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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Hosea 2:7 She will pursue her lovers but not catch them; she will seek them but not find them. Then she will say, 'I will return to my first husband, for then I was better off than now.'</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/hosea/2-7.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/10/28_Hos_02_07.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Hosea 2:7 - Israel's Adultery Rebuked" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="She will pursue her lovers but not catch them; she will seek them but not find them. Then she will say, 'I will return to my first husband, for then I was better off than now.'" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/hosea/2-7.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/hosea/2-7.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/hosea/">Hosea</a> > <a href="/hosea/2.htm">Chapter 2</a> > Verse 7</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad7.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/hosea/2-6.htm" title="Hosea 2:6">◄</a> Hosea 2:7 <a href="/hosea/2-8.htm" title="Hosea 2:8">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/hosea/2.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/hosea/2.htm">New International Version</a> She will chase after her lovers but not catch them; she will look for them but not find them. Then she will say, &#8216I will go back to my husband as at first, for then I was better off than now.&#8217 <a href="/nlt/hosea/2.htm">New Living Translation</a> When she runs after her lovers, she won’t be able to catch them. She will search for them but not find them. Then she will think, ‘I might as well return to my husband, for I was better off with him than I am now.’ <a href="/esv/hosea/2.htm">English Standard Version</a> She shall pursue her lovers but not overtake them, and she shall seek them but shall not find them. Then she shall say, ‘I will go and return to my first husband, for it was better for me then than now.’ <a href="/bsb/hosea/2.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> She will pursue her lovers but not catch them; she will seek them but not find them. Then she will say, ‘I will return to my first husband, for then I was better off than now.’ <a href="/kjv/hosea/2.htm">King James Bible</a> And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now. <a href="/nkjv/hosea/2.htm">New King James Version</a> She will chase her lovers, But not overtake them; Yes, she will seek them, but not find them. Then she will say, ‘I will go and return to my first husband, For then it was better for me than now.’ <a href="/nasb_/hosea/2.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> “And she will pursue her lovers, but she will not reach them; And she will seek them, but will not find them. Then she will say, ‘I will go back to my first husband, Because it was better for me then than now!’ <a href="/nasb/hosea/2.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8220She will pursue her lovers, but she will not overtake them; And she will seek them, but will not find them. Then she will say, &#8216I will go back to my first husband, For it was better for me then than now!&#8217 <a href="/nasb77/hosea/2.htm">NASB 1977 </a> “And she will pursue her lovers, but she will not overtake them; And she will seek them, but will not find them. Then she will say, ‘I will go back to my first husband, For it was better for me then than now!’ <a href="/lsb/hosea/2.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> So she will pursue her lovers, but she will not overtake them; And she will seek them, but will not find them. Then she will say, ‘I will go, and I will return to my first husband, For it was better for me then than now!’ <a href="/amp/hosea/2.htm">Amplified Bible</a> “She will [passionately] pursue her lovers, but she will not overtake them; And she will seek them, but will not find them. Then she will say, ‘Let me go and return to my first husband, For it was better for me then than now!’ <a href="/csb/hosea/2.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> She will pursue her lovers but not catch them; she will look for them but not find them. Then she will think, “I will go back to my former husband, for then it was better for me than now.” <a href="/hcsb/hosea/2.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> She will pursue her lovers but not catch them; she will seek them but not find them. Then she will think,&#8221 I will go back to my former husband, for then it was better for me than now.&#8221 <a href="/asv/hosea/2.htm">American Standard Version</a> And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now. <a href="/cev/hosea/2.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> She will run after her lovers, but not catch them; she will search, but not find them. Then she will say, "I'll return to my first husband. Life was better then." <a href="/erv/hosea/2.htm">English Revised Version</a> And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now. <a href="/gwt/hosea/2.