Hos 2:16-17 | TNotes | STEP | 2:16 that day: This seemingly unremarkable phrase is actually quite important in the prophets. It refers to the coming day of the Lord (see Joel 1:15 ; 2:1 ; Amos 5:18 ), when the Lord will act decisively in human history on behalf of his people. • ‘my husband’ instead of ‘my master’: In this coming day, Israel will enter into a new relationship with her God. No longer will Israel call God “master” (Hebrew ba‘al ), which connotes subservience and was also the name of the chief Canaanite fertility god. Instead, she will address the Lord as “husband,” implying partnership and companionship (Gen 2:23-24 ).

bJoel 1:15►

dAmos 5:18►

eGen 2:23-24►

‏ Hosea 2:16-17

2:16 ^a that day: This seemingly unremarkable phrase is actually quite important in the prophets. It refers to the coming day of the Lord (see Joel 1:15 ^b; 2:1 ^c; Amos 5:18 ^d), when the Lord will act decisively in human history on behalf of his people.

• ‘my husband’ instead of ‘my master’: In this coming day, Israel will enter into a new relationship with her God. No longer will Israel call God “master” (Hebrew ba‘al), which connotes subservience and was also the name of the chief Canaanite fertility god. Instead, she will address the Lord as “husband,” implying partnership and companionship (Gen 2:23-24 ^e).
2:17 ^f To avoid any possible syncretism between the Lord and Baal, God would wipe the many names of Baal from Israel’s lips.