Hosea 2:17

KJV

For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name.

KJV (with Strong's)

For I will take away {H5493} the names {H8034} of Baalim {H1168} out of her mouth {H6310}, and they shall no more be remembered {H2142} by their name {H8034}.

Complete Jewish Bible

For I will remove the names of the ba'alim from her mouth; they will never again be mentioned by name.

Berean Standard Bible

For I will remove from her lips the names of the Baals; no longer will their names be invoked.

American Standard Version

For I will take away the names of the Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be mentioned by their name.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Hosea 2:17 is a profound declaration of Yahweh's sovereign intent to purify Israel from her idolatry, specifically the worship of Baalim. This verse, situated within a broader prophecy of judgment followed by restoration, reveals God's zealous commitment to a renewed, exclusive covenant relationship with His people. It signifies a complete eradication of the memory and influence of false gods, paving the way for Israel's spiritual healing and a return to unadulterated devotion.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Hosea 2 is a powerful allegorical depiction of God's relationship with Israel, portrayed as a marriage between a faithful husband (Yahweh) and an unfaithful wife (Israel). The preceding verses (Hosea 2:2-13) detail God's judgment upon Israel for her spiritual harlotry, specifically her pursuit of "lovers"—the Canaanite gods, particularly Baal—who she mistakenly believed provided her prosperity. God declares He will strip her bare, expose her shame, and remove her blessings. However, a pivotal shift occurs in Hosea 2:14-23, where God's heart of compassion takes over. He promises to "allure her" into the wilderness, speak tenderly to her, and restore her, transforming her places of sorrow into "doors of hope." Verse 17 is a crucial part of this restorative promise, signaling the complete removal of the very idols that caused the breach in the covenant. It directly precedes the promise of a renewed, unbreakable covenant in Hosea 2:18-20, where God pledges to betroth Israel to Himself in righteousness and justice.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Hosea prophesies during the tumultuous 8th century BCE in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, a period marked by political instability, social injustice, and rampant religious syncretism. The primary religious threat was the pervasive worship of Baal, the Canaanite storm and fertility god. Baal worship involved elaborate rituals, often including sacred prostitution and child sacrifice, all aimed at ensuring agricultural abundance and prosperity. This cult directly challenged the exclusive worship of Yahweh, as commanded in the Mosaic covenant (e.g., [Exodus 20:3](/exodus/20-3 "Exodus 20:3 - The First Commandment")). Israel, having settled in Canaan, adopted many of these local practices, blending them with their Yahwistic faith, a practice abhorrent to God. Hosea's prophecy addresses this spiritual adultery, calling Israel back to exclusive devotion to Yahweh, the true source of all blessings. The promise to remove "the names of Baalim" speaks directly to the deep-seated cultural integration of these pagan practices into Israelite life.

