2 So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley:

Other Translations of Hosea 3:2

New International Version

2 So I bought her for fifteen shekelsThat is, about 6 ounces or about 170 grams of silver and about a homer and a lethekA homer and a lethek possibly weighed about 430 pounds or about 195 kilograms. of barley.

English Standard Version

2 So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethechA shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams; a homer was about 6 bushels or 220 liters; a lethech was about 3 bushels or 110 liters of barley.

The Message

2 I did it. I paid good money to get her back. It cost me the price of a slave.

New King James Version

2 So I bought her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver, and one and one-half homers of barley.

New Living Translation

2 So I bought her back for fifteen pieces of silver and five bushels of barley and a measure of wine.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Hosea 3:2

Commentary on Hosea 3:1-3

(Read Hosea 3:1-3)

The dislike of men to true religion is because they love objects and forms, which allow them to indulge, instead of mortifying their lusts. How wonderful that a holy God should have good-will to those whose carnal mind is enmity against Him! Here is represented God's gracious dealings with the fallen race of mankind, that had gone from him. This is the covenant of grace he is willing to enter into with them, they must be to him a people, and he will be to them a God. They must accept the punishment of their sin, and must not return to folly. And it is a certain sign that our afflictions are means of good to us, when we are kept from being overcome by the temptations of an afflicted state.