Hosea 2:5 Meaning and Explanation
“For their mother hath played the harlot: she that conceived them hath done shamefully: for she said, I will go after my lovers, that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The nation credits her provision to false gods, the very 'lovers' she chases instead of the Lord.
What Does Hosea 2:5 Mean?
Here the heart of the unfaithfulness is exposed. Israel believed that the fertility gods of her neighbors -- the Baals -- supplied her food, clothing, and oil. She chased these 'lovers' as the source of every blessing, forgetting whose hand truly filled her table.
This is the oldest temptation: to credit the gift while forgetting the Giver. We trade the living God for whatever seems to deliver comfort and security. The tragedy is not only the betrayal but the blindness -- she does not even know that the One she left is the One who provided all along. The next verses will gently open her eyes.
Hosea 2:5 in the Original Language
zanah (זָנָה), 'played the harlot' -- to be unfaithful, pursuing other loves in place of the covenant bond.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hosea 2:5
What does Hosea 2:5 mean?
The nation credits her provision to false gods, the very 'lovers' she chases instead of the Lord.