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20 I will make a covenant for them on that day,(A)
    with the wild animals,
With the birds of the air,
    and with the things that crawl on the ground.
Bow and sword and warfare
    I will destroy from the land,
    and I will give them rest in safety.

21 I will betroth you to me forever:
    I will betroth you to me with[a] justice and with judgment,
    with loyalty and with compassion;
22 I will betroth you to me with fidelity,
    and you shall know the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. 2:21–22 Betroth…with: the betrothal was the legal moment before cohabitation when the dowry was paid to the father of the bride. In this remarriage the Lord gives the bride price to Israel herself “forever.” Justice…judgment: refer to equity and fairness of conduct. The next two terms, “loyalty” (hesed), the steadfast love between the covenant partners, and “compassion,” maternal love (cf. 1:6; 2:3, 25) are characteristic of Hosea. You shall know: not an abstract but a practical knowledge which means acknowledgment of God’s will and obedience to his law (4:1; 5:4; 6:3, 6).

20 I will betroth you in[a] faithfulness,
    and you will acknowledge(A) the Lord.(B)

21 “In that day I will respond,”
    declares the Lord
“I will respond(C) to the skies,
    and they will respond to the earth;
22 and the earth will respond to the grain,
    the new wine and the olive oil,(D)
    and they will respond to Jezreel.[b](E)

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 2:20 Or with
  2. Hosea 2:22 Jezreel means God plants.