Hosea Chapter 3 — Hosea Redeems His Wife
God instructs Hosea to redeem his unfaithful wife as a living illustration of His own persistent love for Israel. The chapter describes a period of isolation for Israel followed by their eventual return to God.
1The LORD said to me, “Go again, love a woman loved by another, and an adulteress, even as the LORD 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*1 homer is about 220 liters or 6 bushels 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, without prince, without sacrifice, without sacred stone, and without ephod or idols.
5Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the LORD their God, and David their king, and shall come with trembling to the LORD and to his blessings in the last days.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Hosea 3:1
“The LORD said to me, “Go again, love a woman loved by another, and an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods, and love cakes of raisins.””
This verse establishes the central symbolic theme of the book: God's love for an unfaithful people.
Hosea 3:5
“Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the LORD their God, and David their king, and shall come with trembling to the LORD and to his blessings in the last days.”
This verse provides the ultimate hope of the prophecy, pointing to a future where the people return to God in reverence.
Chapter Summary
In Hosea 3, the prophet is commanded by God to once again show love to his unfaithful wife, Gomer. This act serves as a direct metaphor for God's relationship with the children of Israel, who had turned to other gods and pagan practices. Hosea purchases her for fifteen pieces of silver and a quantity of barley, signifying her redemption. He instructs her to live with him for many days in faithfulness, promising that he will do the same for her. The text explains that this personal restoration reflects the national experience of Israel. For a long period, the nation will live without kings, princes, sacrifices, or sacred objects. However, this isolation is not permanent. The prophecy concludes by stating that the children of Israel will eventually return to seek the Lord and 'David their king.' They will come with reverence to the Lord and receive His blessings in the final days.
Frequently Asked Questions
God commanded Hosea to redeem his wife to demonstrate that although Israel had been unfaithful, God was willing to pay a price to restore them. It serves as a visual lesson on the cost and depth of God's redemptive love.
Raisin cakes were often associated with the sacrificial feasts of foreign deities. Their mention highlights how Israel had abandoned the Lord to pursue the pleasures and rituals of pagan worship.
This refers to a time of discipline and isolation where Israel would be stripped of its political and religious institutions. It was a necessary season of waiting before they would return to seek the Lord.
Study Note
The price of fifteen pieces of silver and a homer and a half of barley was approximately equivalent to the price of a slave, highlighting the redemptive nature of Hosea's purchase.
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