Contradiction with Jeremiah 3:14
This verse speaks of God being a husband to Israel, suggesting an unchanging relationship, while Hosea 2:16 suggests a change in how Israel refers to God.
Jeremiah 3:14: Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:
Contradiction with Ezekiel 16:32
Refers to Israel as an unfaithful wife, contradicting the restoration of relationship implied in Hosea 2:16.
Ezekiel 16:32: [But as] a wife that committeth adultery, [which] taketh strangers instead of her husband!
Contradiction with Isaiah 54:5
Affirms God as the "husband" of Israel, contradicting Hosea 2:16's movement away from calling God "Baali" (My Master, in some translations interpreted as a husband reference).
Isaiah 54:5: For thy Maker [is] thine husband; the LORD of hosts [is] his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. [Maker: Heb. Makers]
Contradiction with Ezekiel 23:4-5
Describes Israel’s infidelity, which contrasts with Hosea 2:16's hopeful intimate restoration.
Ezekiel 23:4-5: And the names of them [were] Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister: and they were mine, and they bare sons and daughters. Thus [were] their names; Samaria [is] Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah. [Aholah: that is, His tent, or, tabernacle] [Aholibah: that is, My tabernacle in her]
Contradiction with Jeremiah 31:32
Speaks of a broken covenant unlike the renewed intimate relationship suggested in Hosea 2:16.
Jeremiah 31:32: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day [that] I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: [although...: or, should I have continued an husband unto them?]
Paradox #1
Hosea 2:16 might present a contradiction or inconsistency because it suggests a shift in the relationship dynamics between God and His people. In some interpretations, this verse implies a move from a master-servant relationship to a more personal and intimate one. This could conflict with other scriptural parts that emphasize God's authority and sovereignty in more traditional terms, creating tension about how God's nature and relationships are consistently portrayed across different texts.
Paradox #2
The potential contradiction in Hosea 2:16 could stem from the shift in relationship dynamics portrayed, where God's relationship with His people is likened to that of a husband and wife. Some might find inconsistency in this metaphor considering the broader context of the Bible, where God is also described with paternal characteristics. This dual relationship metaphor may cause confusion or conflict regarding the nature of the bond between God and His followers.