Hosea 2 · Verse 14

Hosea 2:14

Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.
Hosea 2:14, King James Version

Hosea 2:14 in other translations

BSB“Therefore, behold, I will allure her and lead her to the wilderness, and speak to her tenderly.
WEB“Therefore behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her.
ASVTherefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.
YLTTherefore, lo, I am enticing her, And have caused her to go to the wilderness, And I have spoken unto her heart,
DARBYTherefore behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak to her heart.
BBEFor this cause I will make her come into the waste land and will say words of comfort to her.
WebsterTherefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably to her.

What does Hosea 2:14 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
14. Therefore--rather, "Nevertheless" [Henderson]. English Version gives a more lovely idea of God. That which would provoke all others to unappeasable wrath, Israel's perversity and consequent punishment, is made a reason why God should at last have mercy on her. As the "therefore" (Ho 2:9) expresses Israel's punishment as the consequence of Israel's guilt, so "therefore" here, as in Ho 2:6, expresses, that when that punishment has effected its designed end, the hedging up her way with thorns so that she returns to God, her first love, the consequence in God's wondrous grace is, He "speaks comfortably" (literally, "speaks to her heart"; compare Jud 19:8; Ru 2:13). So obstinate is she that God has to "allure her," that is, so to temper judgment with unlooked-for grace as to win her to His ways. For this purpose it was necessary to "bring her into the wilderness" (that is, into temporal want and trials) first, to make her sin hateful to her by its bitter fruits, and God's subsequent grace the more precious to her by the contrast of the "wilderness." Jerome makes the "bringing into the wilderness" to be rather a deliverance from her enemies, just as ancient Israel was brought into the wilderness from the bondage of Egypt; to this the phrase here alludes (compare Ho 2:15). The wilderness sojourn, however, is not literal, but moral: while still in the land of their enemies locally, by the discipline of the trial rendering the word of God sweet to them, they are to be brought morally into the wilderness state, that is, into a state of preparedness for returning to their temporal and spiritual privileges in their own land; just as the literal wilderness prepared their fathers for Canaan: thus the bringing of them into the wilderness state is virtually a deliverance from their enemies.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 14 I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her - After inflicting many judgments upon her, I will restore her again. I will deal with her as a very affectionate husband would do to an unfaithful wife. Instead of making her a public example, he takes her in private, talks to and reasons with her; puts her on her good behavior; promises to pass by all, and forgive all, if she will now amend her ways. In the meantime he provides what is necessary for her wants and comfortable support, and thus opening a door of hope for her, she may be fully reconciled; rejoice as at the beginning, when he first took her by the hand, and she became his bride. This is most probably the simple meaning of the above metaphorical expressions. The valley on Achor was very fruitful; it lay to the north of Jericho, not far from Gilgal See Isa 65:10.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Hosea 2:14-23
After these judgments the Lord would deal with Israel more gently. By the promise of rest in Christ we are invited to take his yoke upon us; and the work of conversion may be forwarded by comforts as well as by convictions. But usually the Lord drives us to despair of earthly joy, and help from ourselves, that, being shut from every other door, we may knock at Mercy's gate. From that time Israel would be more truly attached to the Lord; no longer calling him Baali, or "My lord and master," alluding to authority, rather than love, but Ishi, an address of affection. This may foretell the restoration from the Babylonish captivity; and also be applied to the conversion of the Jews to Christ, in the days of the apostles, and the future general conversion of that nation; and believers are enabled to expect infinitely more tenderness and kindness from their holy God, than a beloved wife can expect from the kindest husband. When the people were weaned from idols, and loved the Lord, no creature should do them any harm. This may be understood of the blessings and privileges of the spiritual Israel, of every true believer, and their partaking of Christ's righteousness; also, of the conversion of the Jews to Christ. Here is an argument for us to walk so that God may not be dishonoured by us: Thou art my people. If a man's family walk disorderly, it is a dishonour to the master. If God call us children, we may say, Thou art our God. Unbelieving soul, lay aside discouraging thoughts; do not thus answer God's loving-kindness. Doth God say, Thou art my people? Say, Lord, thou art our God.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Hosea 2:14 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

לָכֵ֗ןla.Khen<to> thereforeH3651
הִנֵּ֤הhi.Nehhere!H2009
אָֽנֹכִי֙'a.no.KhiIH595
מְפַתֶּ֔יהָme.fa.Tei.ha[am] about to persuade herH6601
וְהֹֽלַכְתִּ֖יהָve.ho.lakh.Ti.haand I will lead herH1980
הַמִּדְבָּ֑רha.mid.Barthe wildernessH4057
וְדִבַּרְתִּ֖יve.di.bar.Tiand I will speakH1696
עַל'al-toH5921
לִבָּֽהּ\׃li.Bahheart herH3820

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Hosea 2:14

  • Isaiah 40:1-2

    Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.

  • Ezekiel 20:35-36

    And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord God.

  • Revelation 12:6

    And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

  • Isaiah 30:18

    And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.

  • Genesis 34:3

    And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel.

  • John 6:44

    No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

  • Revelation 12:14

    And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

  • Romans 11:26-27

    And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

  • Jeremiah 31:1-37

    At the same time, saith the Lord, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people. Thus saith the Lord, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest. The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry. …

  • Zephaniah 3:9-20

    For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent. From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering. In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain. I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord. …

  • Ezekiel 39:25-29

    Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name; After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid. When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations; Then shall they know that I am the Lord their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there. …

  • Ezekiel 34:22-31

    Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle. And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the Lord have spoken it. And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Therefore.
Isa 30:18; Jer 16:14
I will.
So 1:4; Joh 6:44; 12:32
and bring.
3; Jer 2:2; Eze 20:10,35,36; Re 12:6,14
and speak.
Isa 35:3,4; 40:1,2; 49:13-26; 51:3-23; Jer 3:12-24; 30:18-22
Jer 31:1-37; 32:36-41; 33:6-26; Eze 34:22-31; 36:8-15; 37:11-28
Eze 39:25-29; Am 9:11-15; Mic 7:14-20; Zep 3:9-20; Zec 1:12-17
Zec 8:19-23; Ro 11:26,27
comfortably. or, friendly. Heb. to her heart.
Ge 34:3; Jud 19:3; *marg:

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Hosea 2:13

    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.

  • Hosea 2:14

    Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.

  • Hosea 2:15

    And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.

Read all of Hosea 2

Hosea 2:14 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Empero he aquí, yo la induciré, y la llevaré al desierto, y hablaré á su corazón.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et je détruirai sa vigne et son figuier, dont elle disait: Ce sont là mes présents que mes amants m’ont donnés; et j’en ferai une forêt, et les bêtes des champs les dévoreront.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Darum siehe, ich werde sie locken und sie in die Wüste führen und ihr zum Herzen reden;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Propter hoc ecce ego lactabo eam, et ducam eam in solitudinem, et loquar ad cor ejus.