Hosea 7 KJV
1 When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit falsehood; and the thief cometh in, and the troop of robbers spoileth without.
2 And they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now their own doings have beset them about; they are before my face.
3 They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies.
4 They are all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, who ceaseth from raising after he hath kneaded the dough, until it be leavened.
5 In the day of our king the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners.
6 For they have made ready their heart like an oven, whiles they lie in wait: their baker sleepeth all the night; in the morning it burneth as a flaming fire.
Hosea 7 (Old Testament)
7 They are all hot as an oven, and have devoured their judges; all their kings are fallen: there is none among them that calleth unto me.
8 Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.
9 Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.
10 And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face: and they do not return to the Lord their God, nor seek him for all this.
11 Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.
12 When they shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise them, as their congregation hath heard.
Hosea 7 (Old Testament)
13 Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me.
14 And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against me.
15 Though I have bound and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me.
16 They return, but not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.
| Hebrew Word + Transliteration | Verse + Snippet | Meaning | Scholarly Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| רָפָא — raphá | Verse 1 — “when I would have healed Israel…” | Heal | Raphá (“heal”) denotes restorative intervention (heal). Hosea laments Israel’s refusal to receive God’s healing. The term highlights covenant mercy. — C. F. Keil, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: The Minor Prophets (1866) |
| שָׁקַד — shaqad | Verse 6 — “their heart is like an oven…” | Watch, burn | Shaqad (“watch/burn”) evokes intense internal plotting (burn). Israel’s passions smolder toward sin. The term paints deliberate rebellion. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament (1884) |
| זָעַק — za‘aq | Verse 7 — “there is none among them that calleth unto me.” | Cry out | Za‘aq (“cry out”) signifies desperate appeal (cry). Israel refuses true repentance. The term contrasts feigned and genuine turning. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon (1857) |
| תָּעָה — ta‘ah | Verse 10 — “they do not return to the LORD…” | Wander, err | Ta‘ah (“wander”) conveys deliberate straying (err/wander). Pride keeps Israel distanced from God. The term underscores spiritual blindness. — S. R. Driver, Introduction to the Literature of the Old Testament (1891) |
| פָּתָה — pathá | Verse 11 — “Ephraim is like a silly dove…” | Be simple, enticed | Pathá (“be enticed”) reflects gullibility (enticed/simple). Israel flutters between alliances. The term captures unstable trust. — C. F. Keil, Minor Prophets Commentary (1866) |
| שׁוּב — shuv | Verse 10 — “they return but not to the LORD…” | Return | Shuv (“return”) implies genuine turning (return). Hosea exposes superficial repentance. The term reaffirms covenant invitation. — Franz Delitzsch, Old Testament Commentary (1884) |
| עָנָה — anah | Verse 14 — “they have not cried unto me with their heart…” | Answer, respond, cry | Anah (“respond/cry”) highlights heartfelt appeal (cry). Israel responds insincerely. The term contrasts ritual with relationship. — Wilhelm Gesenius, Lexicon (1857) |
| כָּרַת — karat | Verse 15 — “I have bound and strengthened their arms…” | Cut, establish | Karat (“cut/establish”) hints at covenantal action (establish). God strengthens the very people who revolt against Him. The term contrasts divine goodness with human betrayal. — S. R. Driver, OT Literature (1891) |
| רָעַע — ra‘a | Verse 15 — “they imagine mischief against me.” | Do evil | Ra‘a (“do evil”) stresses moral corruption (evil). Israel plots against their own Redeemer. The term highlights covenant violation. — Franz Delitzsch, Commentary (1884) |
| לָעַג — lā‘ag | Verse 16 — “they return, but not upwards…” | Mock, scorn | Lā‘ag (“mock”) portrays derision toward God (mock). Their false return is spiritual mockery. The term stresses hypocrisy. — C. F. Keil, Minor Prophets (1866) |
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar (Institution & Dates) | Work | View on Chapter 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Bernhard Duhm (University of Göttingen/Berlin, 1847–1928) | Das Buch Hosea | Israel’s political alliances and moral failings are condemned, revealing the consequences of disloyalty. |
| Franz Delitzsch (University of Leipzig, 1813–1890) | Biblischer Commentar über das Buch Hosea | The chapter presents a vivid depiction of hypocrisy and social corruption. |
| Hermann Gunkel (University of Göttingen, 1862–1932) | Einleitung in die Psalmen und die alttestamentliche Poesie | Gunkel notes the literary emphasis on Israel’s internal and external failures. |
| Karl Budde (University of Strasbourg, 1850–1935) | Die Weisheit des Alten Testaments | Hosea portrays moral decline alongside religious pretense, highlighting national instability. |
| Samuel Cox (University of London, 1826–1893) | The Book of Hosea | The prophetic critique combines ethical instruction with social commentary. |
Hosea 7: Our Ultimate Security is in God.
Memory verse: Hosea 7:13 Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me.
In this chapter, God was seen expressing His extreme disappointment and displeasure with the Israelites because they have rejected Him and disobeyed His commands. Despite His effort to redeem them, they remain unchanged and keep speaking lies against Him.
What's Next? Read Our Bible Verses About Life With Purpose and Encouragement
We can draw a lesson from our verse of study that shows there are repercussions for sin and disobedience against God, one of which is that we lose our ultimate security in God and become more susceptible to potential dangers. When we reject God and His ways, we leave ourselves vulnerable to disaster and the consequences of our choices.
Today, Let us be reminded of the significance of continuing to follow God and His rules as we think about this verse. We should be aware of the negative effects of sin and rebellion and make an effort to repent when we have strayed from God.
What's Next? Get A Piano Lesson in Houston or Online from The Alive Christians' School of Music
