Hos 2:16-20 | 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 ).

a2:16►

bJoel 1:15►

c2:1►

dAmos 5:18►

eGen 2:23-24►

f2:17►

g2:18►

h2:19-20►

i2:13►

‏ Hosea 2:16-20

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.
2:18 ^g On that day the Lord would make a covenant with his creation and his people, a covenant of peace and safety.
Summary for Hos 2:19-20: 2:19-20 ^h I will make you my wife: This Hebrew verb, used three times in these verses, can be translated with our seldom-used word betroth. In the ancient world, betrothal entailed all the legal steps of a marriage, including the payment of a bride price by the groom. The only thing missing was the marriage ceremony and sexual consummation. The Lord vowed to betroth Israel to himself forever. To ensure the eternal nature of this new marriage, God provided a bride price that included five priceless qualities: righteousness and justice, unfailing love and compassion, and faithfulness. As a result, the Lord said, Israel will finally know me (cp. 2:13 ⁱ).