Hosea 2:3

KJV

Lest I strip her naked, and set her as in the day that she was born, and make her as a wilderness, and set her like a dry land, and slay her with thirst.

KJV (with Strong's)

Lest I strip {H6584} her naked {H6174}, and set {H3322} her as in the day {H3117} that she was born {H3205}, and make {H7760} her as a wilderness {H4057}, and set {H7896} her like a dry {H6723} land {H776}, and slay {H4191} her with thirst {H6772}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Otherwise, I will strip her naked and place her as she was the day she was born, make her like a desert, place her like a dry land and kill her with thirst.

Berean Standard Bible

Otherwise, I will strip her naked and expose her like the day of her birth. I will make her like a desert and turn her into a parched land, and I will let her die of thirst.

American Standard Version

lest I strip her naked, and set her as in the day that she was born, and make her as a wilderness, and set her like a dry land, and slay her with thirst.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Hosea 2:3 delivers a severe prophetic warning from Yahweh to unfaithful Israel, vividly portraying the consequences of their spiritual adultery and idolatry through the metaphor of a disgraced wife. The verse describes God's impending judgment, threatening to publicly strip Israel of her dignity and provision, reduce her to a state of utter desolation and barrenness akin to a wilderness, and inflict upon her extreme deprivation leading to a metaphorical death by thirst, all as a direct result of abandoning their covenant relationship for other gods.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is an integral part of Hosea's prophetic message, particularly within chapter 2, which outlines God's indictment against Israel for their covenant unfaithfulness. The preceding verses (Hosea 2:1-2) set the stage by depicting Israel as an unfaithful wife and Gomer, Hosea's wife, as a living parable for the nation's spiritual harlotry. God's call for His children to "plead with your mother, plead" (Hosea 2:2) immediately precedes this verse, indicating a final warning before the severe judgment described. The judgment in Hosea 2:3 is a direct consequence of the "harlotry" and "adultery" mentioned in Hosea 2:2, leading into a detailed exposition of the stripping away of blessings and the imposition of curses in the subsequent verses (Hosea 2:4-13), before the eventual promise of restoration (Hosea 2:14ff.).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The imagery in Hosea 2:3 draws heavily from ancient Near Eastern legal and social customs concerning unfaithful wives and conquered nations. Public stripping and exposure were common punishments for adultery or rebellion, designed to inflict profound shame and humiliation. For example, defeated enemies or rebellious vassals might be paraded naked to symbolize their utter subjugation and loss of honor. The threats of turning the land into a "wilderness" or "dry land" and "slaying with thirst" were particularly potent in an agrarian society dependent on rainfall and fertile ground. Israel, located in a region prone to drought, understood the devastating impact of water scarcity. Furthermore, the covenant curses outlined in [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses") often included agricultural failure and desolation as consequences for disobedience, making these threats immediately recognizable and terrifying to the Israelite audience.
* **Key Themes:** Hosea 2:3 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the book of Hosea. It underscores the theme of **Divine Judgment and the Consequences of Sin**, demonstrating that God's covenant faithfulness demands a reciprocal loyalty from His people, and that persistent spiritual adultery will inevitably lead to severe penalties. The imagery of public exposure and desolation highlights the theme of **Shame and Humiliation**, illustrating the loss of dignity and protection that results from forsaking God, much like the graphic descriptions of judgment found in [Ezekiel 16:37](/ezekiel/16-37 "Ezekiel 16:37 - God's Judgment on Jerusalem"). Furthermore, the threats of barrenness and thirst emphasize the theme of **Desolation and Spiritual Barrenness**, contrasting sharply with the fertility and abundance promised by God for obedience. This spiritual barrenness is a direct result of Israel's pursuit of false gods, who could not provide the life-giving water and sustenance that only Yahweh could offer, echoing the lament of [Jeremiah 2:13](/jeremiah/2-13 "Jeremiah 2:13 - Forsaking the Fountain of Living Waters").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **strip (Hebrew, _pâshaṭ'_):** From H6584, meaning to spread out (as in hostile array), but by analogy, to strip (i.e., unclothe, plunder, flay). In this context, it signifies a violent act of divestment, not merely taking off clothes, but forcefully removing all coverings, possessions, honor, and protection, exposing the individual to shame and vulnerability.
* **naked (Hebrew, _ʻârôwm'_):** From H6174, meaning nude, either partially or totally. This word emphasizes the state of being completely exposed, vulnerable, and without covering. It signifies utter destitution, shame, and a return to a primordial state of helplessness, devoid of any acquired status or false security.
* **wilderness (Hebrew, _midbâr'_):** From H4057, meaning a pasture (open field for cattle) or, by implication, a desert. Here, it denotes a desolate, unproductive, and uninhabited region. The transformation of Israel into a "wilderness" implies a reversal of God's blessings of fertility and abundance, leading to a state of economic ruin and spiritual barrenness.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Lest I strip her naked":** This clause introduces God's primary punitive action, emphasizing the public exposure and humiliation of unfaithful Israel. The stripping away signifies the removal of all protection, honor, and provision that God had previously bestowed upon the nation, leaving her utterly vulnerable and shamed before all.
* **"and set her as in the day that she was born":** This vivid simile intensifies the imagery of nakedness and vulnerability. It refers to the state of a newborn infant—helpless, dependent, and completely exposed. For Israel, it implies a return to a state before God's covenant, before He clothed her with glory and blessings, highlighting her utter destitution and lack of self-sufficiency without divine favor.
* **"and make her as a wilderness":** This metaphor describes the transformation of Israel's once-fertile land into a desolate, unproductive wasteland. It symbolizes the withdrawal of God's blessing and the resulting economic ruin and spiritual barrenness that would afflict the nation due to their idolatry.
* **"and set her like a dry land":** This simile reinforces the previous image of desolation, emphasizing extreme aridity and lack of life-sustaining resources. A "dry land" is infertile and uninhabitable, signifying the complete absence of divine favor and the resulting hardship and suffering.
* **"and slay her with thirst":** This final, powerful consequence signifies the ultimate deprivation and suffering. Thirst, especially in an arid region, is a potent symbol of death and the complete absence of life-giving sustenance. Spiritually, it represents the spiritual death and utter lack of divine presence and blessing that would befall Israel for abandoning the "fountain of living waters" (Jeremiah 2:13).

#### Literary Devices
Hosea 2:3 is rich in **Imagery**, painting a stark and visceral picture of judgment. The visual of stripping someone naked and setting them as a newborn evokes profound shame and vulnerability. The transformation of a fertile land into a **wilderness** and **dry land** creates a powerful sense of desolation and barrenness. The threat to "slay her with thirst" conjures immediate and terrifying images of suffering and death. The verse also employs striking **Simile**, comparing Israel's exposed state to "the day that she was born" and her land to "a dry land," which effectively communicates the extent of her impending destitution. Furthermore, the entire passage functions as a sustained **Metaphor** of Israel as an unfaithful wife, with God as the wronged husband, allowing the prophet to convey complex theological truths through a relatable domestic scenario.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Hosea 2:3 serves as a stark reminder of the gravity of covenant unfaithfulness and the inevitable consequences of spiritual idolatry. The theological principle conveyed is that God, as a righteous and holy Husband, will not tolerate persistent infidelity from His covenant people. While His love is enduring, His justice demands a response to sin. The judgment described is not arbitrary but a direct result of Israel's choices to pursue false gods and rely on human alliances, thereby forsaking the source of all true blessing and life. This passage highlights God's sovereignty over nature and human destiny, as He orchestrates both blessing and judgment to bring His people to repentance and restore their proper relationship with Him.

