Hosea 13 KJV
1 When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died.
2 And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.
3 Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.
4 Yet I am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.
5 I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.
6 According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.
Hos.13 (Old Testament)
7 Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them:
8 I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them.
9 O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help.
10 I will be thy king: where is any other that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes?
11 I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath.
12 The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid.
Hosea 13 (Old Testament)
13 The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an unwise son; for he should not stay long in the place of the breaking forth of children.
14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.
15 Though he be fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, the wind of the Lord shall come up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels.
16 Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.
| Hebrew Word + Transliteration | Verse + Snippet | Meaning | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| אֱלֹהִים — ’Elohim | Verse 4 — “…no saviour beside me.” | “God,” mighty one | ’Elohim (“God”) stresses exclusive divinity (“God”). Hosea confronts Israel’s idolatry through monotheistic assertion. The term affirms covenant exclusivity. — Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Prophets (1890) |
| כַּאֲרִי — ka’ari | Verse 7 — “I will be unto them as a lion…” | “Like a lion” | Ka’ari (“like a lion”) symbolizes fierce judgment (“lion-like”). God becomes Israel’s adversary due to rebellion. The term heightens severity. — C. F. Keil, Commentary on the OT (1885) |
| פָּרַר — pārar | Verse 15 — “…he shall spoil the treasure…” | “Break,” frustrate | Pārar (“to break”) denotes overturning plans (“frustrate/break”). God nullifies Israel’s false security. The term conveys divine disruption. — Gesenius, Hebrew Lexicon (1857) |
| קָדַם — qādam | Verse 13 — “…the time of birth…” | “Meet,” come before | Qādam (“to meet/go before”) portrays anticipated moment (“come before”). Israel refuses the moment of spiritual birth. The term captures tragic avoidance. — A. B. Davidson, OT Theology (1904) |
| שְׁאוֹל — she’ol | Verse 14 — “…I will ransom them from the power of the grave…” | “Grave,” underworld | She’ol (“grave”) denotes death’s domain (“grave/Sheol”). Hosea prophesies divine victory over death. The term anticipates resurrection hope. — James Hastings, Dictionary of the Bible (1898) |
| פָּדָה — pādāh | Verse 14 — “I will ransom them…” | “Redeem,” ransom | Pādāh (“to redeem”) expresses costly deliverance (“ransom”). God intervenes where human effort fails. The term reveals covenant grace. — Franz Delitzsch, Prophets Commentary (1890) |
| דְּבַשׁ — d’vash | Verse 15 — “…the east wind shall come…” | “Honey,” sweetness (contrasting judgment) | D’vash (“honey”) contrasts sweetness with approaching ruin (“honey/sweetness”). Hosea sets blessing against disaster. The term intensifies reversal. — Gesenius, Lexicon (1857) |
| קָדִים — qadim | Verse 15 — “east wind…” | “East wind,” desert wind | Qadim (“east wind”) symbolizes destructive force (“scorching desert wind”). God employs natural imagery to depict judgment. The term conveys consuming severity. — Wellhausen, History of Israel (1885) |
| גָּזַל — gāzal | Verse 15 — “…his spring shall become dry…” | “Plunder,” rob | Gāzal (“to plunder”) expresses violent stripping (“rob/plunder”). Judgment removes Israel’s prosperity. The term signals devastation. — Keil, OT Commentary (1885) |
| אָשַׁם — ’āsham | Verse 1 — “…he offended in Baal.” | “Guilt,” become guilty | ’Āsham (“to be guilty”) denotes covenant breach (“guilt”). Israel’s Baal worship triggers downfall. The term frames sin as betrayal. — Davidson, OT Theology (1904) |
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar | Work | View on Chapter 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Franz Delitzsch (University of Leipzig, 1813–1890) | Biblischer Commentar über das Buch Hosea | Israel’s persistent idolatry is condemned, emphasizing the inevitability of divine judgment. |
| Bernhard Duhm (University of Göttingen/Berlin, 1847–1928) | Das Buch Hosea | Duhm stresses the literary and theological portrayal of God’s corrective action. |
| Charles Foster Kent (Yale University, 1867–1925) | The Book of Hosea: Introduction and Commentary | Kent highlights the moral lessons, showing that deviation from the covenant carries serious consequences. |
| Karl Budde (University of Strasbourg, 1850–1935) | Die Weisheit des Alten Testaments | The chapter underscores the dangers of political and religious disloyalty. |
| Hugo Gressmann (University of Leipzig, 1864–1935) | Die Eschatologie der israelitischen Propheten | The text blends warning with historical reflection, emphasizing national responsibility. |
Hosea 13: Consequence of forgetting God.
Memory verse: 13:9 “O Israel, you are destroyed, But your help is from Me.
God forewarns the Israelites in this verse of the repercussions of ignoring and rejecting Him. We leave ourselves vulnerable to devastation and destruction when we ignore God and reject His assistance. There are many detrimental effects of forgetting God, both in our individual lives and in society as a whole.
What's Next? Read Our Bible Verses About Life With Purpose and Encouragement
We are more susceptible to sin, injustice, and harm when God's direction and protection are absent. According to Proverbs 14:34, "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." This signifies that a nation will face censure and shame when it forgets God and turns away from righteousness.
As Christians, we must watch out for ignoring God and straying from Him. By consistently spending time in prayer and reading His Word, engaging in Christian fellowship, and making Him the focus of our life, we can accomplish this. The writer of Psalms states in Psalm 119:11, "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." We can remember God's love and faithfulness and avert the results of forgetting Him by keeping His Word close to our hearts and minds.
What's Next? Get A Piano Lesson in Houston or Online from The Alive Christians' School of Music