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> She will run after her lovers, but she won't catch them. She will search for them, but she won't find them. Then she will say, 'I'll go back to my first husband. Things were better for me than they are now.' <a href="/gnt/hosea/2.htm">Good News Translation</a> She will run after her lovers but will not catch them. She will look for them but will not find them. Then she will say, "I am going back to my first husband--I was better off then than I am now." <a href="/isv/hosea/2.htm">International Standard Version</a> She will pursue her lovers, but she won't catch up with them. She will seek them, but she won't find them. Then she will say, 'I'll go back and return to my first husband, because it was better for me then than now.' <a href="/msb/hosea/2.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> She will pursue her lovers but not catch them; she will seek them but not find them. Then she will say, ?I will return to my first husband, for then I was better off than now.? <a href="/net/hosea/2.htm">NET Bible</a> Then she will pursue her lovers, but she will not catch them; she will seek them, but she will not find them. Then she will say, "I will go back to my husband, because I was better off then than I am now." <a href="/nheb/hosea/2.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> She will follow after her lovers, but she won't overtake them; and she will seek them, but won't find them. Then she will say, 'I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now.' <a href="/wbt/hosea/2.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now. <a href="/web/hosea/2.htm">World English Bible</a> She will follow after her lovers, but she won’t overtake them; and she will seek them, but won’t find them. Then she will say, ‘I will go and return to my first husband, for then it was better with me than now.’ <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/hosea/2.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And she has pursued her lovers, "" And she does not overtake them, "" And has sought them, and does not find [them], "" And she has said: I go, and I return to my first husband, "" For—better to me then than now. <a href="/ylt/hosea/2.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And she hath pursued her lovers, And she doth not overtake them, And hath sought them, and doth not find, And she hath said: I go, and I turn back unto My first husband, For -- better to me then than now. <a href="/slt/hosea/2.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And she pursued those loving her, and she shall not overtake them; and she sought them and she shall not find: and she said, I will go and turn back to my former husband, for it was well to me then more than now.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/hosea/2.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And she shall follow after her lovers, and shall not overtake them: and she shall seek them, and shall not find, and she shall say: I will go, and return to my first husband, because it was better with me then, than now. <a href="/cpdv/hosea/2.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And she will pursue her lovers, but she will not obtain them, and she will seek them, but she will not find them, and she will say, ‘I will go and return to my first husband, because it was to some extent better for me then, than it is now.’ <a href="/nabre/hosea/2.htm">New American Bible</a> If she runs after her lovers, she will not overtake them; if she seeks them she will not find them. Then she will say, “I will go back to my first husband, for I was better off then than now.” <a href="/nrsvce/hosea/2.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> She shall pursue her lovers, but not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them. Then she shall say, “I will go and return to my first husband, for it was better with me then than now.”<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/hosea/2.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And she shall follow after her lovers and shall not overtake them, and she shall seek them, but shall not find them; then shall she say, I will return and go to my first husband; for it was better with me then than now. <a href="/hpbt/hosea/2.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And she shall go after her lovers and she will not overtake them and she will seek them and she will not find them, and she will say: ‘I shall return, I will go myself to my first husband, because it was better to me than now<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/hosea/2.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> And she shall run after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them, And she shall seek them, but shall not find them; Then shall she say: 'I will go and return to my first husband; For then was it better with me than now.' <a href="/sep/hosea/2.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And she shall follow after her lovers, and shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: and she shall say, I will go, and return to my former husband; for it was better with me than now. <a href="/parallel/hosea/2-7.