Hosea 11:4-12

4 I 1led them with cords of a man, with bonds of love, And 2I became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws; And I bent down and 3fed them.
5 They will not return to the land of Egypt; But Assyria -he will be their king Because they 4refused to return to Me.
6 The 5sword will whirl against their cities, And will demolish their gate bars And 6consume them because of their 7counsels.
7 So My people are bent on 8turning from Me. Though they call them to the One on high, None at all exalts Him.
8 9How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel? How can I make you like 10Admah? How can I treat you like 11Zeboiim? My heart is turned over within Me, All My compassions are kindled.
9 I will 12not execute My fierce anger; I will not destroy Ephraim 13again. For 14I am God and not man, the 15Holy One in your midst, And I will not come in wrath.
10 They will 16walk after the LORD, He will 17roar like a lion; Indeed He will roar And His sons will come 18trembling from the west.
11 They will come trembling like birds from 19Egypt And like 20doves from the land of 21Assyria; And I will 22settle them in their houses, declares the LORD.
12 Ephraim surrounds Me with 23lies And the house of Israel with deceit; Judah is also unruly against God, Even against the Holy One who is faithful.

Hosea 11:4-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO HOSEA 11

This chapter gives an account of the free and ancient love of God to Israel, and of the benefits and blessings of goodness he bestowed upon them; and of their ingratitude in not owning them, nor hearkening to his prophets, but sacrificing and burning incense to idols, Ho 11:1-4; wherefore they are threatened with disappointment of relief from Egypt, with captivity into Assyria, and with the ravages of the sword in all places, being a people bent to backsliding, and incorrigible, Ho 11:5-7; and yet, notwithstanding all this, the bowels of the Lord yearn after them, and promises of mercy are made to them; that they shall not utterly be destroyed, but a remnant shall be spared; which in the latter day shall be called and follow after the Lord, the King Messiah, and be returned from their captivity, and be resettled in their own land, and replaced in their own houses, Ho 11:8-11; the chapter is concluded with an honourable character of Judah, Ho 11:12.

Cross References 23

  • 1. Jeremiah 31:2, 3
  • 2. Leviticus 26:13
  • 3. Exodus 16:32; Psalms 78:25
  • 4. Hosea 7:16
  • 5. Hosea 13:16
  • 6. Lamentations 2:9
  • 7. Hosea 4:16, 17
  • 8. Jeremiah 3:6, 7; Jeremiah 8:5
  • 9. Hosea 6:4; Hosea 7:1
  • 10. Genesis 14:8; Deuteronomy 29:23
  • 11. Genesis 14:8; Deuteronomy 29:23
  • 12. Deuteronomy 13:17
  • 13. Jeremiah 26:3; Jeremiah 30:11
  • 14. Numbers 23:19
  • 15. Isaiah 5:24; Isaiah 12:6; Isaiah 41:14, 16
  • 16. Hosea 3:5; Hosea 6:1-3
  • 17. Isaiah 31:4; Joel 3:16; Amos 1:2
  • 18. Isaiah 66:2, 5
  • 19. Isaiah 11:11
  • 20. Isaiah 60:8; Hosea 7:11
  • 21. Isaiah 11:11
  • 22. Ezekiel 28:25, 26; Ezekiel 34:27, 28
  • 23. Hosea 4:2; Hosea 7:3

Footnotes 10

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