Hosea 11:1-4

The Lord's Love for Israel

1 ¹When Israel was a child, ²I loved him, and out of Egypt I ³called ⁴my son.

2 ⁵The more they were called, the more they went away; ⁶they kept sacrificing to the Baals and burning offerings to idols.

3 Yet it was ⁷I who taught Ephraim to walk; I took them up by their arms, but they did not know that ⁸I healed them.

4 ⁹I led them with cords of kindness,^[a] with the bands of love, and ¹⁰I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws, and ¹¹I bent down to them and fed them.

Hosea 11:1-4 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. [Hosea 2:15]
• 2. Deuteronomy 7:8; [Hosea 14:4]
• 3. Cited Matthew 2:15
• 4. Exodus 4:22; [Malachi 1:6]
• 5. [ver. 7]
• 6. [Hosea 2:13; Hosea 13:1, 2]
• 7. [Hosea 7:15; Deuteronomy 1:31]
• 8. Exodus 15:26
• 9. Jeremiah 31:3; [John 6:44; John 12:32]
• 10. Leviticus 26:13
• 11. See Psalms 78:24-29

Footnotes

• [a]. Or humaneness; Hebrew man