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xpPG1oLnpGk?start=204" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/hosea/2.htm">Israel's Adultery Rebuked</a> …6Therefore, behold, I will hedge up her path with thorns; I will enclose her with a wall, so she cannot find her way. 7<a href="/hebrew/7291.htm" title="7291: wə·rid·də·p̄āh (Conj-w:: V-Piel-ConjPerf-3fs) -- To pursue, chase, persecute. A primitive root; to run after (of time) gone by).">She will pursue</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/157.htm" title="157: mə·’a·hă·ḇe·hā (V-Piel-Prtcpl-mpc:: 3fs) -- To love. Or raheb; a primitive root; to have affection for.">her lovers</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: wə·lō- (Conj-w:: Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">but not</a> <a href="/hebrew/5381.htm" title="5381: ṯaś·śîḡ (V-Hifil-Imperf-3fs) -- To reach, overtake. A primitive root; to reach.">catch</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’ō·ṯām (DirObjM:: 3mp) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self.">them;</a> <a href="/hebrew/1245.htm" title="1245: ū·ḇiq·šā·ṯam (Conj-w:: V-Piel-ConjPerf-3fs:: 3mp) -- To seek. A primitive root; to search out; by implication, to strive after.">she will seek them</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: wə·lō (Conj-w:: Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">but not</a> <a href="/hebrew/4672.htm" title="4672: ṯim·ṣā (V-Qal-Imperf-3fs) -- To attain to, find. ">find them.</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: wə·’ā·mə·rāh (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-3fs) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">Then she will say,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1980.htm" title="1980: ’ê·lə·ḵāh (V-Qal-Imperf.Cohort-1cs) -- To go, come, walk. Akin to yalak; a primitive root; to walk."></a> <a href="/hebrew/7725.htm" title="7725: wə·’ā·šū·ḇāh (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjImperf.Cohort-1cs) -- A primitive root; to turn back transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively; generally to retreat; often adverbial, again.">‘I will return</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/7223.htm" title="7223: hā·ri·šō·wn (Art:: Adj-ms) -- Former, first, chief. Or riishon; from ri'shah; first, in place, time or rank.">my first</a> <a href="/hebrew/376.htm" title="376: ’î·šî (N-msc:: 1cs) -- Man. Contracted for 'enowsh; a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term.">husband,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">for</a> <a href="/hebrew/227.htm" title="227: ’āz (Adv) -- At that time. A demonstrative adverb; at that time or place; also as a conjunction, therefore.">then</a> <a href="/hebrew/2896.htm" title="2896: ṭō·wḇ (Adj-ms) -- Pleasant, agreeable, good.">I was better off</a> <a href="/hebrew/lî (Prep:: 1cs) -- "></a> <a href="/hebrew/6258.htm" title="6258: mê·‘āt·tāh (Prep-m:: Adv) -- Now. From eth; at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive.">than now.’</a> 8For she does not acknowledge that it was I who gave her grain, new wine, and oil, who lavished on her silver and gold—which they crafted for Baal.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/jeremiah/3-22.htm">Jeremiah 3:22</a> “Return, O faithless children, and I will heal your faithlessness.” “Here we are. We come to You, for You are the LORD our God. <a href="/ezekiel/16-8.htm">Ezekiel 16:8-15</a> Then I passed by and saw you, and you were indeed old enough for love. So I spread My cloak over you and covered your nakedness. I pledged Myself to you, entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine, declares the Lord GOD. / Then I bathed you with water, rinsed off your blood, and anointed you with oil. / I clothed you in embroidered cloth and gave you sandals of fine leather. I wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk. ... <a href="/isaiah/54-5.htm">Isaiah 54:5-8</a> For your husband is your Maker—the LORD of Hosts is His name—the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth. / For the LORD has called you back, like a wife deserted and wounded in spirit, like the rejected wife of one’s youth,” says your God. / “For a brief moment I forsook you, but with great compassion I will bring you back. ... <a href="/jeremiah/31-18.htm">Jeremiah 31:18-20</a> I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning: ‘You disciplined me severely, like an untrained calf. Restore me, that I may return, for You are the LORD my God. / After I returned, I repented; and after I was instructed, I struck my thigh in grief. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’ / Is not Ephraim a precious son to Me, a delightful child? Though I often speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore My heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him,” declares the LORD. <a href="/ezekiel/23-35.htm">Ezekiel 23:35</a> Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because you have forgotten Me and have cast Me behind your back, you must bear the consequences of your indecency and prostitution.’” <a href="/isaiah/1-26.htm">Isaiah 1:26-27</a> I will restore your judges as at first, and your counselors as at the beginning. After that you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City.” / Zion will be redeemed with justice, her repentant ones with righteousness. <a href="/jeremiah/2-2.htm">Jeremiah 2:2-3</a> “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem that this is what the LORD says: ‘I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown. / Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of His harvest. All who devoured her were found guilty; disaster came upon them,’” declares the LORD. <a