Hosea 2:9

KJV

Therefore will I return, and take away my corn in the time thereof, and my wine in the season thereof, and will recover my wool and my flax [given] to cover her nakedness.

KJV (with Strong's)

Therefore will I return {H7725}, and take away {H3947} my corn {H1715} in the time {H6256} thereof, and my wine {H8492} in the season {H4150} thereof, and will recover {H5337} my wool {H6785} and my flax {H6593} given to cover {H3680} her nakedness {H6172}.

Complete Jewish Bible

So I will take back my grain at harvest-time and my wine in its season; I will snatch away my wool and flax, given to cover her naked body.

Berean Standard Bible

Therefore I will take back My grain in its time and My new wine in its season; I will take away My wool and linen, which were given to cover her nakedness.

American Standard Version

Therefore will I take back my grain in the time thereof, and my new wine in the season thereof, and will pluck away my wool and my flax which should have covered her nakedness.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Hosea 2:9 declares God's decisive disciplinary action against unfaithful Israel, who had mistakenly attributed their prosperity to pagan idols rather than to Yahweh, their true Provider. As a consequence of their spiritual adultery, God announces His intention to reclaim the very provisions—corn, wine, wool, and flax—that He had graciously supplied, thereby exposing their spiritual nakedness and demonstrating His absolute sovereignty over all blessings. This act of judgment, though severe, is ultimately intended to strip away Israel's false security and lead them to repentance and renewed recognition of Him as the sole source of their sustenance and well-being.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a direct consequence of Israel's spiritual harlotry described in the preceding verses of [Hosea 2](/hosea/2 "Hosea 2 - God's Judgment and Restoration"). In [Hosea 2:5](/hosea/2-5 "Hosea 2:5 - Israel's Pursuit of Lovers"), Israel explicitly states, "I will go after my lovers, that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink." God's response in [Hosea 2:6-8](/hosea/2-6-8 "Hosea 2:6-8 - God's Restraint and Israel's Realization") outlines His plan to hedge up her way and cause her to realize that her "lovers" cannot provide. Verse 9, introduced by "Therefore" (לָכֵן, *lakhen*), marks the beginning of God's active withdrawal of blessings, directly addressing Israel's misplaced trust. This disciplinary action is not an end in itself but serves as a prelude to God's redemptive promise to woo Israel back to Himself, as seen in [Hosea 2:14-23](/hosea/2-14-23 "Hosea 2:14-23 - God's Promise of Restoration"), where He promises to restore her and betroth her to Himself in righteousness and justice.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Hosea primarily addresses the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) during the 8th century BCE, a period marked by significant political instability, social injustice, and rampant idolatry. The dominant religious syncretism involved the worship of Yahweh alongside the Canaanite fertility god Baal. The Israelites, an agrarian society, believed that Baal was responsible for rain, fertile land, and abundant harvests of corn, wine, wool, and flax—the very staples mentioned in this verse. They engaged in immoral cultic practices, including sacred prostitution, to appease Baal and ensure agricultural prosperity. This verse directly challenges that false belief, asserting that Yahweh, the God of the covenant, was the true and sole Provider of these blessings. By withdrawing these provisions, God was dismantling the very foundation of their misplaced trust and exposing the impotence of Baal.
* **Key Themes:** [Hosea 2:9](/hosea/2-9 "Hosea 2:9 - God's Withdrawal of Blessings") powerfully contributes to several key themes in the book of Hosea. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Divine Discipline and Judgment**, demonstrating that God's covenant blessings are conditional upon faithfulness, and He will act decisively when His people stray into idolatry. Secondly, the repeated possessive "my" ("my corn," "my wine," "my wool," "my flax") emphasizes God's **Absolute Sovereignty and Ownership** over all creation and all blessings, directly refuting Israel's attribution of these gifts to Baal. Thirdly, the phrase "to cover her nakedness" highlights the theme of **Exposure and Shame**, as God strips away Israel's false security and dignity, revealing their spiritual vulnerability and the futility of their idolatrous pursuits. This act of exposure is ultimately part of God's redemptive plan to bring Israel to **Repentance and Restoration**, forcing them to acknowledge their dependence on Him alone, aligning with the broader call to [return to the Lord](/hosea/6-1 "Hosea 6:1 - Call to Return to the Lord").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **take away (Hebrew, _lâqach'_):** From H3947, a primitive root meaning "to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win." In this context, *laqach* signifies a forceful yet rightful repossession. God is not merely ceasing to give; He is actively reclaiming what was always His, but which Israel had misappropriated or taken for granted by attributing it to false gods.
* **recover (Hebrew, _nâtsal'_):** From H5337, a primitive root meaning "to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense; [idiom] at all, defend, deliver (self), escape, [idiom] without fail, part, pluck, preserve, recover, rescue, rid, save, spoil, strip, [idiom] surely, take (out)." This word reinforces the idea of God's assertive action. It's not a passive withdrawal but an active "snatching away" or "rescuing" of His own provisions from Israel's idolatrous hands, emphasizing His ownership and determination to bring about a change.
* **nakedness (Hebrew, _ʻervâh'_):** From H6172, meaning "nudity, literally (especially the pudenda) or figuratively (disgrace, blemish); nakedness, shame, unclean(-ness)." This term is crucial for understanding the consequence of God's action. By taking away the wool and flax "given to cover her nakedness," God is not just removing material comfort but exposing Israel's spiritual shame and disgrace. It signifies a stripping away of their perceived dignity, security, and prosperity, revealing their utter vulnerability and the emptiness of their reliance on idols.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Therefore will I return,"**: This opening phrase indicates God's decisive and intentional action, directly linking it to Israel's prior unfaithfulness (as detailed in [Hosea 2:5-8](/hosea/2-5-8 "Hosea 2:5-8 - Israel's Unfaithfulness and God's Response")). The verb "return" (שׁוּב, *shûwb*) here implies a reversal of His previous generous provision, a turning back to a state of judgment or disciplinary action.
* **"and take away my corn in the time thereof, and my wine in the season thereof,"**: God explicitly states His intention to reclaim the staple agricultural products—corn (grain) and wine—at the very time they are expected to be harvested. This timing is significant; it ensures that the impact of His withdrawal is immediate and undeniable, directly affecting their sustenance and economic well-being, which they had wrongly attributed to Baal. The possessive "my" underscores His ownership.
* **"and will recover my wool and my flax"**: In addition to food, God also reclaims the raw materials for clothing—wool and flax. The verb "recover" (נָצַל, *nâtsal*) emphasizes God's rightful repossession of these goods, which were His gifts from the beginning. These provisions represent not just material comfort but also dignity and protection from the elements.
* **"[given] to cover her nakedness."**: This final clause reveals the profound spiritual consequence of God's action. The wool and flax were originally given by God to provide clothing, symbolizing Israel's dignity, prosperity, and protection. By reclaiming these, God exposes Israel's "nakedness" (עֶרְוָה, *ʻervâh*), which signifies not just physical vulnerability but profound shame, disgrace, and spiritual destitution resulting from their idolatry. It is a powerful metaphor for the stripping away of all false securities and the revelation of their true, sinful state before God.

