Hosea 11:1-11

God Will Have Compassion

1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.

2 When I called them, they went from my face. They sacrificed to the Baals, and they sacrificed to idols.

3 And I myself taught Ephraim to walk; I took them in my arms, but they did not know that I healed them.

4 I drew them {with human ties}, with the bands of love. I was to them like one who lifted up a yoke on their jaws, [though] I bent down to them [and] let them eat.

5 He will return to the land of Egypt, and Assyria will be his king, because they refused to return.

6 [The] sword rages in his cities; it consumes his false prophets and devours because of their plans.

7 My people are bent on backsliding from me. To the Most High they call, he does not raise them at all.

8 How can I give you up, [O] Ephraim? [How] can I hand you over, [O] Israel? How can I make you like Admah? [How] can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is disturbed within me; {all} my compassions are aroused.

9 {I will not execute} {my fierce anger}, I will not again destroy Ephraim; because I [am] God and not a mortal, [the] Holy [One] in your midst; and I will not come in wrath.

10 They will go after Yahweh; he roars like a lion. When he roars, his children will come trembling from [the] sea.

11 They will tremble like birds from Egypt, and like doves from the land of Assyria; and I will let them return to their homes-- a declaration of Yahweh.

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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew "When they called"; the LXX and modern translations read "When I called"
• [b]. Hebrew "their face"
• [c]. Hebrew uncertain
• [d]. Hebrew "his"
• [e]. Literally "ropes of a human"
• [f]. Or "like one who imposed"
• [g]. Or "infants to their cheeks"
• [h]. Hebrew "him"
• [i]. Hebrew "him"
• [j]. Or "They will not return"
• [k]. That is "Israel's king"
• [l]. Or "My heart is overturned"
• [m]. Literally "together"
• [n]. Literally "I will not do"
• [o]. Literally "the anger of my nose"
• [p]. Or "human"
• [q]. That is, "[the] West"
• [r]. Hebrew "bird"
• [s]. Hebrew "dove"
• [t]. Hebrew "I will cause them to live"