Hosea 2:16
Verse
Context
God’s Mercy to Israel
15There I will give back her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor into a gateway of hope. There she will respond as she did in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt. 16In that day,” declares the LORD, “you will call Me ‘my Husband,’ and no longer call Me ‘my Master.’ 17For I will remove from her lips the names of the Baals; no longer will their names be invoked.
Sermons



Summary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Thou shalt call me Ishi - That is, my man, or my husband; a title of love and affection; and not Baali, my master, a title exciting fear and apprehension; which, howsoever good in itself, was now rendered improper to be applied to Jehovah, having been prostituted to false gods. This intimated that they should scrupulously avoid idolatry; and they had such a full proof of the inefficacy of their idolatrous worship that, after their captivity, they never more served idols.
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
"And it comes to pass in that day, is the saying of Jehovah, thou wilt call, My husband; and thou wilt no more call to me, My Baal." The church will then enter once more into the right relation to its God. This thought is expressed thus, that the wife will no more call her husband Baal, but husband. Ba‛al is not to be taken as an appellative in the sense of master, as distinguished from 'ı̄sh, man, i.e., husband, for ba'al does not mean master or lord, but owner, possessor; and whenever it is applied to a husband in an appellative sense, it is used quite promiscuously with 'iish (e.g., Sa2 11:26; Gen 20:3). Moreover, the context in this instance, especially the Be‛âlı̄m in Hos 2:19, decidedly requires that Ba‛al should be taken as a proper name. Calling or naming is a designation of the nature or the true relation of a person or thing. The church calls God her husband, when she stands in the right relation to Him; when she acknowledges, reveres, and loves Him, as He has revealed Himself, i.e., as the only true God. On the other hand, she calls Him Baal, when she places the true God on the level of the Baals, either by worshipping other gods along with Jehovah, or by obliterating the essential distinction between Jehovah and the Baals, confounding together the worship of God and idolatrous worship, the Jehovah-religion and heathenism.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Ishi . . . no more Baali--"my Husband . . . no more my Lord." Affection is the prominent idea in "Husband"; rule, in "Lord." The chief reason for the substitution of Husband for Lord appears in Hos 2:17; namely, Baali, the Hebrew for my Lord, had been perverted to express the images of Baal, whose name ought not to be taken on their lips (Exo 23:13; Zac 13:2).
John Gill Bible Commentary
And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field,.... That is, so as to be at peace with them, as the Targum is; see Job 5:23, the sense is, the Lord here promises this unto them, and that it shall be as sure and firm, and to be as much depended upon, as if it was established and settled by covenant, and should be enjoyed as a covenant mercy and blessing; and the creatures should as strictly observe it, and answer to it, as if bound by covenant: and this should reach not only to the beasts of the field, the wild beasts of prey, "but the fowls of heaven"; as the locusts and others, as Kimchi observes, which should not eat up the fruits and increase of the earth: "and the creeping things of the ground": as serpents and scorpions, as the same writer suggests. Some think this was fulfilled in the first times of the Gospel, when the apostles took up serpents, and trod on scorpions, without any hurt; but then nothing was more common than for the Christians to be thrown to the lions, and devoured by beasts of prey. Others refer it to the last days, the times of the restitution of all things, when they suppose all creatures will be restored to their paradisiacal estate, and be in entire subjection to men. Rather the sense is, that whereas noisome beasts, and other things, were one of God's sore judgments, with which he threatened his people, when they sinned against him, now they should no more be hurt by them in a way of judgment; and, indeed, should cease from being among them, so that they should be in no fear of them any more; see Lev 26:22. Though the words may be understood figuratively and mystically, either of deliverance from all spiritual enemies by Christ, as sin, Satan, and the world, and all others; or of freedom from all wicked men, cruel and crafty ones, open and secret persecutors of the saints: persecution will cease at the time of the Jews' conversion; antichrist, and all the antichristian states, will be destroyed; the beast and false prophet will be taken and cast into the furnace of fire; the old serpent, the devil, will be bound, during the Millennium; and there will be none to hurt in God's holy mountain, neither in the spiritual nor personal reign of Christ. And I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth; all the instruments of war shall be no more, these mentioned being put for all the rest; and there shall be no more battles fought after that at Armageddon; swords shall be beat into ploughshares, and spears into pruning hooks; there shall be no more wars, nor rumours of wars, but perfect external peace from all enemies on all sides, as well as spiritual and internal peace in the breast of the saints; and of both there shall be abundance, and without end, Psa 72:7, and will make them to lie down safely; under the protection of the King Messiah, David their Prince, who shall be over them, and whom they shall own, acknowledge, and serve, and so dwell in the utmost safety and security, not fearing any enemy whatever; they may lie down on their couches at meals, or on their beds at night for rest, or as flocks of sheep in their folds and pastures, and none make them afraid; see Jer 23:5.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
2:16 that day: This seemingly unremarkable phrase is actually quite important in the prophets. It refers to the coming day of the Lord (see Joel 1:15; 2:1; Amos 5:18), when the Lord will act decisively in human history on behalf of his people. • ‘my husband’ instead of ‘my master’: In this coming day, Israel will enter into a new relationship with her God. No longer will Israel call God “master” (Hebrew ba‘al), which connotes subservience and was also the name of the chief Canaanite fertility god. Instead, she will address the Lord as “husband,” implying partnership and companionship (Gen 2:23-24).