href="/ezekiel/36-24.htm">Ezekiel 36:24-28</a> For I will take you from among the nations and gather you out of all the countries, and I will bring you back into your own land. / I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. / I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. ... <a href="/isaiah/62-4.htm">Isaiah 62:4-5</a> No longer will you be called Forsaken, nor your land named Desolate; but you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be His bride. / For as a young man marries a young woman, so your sons will marry you; and as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so your God will rejoice over you. <a href="/jeremiah/3-1.htm">Jeremiah 3:1</a> “If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him to marry another, can he ever return to her? Would not such a land be completely defiled? But you have played the harlot with many lovers—and you would return to Me?” declares the LORD. <a href="/ezekiel/16-60.htm">Ezekiel 16:60-63</a> But I will remember the covenant I made with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you. / Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you receive your older and younger sisters. I will give them to you as daughters, but not because of My covenant with you. / So I will establish My covenant with you, and you will know that I am the LORD, ... <a href="/isaiah/55-6.htm">Isaiah 55:6-7</a> Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. / Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon. <a href="/jeremiah/4-1.htm">Jeremiah 4:1</a> “If you will return, O Israel, return to Me,” declares the LORD. “If you will remove your detestable idols from My sight and no longer waver, <a href="/ezekiel/18-30.htm">Ezekiel 18:30-32</a> Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so that your iniquity will not become your downfall. / Cast away from yourselves all the transgressions you have committed, and fashion for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel? / For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death, declares the Lord GOD. So repent and live! <a href="/isaiah/57-17.htm">Isaiah 57:17-18</a> I was enraged by his sinful greed, so I struck him and hid My face in anger; yet he kept turning back to the desires of his heart. / I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him and his mourners,</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now.she shall follow.<a href="/hosea/5-13.htm">Hosea 5:13</a> When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound.<a href="/2_chronicles/28-20.htm">2 Chronicles 28:20-22</a> And Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not… <a href="/isaiah/30-2.htm">Isaiah 30:2,3,16</a> That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt! … I will.<a href="/hosea/5-15.htm">Hosea 5:15</a> I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.<a href="/hosea/6-1.htm">Hosea 6:1</a> Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.<a href="/hosea/14-1.htm">Hosea 14:1</a> O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.first.<a href="/jeremiah/2-2.htm">Jeremiah 2:2</a> Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.<a href="/jeremiah/3-1.htm">Jeremiah 3:1</a> They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man's, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD.<a href="/jeremiah/31-32.htm">Jeremiah 31:32</a> Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:for.<a href="/hosea/13-6.htm">Hosea 13:6</a> According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.<a href="/deuteronomy/6-10.htm">Deuteronomy 6:10-12</a> And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, … <a href="/deuteronomy/8-17.htm">Deuteronomy 8:17,18</a> And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth… <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/daniel/1-20.htm">Better</a> <a href="/ezekiel/19-6.htm">Catch</a> <a href="/isaiah/1-23.htm">Chase</a> <a href="/hosea/2-6.htm">Find</a> <a href="/hosea/1-2.htm">First</a> <a href="/daniel/11-43.htm">Follow</a> <a href="/daniel/12-12.htm">Goes</a> <a href="/hosea/2-2.htm">Husband</a> <a href="/hosea/2-5.htm">Lovers</a> <a href="/daniel/12-11.htm">Makes</a> <a href="/daniel/11-20.htm">Overtake</a> <a href="/ezekiel/35-6.htm">Pursue</a> <a href="/lamentations/5-5.htm">Pursued</a> <a href="/daniel/12-4.htm">Run</a> <a href="/ezekiel/39-14.htm">Search</a> <a href="/daniel/9-3.htm">Seek</a> <a href="/daniel/9-13.htm">Sought</a> <a href="/ezekiel/37-18.htm">Won't</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/amos/6-2.htm">Better</a> <a href="/amos/3-5.htm">Catch</a> <a href="/matthew/23-34.htm">Chase</a> <a href="/hosea/4-4.htm">Find</a> <a href="/hosea/9-10.htm">First</a> <a href="/hosea/2-13.htm">Follow</a> <a href="/hosea/6-4.htm">Goes</a> <a href="/hosea/2-16.htm">Husband</a> <a href="/hosea/2-13.htm">Lovers</a> <a href="/hosea/7-7.htm">Makes</a> <a href="/hosea/10-9.htm">Overtake</a> <a href="/hosea/8-3.htm">Pursue</a> <a href="/amos/1-11.htm">Pursued</a> <a href="/joel/2-4.htm">Run</a> <a href="/hosea/5-6.htm">Search</a> <a href="/hosea/3-5.htm">Seek</a> <a href="/hosea/3-5.htm">Sought</a> <a href="/hosea/5-4.htm">Won't</a><div class="vheading2">Hosea 2</div>1. <a href="/hosea/2-1.htm">The idolatry of the people.</a> 6. <a href="/hosea/2-6.htm">God's judgments against them.</a> 14. <a href="/hosea/2-14.htm">His promises of reconciliation with them.