Hosea 11:8-11

8 ¹How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel? How can I make you like ²Admah? How can I treat you like ³Zeboiim? My heart is turned over within Me, All My compassions are kindled.

9 I will ⁴not execute My fierce anger; I will not destroy Ephraim ⁵again. For ⁶I am God and not man, the ⁷Holy One in your midst, And I will not come in wrath.

10 They will ⁸walk after the LORD, He will ⁹roar like a lion; Indeed He will roar And His sons will come ¹⁰trembling from the west.

11 They will come trembling like birds from ¹¹Egypt And like ¹²doves from the land of ¹³Assyria; And I will ¹⁴settle them in their houses, declares the LORD.

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

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "give"
• [b]. Lit "Together"
• [c]. Lit "excitement"