Hosea 3

Chapter Overview

What happens in Hosea 3

God tells Hosea to go and buy back his unfaithful wife, showing how God still loves Israel even though she has turned to other gods. Hosea's act of redemption points to a future time when Israel will return to the LORD.

Scripture

Hosea Buys Back His Wife

Study note

God commands Hosea to love his wife again, even though she has been unfaithful with another man. This mirrors how God loves Israel even though they chase after other gods. Hosea buys Gomer back for fifteen pieces of silver and some barley, the price of a slave. He tells her she must stay faithful to him, and he will be faithful to her.

1 Then the LORD told me, "Go back and love your wife again, even though she loves another man and has not been faithful. Love her the way I love the people of Israel. They keep chasing after other gods and love their pagan feasts." 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.

2 So I bought her back for fifteen pieces of silver and about ten bushels of barley. So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley:

3 I told her, "You will stay with me for a long time. You must not be unfaithful anymore, and you must not be with any other man. I will be faithful to you too." And I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for another man: so will I also be for thee.

Israel Will Return to God

Study note

Just as Gomer would live for a time without other lovers, Israel would go through a long period without a king, sacrifices, or sacred objects. But in the end, the people of Israel will come back and look for the LORD their God. This prophecy points forward to a time of restoration and renewed devotion to God.

4 In the same way, the people of Israel will go a long time without a king or a ruler. They will have no sacrifices and no sacred pillars. They will be without priestly clothing and without household idols. For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim:

5 But afterward, the people of Israel will come back and look for the LORD their God and for David their king. In the last days, they will come trembling to the LORD, filled with reverence, eager for his goodness. Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.

Key Themes

Themes in Hosea 3

Redemptive love that buys back the lostThe cost of restoring a broken relationshipA period of waiting before full restorationGod's love as unconditional and pursuing

Apply This Today

Living Hosea 3

Hosea paid a price to buy back His unfaithful wife, just as God pays the price to redeem us. No matter how far we have strayed, God's love is willing to pay the cost of bringing us home. True restoration often requires a season of patient waiting and rebuilding trust.

Go Deeper

Study Hosea in Covenant Path

Read every chapter with study aids, bookmarks, and daily reading plans — free in the app.

Download for iOS Download for Android

← Hosea 3 →