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 2:13KJV
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Hosea 2:13 (KJV)

What does Hosea 2:13 mean?

Hosea 2:13 says that the LORD will punish Israel for a period of worshiping other gods. The verse portrays Israel as a woman who pursued lovers and forgot the one to whom she belonged.

The speaker is the LORD, and the woman represents Israel. Her earrings and jewels are part of the picture of someone making herself attractive before seeking lovers. In this image, her pursuit of lovers points to Israel’s worship of the Baals.

The Hebrew behind Hosea 2:13

  • “visit” — פָּקַד (paqad): This word can carry the sense of attending to or dealing with something. Here, “visit upon her” means that the LORD will hold Israel accountable for those days.
  • “Baalim” — בְּעָלִים (beʿalim): This is a plural form of “Baal,” a name used for a god worshiped in the region. The plural points to the Baals associated with different places.

Why Hosea 2:13 matters

  • The lovers in the picture represent more than human relationships. Israel “burned incense to” the Baals, linking the image to acts of worship.
  • The contrast at the end gives the charge its personal force. Israel “went after her lovers,” but “forgat me,” says the LORD.
  • The wider passage continues beyond the punishment. Hosea 2:14 begins with the LORD saying he will draw her into the wilderness and speak kindly to her.

Where else these words appear

“decked” Hebrew H5710 · used in 10 verses

  • Job 28:8 The lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it.
  • Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
  • Ezekiel 16:11 I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck.

“earrings” Hebrew H5141 · used in 16 verses

  • Genesis 24:22 And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;
  • Exodus 32:3 And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron.
  • Job 42:11 Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold.

“Baalim” Hebrew H1168 · used in 68 verses

  • Judges 2:11 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:
  • 1 Kings 19:18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
  • 2 Chronicles 17:3 And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim;

“forgat” Hebrew H7911 · used in 95 verses

  • Genesis 27:45 Until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day?
  • Psalms 13:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
  • Proverbs 31:5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.