Hosea 2:13

Authorized King James Version

And I will visit upon her the days of Baalim, wherein she burned incense to them, and she decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, and she went after her lovers, and forgat me, saith the LORD.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וּפָקַדְתִּ֣י
H6485
And I will visit
to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc
#2
עָלֶ֗יהָ
H5921
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
#3
אֶת
H853
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#4
יְמֵ֤י
H3117
upon her the days
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
#5
הַבְּעָלִים֙
H1168
of Baalim
baal, a phoenician deity
#6
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#7
תַּקְטִ֣יר
H6999
wherein she burned incense
to smoke, i.e., turn into fragrance by fire (especially as an act of worship)
#8
לָהֶ֔ם
H1992
they (only used when emphatic)
#9
וַתַּ֤עַד
H5710
to them and she decked
to advance, i.e., pass on or continue; causatively, to remove; specifically, to bedeck (i.e., bring an ornament upon)
#10
נִזְמָהּ֙
H5141
herself with her earrings
a nose-ring
#11
וְחֶלְיָתָ֔הּ
H2484
and her jewels
a trinket
#12
וַתֵּ֖לֶךְ
H1980
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
#13
אַחֲרֵ֣י
H310
after
properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
#14
מְאַהֲבֶ֑יהָ
H157
her lovers
to have affection for (sexually or otherwise)
#15
וְאֹתִ֥י
H853
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#16
שָׁכְחָ֖ה
H7911
and forgat
to mislay, i.e., to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention
#17
נְאֻם
H5002
me saith
an oracle
#18
יְהוָֽה׃
H3068
the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing love fundamental to theology proper, revealing God's essential nature and character and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Hosea Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes love in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection