Hosea 2:2

KJV

Plead with your mother, plead: for she [is] not my wife, neither [am] I her husband: let her therefore put away her whoredoms out of her sight, and her adulteries from between her breasts;

KJV (with Strong's)

Plead {H7378} with your mother {H517}, plead {H7378}: for she is not my wife {H802}, neither am I her husband {H376}: let her therefore put away {H5493} her whoredoms {H2183} out of her sight {H6440}, and her adulteries {H5005} from between her breasts {H7699};

Complete Jewish Bible

Rebuke your mother, rebuke her; for she isn't my wife, and I'm not her husband. She must remove her whoring from her face, and her adulteries from between her breasts.

Berean Standard Bible

Rebuke your mother, rebuke her, for she is not My wife, and I am not her husband. Let her remove the adultery from her face and the unfaithfulness from between her breasts.

American Standard Version

Contend with your mother, contend; for she is not my wife, neither am I her husband; and let her put away her whoredoms from her face, and her adulteries from between her breasts;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Hosea 2:2 unveils a poignant divine indictment against Israel, portrayed through the searing metaphor of a husband confronting his unfaithful wife. The Lord, as the wronged husband, calls upon the children (representing faithful members or the prophet) to plead with their "mother" (the nation Israel) to abandon her spiritual "whoredoms" and "adulteries"—terms that vividly describe her idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness—before severe judgment is enacted. This verse powerfully encapsulates God's grief over Israel's betrayal and His urgent call for repentance and restoration to an exclusive relationship with Him.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Hosea 2:2 stands at the beginning of a crucial section (Hosea 2:2-23) where God directly addresses Israel's spiritual infidelity using the extended metaphor of a broken marriage. This chapter immediately follows the introductory chapter, which establishes the prophetic symbolism through Hosea's own marriage to Gomer, an unfaithful woman, mirroring God's relationship with Israel. Chapter 1 introduces the children of Hosea and Gomer, whose symbolic names (Jezreel, Lo-Ruhamah, Lo-Ammi) prophesy judgment. In Hosea 2:2, the focus shifts to a direct confrontation with the "mother" (Israel) by her "children," setting the stage for a divine lawsuit against the nation for her spiritual prostitution. The verse initiates a sequence of judgment (Hosea 2:3-13) that ultimately gives way to the promise of restoration and renewed covenant love (Hosea 2:14-23), demonstrating God's enduring redemptive purpose despite Israel's sin.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop for Hosea's prophecy is the turbulent 8th century BCE, specifically the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) prior to its fall to Assyria in 722 BCE. During this period, Israel had deeply syncretized the worship of Yahweh with the Canaanite fertility cults, particularly the worship of Baal. They attributed their agricultural prosperity, which was foundational to their economy, to Baal rather than to Yahweh, who had truly provided for them. This spiritual adultery was often accompanied by literal sexual immorality in cultic rituals. Furthermore, Israel frequently sought political alliances with foreign powers like Egypt and Assyria, rather than trusting in God's protection, which was another form of "adultery" against their covenant with Yahweh. The vivid imagery of "whoredoms" and "adulteries from between her breasts" in Hosea 2:2 would have resonated strongly with the cultural practices of the time, where pagan amulets or symbols associated with fertility cults might have been worn openly, signifying a blatant and public embrace of idolatry.
* **Key Themes:** Hosea 2:2 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the book of Hosea and the broader prophetic literature. First, it underscores the theme of **Broken Covenant Relationship**, portraying God's profound grief and anger over Israel's betrayal of the exclusive covenant established at Sinai. God's declaration, "she is not my wife, neither am I her husband," signifies a legal and relational rupture, akin to a divorce, due to Israel's profound unfaithfulness. This echoes the conditional nature of the [covenant made at Mount Sinai](/exodus/19-5 "Exodus 19:5 - The Sinai Covenant") where obedience brought blessing and disobedience brought curses. Second, the verse vividly illustrates **Idolatry as Spiritual Adultery**. The terms "whoredoms" and "adulteries" are not mere metaphors but equate the worship of other gods and participation in pagan rituals directly with marital infidelity. This imagery underscores the depth of Israel's offense against their exclusive relationship with Yahweh, who had chosen them as His own, as seen in [Deuteronomy 7:6](/deuteronomy/7-6 "Deuteronomy 7:6 - Israel, God's Chosen People"). Finally, the command to "put away her whoredoms out of her sight, and her adulteries from between her breasts" serves as an urgent **Call to Repentance**. It is a summons for Israel to abandon their pagan practices and return to exclusive devotion to the Lord, signifying a call for profound [repentance and spiritual cleansing](/isaiah/55-7 "Isaiah 55:7 - Call to Repentance").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Plead (Hebrew, _rîyb'_):** This word carries the connotation of a legal dispute, a contention, or a lawsuit. It signifies a call to present a case or argue with someone, highlighting the seriousness of the charges God is bringing against Israel. It's not a gentle request but an urgent demand for confrontation and accountability within a judicial framework.
* **Whoredoms (Hebrew, _zânûwn'_):** Derived from the root for "to commit adultery," this term specifically refers to illicit sexual acts, but in prophetic literature, it is consistently used metaphorically to denote religious apostasy and idolatry. It emphasizes the promiscuous and unfaithful nature of Israel's worship of multiple gods, betraying their singular devotion to Yahweh.
* **Breasts (Hebrew, _shad'_):** This word refers to the female breast. In the context of "from between her breasts," it is a vivid and graphic depiction of open, visible, and deeply ingrained sin. It could literally refer to pagan amulets or symbols of fertility cults worn openly on the chest, or more broadly, it emphasizes the blatant, public, and intimate nature of Israel's spiritual defilement, as if the idolatry was worn as part of their very identity.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Plead with your mother, plead:"** This opening command is addressed to the "children" (likely the prophet Hosea, faithful Israelites, or future generations) to confront the "mother" (the nation Israel). The repetition of "plead" (or "contend") emphasizes the urgency and the legal, confrontational nature of the divine message. It's a call for an internal intervention, a family dispute over profound betrayal.
* **"for she is not my wife, neither am I her husband:"** This is the core declaration of the verse, articulating the rupture of the covenant relationship. God, the divine husband, explicitly states that Israel, His chosen bride, has acted in such a way that the marital bond is effectively broken. This is a statement of profound grief, anger, and the legal grounds for impending judgment, signifying that Israel has forfeited the rights and privileges of the covenant.
* **"let her therefore put away her whoredoms out of her sight,"** This clause presents God's demand for repentance. "Put away" signifies a decisive and complete removal. "Whoredoms" refers to Israel's idolatrous practices. "Out of her sight" suggests not just ceasing the acts, but removing all visible symbols and temptations of idolatry, indicating a thorough cleansing and a return to exclusive devotion.
* **"and her adulteries from between her breasts;"** This further specifies the nature of the required repentance. "Adulteries" reinforces the imagery of spiritual infidelity, often referring to illicit sexual acts but here denoting the deeper betrayal of covenant loyalty. "From between her breasts" is a highly graphic and intimate image, suggesting that the idolatry was deeply ingrained, publicly displayed, and intimately cherished, perhaps referring to pagan cultic symbols worn on the body. The command is to strip away these deeply personal and visible signs of apostasy.

