Hosea 2:5

3 Lest I strip her naked, and set her as in the day that she was born, and make her as a wilderness, and set her like a dry land, and slay her with thirst.

4 And I will not have mercy upon her children; for they be the children of whoredoms.

For their mother hath played the harlot: she that conceived them hath done shamefully: for she said, I will go after my lovers, that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink.

6 Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and make a wall, that she shall not find her paths.

7 And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
For their mother has played the harlot and has conceived them in disgrace. For she thought, ‘I will go after my lovers, who give me bread and water, wool and linen, oil and drink.’
KJV
For their mother hath played the harlot: she that conceived them hath done shamefully: for she said, I will go after my lovers, that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink.
WEB
For their mother has played the prostitute. She who conceived them has done shamefully; for she said, ‘I will go after my lovers, who give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, my oil and my drink.’
ASV
for their mother hath played the harlot; she that conceived them hath done shamefully; for she said, I will go after my lovers, that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink.
DARBY
For their mother hath played the harlot; she that conceived them hath done shamefully: for she said, I will go after my lovers, that give [me] my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink.
BLB
For their mother has been a prostitute; she who conceived them has acted shamefully, for she said, ‘I will go after my lovers, those giving [me] my bread and my water, my wool and my linen, my oil and my drink.’
ÅB
For deres mor har drevet hor, hun som fødte dem, har båret seg skammelig at - hun sa: Jeg vil gå etter mine elskere, de som gir meg mitt brød og mitt vann, min ull og mitt lin, min olje og min vin.
OTB
Deres mor har vært utro og har unnfanget dem i skam. Hun sa: ‘Jeg vil forfølge mine elskere, som gir meg mitt brød og mitt vann, min ull og mitt lin, min olje og min drikk.’
B1930
For deres mor har drevet hor, hun som fødte dem, har båret sig skammelig at - hun sa: Jeg vil gå efter mine elskere, de som gir mig mitt brød og mitt vann, min ull og mitt lin, min olje og min vin.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Jeremiah 44:17–18

    But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.

    Read in context
  • Hosea 3:1

    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.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 1:21

    How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.

    Read in context
  • Hosea 2:8

    For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for Baal.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 3:1–9

    They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man’s, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD.

    Read in context
  • Hosea 2:12–13

    And I will destroy her vines and her fig trees, whereof she hath said, These are my rewards that my lovers have given me: and I will make them a forest, and the beasts of the field shall eat them.

    Read in context
  • Hosea 2:2

    Plead with your mother, plead: for she is not my wife, neither am I her husband: let her therefore put away her whoredoms out of her sight, and her adulteries from between her breasts;

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 2:25–27

    Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.

    Read in context