Did Paul misquote Hosea? A response to Rabbi Singer on Romans 9:25
What did Jewish tradition teach about interpretation of this verse from Hosea?
In Romans 9, Paul quoted the prophet Hosea to argue God’s mercy extends to the whole world. Jew and non-Jew (Gentile).
What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory — even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? As he says in Hosea:
“I will call them ‘my people’ who are not my people;
and I will call her ‘my loved one’ who is not my loved one,” (Romans 9:23–25, NIV)
Rabbi Singer, in a recent YouTube video, denounced Paul’s citation from Hosea:
Listen carefully, it’s a scam. Paul lied to them…This is grotesque.
This article starts by summarising Rabbi Singer’s interpretation of this Hosea quote. We’ll then read Romans 9 in context. Followed by how Rashi, the most authoritative commentator in Jewish tradition, interpreted this verse.
What was Hosea’s original intention
Is Paul trying to deceive his readers? According to Rabbi Singer, Hosea is talking about the northern tribes of Israel:
It is speaking about the restoration of the 10 Northern tribes of Israel in context. Paul in Romans 9 is applying that to non-Jews. That’s a complete misappropriation of the text…Paul desecrated the Jewish Scriptures he promised to uphold. Paul was a Charlatan, end of story.” (Rabbi Singer)
This is a very strong accusation by Rabbi Singer? To be that forthright, you’d expect him to have a strong case. Unfortunately for him, not so much.
Salvation through Abraham and his descendants
To understand Paul’s citations from Hosea, we first need to read his argument in context.
In Romans 9:6–13, Paul argued salvation is from the Jews. The covenant of blessing is with Abraham and his descendants — Isaac and then Jacob (Israel).
Genesis spoke of God’s covenant with Abraham several times in chapters 12–22. For example:
“That I will surely bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand that is on the seashore, and your descendants will inherit the cities of their enemies.
And through your children shall be blessed all the nations of the world, because you hearkened to My voice.” (Genesis 22:17–18, Chabad)
Gentiles blessed through Abraham
Romans 9:6–13, covers God’s promise to bless Israel — Abraham’s descendants. Romans 9:22–29, Paul proceeds to the second aspect of the covenant. God intends to bless people from all nations through Abraham:
The number of the people of Israel shall be like that of the sands of the sea, which cannot be measured or counted; and instead of being told, “You are Not-My-People,” they shall be called Children-of-the-Living-God. (Hosea 2:1, JPS 1985; Christian versions 1:10)
Hosea was repeating the promise made to Abraham. Israel would be like the sands of the sea (Genesis 22:17). So Rabbi Singer is partially correct — this is for the Northern tribes of Israel who strayed from God.
Yet God’s will is also to bless people from all nations who have the faith of Abraham. So Hosea includes Gentiles who return to him. The next verse quoted in Romans 9 makes a similar point:
“And I will sow her for Me in the land, and I will have compassion upon the unpitied one, and I will say to them that are not My people, “You are My people,” and they shall say, “[You are] my God.” (Hosea 2:25, Chabad; 2:23 Christian versions*)
A fair question to ask is whether this is reading Hosea through Christian eyes. Was the prophet really referring to Gentiles? According to Rashi, the most influential commentator of Jewish tradition, yes:
And I will sow her for Me in the land: As one who sows a se’ah in order to gather many korim, so will many proselytes be added to them. [from Pesachim 87b]
Rashi’s commentary cited a passage from the Talmud providing further detail:
Even those who were initially “not My people,” i.e., gentiles, will convert and become part of the Jewish nation. (Pesachim 87b)
Both Rashi and Pesachim 87b confirm that the apostle did not misquote Hosea.
Conclusion
Romans 9, on the surface, looks like it is quoting a passage from Hosea about the Northern tribes of Israel. That is partly true. Yet, the most authoritative scholars of Jewish tradition interpreted these passages to be about the Gentiles. Paul’s purpose is not to deceive:
I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. (Romans 9:1–4, NIV)
*The numbering of these verses used by Jews and Christians varies a little — but their content in Hebrew is the same.
