Hosea 3
Bible in Basic English
Chapter overview
God tells Hosea to love an unfaithful woman again, reflecting divine love for Israel despite its idolatry. Hosea redeems her for silver and barley and requires a period of faithfulness, anticipating Israel's deprivation and eventual return to God and Davidic rule.
RedemptionSteadfast LoveFaithfulnessReturn
1And the Lord said to me, Give your love again to a woman who has a lover and is false to her husband, even as the Lord has love for the children of Israel, though they are turned to other gods and are lovers of grape-cakes.
2So I got her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a half of barley;
3And I said to her, You are to be mine for a long space of time; you are not to be false to me, and no other man is to have you for his wife; and so will I be to you.
4For the children of Israel will for a long time be without king and without ruler, without offerings and without pillars, and without ephod or images.
5And after that, the children of Israel will come back and go in search of the Lord their God and David their king; and they will come in fear to the Lord and to his mercies in the days to come.
Bible in Basic English — Public Domain. Where these translations come from.