Hosea 3:1 Meaning and Explanation
“Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The LORD tells Hosea to go again and love a woman who has been unfaithful, making the prophet a living picture of God's own love for a people who keep turning away.
What Does Hosea 3:1 Mean?
After the births and the harsh names of chapter 1, the LORD now speaks a single, startling command to Hosea: go again and love a woman who has broken faith. Her wandering mirrors Israel, who looks to other gods and clings to the comforts of pagan feasts. The prophet's marriage becomes a sermon acted out in the body of one man.
The measure given here is not what the woman deserves but the love of the LORD himself. God does not wait for his people to make themselves lovely; he loves them while they are still turned away. This is the love that finds its fullest shape in Christ, who sought us while we were yet far off and gave himself to win us back.
Hosea 3:1 in the Original Language
ahab (אָהַב), 'love' -- to love by deliberate choice and committed affection, not mere feeling.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hosea 3:1
What does Hosea 3:1 mean?
The LORD tells Hosea to go again and love a woman who has been unfaithful, making the prophet a living picture of God's own love for a people who keep turning away.