Hosea 11:1-11

God Yearns over His People

1 When Israel was a youth I loved him, And ¹out of Egypt I ²called My son.

2 The more ³they called them, The more they went from them; They kept ⁴sacrificing to the Baals And ⁵burning incense to idols.

3 Yet it is I who taught Ephraim to walk, I ⁶took them in My arms; But they did not know that I ⁷healed them.

4 I ⁸led them with cords of a man, with bonds of love, And ⁹I became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws; And I bent down and ¹⁰fed them.

5 They will not return to the land of Egypt; But Assyria -he will be their king Because they ¹¹refused to return to Me.

6 The ¹²sword will whirl against their cities, And will demolish their gate bars And ¹³consume them because of their ¹⁴counsels.

7 So My people are bent on ¹⁵turning from Me. Though they call them to the One on high, None at all exalts Him.

8 ¹⁶How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel? How can I make you like ¹⁷Admah? How can I treat you like ¹⁸Zeboiim? My heart is turned over within Me, All My compassions are kindled.

9 I will ¹⁹not execute My fierce anger; I will not destroy Ephraim ²⁰again. For ²¹I am God and not man, the ²²Holy One in your midst, And I will not come in wrath.

10 They will ²³walk after the LORD, He will ²⁴roar like a lion; Indeed He will roar And His sons will come ²⁵trembling from the west.

11 They will come trembling like birds from ²⁶Egypt And like ²⁷doves from the land of ²⁸Assyria; And I will ²⁹settle them in their houses, declares the LORD.

Hosea 11:1-11 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

• 1. Hosea 2:15; Hosea 12:9, 13; Hosea 13:4
• 2. Exodus 4:22, 23; Matthew 2:15
• 3. 2 Kings 17:13-15
• 4. Hosea 2:13; Hosea 4:13
• 5. Isaiah 65:7; Jeremiah 18:15
• 6. Deuteronomy 1:31; Deuteronomy 32:10, 11
• 7. Psalms 107:20; Jeremiah 30:17
• 8. Jeremiah 31:2, 3
• 9. Leviticus 26:13
• 10. Exodus 16:32; Psalms 78:25
• 11. Hosea 7:16
• 12. Hosea 13:16
• 13. Lamentations 2:9
• 14. Hosea 4:16, 17
• 15. Jeremiah 3:6, 7; Jeremiah 8:5
• 16. Hosea 6:4; Hosea 7:1
• 17. Genesis 14:8; Deuteronomy 29:23
• 18. Genesis 14:8; Deuteronomy 29:23
• 19. Deuteronomy 13:17
• 20. Jeremiah 26:3; Jeremiah 30:11
• 21. Numbers 23:19
• 22. Isaiah 5:24; Isaiah 12:6; Isaiah 41:14, 16
• 23. Hosea 3:5; Hosea 6:1-3
• 24. Isaiah 31:4; Joel 3:16; Amos 1:2
• 25. Isaiah 66:2, 5
• 26. Isaiah 11:11
• 27. Isaiah 60:8; Hosea 7:11
• 28. Isaiah 11:11
• 29. Ezekiel 28:25, 26; Ezekiel 34:27, 28

Footnotes

• [a]. I.e. God's prophets
• [b]. I.e. God's prophets
• [c]. So ancient versions; Heb "He...His"
• [d]. Lit "He"
• [e]. Lit "his"
• [f]. Lit "his"
• [g]. Lit "his"
• [h]. I.e. God's prophets
• [i]. Lit "him;" i.e. Israel
• [j]. Lit "give"
• [k]. Lit "Together"
• [l]. Lit "excitement"