Hosea 2:16
God’s Mercy to Israel
15There I will give back her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor into a gateway of hope. There she will respond as she did in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt. 16In that day,” declares the LORD, “you will call Me ‘my Husband,’ and no longer call Me ‘my Master.’ 17For I will remove from her lips the names of the Baals; no longer will their names be invoked.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Attributes of God (Series 2): The Love of God
By A.W. Tozer5.2K1:02:14Attributes of GodHOS 2:16MAT 22:37In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the love of God for humanity. He encourages those who have strayed from God or who do not believe in Him to dare to believe in His love. The preacher emphasizes that God sent His only Son to die for humanity and offers everlasting life to those who trust in Him. He acknowledges the difficulty of fully describing the vastness of God's love but highlights the importance of recognizing and accepting it.
God's Marriage Proposal
By Erlo Stegen1.5K1:13:28BetrothedJER 31:33EZK 34:25HOS 2:16HOS 2:18In this sermon, the preacher discusses a passage from the Bible in which God speaks to His people. The people had previously made a covenant with God, but it ended in failure and trouble. Despite their disobedience, God promises to betroth them to Himself forever, with righteousness, justice, loving kindness, and mercy. The preacher emphasizes the importance of having a new heart and experiencing a divine operation to remove the old heart and replace it with a new one. Additionally, the preacher addresses the issue of taxi violence and encourages people to use their vote to bring about change instead of resorting to violence.
Overview of Nt Bridal Theology
By Mike Bickle3558:25Identity in ChristBridal TheologyBridegroom LoveISA 62:4HOS 2:16MAT 9:15MAT 22:1JHN 2:1JHN 3:29JHN 17:24EPH 5:25REV 19:7REV 22:17Mike Bickle presents an overview of New Testament Bridal Theology, emphasizing that Jesus' ministry begins and ends with the theme of the Bride of Christ. He highlights the significance of Jesus' first miracle at the wedding in Cana, illustrating His desire to enhance the wedding celebration and the ultimate union with His bride. Bickle explains that Jesus identifies Himself as the Bridegroom, revealing His deep emotional connection and desire for His people, culminating in His final prayer for the church to be with Him. The sermon underscores the importance of understanding our identity as the Bride of Christ and the call to love Him in return, as well as the Holy Spirit's role in awakening this love within us.
Entire Sanctification in Prophecy
By Dougan Clark0ISA 1:16ISA 6:1EZK 36:25HOS 2:16JOL 2:28MAL 3:3Dougan Clark preaches on the Major Prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel, highlighting their prophecies about believers' sanctification in the gospel era under the reign of Christ. Isaiah's call to prophetic office and vision of the pre-existent Christ in chapter six symbolize the baptism with the Holy Ghost. Isaiah emphasizes repentance, faith, and trusting in God's mercy for salvation. Ezekiel's prophecy in chapter 36 speaks of cleansing from sin and receiving a new heart and spirit through the Holy Spirit, pointing to justification and sanctification. The Minor Prophets also allude to holiness, with Hosea symbolizing the intimate relationship between believers and God as a marriage union, and Joel prophesying the outpouring of the Holy Spirit for purification and empowerment in service.
What Type of Relationship Do You Have With the Lord?
By Zac Poonen0HOS 2:7HOS 2:14HOS 2:16HOS 2:20HOS 3:22CO 1:4Zac Poonen preaches on the necessity of undergoing deep personal suffering to effectively minister for God, emphasizing that the methods of teaching vary for each individual. Using examples from Hosea, Jeremiah, and Paul, he highlights the principle that suffering is essential for a fruitful ministry. Through the story of Hosea and his unfaithful wife, Gomer, he illustrates how God pursues His people despite their unfaithfulness, transforming judgment into hope and offering a loving relationship akin to a husband and wife.
- Adam Clarke
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Thou shalt call me Ishi - That is, my man, or my husband; a title of love and affection; and not Baali, my master, a title exciting fear and apprehension; which, howsoever good in itself, was now rendered improper to be applied to Jehovah, having been prostituted to false gods. This intimated that they should scrupulously avoid idolatry; and they had such a full proof of the inefficacy of their idolatrous worship that, after their captivity, they never more served idols.
