Hosea 11:4-12

4 ¹I led them with cords of kindness,^[a] with the bands of love, and ²I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws, and ³I bent down to them and fed them.

5 ⁴They shall not^[b] return to the land of Egypt, but ⁵Assyria shall be their king, ⁶because ⁷they have refused to return to me.

6 ⁸The sword shall rage against their cities, consume the bars of their gates, and devour them ⁹because of their own counsels.

7 My people are bent ¹⁰on turning away from me, and though ¹¹they call out to the Most High, he shall not raise them up at all.

8 How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? ¹²How can I make you ¹³like Admah? How can I treat you ¹⁴like Zeboiim? ¹⁵My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender.

9 I will not execute my burning anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim; ¹⁶for I am God and not a man, ¹⁷the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath.^[c]

10 ¹⁸They shall go after the LORD; ¹⁹he will roar like a lion; when he roars, his children shall come trembling ²⁰from the west;

11 they shall come trembling like birds ²¹from Egypt, and ²²like doves ²³from the land of Assyria, and I will return them to their homes, declares the LORD.

12 ^[d] Ephraim ²⁴has surrounded me with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit, but Judah still walks with God and is faithful to the Holy One.

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

• 1. Jeremiah 31:3; [John 6:44; John 12:32]
• 2. Leviticus 26:13
• 3. See Psalms 78:24-29
• 4. [Hosea 8:13]
• 5. [Hosea 10:3]
• 6. [2 Kings 17:13, 14]
• 7. [Hosea 4:16; Hosea 7:16]
• 8. [Hosea 10:14]
• 9. Hosea 10:6
• 10. Hosea 14:4
• 11. [ver. 2]
• 12. [Genesis 19:24, 25; Jeremiah 49:18; Jeremiah 50:40; Amos 4:11; Jude 7]
• 13. Genesis 14:8; Deuteronomy 29:23
• 14. Genesis 14:8; Deuteronomy 29:23
• 15. [Deuteronomy 32:36]
• 16. See Numbers 23:19
• 17. See Isaiah 12:6
• 18. [Hosea 3:5]
• 19. Isaiah 31:4; Jeremiah 25:30; Joel 3:16; Amos 1:2
• 20. Isaiah 11:11; Zechariah 8:7
• 21. See Hosea 8:13
• 22. Isaiah 60:8
• 23. Zechariah 10:6, 10; [Hosea 9:3]
• 24. [Hosea 7:13]

Footnotes

• [a]. Or humaneness; Hebrew man
• [b]. Or surely
• [c]. Or into the city
• [d]. Ch 12:1 in Hebrew