“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.”
My Notes
What Does Hosea 3:1 Mean?
God commands Hosea to do the hardest thing again: love a woman who is adulterous. Again. The first time (1:2), God told him to marry a promiscuous woman. Now: love her again. Despite the betrayal. Despite the adultery. Despite everything she's done. Love her — because that's how God loves Israel.
"According to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel" — the comparison is direct. Hosea's love for his unfaithful wife mirrors God's love for His unfaithful people. Every time Hosea takes Gomer back, he's acting out what God does with Israel. The marriage is the metaphor. The love is the theology.
"Who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine" — Israel's infidelity is described as looking toward other gods (spiritual adultery) and loving wine (material indulgence). The unfaithfulness is both spiritual (other gods) and sensual (wine). They've replaced God with idols and pleasure. And God says: love them anyway.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Could you love someone again after they've betrayed you — and does God's example (loving unfaithful Israel) make it more possible?
- 2.Does 'according to the love of the LORD' (the divine model of love-after-betrayal) describe a love beyond what's humanly natural?
- 3.How does Israel 'looking to other gods' mirror ways you give attention to things that aren't God?
- 4.Is God asking you to love someone 'again' — not for the first time, but after the betrayal?
Devotional
Love her again. The adulteress. Because that's how I love Israel. Despite everything.
God asks Hosea to do what no one should have to do: love the person who betrayed you. Again. Not for the first time (that was chapter 1 — marry a promiscuous woman). This is the second time. After the betrayal. After the adultery. After she left and gave herself to other lovers. Love her. Again. Because that's how I love My people.
The comparison is the whole point: "according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel." God loves Israel the way Hosea loves Gomer — with full knowledge of the unfaithfulness. Not blind love. Informed love. Love that sees the adultery, knows the betrayal, and chooses to love anyway. The love doesn't ignore the sin. It outlasts it.
"Who look to other gods" — Israel is the adulteress. She looks at other gods the way a wandering wife looks at other men. The eyes that were supposed to be fixed on the LORD are roaming. The attention that was covenanted to one God is distributed among many.
"And love flagons of wine" — the indulgence alongside the infidelity. Israel doesn't just worship other gods. She loves the party they provide. The raisin cakes (wine flagons) of pagan worship — the sensual pleasures that accompany idol worship — are what she's after. The spiritual adultery comes with material perks.
And God says: love her. Not because she deserves it (she doesn't). Not because she'll change (the track record says otherwise). Because that's how I love. The divine model of love is: betrayed and still pursuing. Cheated on and still offering the relationship. Abandoned and still standing at the door.
Hosea's marriage is God's autobiography. And the love is the plot.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Then said the Lord unto me,.... Or, as the Targum,
"the Lord said unto me again'';
for the word yet or again is to…
Go yet, love a woman, beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress - This woman is the same Gomer, whom the prophet had…
Some think that this chapter refers to Judah, the two tribes, as the adulteress the prophet married (Hos 1:3)…
Go yet, love Rather, Once more go love, indicating that the narrative dropped at Hos 1:9 is now resumed. (Notice also in…
Cross References
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