Hosea 2:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

“My husband shall call me,” she declares, “my husband shall call me Baalim,” meaning she will turn away from lust and renounce fornication. She will value being a lawful spouse and foster a bond that is distinctly spiritual. She will not invoke the names of the Baals, which are nothing more than stones shaped by human labor and imagination. Thus, she asserts, “my husband shall name me.” Like a chaste and honorable wife, she will direct her love solely toward him, never again uttering the name Baalim. However, if one prefers, an alternative interpretation may be considered. Baalim clearly signifies idols, and it was customary for Hebrew women to refer to their husbands using the titles of these false deities, a practice that was a misguided form of reverence. The origins of this practice, they claim, trace back to Nin the Babylonian, who named his father Bil from an idol amongst them, known as Bil. Her departure from such disgraceful behavior is demonstrated in the phrase, “My husband shall name me, and shall not call me Baalim unto him.” For if she chooses to call him husband, she will continually affirm that title and, out of respect, refrain from invoking the names of idols. Consequently, he states, “I will turn away the names of Baalim from her mouth, and their names shall not be remembered by her.”

He valiantly fought against Zoroaster, the great king of Bactria, achieving such honor that he elevated his father Bela to divine status, referred to in Hebrew as Bel, and recognized in many prophetic texts, particularly in Daniel according to Theodotion, as an idol of Babylon. The Sidonians and Phoenicians name it Baal, as there exists but one vowel sound between the consonantal letters bet and lamed, allowing readings of either Beel or Baal. Consequently, Didon of Sidon, hailing from royal lineage, when she welcomed Aeneas, offered wine to Jupiter from a cup traditionally used by Bel and all Bel's descendants.

We have learned of the origin of this demon, or rather the man deified as a demon, as all idols stem from deception and the dead. Further insights show that in Hebrew and Syriac, Baal signifies "having." To express "he who has me," one might say Baali, and in these cultures, wives affectionately address their husbands as Baali, meaning my husband, referring to a marital possession. In Hebrew, a husband is called 'ish,' and thus a wife, derived from her husband, is referred to as 'issa' in the Book of Genesis, paralleling the etymological roots of 'vir' for husband. Therefore, the words of the Lord convey: since in both languages, my husband or spouse is termed 'issi' and 'baali,' I have so despised the names of idols that I do not wish to be identified, even ambiguously, by a term that may have positive connotations. I would rather be called 'issi' than 'baali,' to prevent any association with idolatry when addressing my husband.

Forgive the obscurity of this explanation, caused perhaps by the complexity of the subject, the inexperience of the teacher, or the lack of understanding from the student. In expounding on the Hebrew prophet, I must refrain from oratorical flourishes, avoiding fanciful tales and digressions, and instead rely on your prayers and genuine eagerness to learn as I strive to uncover what is veiled. Therefore, Aquila, a devoted and inquisitive translator, states: She shall call me my husband and shall no longer refer to me as he who has me, that is Baal.