The big picture
Hosea 3 opens in verse 1 with “Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 3 with “And I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot…”, and closes in verse 5 with “Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, children, days, Israel, love. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Hosea · King James Version · 5Hosea 3:1-5
1–5: Said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet…
Hosea 3:1–5 opens with “Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress…” and reaches “Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Hosea paying the redemption price and bringing his wife home under a renewed commitment, with particular weight carried by LORD, children, days.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley:” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
Hosea 3:1-5
King James Version1Then 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.
2So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley:
3And I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for another man: so will I also be for thee.
4For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim:
5Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Hosea 3:1 begins with “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…”
Where the chapter turns
Hosea 3:1 forms a natural hinge: “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…”
The final note
Hosea 3:5 leaves the reader with “Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, children, days, Israel, love, abide help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
How does blame move through the conversation?
The man points to the woman and indirectly to God; the woman points to the serpent. Neither response repairs trust.
Where does mercy appear?
Continued life, the promise involving offspring, and clothing accompany the expulsion.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.