* **Key Themes:** Hosea 2:17 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Hosea and biblical theology. First, it highlights **God's Jealous Love and Exclusive Claim** over His people, demonstrating His intolerance for idolatry and His desire for an unadulterated relationship, as seen in the warnings throughout [Deuteronomy](/deuteronomy "The Book of Deuteronomy"). Second, it underscores the theme of **Divine Purification and Restoration**, revealing God's active role in cleansing His people from spiritual defilement, not merely as a consequence of their repentance, but as a sovereign act of grace that enables true repentance and renewal. This divine initiative is crucial for the covenant renewal promised in [Hosea 2:18-20](/hosea/2-18-20 "Hosea 2:18-20 - The Renewed Covenant"). Third, the verse speaks to the **Cessation of Idolatry and the Triumph of Yahweh's Sovereignty**. It's not merely Israel choosing to abandon idols, but God Himself taking decisive action to remove their very memory, signifying the ultimate victory of the one true God over all false deities, a theme echoed in passages like [Isaiah 44:6-20](/isaiah/44-6-20 "Isaiah 44:6-20 - The Folly of Idolatry").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Baalim (Hebrew, _Baʻal'_ H1168):** This term is the plural form of "Baal," meaning "lord" or "master." It refers collectively to the various local deities of the Canaanite pantheon, worshipped with fertility rites and often associated with specific places or aspects of nature. The use of the plural "Baalim" emphasizes the multitude of these false gods that Israel had adopted, representing the pervasive nature of their idolatry.
* **take away (Hebrew, _çûwr'_ H5493):** This primitive root means "to turn off," "remove," "withdraw," or "put away." In this context, it signifies a decisive, active, and complete removal by God. It is not a passive withdrawal by Israel, but a powerful, divine intervention that eradicates the presence and influence of Baalim. This emphasizes God's sovereignty in the process of purification.
* **remembered (Hebrew, _zâkar'_ H2142):** This root means "to mark (so as to be recognized)," "to remember," or "to mention." The phrase "no more be remembered by their name" implies a complete and utter cessation of their influence, worship, and even their very mention in Israel's spiritual life. It signifies a profound spiritual amnesia regarding these false gods, indicating a total break from their past idolatry.
* **mouth (Hebrew, _peh'_ H6310):** This word refers to the physical mouth, but also figuratively to speech, utterance, or expression. Here, "out of her mouth" refers to the cessation of any verbal acknowledgement, invocation, or even casual mention of the Baalim. It indicates a complete eradication of their presence from Israel's public and private discourse, signifying a total spiritual cleansing that impacts both thought and expression.
* **name (Hebrew, _shêm'_ H8034):** This word signifies an appellation, a mark or memorial of individuality, implying honor, authority, or character. To "take away the names" and for them "no more to be remembered by their name" means a complete obliteration of their identity, power, and significance in Israel's consciousness. It's a declaration of their absolute dethronement and irrelevance.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth":** This clause reveals God's active and sovereign initiative in Israel's restoration. "I will take away" emphasizes divine action, not human effort alone. The "names of Baalim" represent not just the idols themselves, but their very identity, authority, and influence. "Out of her mouth" signifies the cessation of all verbal acknowledgment, invocation, or even casual mention of these false gods. It implies a complete purging of idolatrous language and thought from Israel's public and private life, reflecting a deep internal transformation.
* **"and they shall no more be remembered by their name":** This second clause reinforces the totality and permanence of God's cleansing work. The Baalim will not only be removed from Israel's speech but also from her memory and consciousness. This is a profound promise of spiritual amnesia concerning these idols, ensuring that their past hold and future temptation will be utterly eradicated. It speaks to a complete break from the past, where the very concept of these false gods becomes irrelevant and forgotten in the context of Israel's renewed, exclusive devotion to Yahweh.

#### Literary Devices
Hosea 2:17 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message of divine purification and restoration. Central to the passage is **Metaphor**, where Israel is depicted as an unfaithful wife who has pursued "lovers" (the Baalim). God's promise to remove the "names of Baalim out of her mouth" is a metaphorical extension of this marital imagery, signifying the removal of rival affections and influences from the wife's (Israel's) heart and confession. The phrase "out of her mouth" also serves as a form of **Synecdoche**, where "mouth" represents the entirety of Israel's verbal and spiritual expression, indicating a complete cleansing of their idolatrous speech and worship. Furthermore, the declaration that "they shall no more be remembered by their name" uses **Hyperbole** to emphasize the absolute and permanent nature of God's eradication of idolatry. It suggests not just a cessation of worship, but a profound spiritual amnesia, a complete erasure of the Baalim from Israel's collective consciousness. This hyperbolic statement underscores the **Divine Action/Sovereignty** of God, as He is the one actively performing this radical purification, demonstrating His ultimate authority over all false gods and His zealous love for His people.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Hosea 2:17 profoundly articulates God's unwavering commitment to an exclusive and unadulterated relationship with His people. It reveals that true spiritual restoration involves not merely a cessation of outward idolatry, but a deep, internal cleansing where the very memory and influence of rival gods are eradicated. This divine act of purification is a testament to God's zealous love and His sovereign power to transform hearts and minds, enabling His people to return to a state of pure devotion. It underscores the biblical principle that God will not share His glory with another, demanding and initiating complete allegiance from those He calls His own.

* [Deuteronomy 6:4-5](/deuteronomy/6-4-5 "Deuteronomy 6:4-5 - The Shema: Love God Exclusively")
* [Isaiah 42:8](/isaiah/42-8 "Isaiah 42:8 - God's Exclusive Glory")
* [Zechariah 13:2](/zechariah/13-2 "Zechariah 13:2 - The Removal of Idols and False Prophets")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Hosea 2:17 offers a powerful lens through which to examine our own spiritual devotion. While we may not bow to physical idols like Baal, the principle of exclusive devotion to God remains paramount. Modern "Baalim" can manifest as anything that competes for our ultimate loyalty, affection, and trust: career, wealth, reputation, pleasure, technology, or even self-reliance. This verse challenges us to consider what "names" we might still be remembering or subtly acknowledging in our lives, perhaps giving them undue influence or seeking fulfillment from them instead of from God. The promise that God *will* take away these names is a profound source of hope and encouragement. It assures us that God is not passive in our sanctification; He actively works to purify our hearts and minds, liberating us from the subtle and overt forms of idolatry that hinder our relationship with Him. This calls for a posture of surrender, inviting God to reveal and remove anything that stands between us and His exclusive claim on our lives, trusting in His transformative power to bring about a deep, lasting spiritual cleansing.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "Baalim" or rival affections might still hold subtle sway in my heart or mind, competing with my exclusive devotion to God?**
* **In what ways do I, consciously or unconsciously, "remember" or acknowledge things other than God as sources of security, identity, or fulfillment?**
* **How can I actively cooperate with God's work of purification, inviting Him to "take away the names" of anything that hinders my complete surrender to Him?**
* **What does it mean for me to live a life where the "names" of worldly idols are no longer remembered or given prominence?**

### FAQ

**Does this verse mean God will literally make people forget things, or is it symbolic?**

Answer: While God certainly has the power to cause literal forgetting, the phrase "they shall no more be remembered by their name" in [Hosea 2:17](/hosea/2-17 "Hosea 2:17 - God's Promise to Remove Baalim") is primarily symbolic and refers to a complete and utter cessation of the worship, acknowledgment, and influence of the Baalim. It signifies that these false gods will no longer hold any significance, power, or place in Israel's spiritual life, public discourse, or collective consciousness. It's a promise of a radical spiritual transformation where the very concept of these idols becomes irrelevant and obsolete in the context of Israel's renewed, exclusive devotion to Yahweh. This is not about erasing historical memory, but about eradicating spiritual allegiance and the cultural presence of idolatry.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Hosea 2:17, with its promise of God taking away the names of Baalim and their complete forgottenness, finds its ultimate and profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The idolatry of Israel, symbolized by the worship of Baalim, represented humanity's universal propensity to seek life, security, and identity apart from the true God. Christ, through His atoning sacrifice, definitively breaks the power of all "Baalim"—every false god, every worldly system, every sin that enslaves humanity. He is the one who truly "takes away the sin of the world" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), including the root sin of idolatry. In Christ, believers are freed from the dominion of darkness and transferred into the kingdom of God's beloved Son ([Colossians 1:13-14](/colossians/1-13-14 "Colossians 1:13-14 - Redemption in Christ")). The "names of Baalim" are no longer remembered in the hearts of those who are in Christ, because their identity, purpose, and hope are now solely found in Him ([Galatians 2:20](/galatians/2-20 "Galatians 2:20 - Life in Christ")). The New Covenant, inaugurated by Christ's blood, establishes a relationship of exclusive devotion where God's Spirit empowers believers to live free from the allure of worldly idols, ensuring that Christ alone is Lord and that all rival "names" are utterly superseded by His glorious name, "the name that is above every name" ([Philippians 2:9-11](/philippians/2-9-11 "Philippians 2:9-11 - The Exaltation of Christ")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Exodus 23:13

And in all [things] that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.

Psalms 16:4

Their sorrows shall be multiplied [that] hasten [after] another [god]: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.

Joshua 23:7

That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear [by them], neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them:

Zechariah 13:2

And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, [that] I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.

Jeremiah 10:11

Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, [even] they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.