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/hosea/2.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/hosea/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/hosea/2.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>She will pursue her lovers but not catch them; This phrase reflects Israel's unfaithfulness to God, symbolized by a wife pursuing other lovers. In the historical context, Israel often turned to foreign gods and alliances, seeking security and prosperity. The pursuit of "lovers" can be seen as Israel's reliance on idolatry and political alliances with nations like Egypt and Assyria, which ultimately proved futile. This mirrors the futility of seeking fulfillment outside of God's covenant, as seen in <a href="/jeremiah/2-25.htm">Jeremiah 2:25</a>, where Israel is warned about the consequences of pursuing other gods.she will seek them but not find them. The inability to find these lovers signifies the emptiness and disappointment that comes from idolatry and turning away from God. This echoes the theme in <a href="/ecclesiastes/1-14.htm">Ecclesiastes 1:14</a>, where all pursuits apart from God are described as "meaningless" and "chasing after the wind." The historical context shows that Israel's alliances and idol worship did not bring the security or prosperity they sought, leading to their downfall and exile.Then she will say, ‘I will return to my first husband, This represents a moment of repentance and realization. The "first husband" is God, who established a covenant relationship with Israel. The imagery of marriage is used throughout the Bible to describe God's relationship with His people, as seen in <a href="/isaiah/54-5.htm">Isaiah 54:5</a> and <a href="/jeremiah/3-14.htm">Jeremiah 3:14</a>. This return signifies a turning back to God, acknowledging Him as the true source of provision and protection.for then I was better off than now.’ This acknowledgment highlights the blessings and security found in a relationship with God, contrasting with the desolation experienced when Israel strayed. Historically, Israel prospered when they were faithful to God, as seen during the reigns of David and Solomon. This phrase also foreshadows the prodigal son's realization in <a href="/luke/15-17.htm">Luke 15:17</a>, where he acknowledges his better state in his father's house. It underscores the theme of redemption and restoration available through repentance and returning to God.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/h/hosea.htm">Hosea</a> A prophet in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, called by God to deliver a message of repentance and redemption. 2. <a href="/topical/g/gomer.htm">Gomer</a> Hosea's wife, whose unfaithfulness serves as a metaphor for Israel's spiritual adultery. 3. <a href="/topical/i/israel.htm">Israel</a> The Northern Kingdom, often depicted as an unfaithful wife in the book of Hosea, symbolizing the nation's idolatry and abandonment of God. 4. <a href="/topical/l/lovers.htm">Lovers</a> Represents the false gods and idols that Israel pursued, forsaking their covenant with Yahweh. 5. <a href="/topical/f/first_husband.htm">First Husband</a> Symbolizes God, whom Israel initially followed before turning to idolatry.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_futility_of_idolatry.htm">The Futility of Idolatry</a> Just as Gomer's pursuits were fruitless, so are our pursuits of anything that takes the place of God in our lives. <a href="/topical/g/god's_unfailing_love.htm">God's Unfailing Love</a> Despite Israel's unfaithfulness, God remains ready to receive them back, illustrating His enduring love and mercy. <a href="/topical/r/repentance_and_return.htm">Repentance and Return</a> True repentance involves recognizing the emptiness of our pursuits and returning to God, our first love. <a href="/topical/c/consequences_of_unfaithfulness.htm">Consequences of Unfaithfulness</a> Spiritual adultery leads to dissatisfaction and loss, reminding us of the importance of faithfulness to God. <a href="/topical/h/hope_for_restoration.htm">Hope for Restoration</a> No matter how far we stray, there is always hope for restoration when we choose to return to God.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_hosea_2.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Hosea 2</a> <a href="/q/can_good_intentions_cause_harm.htm">What does the Bible say about loveless marriages?</a> <a href="/q/how_does_god_see_all_yet_'forget'_sins.htm">Hosea 7:2 presents a God who sees all evil--how is this reconciled with passages like Isaiah 43:25, which state that God 'forgets' sins?</a> <a href="/q/how_do_hosea_2_19-20_vows_fit_with_god's_covenant.htm">How do the vows of renewed betrothal in Hosea 2:19-20 fit with earlier scriptures that suggest God's covenant with Israel was already established and unbreakable?</a> <a href="/q/why_include_a_love_poem_in_scripture.htm">Song of Solomon 7 (entire) - Why is a passionate love poem with no explicit reference to God included in scripture, and does it clash with broader biblical themes of divine focus?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/hosea/2.