Hosea 13:1-7

The Lord's Relentless Judgment on Israel

1 When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling; ¹he was exalted in Israel, but he incurred guilt ²through Baal and died.

2 And now they sin more and more, and ³make for themselves metal images, idols skillfully made of their silver, ⁴all of them the work of craftsmen. It is said of them, "Those who offer human sacrifice ⁵kiss calves!"

3 Therefore they shall be ⁶like the morning mist or ⁷like the dew that goes early away, ⁸like the chaff that swirls from the threshing floor or ⁹like smoke from a window.

4 But ¹⁰I am the LORD your God from the land of Egypt; ¹¹you know no God but me, and ¹²besides me there is no savior.

5 ¹³It was I who knew you in the wilderness, in the land of drought;

6 ¹⁴but when they had grazed,^[a] they became full, ¹⁵they were filled, and their heart was lifted up; ¹⁶therefore they forgot me.

7 So ¹⁷I am to them like a lion; ¹⁸like a leopard I will lurk beside the way.

Hosea 13:1-7 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. [Amos 6:13]
• 2. See Hosea 11:2
• 3. Hosea 2:8
• 4. [Psalms 115:4; Isaiah 40:19, 20]
• 5. [1 Kings 19:18; Job 31:26, 27]
• 6. Hosea 6:4
• 7. Hosea 6:4
• 8. See Psalms 1:4
• 9. See Psalms 68:2
• 10. Hosea 12:9
• 11. See Exodus 20:3
• 12. Isaiah 43:11; Isaiah 45:21
• 13. Deuteronomy 2:7; Amos 3:2
• 14. [Hosea 4:7]
• 15. Deuteronomy 8:12, 14; [Deuteronomy 32:15]
• 16. Deuteronomy 8:12, 14; [Deuteronomy 32:15]
• 17. Hosea 5:14
• 18. Jeremiah 5:6

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew according to their pasture