Hosea 11 KJV
1 When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.
2 As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images.
3 I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them.
4 I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.
5 He shall not return into the land of Egypt, and the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return.
6 And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them, because of their own counsels.
Hosea 11 (Old Testament)
7 And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him.
8 How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together.
9 I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.
10 They shall walk after the Lord: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.
11 They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will place them in their houses, saith the Lord.
12 Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints.
| Hebrew Word + Transliteration | Verse + Snippet | Meaning | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| אָהַב — ’āhav | Verse 1 — “when Israel was a child, then I loved him…” | “Love” | ’Āhav (“love”) expresses covenant affection (“love”). Hosea reveals Yahweh’s parental devotion despite Israel’s rebellion. The term highlights divine steadfastness. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Prophets (1890) |
| מָשַׁךְ — māshakh | Verse 4 — “I drew them with cords of a man…” | “Draw,” pull | Māshakh (“to draw”) conveys gentle persuasion (“draw/pull”). God leads His people not by force but compassion. The term illustrates tender divine guidance. — C. F. Keil, Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament (1885) |
| עוֹל — ‘ol | Verse 4 — “…and I laid meat unto them.” | “Yoke” | ‘Ol (“yoke”) symbolizes burden but also compassionate lifting (“yoke”). God is pictured as easing His people’s load. The term contrasts servitude with mercy. — S. R. Driver, Introduction to the Literature of the Old Testament (1891) |
| רָפָא — rāpā’ | Verse 3 — “…I healed them.” | “Heal” | Rāpā’ (“to heal”) denotes restorative action (“heal”). Israel fails to recognize God’s intervention. The term emphasizes divine compassion even in ingratitude. — William Gesenius, Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon (1857) |
| בְּחַבְלֵי — b’ḥavlê | Verse 4 — “cords of a man…” | “Bands,” cords | Ḥevel (“cord”) evokes ties of kindness (“cord/band”). God binds His people with affection, not domination. The term enhances relational imagery. — Emil Hirsch, Jewish Encyclopedia (1906) |
| יֶדַע — yeda‘ | Verse 3 — “…they knew not that I healed them.” | “Know,” recognize | Yeda‘ (“to know”) signifies relational awareness (“know/recognize”). Israel’s blindness shows spiritual hardness. The term underscores broken intimacy. — A. B. Davidson, The Theology of the Old Testament (1904) |
| כָּשַׁל — kāshal | Verse 6 — “…because of their own counsels.” | “Stumble” | Kāshal (“to stumble”) implies moral collapse (“stumble”). Israel’s downfall is self-inflicted. The term denotes spiritual instability. — Franz Delitzsch, Prophets Commentary (1890) |
| חָמָס — ḥāmās | Verse 12 — “…violence is in the house of Israel.” | “Violence,” wrongdoing | Ḥāmās (“violence”) depicts moral corruption (“violence/wrong”). Hosea links social injustice with spiritual unfaithfulness. The term portrays pervasive national sin. — Driver, OT Literature (1891) |
| נָשָׂא — nāśā’ | Verse 1 — “…called My son out of Egypt.” | “Lift,” carry | Nāśā’ (“to lift/carry”) conveys deliverance (“bring forth”). Hosea connects Exodus redemption with divine fatherhood. The term reflects protective deliverance. — Gesenius, Hebrew Lexicon (1857) |
| שׁוּב — shuv | Verse 5 — “…they shall not return to the land of Egypt…” | “Return,” turn back | Shuv (“to return”) denotes reversal (“turn/return”). Israel returns not to God but to judgment. The term highlights covenant consequences. — Keil, OT Commentary (1885) |
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar | Work | View on Chapter 11 |
|---|---|---|
| Franz Delitzsch (University of Leipzig, 1813–1890) | Biblischer Commentar über das Buch Hosea | The chapter portrays God’s fatherly love, highlighting divine compassion despite Israel’s persistent rebellion. |
| Charles Foster Kent (Yale University, 1867–1925) | The Book of Hosea: Introduction and Commentary | Kent emphasizes the poetic depiction of God’s tenderness as a counterpoint to judgment. |
| Hermann Schultz (University of Göttingen, 1841–1903) | Die Bücher Hosea, Amos und Micha | Schultz interprets the chapter as expressing the deep emotional bond between God and Israel. |
| Hugo Gressmann (University of Leipzig, 1864–1935) | Die Eschatologie der israelitischen Propheten | The narrative conveys the tension between divine justice and mercy through Israel’s story. |
| Johann Peter Lange (University of Bonn, 1802–1884) | Commentarius in Sacram Scripturam | The chapter highlights God’s nurturing character, reminding Israel of covenantal fidelity. |
Hosea11 (Old Testament)
Hosea 11: Outgrowing the Father-to-child relationship is bad.
Memory verse: Hosea 11:1-2 “When Israel was a child, I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son. As they called them, So they went from them; They sacrificed to the Baals And burned incense to carved images.
When we mingle with the world we end up behaving like the world, and what should be reckoned of us as veritable believers is that we do His (God’s) will on earth as it is in Heaven [Matt. 6:10]. God was saying here that He loved Israel when they were a child, that was referring to the time when they were still in slavery in Egypt. God loved them because they were still naïve and oblivious to many things, then they haven’t intermingled with other people of strange cultures and beliefs.
What's Next? Read Our Bible Verses About Life With Purpose and Encouragement
God doesn’t want us to mingle with the world, because God knows how susceptible our hearts could be and how rapidly they could follow suit with the world’s beguiling pattern of life. The Israelites were loved by God, and God chose them to be His favorite out of His sovereign love – just the way He chooses us in this dispensation too [1 Pet. 2:9] – but, unfortunately, Israelites, after they grew up as a nation couldn’t reciprocate God's love on them back to Him, because they enamored other gods and committed spiritual adultery.
Outgrowing God's Father-to-child relationships can lead to a huge break between us and God. We’d seemingly experience something tantamount to that of the Israelites when we’re outgrowing God's Fatherto-child relationship – we’ll begin to chase after things that are not in line with God's precepts.
What's Next? Get A Piano Lesson in Houston or Online from The Alive Christians' School of Music
