Hosea 11:8-11

8 How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? ¹How can I make you ²like Admah? How can I treat you ³like Zeboiim? ⁴My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender.

9 I will not execute my burning anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim; ⁵for I am God and not a man, ⁶the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath. ^[a]

10 ⁷They shall go after the Lord; ⁸he will roar like a lion; when he roars, his children shall come trembling ⁹from the west;

11 they shall come trembling like birds ¹⁰from Egypt, and ¹¹like doves ¹²from the land of Assyria, and I will return them to their homes, 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. 11:8 [Gen. 19:24, 25; Jer. 49:18; 50:40; Amos 4:11; Jude 7]
• 2. 11:8 Gen. 14:8; Deut. 29:23
• 3. 11:8 Gen. 14:8; Deut. 29:23
• 4. 11:8 [Deut. 32:36]
• 5. 11:9 See Num. 23:19
• 6. 11:9 See Isa. 12:6
• 7. 11:10 [ch. 3:5]
• 8. 11:10 Isa. 31:4; Jer. 25:30; Joel 3:16; Amos 1:2
• 9. 11:10 Isa. 11:11; Zech. 8:7
• 10. 11:11 See ch. 8:13
• 11. 11:11 Isa. 60:8
• 12. 11:11 Zech. 10:6, 10; [ch. 9:3]

Footnotes

• [a] 11:9 Or 'into the city'