* [Leviticus 26:33](/leviticus/26-33 "Leviticus 26:33 - Consequences of Disobedience")
* [Deuteronomy 28:48](/deuteronomy/28-48 "Deuteronomy 28:48 - Curses of Thirst and Nakedness")
* [Jeremiah 2:13](/jeremiah/2-13 "Jeremiah 2:13 - Forsaking the Fountain of Living Waters")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Hosea 2:3, though a severe warning from ancient Israel, holds profound relevance for believers today. It calls us to a deep introspection regarding the nature of our devotion to God. In a world brimming with distractions and competing allegiances, this verse challenges us to examine what truly holds our affection and loyalty. Are there "other lovers"—whether material possessions, career success, social status, or even personal comforts—that subtly or overtly displace God from the center of our lives? The imagery of stripping and desolation serves as a poignant reminder that when we turn from the living God, we inevitably expose ourselves to spiritual barrenness and a profound lack of true satisfaction. It compels us to recognize that genuine life and flourishing come only from an undivided devotion to the Lord, who is the ultimate source of all provision and spiritual nourishment. This passage invites us to repent of any idolatry, however subtle, and to return wholeheartedly to the one who alone can satisfy our deepest thirst and cover our shame.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "idols" or "other lovers" might be subtly competing for my affection and loyalty, drawing me away from an undivided devotion to God?**
* **How does the imagery of being "stripped naked" or becoming a "dry land" speak to the spiritual consequences of unfaithfulness in my own life?**
* **In what ways can I actively cultivate a deeper and more exclusive relationship with God, ensuring He remains the central focus of my life?**

### FAQ
**What does it mean for Israel to be "stripped naked" and "as in the day that she was born"?**

Answer: This vivid imagery signifies a complete loss of dignity, honor, protection, and provision. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, public nakedness was a severe form of humiliation and punishment, often inflicted upon conquered enemies or unfaithful individuals. To be "as in the day that she was born" emphasizes a return to a state of utter helplessness, vulnerability, and destitution, stripped of all the blessings and coverings God had bestowed upon Israel since their inception as a nation. It implies a reversal of God's gracious acts, leaving Israel exposed and dependent, much like an infant, but without the nurturing care of their divine Husband. This is a powerful symbol of the consequences of breaking the covenant and the removal of divine favor, as seen in other prophetic warnings like [Ezekiel 23:29](/ezekiel/23-29 "Ezekiel 23:29 - Shame and Nakedness").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Hosea 2:3 speaks of the severe judgment upon Israel for their unfaithfulness, its ultimate fulfillment and resolution are found in Christ. The stripping away of dignity and the exposure to shame, which Israel faced, finds its most profound echo in the person of Jesus. He, the perfectly faithful Son, was [stripped naked](/john/19-23-24 "John 19:23-24 - Soldiers Divide Jesus' Garments") and exposed to public humiliation on the cross, enduring the ultimate shame not for His own sin, but for the spiritual adultery of humanity. He became the "dry land," thirsting on the cross (as described in [John 19:28](/john/19-28 "John 19:28 - Jesus Thirsts")), so that those who believe in Him might never thirst again, but have "rivers of living water" flowing from within (a promise found in [John 7:37-38](/john/7-37-38 "John 7:37-38 - Rivers of Living Water")). Through His sacrificial death, Jesus absorbed the judgment, the desolation, and the spiritual death that unfaithful humanity deserved, offering a path to restoration, dignity, and abundant life. He is the faithful Bridegroom who, unlike Israel, remained true to the covenant, thereby securing a new covenant where His people, the Church, are clothed in His righteousness and made fruitful, no longer a wilderness but a garden watered by His grace, as prophesied in [Isaiah 35:1-2](/isaiah/35-1-2 "Isaiah 35:1-2 - The Wilderness Blooms").

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

Ezekiel 16:22

And in all thine abominations and thy whoredoms thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, when thou wast naked and bare, [and] wast polluted in thy blood.

Isaiah 32:13

Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns [and] briers; yea, upon all the houses of joy [in] the joyous city:

Isaiah 32:14

Because the palaces shall be forsaken; the multitude of the city shall be left; the forts and towers shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks;

Jeremiah 13:22

¶ And if thou say in thine heart, Wherefore come these things upon me? For the greatness of thine iniquity are thy skirts discovered, [and] thy heels made bare.

Amos 8:11

¶ Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:

Amos 8:13

In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst.

Ezekiel 19:13

And now she [is] planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty ground.