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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).

21 “In that day I will respond,”
    declares the Lord
“I will respond(A) 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,(B)
    and they will respond to Jezreel.[a](C)

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 2:22 Jezreel means God plants.

26 to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word,(A) 27 that he might present to himself the church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.(B)

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26 to make her holy,(A) cleansing[a] her by the washing(B) with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself(C) as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.(D)

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 5:26 Or having cleansed