King James Version

What Does Hosea 2:13 Mean?

Hosea 2:13 in the King James Version says “And I will visit upon her the days of Baalim, wherein she burned incense to them, and she decked herself with her earrin...” — study this verse from Hosea chapter 2 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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 2:13 · KJV

Context

11

I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast days, her new moons, and her sabbaths, and all her solemn feasts.

12

And I will destroy her vines and her fig trees, whereof she hath said, These are my rewards that my lovers have given me: and I will make them a forest, and the beasts of the field shall eat them. destroy: Heb. make desolate

13

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.

14

Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her. comfortably: or, friendly: Heb. to her heart

15

And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.

Read Hosea 2 full chapter

Commentaries2 scholars

KJV Study CommentaryPublic Domain
Punishing idolatry: '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.' 'Visit upon' (paqadti) means hold accountable, punish. 'Days of Baalim' references extended period of idolatry—generations of unfaithfulness accumulating guilt. Burning incense to Baal violated exclusive worship of YHWH (Exodus 20:3-5). Decking with jewelry suggests preparing for ritual prostitution or treating Baal worship as seduction. 'Went after lovers' continues the adultery metaphor. The devastating finale: 'forgat me, saith the LORD.' To forget YHWH isn't mere memory lapse but willful neglect, choosing other loves over the covenant Husband. Psalm 106:21 laments 'they forgot God their Savior.' Forgetting God brings judgment; remembering brings life (Deuteronomy 8:11-20). Only the new covenant writes God's law on hearts (Jeremiah 31:31-34), preventing this fatal forgetting through the indwelling Spirit.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Israel's Baal worship lasted from Jeroboam I's golden calves (931 BC) through Ahab and Jezebel's intensification (874-853 BC) to Hosea's time (755-715 BC)—over 200 years of syncretism and idolatry. Archaeological evidence includes Baal figurines, incense altars, and cult objects throughout northern Israel sites. That God 'visits' this accumulated guilt means long-delayed judgment eventually comes. God's patience has limits (Genesis 15:16, 'iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete'). When societies persist in rebellion across generations, judgment becomes inevitable. Nineveh received temporary reprieve through repentance (Jonah 3), but later returned to sin and was destroyed (Nahum). Israel's failure to repent made judgment certain. Only Christ's death satisfies accumulated guilt—the cross pays for historical sin and current rebellion alike.

Reflection Questions

  1. What 'days of Baalim'—patterns or systems of idolatry—have accumulated in my life or society requiring God's visitation?
  2. How do I guard against 'forgetting God' amid prosperity, busyness, or cultural pressure?

Compare 2 commentaries from different scholars and time periods for a richer understanding.

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 18 words
וּפָקַדְתִּ֣י1 of 18

“And I will visit”

H6485

to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc

עָלֶ֗יהָ2 of 18
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

אֶת3 of 18
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

יְמֵ֤י4 of 18

“upon her the days”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

הַבְּעָלִים֙5 of 18

“of Baalim”

H1168

baal, a phoenician deity

אֲשֶׁ֣ר6 of 18
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

תַּקְטִ֣יר7 of 18

“wherein she burned incense”

H6999

to smoke, i.e., turn into fragrance by fire (especially as an act of worship)

לָהֶ֔ם8 of 18
H1992

they (only used when emphatic)

וַתַּ֤עַד9 of 18

“to them and she decked”

H5710

to advance, i.e., pass on or continue; causatively, to remove; specifically, to bedeck (i.e., bring an ornament upon)

נִזְמָהּ֙10 of 18

“herself with her earrings”

H5141

a nose-ring

וְחֶלְיָתָ֔הּ11 of 18

“and her jewels”

H2484

a trinket

וַתֵּ֖לֶךְ12 of 18
H1980

to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

אַחֲרֵ֣י13 of 18

“after”

H310

properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)

מְאַהֲבֶ֑יהָ14 of 18

“her lovers”

H157

to have affection for (sexually or otherwise)

וְאֹתִ֥י15 of 18
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

שָׁכְחָ֖ה16 of 18

“and forgat”

H7911

to mislay, i.e., to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention

נְאֻם17 of 18

“me saith”

H5002

an oracle

יְהוָֽה׃18 of 18

“the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Hosea. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Hosea 2:13 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Hosea 2:13 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Judges 3:7Hosea 13:6Hosea 11:2Hosea 13:1Jeremiah 7:9Hosea 9:9-10

Test Your Knowledge

Hosea 2 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterHosea Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

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