Hosea’s Second Symbolic Marriage

Then the Lord said to me, “Go again, love a [a]woman who is loved by her [b]husband, yet an adulteress, even (A)as the Lord loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin (B)cakes.” So I (C)bought her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a [c]half of barley. Then I said to her, “You shall (D)stay with me for many days. You shall not play the harlot, nor shall you have a [d]man; so I will also be toward you.” For the sons of Israel will remain for many days (E)without king or prince, (F)without sacrifice or sacred (G)pillar and without (H)ephod or [e](I)household idols. Afterward the sons of Israel will (J)return and seek the Lord their God and (K)David their king; and (L)they will come trembling to the Lord and to His goodness in the last days.

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 3:1 I.e. Gomer
  2. Hosea 3:1 Lit companion
  3. Hosea 3:2 Heb lethech
  4. Hosea 3:3 Or husband
  5. Hosea 3:4 Heb teraphim