#### Literary Devices
Hosea 2:9 is rich in **Metaphor**, primarily extending the overarching metaphor of God as a faithful husband and Israel as an unfaithful wife. The "corn," "wine," "wool," and "flax" are metaphorical representations of God's abundant provision, which Israel, the unfaithful wife, mistakenly attributed to her "lovers" (Baals). God's act of "taking away" and "recovering" these provisions is a metaphorical divorce proceeding, where the husband reclaims his property from the adulterous wife. **Personification** is also evident, as Israel is personified as a woman whose "nakedness" is exposed, emphasizing her shame and vulnerability. The repeated use of the possessive pronoun "my" ("my corn," "my wine," "my wool," "my flax") serves as a powerful **Repetition** to underscore God's absolute ownership and sovereignty over all blessings, directly confronting Israel's idolatrous belief that Baal was the source. Furthermore, there is a strong element of **Irony** in the verse: Israel pursued other gods for the very provisions that God, the true Provider, was supplying all along, and it is God who ultimately withdraws them, demonstrating the utter futility of their misplaced trust.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Hosea 2:9 profoundly illustrates God's active role in the lives of His covenant people, not only as a benevolent provider but also as a righteous judge. It underscores the theological truth that all good gifts come from God, and to attribute them to anything or anyone else is a grave form of idolatry, a spiritual infidelity that breaks the covenant relationship. God's withdrawal of blessings is not arbitrary punishment but a calibrated act of divine discipline, designed to expose sin, dismantle false securities, and ultimately lead to repentance and restoration. This verse reveals God's unwavering commitment to His covenant, even when His people are unfaithful, demonstrating that His judgment is always purposeful and aimed at drawing His people back into right relationship with Him. It highlights His sovereignty over all aspects of life, from agricultural abundance to personal dignity, reminding us that true security and provision are found only in Him.

* [James 1:17](/james/1-17 "James 1:17 - Every Good Gift from Above")
* [Hebrews 12:6](/hebrews/12-6 "Hebrews 12:6 - The Lord Disciplines Those He Loves")
* [Deuteronomy 8:17-18](/deuteronomy/8-17-18 "Deuteronomy 8:17-18 - Do Not Forget the Lord Your God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Hosea 2:9 serves as a timeless and potent warning for believers today, reminding us that the principles of divine ownership, spiritual fidelity, and purposeful discipline remain constant. In a world that often encourages self-reliance, materialism, and the pursuit of security in worldly achievements or possessions, this verse challenges us to examine the true source of our blessings and trust. When we attribute our success, comfort, or provision to our own efforts, our wealth, our careers, or any other created thing, we engage in a modern form of idolatry, effectively giving credit to "Baals" of our own making. God, in His loving sovereignty, may permit or even orchestrate circumstances that strip away these false securities, not out of malice, but out of a desire to reorient our hearts back to Him. This can manifest as financial setbacks, health challenges, relational difficulties, or a general sense of emptiness despite outward success. Such experiences are often God's gracious invitation to acknowledge Him as the ultimate Provider, to repent of misplaced trust, and to find our true sustenance and dignity in Him alone.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "corn," "wine," "wool," or "flax" in my life do I tend to attribute to my own efforts, luck, or worldly systems rather than to God?**
* **In what areas of my life might I be placing my ultimate trust in something other than God, effectively creating modern "Baals"?**
* **How do I typically respond when comforts or perceived securities are challenged or withdrawn in my life? Do I see it as punitive, or as a potential invitation from God for deeper reliance on Him?**
* **What steps can I take to more consistently acknowledge God's sovereignty over all my provisions and to cultivate a heart of gratitude and dependence?**

### FAQ

**Why does God "take away" His blessings from His people?**

Answer: God "takes away" His blessings, as seen in [Hosea 2:9](/hosea/2-9 "Hosea 2:9 - God's Withdrawal of Blessings"), primarily for three interconnected reasons:
* **Divine Discipline:** It is an act of loving discipline (cf. [Hebrews 12:6](/hebrews/12-6 "Hebrews 12:6 - The Lord Disciplines Those He Loves")), intended to correct His people when they stray from His covenant and engage in idolatry. Just as a good parent disciplines a child, God's actions are aimed at their ultimate good.
* **Exposure of Idolatry:** By withdrawing the very things they attributed to false gods, God exposes the impotence of those idols and demonstrates His absolute sovereignty. He forces His people to recognize that He, and He alone, is the true source of all provision and blessing (cf. [Deuteronomy 8:17-18](/deuteronomy/8-17-18 "Deuteronomy 8:17-18 - Do Not Forget the Lord Your God")).
* **Redemptive Purpose:** This disciplinary action is not punitive for punishment's sake, but redemptive. It aims to strip away false securities, humble His people, and drive them back to Him in repentance and renewed dependence, ultimately leading to restoration and a deeper, more authentic relationship.

**Is this verse relevant to Christians today, given that we are under a new covenant?**

Answer: Absolutely. While the specific context of Baal worship and the old covenant has passed, the underlying principles of [Hosea 2:9](/hosea/2-9 "Hosea 2:9 - God's Withdrawal of Blessings") remain profoundly relevant for Christians today. The core message is about God's ownership of all blessings, the danger of misplaced trust (modern idolatry), and the nature of divine discipline. Christians are called to acknowledge that "every good gift and every perfect gift is from above" ([James 1:17](/james/1-17 "James 1:17 - Every Good Gift from Above")). When we place our ultimate trust in wealth, careers, relationships, or anything other than God, we are, in essence, committing spiritual adultery. God may still, in His sovereign wisdom and love, allow circumstances that challenge or remove these false securities to draw us into deeper reliance on Him and to purify our faith. The purpose is always to conform us more closely to the image of Christ and to remind us where our true sustenance and security lie.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Hosea 2:9, while a stark declaration of judgment against Israel's idolatry, finds its ultimate fulfillment and deeper meaning in Jesus Christ. Israel's reliance on "corn, wine, wool, and flax" from false gods points to humanity's inherent tendency to seek life and provision apart from God. Jesus, however, is the true and ultimate provision for all our spiritual "nakedness" and need. He declares Himself the "[bread of life](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life")" and the "[true vine](/john/15-1 "John 15:1 - Jesus, the True Vine")," offering spiritual sustenance that never perishes, unlike the temporal provisions God withdrew from Israel. While God stripped Israel of their physical coverings to expose their shame, Christ provides the perfect spiritual covering for our sin. Through His atoning sacrifice, He "takes away the sin of the world" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), and we are "clothed with Christ" ([Galatians 3:27](/galatians/3-27 "Galatians 3:27 - Clothed with Christ")), receiving His righteousness as our own ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Our Righteousness")). Thus, the judgment in Hosea foreshadows the ultimate judgment borne by Christ on the cross, allowing believers to receive eternal spiritual blessings and a covering of righteousness that can never be taken away.

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

Haggai 1:6

Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages [to put it] into a bag with holes.

Haggai 1:11

And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon [that] which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands.

Malachi 1:4

Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever.

Malachi 3:18

Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

Hosea 2:3

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.

Ezekiel 16:39

And I will also give thee into their hand, and they shall throw down thine eminent place, and shall break down thy high places: they shall strip thee also of thy clothes, and shall take thy fair jewels, and leave thee naked and bare.

Ezekiel 23:26

They shall also strip thee out of thy clothes, and take away thy fair jewels.