Attributed commentary excerpt
Barnes' Notes on Hosea 2:19
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Notes on the Whole Bible
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · 19th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
And I will betroth her unto Me forever - God does not say here, “I will forgive her;” “I will restore her;” “I will receive her back again;” “I will again shew her love and tenderness.” Much as these would have been, He says here much more. He so blots out, forgets, abolishes all memory of the past, that He speaks only of the future, of the new betrothal, as if it were the first espousal of a virgin. Hereafter God would make her wholly His, and become wholly her’s, by an union nearer and closer than the closest bond of parent and child, that, whereby they are “no more twain, but one flesh;” and through this oneness, formed by His own indwelling in her, giving her Himself, and taking her into Himself, and so bestowing on her a title to all which is His. And this, forever. The betrothal and union of grace in this life passeth over into the union of glory, of which it is said, “Blessed are they who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb” Revelation 19:9. He, by His Spirit, shall be with His Church “unto the end of the world,” and so bind her unto Himself that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against her.” The whole Church shall never fail. This “betrothal” implies and involves a new covenant, as God says, “Behold the days come, that I will make a new covenant with the hoarse of Israel and the house of Judah, not according to My covenant which I made with their fathers, which My covenant they brake” Jeremiah 31:31-32, and which vanisheth away. To those who had broken His covenant and been unfaithful to Him, it was great tenderness, that He reproached them not with the past; as neither doth He penitents now. But beyond this, in that He speaks of “espousing” her who was already espoused to Him, God shows that He means something new, and beyond that former espousal. What God here promised He fulfilled, not as God the Father, but in Christ. What God promised of Himself, He only could perform. God said to the Church, “I will betroth thee unto Me.” He who became the “Bridegroom” John 3:29 of the Church was Christ Jesus; she became “the wife of the Lamb” Revelation 21:9; to Him the Church was “espoused, as a chaste Virgin” 2 Corinthians 11:2. He then who fulfilled what God promised that He would Himself fulfill, was Almighty God. I will betroth thee unto Me in righteousness - Or rather, (which is more tender yet and more merciful,) by, with, righteousness, etc. These are the marriage-dowry, the bridal gifts, “with” which He purchaseth and espouseth the bride unto Himself. Righteousness then and Judgment, loving-kindness and mercies, and faithfulness or truth, are attributes of God, wherewith, as by gifts of espousal, He maketh her His own. “Righteousness” is that in God, whereby He is Himself righteous and just; “Judgment,” that whereby He puts in act what is right against these who do wrong, and so judges Satan; as when the hour of His Passion was at hand, He said, “when the Comforter is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged” John 16:8, John 16:11. “Loving-kindness” is that tender affection, wherewith He cherisheth His children, the works of His hands; Mercies, His tender yearnings over us (see the note above at Hosea 1:6), wherewith He hath compassion on our weakness; “Faithfulness,” that whereby He “keepeth covenant forever” Psalms 111:9, and “loveth His own unto the end” John 13:1. And these qualities, as they are His, whereby He save…
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