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.

For their mother {H517} hath played the harlot {H2181}: she that conceived {H2029} them hath done shamefully {H3001}: for she said {H559}, I will go {H3212} after {H310} my lovers {H157}, that give {H5414} me my bread {H3899} and my water {H4325}, my wool {H6785} and my flax {H6593}, mine oil {H8081} and my drink {H8250}.

their mother prostituted herself, she who conceived them behaved shamelessly; she said, 'I will pursue my lovers, who give me my food and water, wool, flax, olive oil and wine.'

For their mother has played the harlot and has conceived them in disgrace. For she thought, โ€˜I will go after my lovers, who give me bread and water, wool and linen, oil and drink.โ€™

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.

Commentary

Hosea 2:5 (KJV) graphically portrays the spiritual unfaithfulness of ancient Israel, likening the nation to an adulterous wife who abandons her husband (the Lord) for "lovers" (false gods and foreign alliances).

Context

The Book of Hosea serves as a powerful prophetic allegory, where the prophet Hosea's marriage to the unfaithful Gomer mirrors God's covenant relationship with the northern kingdom of Israel. In this verse, "their mother" refers to the nation of Israel, personified as a woman who has committed spiritual adultery. The historical setting is one where Israel had increasingly turned away from worshipping the Lord, embracing the pagan practices of the Canaanites, especially the worship of Baal, who was believed to be the god of fertility and provision. Israel mistakenly attributed their prosperity โ€“ their "bread and water, wool and flax, oil and drink" โ€“ to these false deities and foreign powers, rather than to the one true God who had faithfully provided for them since their deliverance from Egypt.

Key Themes

  • Spiritual Adultery and Idolatry: The primary theme is Israel's profound unfaithfulness to God, breaking the covenant vows made at Mount Sinai. Their pursuit of other gods, particularly Baal, is depicted as spiritual harlotry against God.
  • Misplaced Trust and False Provision: Israel believed their "lovers" (idols and alliances) were the source of their blessings and security. This highlights a fundamental error in attributing God's provision to false sources, a common temptation for humanity.
  • Divine Jealousy and Justice: While not explicitly stated in this verse, the larger context of Hosea reveals God's righteous anger and jealousy over His people's betrayal, leading to impending judgment as a corrective measure.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "harlot" is zanah (ื–ึธื ึธื”), which is frequently used metaphorically in the Old Testament to describe Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness and idolatry. The "lovers" (ืžึฐืึทื”ึฒื‘ึดื™ื - me'ahavim) are not just foreign nations but also the pagan deities and their associated rituals that Israel embraced. The specific items listed โ€“ "bread and water, wool and flax, oil and drink" โ€“ represent essential provisions and luxuries, symbolizing the agricultural bounty and economic well-being that the Israelites wrongly believed were gifts from Baal, rather than from the Lord who truly provides and sustains life (compare with Deuteronomy 8:18).

Practical Application

Hosea 2:5 serves as a timeless warning against misplaced trust and spiritual compromise. In contemporary life, "lovers" can represent anything we prioritize over God and from which we seek our provision, security, or identityโ€”be it wealth, career, relationships, social media, or worldly philosophies. This verse challenges believers to examine whether they are giving credit to God for their blessings or attributing them to human effort, luck, or other sources. It underscores the importance of acknowledging God as the ultimate provider and remaining faithful to Him, avoiding any form of spiritual syncretism or idolatry that compromises our devotion.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 44:17 (4 votes)

    But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for [then] had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.

  • Jeremiah 44:18 (4 votes)

    But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all [things], and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine.

  • Isaiah 1:21 (4 votes)

    ยถ How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.

  • Hosea 2:8 (4 votes)

    For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, [which] they prepared for Baal.

  • Hosea 3:1 (4 votes)

    ยถ 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.

  • Hosea 2:12 (3 votes)

    And I will destroy her vines and her fig trees, whereof she hath said, These [are] my rewards that my lovers have given me: and I will make them a forest, and the beasts of the field shall eat them.

  • Hosea 2:13 (3 votes)

    And I will visit upon her the days of Baalim, wherein she burned incense to them, and she decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, and she went after her lovers, and forgat me, saith the LORD.