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Hosea 2:7

Old Testament Minor Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Hosea 2:7 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now.
Hosea 2:7 — American Standard Version

Context — Hosea 2

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
4Yea, upon her children will I have no mercy; for they are children of whoredom;
5for 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.
6Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and I will build a wall against her, that she shall not find her paths.
7And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now.
8For she did not know that I gave her the grain, and the new wine, and the oil, and multiplied unto her silver and gold, which they used for Baal.
9Therefore will I take back my grain in the time thereof, and my new wine in the season thereof, and will pluck away my wool and my flax which should have covered her nakedness.
10And now will I uncover her lewdness in the sight of her lovers, and none shall deliver her out of my hand.
← Hosea 2:6Hosea 2:8 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And she shall follow after her lovers, etc.] Before mentioned; that is, in her affections and desires, with great eagerness and earnestness, as men pursue what they are bent upon; otherwise, being hedged in and walled up, she could not go after them in a proper sense: but she shall not overtake them; they fleeing from her, and she pent up: she shall seek them, but shall not find them; shall not be able to enjoy them, or act according to her wishes and desires, with respect to the performance of sacrifices, rites, and ceremonies, as before observed: then shall she say; in her heart, finding all endeavours fruitless, and that the things sought after were never to be had; the hedges and wall,…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And she shall follow after - The words rendered “follow after and seek” (רדך, בקשׁ) are intensive and express “eager, vehement pursuit,” and “diligent search.” They express, together, a pursuit, whose minuteness is not hindered by its vehemence, nor its extent and wideness by its exactness. She shall seek far and wide, minutely and carefully, everywhere and in all things, and shall fail in all. For eighteen hundred years the Jews have chased after a phantom, a Christ, triumphing, after the manner of the kings of the earth, and it has ever escaped them. The sinful soul will too often struggle on, in pursuit of what God is withdrawing, and will not give over, until, through God’s persevering…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Her lovers - Idols and idolaters. Overtake them - But shall never overtake their desired help. To my first husband - God who had married Israel to himself. Hosea 2:8”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“she shall follow: Hos 5:13; Ch2 28:20-22; Isa 30:2, Isa 30:3, Isa 30:16, Isa 31:1-3; Jer 2:28, Jer 2:36, Jer 2:37, Jer 30:12-15; Eze 20:32, Eze 23:22 I will: Hos 5:15, Hos 6:1, Hos 14:1; Psa 116:7; Jer 3:22-25, Jer 31:18, Jer 50:4, Jer 50:5; Lam 3:40-42; Luk 15:17-20 first: Jer 2:2, Jer 3:1, Jer 31:32; Eze 16:18, Eze 23:4 for: Hos 13:6; Deu 6:10-12, Deu 8:17, Deu 8:18, Deu 32:13-15; Neh 9:25, Neh 9:26; Jer 14:22; Dan 4:17, Dan 4:25, Dan 4:32, Dan 5:21 Hosea 2:8”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification