Hosea 2:7

Faithfulness and loyalty

⁵ 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.’

⁶ Therefore, behold, I will hedge up her path with thorns; I will enclose her with a wall, so she cannot find her way.

She will pursue her lovers but not catch them; she will seek them but not find them. Then she will say, ‘I will return to my first husband, for then I was better off than now.’

⁸ For she does not acknowledge that it was I who gave her grain, new wine, and oil, who lavished on her silver and gold— which they crafted for Baal.

⁹ Therefore I will take back My grain in its time and My new wine in its season; I will take away My wool and linen, which were given to cover her nakedness.

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: She will pursue her lovers but not catch them; she will seek them but not find them. Then she will say, ‘I will return to my first husband, for then I was better off than now.’
KJV: 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.
WEB: She will follow after her lovers, but she won’t overtake them; and she will seek them, but won’t find them. Then she will say, ‘I will go and return to my first husband, for then it was better with me than now.’
ASV: 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.
DARBY: And she shall pursue after her lovers, and shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, and shall not find them: and she shall say, I will go and return to my first husband, for then was it better with me than now.
BLB: And she will pursue her lovers, and she will not overtake them; she will seek them, and she will not find [them]. She will say, ‘I will go and return to my first husband, for [it was] better for me then than now!’

ÅB: når hun løper etter sine elskere, skal hun ikke nå dem, når hun søker dem, skal hun ikke finne dem. Da skal hun si: Jeg vil vende tilbake til min første mann; for dengang hadde jeg det bedre enn nå.
OTB: Hun vil jage etter sine elskere, men ikke nå dem; hun vil søke dem, men ikke finne dem. Da vil hun si: ‘Jeg vil vende tilbake til min første mann, for det var bedre for meg da enn nå.’
B1930: når hun løper efter sine elskere, skal hun ikke nå dem, når hun søker dem, skal hun ikke finne dem. Da skal hun si: Jeg vil vende tilbake til min første mann; for dengang hadde jeg det bedre enn nu.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Jeremiah 2:2
“Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem that this is what the LORD says: ‘I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.
Read in context
Luke 15:17–20
Finally he came to his senses and said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have plenty of food? But here I am, starving to death!
Read in context
Jeremiah 14:22
Can the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Do the skies alone send showers? Is this not by You, O LORD our God? So we put our hope in You, for You have done all these things.
Read in context
Hosea 5:13
When Ephraim saw his sickness and Judah his wound, then Ephraim turned to Assyria and sent to the great king. But he cannot cure you or heal your wound.
Read in context
Ezekiel 23:22
Therefore, Oholibah, this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will incite your lovers against you, those from whom you turned away in disgust. And I will bring them against you from every side—
Read in context
Ezekiel 23:4
The older was named Oholah, and her sister was named Oholibah. They became Mine and gave birth to sons and daughters. As for their identities, Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem.
Read in context
Hosea 13:6
When they had pasture, they became satisfied; when they were satisfied, their hearts became proud, and as a result they forgot Me.
Read in context
Deuteronomy 8:17–18
You might say in your heart, “The power and strength of my hands have made this wealth for me.”
Read in context