Hosea 3:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

I referred to it as fifty-five pieces of silver. This figure, divided into three categories, signifies the priests, prophets, and kings, as God safeguarded the synagogue from outsiders through their leadership. On the fifteenth day of the month, the Hebrew people departed from Egypt towards the promised land. However, the Church was not acquired at such a cost; it was redeemed by Him who sacrificed Himself for it, sold for thirty pieces of silver, and restored through His own life. The prophet uses the imagery of barley bread to illustrate the teachings of the law, entrusted to the Israelites as laborers, until the arrival of Christ, from whom they would gain their identity as children of God.

And I acquired her for myself for fifteen pieces of silver, along with a kor of barley and an additional half kor of barley. He expressed to her, as translated: I engaged her for fifteen pieces of silver, a homor of barley, and a nebel of wine. Instead of gomor in Hebrew, the term omer is used which translators, with the exception of the Septuagint, have rendered using the Greek term representing thirty modi. One modius is approximately 2.5 harnets. Moreover, the phrase for nebel wine in Hebrew translates as letesh seorim, which other translators have interpreted as half a kor of barley, that totals fifteen modi.

The Lord admonished Hosea for taking a harlot and affirmed this act by specifying the amount of the payment.