Hosea 3 GNV
Summary: In a second sign-act, Hosea is told to love and buy back an adulterous woman — understood as Gomer again — for silver and barley, illustrating the LORD's persistent love for Israel despite her turning to other gods. He requires her to live with him many days without playing the harlot or having a husband, symbolizing a coming period in which Israel will exist without king, prince, sacrifice, pillar, ephod, or household gods. Only afterward will the Israelites return and seek the LORD their God and David their king, coming in awe to his goodness "in the latter days" (v. 5).
1Then said the Lord to me, Goe yet, and loue a woman (beloued of her husband, and was an harlot) according to the loue of the Lord toward the children of Israel: yet they looked to other gods, and loued the wine bottels.
2So I bought her to me for fifteene pieces of siluer, and for an homer of barlie and an halfe homer of barlie.
3And I said vnto her, Thou shalt abide with me many dayes: thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt be to none other man, and I will be so vnto thee.
4For the children of Israel shall remaine many dayes without a King and without a prince, and without an offering, and without an image, and without an Ephod and without Teraphim.
5Afterward shall the children of Israel conuert, and seeke the Lord their God, and Dauid their King, and shall feare the Lord, and his goodnes in the latter dayes.
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