#### Literary Devices
Hosea 2:2 is rich in **Metaphor**, primarily the extended metaphor of marriage to describe the covenant relationship between God and Israel. God is the faithful husband, and Israel is the unfaithful wife, whose spiritual idolatry is depicted as **Adultery** and **Whoredom**. This central metaphor allows for a deeply personal and emotional portrayal of God's hurt and betrayal. The verse also employs **Anthropomorphism**, attributing human emotions and relational roles (husband, wife, children) to God, making His grief and indignation relatable. The phrase "from between her breasts" is powerful **Imagery**, creating a vivid and visceral picture of Israel's blatant and intimate embrace of idolatry, possibly referring to pagan amulets or symbols worn on the body, emphasizing the public and deeply personal nature of their sin. The **Repetition** of "plead" at the beginning of the verse adds emphasis and urgency to the divine command, highlighting the gravity of the situation and the immediate need for confrontation and change.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Hosea 2:2 profoundly articulates God's character as a covenant-keeping God who demands exclusive devotion from His people, yet is deeply grieved by their unfaithfulness. The imagery of marriage underscores the intimate, personal, and exclusive nature of the relationship God desires with humanity, a relationship that demands loyalty and purity. Israel's "whoredoms" and "adulteries" are not merely ritualistic errors but profound betrayals of love and trust, demonstrating the gravity of idolatry as spiritual infidelity. This verse establishes the theological principle that turning away from God to other gods or earthly attachments constitutes a breach of the divine covenant, incurring just judgment. However, even within this severe indictment, there is an implicit call to repentance, foreshadowing God's ultimate desire for restoration and reconciliation, which is a recurring theme throughout Hosea.

* [Exodus 34:14](/exodus/34-14 "Exodus 34:14 - God's Jealousy for Exclusive Worship")
* [Jeremiah 3:8](/jeremiah/3-8 "Jeremiah 3:8 - Israel's Unfaithfulness as Adultery")
* [Ezekiel 16:32](/ezekiel/16-32 "Ezekiel 16:32 - Jerusalem's Adultery")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Hosea 2:2, though rooted in ancient Israel's context, offers a timeless and piercing challenge to believers today. It serves as a stark reminder that God desires an exclusive and undivided devotion from His people, just as a husband desires fidelity from his wife. For the contemporary church and individual believer, this verse prompts profound self-examination: What are the "whoredoms" and "adulteries" in our lives that compete for God's rightful place? These might not be literal idols, but rather materialism, career ambition, social status, entertainment, or even relationships that subtly displace God as our ultimate priority. The call to "put away" these spiritual impurities from "sight" and "between our breasts" is a summons to radical repentance and a commitment to spiritual purity, ensuring that our lives reflect an undivided loyalty to our Heavenly Husband. It encourages us to dismantle anything that compromises our devotion, striving for a relationship marked by genuine intimacy, trust, and fidelity.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be giving my primary allegiance to something other than God, effectively committing spiritual "adultery"?**
* **What are the "whoredoms" or "adulteries" (idols, distractions, misplaced affections) that I need to consciously "put away" from my life and "sight"?**
* **How does understanding God's grief over Israel's unfaithfulness deepen my appreciation for His persistent love and call to repentance?**
* **What practical steps can I take this week to cultivate a more exclusive and devoted relationship with God?**

### FAQ
**Why does God use such strong language like "whoredoms" and "adulteries" to describe Israel's sin?**

Answer: God uses such strong, visceral language to underscore the profound depth and seriousness of Israel's sin. In the ancient Near East, marriage was the most sacred and binding covenant between two individuals, demanding absolute fidelity. By portraying Himself as the faithful husband and Israel as the unfaithful wife, God highlights that Israel's idolatry and pursuit of other gods were not mere theological errors but a deeply personal betrayal of their covenant relationship, akin to marital infidelity. This language emphasizes the emotional pain and betrayal God felt, and the severity of breaking the exclusive covenant He had made with them, as outlined in passages like [Exodus 20:3-5](/exodus/20-3-5 "Exodus 20:3-5 - The First Commandment"). It also reflects the reality that Canaanite fertility cults, which Israel embraced, often involved ritual prostitution, making the metaphor powerfully literal in some aspects.

**What does "from between her breasts" signify in this context?**

Answer: The phrase "from between her breasts" is a vivid and intimate piece of imagery that emphasizes the blatant, public, and deeply ingrained nature of Israel's spiritual defilement. It could literally refer to pagan amulets, charms, or symbols associated with fertility cults (like Baal worship) that might have been worn openly on the chest, signifying a public declaration of allegiance to false gods. Metaphorically, it suggests that idolatry had become deeply personal and cherished, integrated into the very identity and public display of the nation. The command to remove these "adulteries" from "between her breasts" is a call for a thorough, visible, and internal cleansing, demanding that Israel strip away every last vestige of their unfaithfulness and return to exclusive devotion to Yahweh, who had chosen them as His own, as seen in [Deuteronomy 7:6](/deuteronomy/7-6 "Deuteronomy 7:6 - Israel, God's Chosen People").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Hosea 2:2, with its raw depiction of God's broken heart over Israel's unfaithfulness, finds its ultimate fulfillment and resolution in Jesus Christ. While Israel, as God's Old Testament bride, repeatedly failed to uphold her covenant vows, Christ perfectly embodies the faithful "Husband" and establishes a new, unbreakable covenant. The "whoredoms" and "adulteries" of Israel, representing humanity's pervasive sin and idolatry, are ultimately atoned for by the perfect sacrifice of the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). Through His death and resurrection, Christ cleanses His new bride, the Church, from all spiritual defilement, presenting her to Himself "without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless" ([Ephesians 5:27](/ephesians/5-27 "Ephesians 5:27 - Christ's Love for the Church")). The call for Israel to "put away her whoredoms" is fulfilled in the New Covenant by the Spirit's work within believers, enabling them to turn from sin and live in faithful devotion to Christ, who is the true [Bridegroom](/john/3-29 "John 3:29 - John the Baptist on the Bridegroom"). He does not divorce His unfaithful people but redeems them, transforming them into a pure and devoted bride, demonstrating God's unwavering love and commitment to His covenant people, ultimately secured not by human faithfulness but by His own divine grace and the atoning work of Christ on the cross ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God's Love While We Were Still Sinners")).

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

Isaiah 50:1

¶ Thus saith the LORD, Where [is] the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors [is it] to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.

Ezekiel 23:45

And the righteous men, they shall judge them after the manner of adulteresses, and after the manner of women that shed blood; because they [are] adulteresses, and blood [is] in their hands.

Jeremiah 3:13

Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD.

Ezekiel 16:25

Thou hast built thy high place at every head of the way, and hast made thy beauty to be abhorred, and hast opened thy feet to every one that passed by, and multiplied thy whoredoms.

Jeremiah 3:1

¶ They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man's, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 19:3

And say, Hear ye the word of the LORD, O kings of Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, the which whosoever heareth, his ears shall tingle.

Hosea 2:5

For their mother hath played the harlot: she that conceived them hath done shamefully: for she said, I will go after my lovers, that give [me] my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink.