Hosea 13:11-16

11 ¹I gave you a king in my anger, and ²I took him away in my wrath.

12 The iniquity of Ephraim is ³bound up; his sin is ⁴kept in store.

13 ⁵The pangs of childbirth come for him, but he is an unwise son, for at the right time he does not present himself ⁶at the opening of the womb.

14 ⁷Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? ⁸Shall I redeem them from Death? ⁹O ¹⁰Death, where are your plagues? ¹¹O ¹²Sheol, where is your sting? ¹³Compassion is hidden from my eyes.

15 Though ¹⁴he may flourish among his brothers, ¹⁵the east wind, the wind of the Lord, shall come, rising from the wilderness, ¹⁶and his fountain shall dry up; his spring shall be parched; it shall strip ¹⁷his treasury of every precious thing.

16 ^[a] Samaria ¹⁸shall bear her guilt, because ¹⁹she has rebelled against her God; they shall fall by the sword; ²⁰their little ones shall be dashed in pieces, and their ²¹pregnant women ripped open.

Hosea 13:11-16 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO HOSEA 13

This chapter begins with observing the different state and condition of Ephraim before and after his idolatry, Ho 13:1; his increase in it, Ho 13:2; and therefore his prosperity was very short lived, which is signified by various metaphors, Ho 13:3; and his sins are aggravated by the former goodness of God unto him his great ingratitude unto God, and forgetfulness him, Ho 13:4-6; hence he is threatened with his wrath and vengeance in a very severe manner, Ho 13:7,8; for which he had none to blame but himself; yea, such was the grace and goodness of God to him, that though he had destroyed himself, yet there were help and salvation for him in him, Ho 13:9; though not in his king he had desired, and was given, and was took away in wrath, Ho 13:10,11; but his sin being bound up and hid, and he foolish and unwise, sharp corrections would be given him, Ho 13:12,13; and yet a gracious promise is made of redemption from death and the grave by the Messiah, Ho 13:14; but, notwithstanding this, and all his present prosperity, he would be blasted in his wealth and riches; and Samaria the metropolis of his country would he desolate; and the inhabitants of it be used in the most cruel manner, because of their rebellion against God, Ho 13:15,16.

Cross References

• 1. 13:11 [1 Sam. 8:22]
• 2. 13:11 [1 Sam. 15:23]
• 3. 13:12 Job 14:17
• 4. 13:12 Job 14:17
• 5. 13:13 Isa. 13:8; 1 Thess. 5:3
• 6. 13:13 [2 Kgs. 19:3]
• 7. 13:14 Isa. 25:8; 26:19; Ezek. 37:12
• 8. 13:14 Isa. 25:8; 26:19; Ezek. 37:12
• 9. 13:14 [1 Cor. 15:55]
• 10. 13:14 [Ezek. 14:21]
• 11. 13:14 [1 Cor. 15:55]
• 12. 13:14 [Ezek. 14:21]
• 13. 13:14 [Ezek. 9:10]
• 14. 13:15 [Gen. 41:52]
• 15. 13:15 [Ezek. 19:12; Jonah 4:8; Hab. 1:9]
• 16. 13:15 [Ezek. 17:10]
• 17. 13:15 [ch. 12:8]
• 18. 13:16 [Hab. 1:11]
• 19. 13:16 2 Kgs. 18:12
• 20. 13:16 [ch. 9:12; 10:14]
• 21. 13:16 [2 Kgs. 8:12; 15:16; Amos 1:13]

Footnotes

• [a] 13:16 Ch 14:1 in Hebrew