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 7. - And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them. This portion of the verse expresses the consequence of the preceding. However eagerly she follows after them - and the form of the verb (Pie! conjugation) expresses that eagerness - she shall only experience the ineffectual nature of her efforts, and feel the impossibility of overtaking the darling objects of her pursuit. However earnestly she seeks them (here the Piel is used again), she shall find every passage barred and every outlet obstructed, so that, unable to find them, she shall be forced to abandon her search as utterly vain and impossible. Then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now. The difficulties of her position, the distress in which she found herself, stimulated her to increased eagerness in pursuit of her lovers; but it was only for a brief space, and the efforts were unsuccessful; the means as well as opportunity for the sacrifices and services of idol-worship failed, the obstacles placed in her way were insurmountable. Or, rather, the disappointment was so great and grievous, when all the fondly cherished hopes of help, or succor, or support from those idols were frustrated and found entirely vain, that heartsick and chagrined by unsuccess, she resolves on a change of course. With mingled feelings of remorse and penitence she makes up her mind to retrace her steps. She recalls the better days, the happier time, the more prosperous circumstances, of fidelity to her first and rightful husband and head; and now she is just ready to return to him. She is just now at that stage at which the prodigal in the parable had arrived "when He came to himself," and when he said, "How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father." Kimchi remarks," She will not say this until she has borne the captivity a considerable time." <a href="/commentaries/hosea/2-7.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>She will pursue וְרִדְּפָ֤ה (wə·rid·də·p̄āh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7291.htm">Strong's 7291: </a> To pursue, chase, persecute her lovers מְאַהֲבֶ֙יהָ֙ (mə·’a·hă·ḇe·hā) Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_157.htm">Strong's 157: </a> To have affection f but not וְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> Not, no catch תַשִּׂ֣יג (ṯaś·śîḡ) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5381.htm">Strong's 5381: </a> To reach, overtake them; אֹתָ֔ם (’ō·ṯām) Direct object marker | third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_853.htm">Strong's 853: </a> Untranslatable mark of the accusative case she will seek them וּבִקְשָׁ֖תַם (ū·ḇiq·šā·ṯam) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1245.htm">Strong's 1245: </a> To search out, to strive after but not וְלֹ֣א (wə·lō) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> Not, no find them. תִמְצָ֑א (ṯim·ṣā) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4672.htm">Strong's 4672: </a> To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present Then she will say, וְאָמְרָ֗ה (wə·’ā·mə·rāh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> To utter, say ‘I will return וְאָשׁ֙וּבָה֙ (wə·’ā·šū·ḇāh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7725.htm">Strong's 7725: </a> To turn back, in, to retreat, again to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> Near, with, among, to my first הָֽרִאשׁ֔וֹן (hā·ri·šō·wn) Article | Adjective - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7223.htm">Strong's 7223: </a> First, in place, time, rank husband, אִישִׁ֣י (’î·šî) Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_376.htm">Strong's 376: </a> A man as an individual, a male person for כִּ֣י (kî) Conjunction <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> A relative conjunction then אָ֖ז (’āz) Adverb <a href="/hebrew/strongs_227.htm">Strong's 227: </a> At that time, place, therefore I was better off ט֥וֹב (ṭō·wḇ) Adjective - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2896.htm">Strong's 2896: </a> Pleasant, agreeable, good than now.’ מֵעָֽתָּה׃ (mê·‘āt·tāh) Preposition-m | Adverb <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6258.htm">Strong's 6258: </a> At this time <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/hosea/2-7.htm">Hosea 2:7 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/hosea/2-7.htm">Hosea 2:7 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/hosea/2-7.htm">Hosea 2:7 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/hosea/2-7.htm">Hosea 2:7 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/hosea/2-7.htm">Hosea 2:7 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/hosea/2-7.htm">Hosea 2:7 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/hosea/2-7.htm">Hosea 2:7 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/hosea/2-7.htm">Hosea 2:7 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/hosea/2-7.htm">Hosea 2:7 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/hosea/2-7.htm">Hosea 2:7 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/hosea/2-7.htm">OT Prophets: Hosea 2:7 She will follow after her lovers (Ho Hs Hos.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/hosea/2-6.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Hosea 2:6"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Hosea 2:6" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/hosea/2-8.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Hosea 2:8"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Hosea 2:8" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>