And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely.

HOSEA 2:18KJV
Know the Bible

Hosea 2:18 (KJV)

What does Hosea 2:18 mean?

Hosea 2:18 describes God’s promise of a safe future for his people. God speaks of removing dangers from both wild animals and warfare, so that the people can rest without fear.

The words “in that day” point forward to the time God is describing. God speaks of an agreement concerning the animals, then uses the breaking of weapons to picture the end of fighting.

The Hebrew behind Hosea 2:18

  • “make” — כָּרַת (karat): The word often means “cut” and is used with “covenant” for making an agreement. The phrase uses a familiar Hebrew way of speaking about establishing a binding agreement.
  • “covenant” — בְּרִית (berit): This means an agreement or binding commitment. In Hosea 2:18, God makes the commitment for the people’s benefit, with the creatures named in the verse.
  • “safely” — בֶּטַח (betach): The word carries the sense of security or freedom from fear. It describes the condition in which God will make the people lie down.

Why Hosea 2:18 matters

  • The promise covers more than a single kind of danger. “Beasts,” “fowls,” and “creeping things” name creatures from the field, sky, and ground, while “bow” and “sword” point to weapons of war.
  • The verse presents safety as God’s action on behalf of his people. God says, “I will make,” “I will break,” and “I will make them to lie down.”
  • Hosea 2:18 belongs within a promise of renewed relationship. In verses 19–20, God continues by speaking of taking his people as his own, using the image of marriage.

Where else these words appear

“things” Hebrew H7431 · used in 17 verses

  • Genesis 1:24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
  • Genesis 7:14 They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort.
  • 1 Kings 4:33 And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes.

“safely” Hebrew H983 · used in 41 verses

  • Genesis 34:25 And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males.
  • Psalms 4:8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.
  • Jeremiah 49:31 Arise, get you up unto the wealthy nation, that dwelleth without care, saith the LORD, which have neither gates nor bars, which dwell alone.

“fowls” Hebrew H5775 · used in 70 verses

  • Genesis 1:20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.
  • Leviticus 7:26 Moreover ye shall eat no manner of blood, whether it be of fowl or of beast, in any of your dwellings.
  • Psalms 79:2 The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.

“bow” Hebrew H7198 · used in 74 verses

  • Genesis 9:13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.
  • 2 Chronicles 17:17 And of Benjamin; Eliada a mighty man of valour, and with him armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand.
  • Isaiah 41:2 Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? he gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow.