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Youngs Literal Translation

Hosea 3

1 And Jehovah saith unto me: `Again, go, love a woman, loved of a friend, and an adulteress, like the loved of Jehovah, the sons of Israel, and they are turning unto other gods, and are lovers of grape-cakes.'
2 And I buy her to me for fifteen silverlings, and a homer and a letech of barley;
3 and I say unto her, `Many days thou dost remain for Me, thou dost not go a-whoring, nor become any one's; and I also [am] for thee.'
4 For many days remain do the sons of Israel without a king, and there is no prince, and there is no sacrifice, and there is no standing pillar, and there is no ephod and teraphim.
5 Afterwards turned back have the sons of Israel, and sought Jehovah their God, and David their king, and have hastened unto Jehovah, and unto His goodness, in the latter end of the days.

Chapter Summary

Hosea buys back his unfaithful wife, picturing God's persistent love for Israel despite her waywardness.

Book Summary

Hosea's marriage to an unfaithful wife becomes a living parable of God's covenant love for wayward Israel. The book exposes Israel's spiritual adultery while revealing a divine love that will not let His people go.