999 Chapter 3
The prophet enters into a new contract, representing the gracious manner in which God will again restore Israel under a new covenant.
Hosea 3:4-5 Hos. 3:4-5
Here is the application of the parable to Israel. They must long sit like a widow, stripped of all joys and honours; but shall at length be received again. Those that would seek the Lord so as to find him, must apply to Christ, and become his willing people. Not only are we to fear the Lord and his greatness, but the Lord and his goodness; not only his majesty, but his mercy. Even Jewish writers apply this passage to the promised Messiah; doubtless it foretold their future conversion to Christ, for which they are kept a separate people. Though the first fear of God arise from a view of his holy majesty and righteous vengeance, yet the experience of mercy and grace through Jesus Christ, will lead the heart to reverence so kind and glorious a Friend and Father, and to fear offending him.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary
Historical, contextual, and verse-level study notes for deeper biblical exploration.
Hosea 3:1-5 Israel's Condition in Their Present Dispersion, Subsequent to
Their Return from Babylon, Symbolized. The prophet is to take back his wife, though unfaithful, as foretold in