Year of the Bible
Hosea 3
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Commentary on the Book of Hosea, Chapter 3:
In this short chapter, we have a more concrete example of what was explained symbolically in the previous chapter. God commands Hosea to buy a woman, probably his own wife, who is so far removed from her marriage that she is now living with another man. If she is his wife, Hosea should not have to buy her back, but he does. As we might expect, he pays money, but he also buys her back with grain, which suggests this is a real sacrifice on his part since he now cannot use nor sell the grain himself. This woman symbolizes God’s people who will have to go without the unfaithful trappings of paganism just as the woman will be going without her human lovers. This loss will ultimately lead to a stronger relationship in the future. The image of a man sacrificing to save the one he loves points us to the New Testament when God’s love for us, even while we are unfaithful, leads to the sacrifice of Jesus (Romans 5:8).
The Book of Hosea, Chapter 3:
The Lord’s Love for His Unfaithful People
1 And the Lord said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is beloved of a paramour and is an adulteress; even as the Lord loves the people of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love cakes of raisins.” 2 So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethech of barley. 3 And I said to her, “You must dwell as mine for many days; you shall not play the harlot, or belong to another man; so will I also be to you.” 4 For the children of Israel shall dwell many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or pillar, without ephod or teraphim. 5 Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king; and they shall come in fear to the Lord and to his goodness in the latter days.
*Daily Lectio Divina Question:
In this passage, how is the Lord relating his way of loving the people of Israel in comparison to this journey of Hosea. In what way does this relate to my life?
Biblical Commentary provided by the Catholic Biblical School of Michigan. Join a Catholic Biblical School of Michigan class this September at Holy Family in Grand Blanc, or online.
Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition. (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2006).
Permission to use the RSV-2CE given for Bishop's Year of the Bible by Ignatius Press. Many thanks to Ignatius for this.
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1 El Señor me dijo:
–Anda de nuevo, ama a una mujer
amada de otro y adúltera, como ama
el Señor a los hijos de Israel, a pesar de
que ellos vuelven el rostro a dioses extraños
y gustan de las tortas de uvas pasas.
2 Me la compré por quince siclos de
plata y un jómer y un létec de cebada.
3 Y le dije:
–Por mucho tiempo vivirás conmigo.
No te prostituirás, ni estarás con
ningún hombre, y yo obraré lo mismo
respecto de ti. 4 Porque por mucho tiempo
vivirán los hijos de Israel sin rey y
sin príncipe, sin sacrificios ni estelas,
sin efod ni terafim. 5 Después, en los últimos
días, los hijos de Israel volverán a
buscar al Señor, su Dios, y a David, su
rey, y a temer al Señor y sus bienes.
Pregunta de Lectio Divina del día de hoy
En este pasaje, ¿cómo relaciona el Señor su forma de amar al pueblo de Israel en comparación con este viaje de Oseas? ¿De qué manera se relaciona esto con mi vida?
La Biblia de Navarra
Permiso para usar esta versión de la primera edición de la Biblia de Navarra
para el Año de la Biblia del Obispo
dado por Ediciones Universidad de Navarra, S.A. (EUNSA).