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
"And it comes to pass in that day, is the saying of Jehovah, thou wilt call, My husband; and thou wilt no more call to me, My Baal." The church will then enter once more into the right relation to its God. This thought is expressed thus, that the wife will no more call her husband Baal, but husband. Ba‛al is not to be taken as an appellative in the sense of master, as distinguished from 'ı̄sh, man, i.e., husband, for ba'al does not mean master or lord, but owner, possessor; and whenever it is applied to a husband in an appellative sense, it is used quite promiscuously with 'iish (e.g., Sa2 11:26; Gen 20:3). Moreover, the context in this instance, especially the Be‛âlı̄m in Hos 2:19, decidedly requires that Ba‛al should be taken as a proper name. Calling or naming is a designation of the nature or the true relation of a person or thing. The church calls God her husband, when she stands in the right relation to Him; when she acknowledges, reveres, and loves Him, as He has revealed Himself, i.e., as the only true God. On the other hand, she calls Him Baal, when she places the true God on the level of the Baals, either by worshipping other gods along with Jehovah, or by obliterating the essential distinction between Jehovah and the Baals, confounding together the worship of God and idolatrous worship, the Jehovah-religion and heathenism.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Ishi . . . no more Baali--"my Husband . . . no more my Lord." Affection is the prominent idea in "Husband"; rule, in "Lord." The chief reason for the substitution of Husband for Lord appears in Hos 2:17; namely, Baali, the Hebrew for my Lord, had been perverted to express the images of Baal, whose name ought not to be taken on their lips (Exo 23:13; Zac 13:2).
John Gill Bible Commentary
And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field,.... That is, so as to be at peace with them, as the Targum is; see Job 5:23, the sense is, the Lord here promises this unto them, and that it shall be as sure and firm, and to be as much depended upon, as if it was established and settled by covenant, and should be enjoyed as a covenant mercy and blessing; and the creatures should as strictly observe it, and answer to it, as if bound by covenant: and this should reach not only to the beasts of the field, the wild beasts of prey, "but the fowls of heaven"; as the locusts and others, as Kimchi observes, which should not eat up the fruits and increase of the earth: "and the creeping things of the ground": as serpents and scorpions, as the same writer suggests. Some think this was fulfilled in the first times of the Gospel, when the apostles took up serpents, and trod on scorpions, without any hurt; but then nothing was more common than for the Christians to be thrown to the lions, and devoured by beasts of prey. Others refer it to the last days, the times of the restitution of all things, when they suppose all creatures will be restored to their paradisiacal estate, and be in entire subjection to men. Rather the sense is, that whereas noisome beasts, and other things, were one of God's sore judgments, with which he threatened his people, when they sinned against him, now they should no more be hurt by them in a way of judgment; and, indeed, should cease from being among them, so that they should be in no fear of them any more; see Lev 26:22. Though the words may be understood figuratively and mystically, either of deliverance from all spiritual enemies by Christ, as sin, Satan, and the world, and all others; or of freedom from all wicked men, cruel and crafty ones, open and secret persecutors of the saints: persecution will cease at the time of the Jews' conversion; antichrist, and all the antichristian states, will be destroyed; the beast and false prophet will be taken and cast into the furnace of fire; the old serpent, the devil, will be bound, during the Millennium; and there will be none to hurt in God's holy mountain, neither in the spiritual nor personal reign of Christ. And I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth; all the instruments of war shall be no more, these mentioned being put for all the rest; and there shall be no more battles fought after that at Armageddon; swords shall be beat into ploughshares, and spears into pruning hooks; there shall be no more wars, nor rumours of wars, but perfect external peace from all enemies on all sides, as well as spiritual and internal peace in the breast of the saints; and of both there shall be abundance, and without end, Psa 72:7, and will make them to lie down safely; under the protection of the King Messiah, David their Prince, who shall be over them, and whom they shall own, acknowledge, and serve, and so dwell in the utmost safety and security, not fearing any enemy whatever; they may lie down on their couches at meals, or on their beds at night for rest, or as flocks of sheep in their folds and pastures, and none make them afraid; see Jer 23:5.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
2:16 that day: This seemingly unremarkable phrase is actually quite important in the prophets. It refers to the coming day of the Lord (see Joel 1:15; 2:1; Amos 5:18), when the Lord will act decisively in human history on behalf of his people. • ‘my husband’ instead of ‘my master’: In this coming day, Israel will enter into a new relationship with her God. No longer will Israel call God “master” (Hebrew ba‘al), which connotes subservience and was also the name of the chief Canaanite fertility god. Instead, she will address the Lord as “husband,” implying partnership and companionship (Gen 2:23-24).