What Does Hosea 2:7 Mean?

“And she shall follow”

to run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively [of time] gone by)

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

“after her lovers”

to have affection for (sexually or otherwise)

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

“but she shall not overtake”

to reach (literally or figuratively)

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

“them and she shall seek”

to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

“them but shall not find”

properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present

“them then shall she say”

to say (used with great latitude)

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

“and return”

to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);

near, with or among; often in general, to

“husband”

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

“to my first”

first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun)

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

“for then was it better”

good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good

at that time or place; also as a conjunction, therefore

“with me than now”

at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive