The Law Of Double Reference (Hosea 11:1)

Scholars have established certain principles for interpreting Scripture called "hermeneutics." The first rule of interpreting Scripture is to take every word at its primary, ordinary, usual, and literal meaning, unless the facts of the context within a verse or passage, studied in the light of other related passages, determine a departure from the literal meaning and require a passage to be interpreted figuratively or metaphorically.

One of the rules of interpretation is called the "law of double reference." This rule is important since history will repeat itself and since certain prophecies can have a first (primary) meaning and a secondary meaning. In both history and prophecy, similar situations can occur in which the circumstances mirror each other. For example, the destruction of the temple occurred twice: first by the Babylonians and then by the Romans. However, the sins that led to the destruction and the events surrounding the actual conflicts are similar. This includes the fact that both temples were destroyed hundreds of years apart on the same day of the Jewish calendar-the ninth of Av.

The same is true with prophetic Scripture that predicts the return of the Jews to Israel. There were two destructions and two scatterings of the Jews: one captivity was led by Babylon and a second scattering occurred hundreds of years later (AD 70) by the Romans. The prophetic prediction of the Jews returning to their land is often mirrored by the prophets. Is the prophecy speaking of their return from Babylon, or is it speaking about the Jews coming back to Israel from all the Gentile nations? This is where the context of the prophecy is important. Does the prophet mention Babylon? Then the return is linked with the Babylonian captivity. Or does the Scripture say the Jews are returning from all the nations? Then this prophecy can refer to their return in the last days. Does the passage mention the latter days or the last days? This, too, becomes an indicator of the context of the events.

One unique example of the law of double reference is found in Hosea 11:1:

"When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt."

Note that when Israel was dwelling in Goshen in Egypt, they were called God's son:

"And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: and I say unto thee, let my son go, that he may serve me" (Exod. 4:22-23).

No doubt Hosea was speaking primarily about Israel in this passage of Hosea 11:1. However, Hosea's words also were used in the New Testament. Following the birth of Christ, Herod attempted to kill all infants younger than two years of age. Joseph was warned in a dream to take Mary and the infant Christ to Egypt to preserve the child's life (see Matt. 2;13-16), Notice Matthew's commentary:

"When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: and was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son" (Matt. 2:14-15).

Matthew was quoting the verse in Hosea 11:1 and applying the Scripture to the situation when Christ, the Son of God, went to Egypt and then returned. Was Matthew simply pulling a verse out of context and forcing an interpretation? No, this is an example of the law of double reference. Israel was called the son of God in Egypt and was eventually led out of Egypt back to the Promised Land. Likewise, Christ was the Son of God (see Luke 1:35) and was taken to Egypt to preserve His life; then He returned to Israel, the Promised Land (see Matt. 2:19-21).

Therefore, in this instance, the same verse that applies to ancient Israel also applies to Christ. The primary meaning was for Israel, and the secondary meaning was for Christ. The law of double reference is also found in such passages as Psalm 16:8-11 and Psalm 22, as they contain references to the events of Christ's crucifixion. A student of prophecy must carefully study the Scriptures and be cautious when applying this method of interpretation.