Hosea 2:17

For I will remove from her lips the names of the Baals; no longer will their names be invoked.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — YHWH addresses Israel, depicted as a wife, declaring a future restoration following a period of discipline. The declaration occurs within a prophetic announcement of covenant renewal and relational repair.

The words — הֲסִרֹתִי (ha.si.ro.Ti) means "I will remove," and יִזָּכְרוּ (yi.za.khe.Ru) means "they will be remembered." The text states God will erase Baal names from Israel's lips and halt their invocation.

The thread — This prohibition against invoking foreign deities appears in Exodus 23:13, Joshua 23:7, and Psalms 16:4. These passages consistently command the exclusion of other gods from Israel's worship and speech.

Why it lands — The text demands the complete cessation of idolatrous speech and the rejection of rival divine authorities. It requires readers to recognize that covenant faithfulness entails exclusive verbal and relational allegiance to YHWH.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַהֲסִרֹתִ֛יva./ha.si.ro.Tiand/ I will remove אֶת־'et-<obj.>שְׁמ֥וֹתshe.Mot[the] names of הַבְּעָלִ֖יםha./be.'a.Limthe/ Baals מִפִּ֑יהָmi./Pi./hafrom/ mouth/ her וְלֹֽא־ve./lo'-and/ not יִזָּכְר֥וּyi.za.khe.Ruthey will be remembered ע֖וֹדodagain בִּשְׁמָֽם׃bi/sh.Ma/mby/ name/ their

King James Version

For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name.

Cross-references

Exodus 23:13 Pay close attention to everything I have said to you. You must not invoke the names of other gods; they must not be heard on your lips.
Joshua 23:7 So you are not to associate with these nations that remain among you. You must not call on the names of their gods or swear by them, and you must not serve them or bow down to them.
Psalms 16:4 Sorrows will multiply to those who chase other gods. I will not pour out their libations of blood, or speak their names with my lips.
Zechariah 13:2 And on that day, declares the LORD of Hosts, I will erase the names of the idols from the land, and they will no longer be remembered. I will also remove the prophets and the spirit of impurity from the land.
Jeremiah 10:11 Thus you are to tell them: “These gods, who have made neither the heavens nor the earth, will perish from this earth and from under these heavens.”