Hosea 13:2-12

2 Now they sin more and more; they make idols for themselves from their silver, cleverly fashioned images, all of them the work of craftsmen. It is said of these people, “They offer human sacrifices! They kiss^[a] calf-idols!”

3 Therefore they will be like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears, like chaff swirling from a threshing floor, like smoke escaping through a window.

4 “But I have been the LORD your God ever since you came out of Egypt. You shall acknowledge no God but me, no Savior except me.

5 I cared for you in the wilderness, in the land of burning heat.

6 When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me.

7 So I will be like a lion to them, like a leopard I will lurk by the path.

8 Like a bear robbed of her cubs, I will attack them and rip them open; like a lion I will devour them— a wild animal will tear them apart.

9 “You are destroyed, Israel, because you are against me, against your helper.

10 Where is your king, that he may save you? Where are your rulers in all your towns, of whom you said, ‘Give me a king and princes’?

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

12 The guilt of Ephraim is stored up, his sins are kept on record.

Hosea 13:2-12 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. Jeremiah 44:8
• 2. S Isaiah 46:6; S Jeremiah 10:4
• 3. Hosea 14:3
• 4. 1 Kings 19:18
• 5. S Isaiah 44:17-20; S Hosea 8:4
• 6. S Hosea 6:4
• 7. S Job 13:25; Psalms 1:4; S Isaiah 17:13
• 8. Daniel 2:35
• 9. Psalms 68:2
• 10. S Jeremiah 2:6; S Hosea 12:9
• 11. S Hosea 2:20
• 12. S Exodus 20:3
• 13. S Deuteronomy 28:29; Psalms 18:46; Isaiah 43:11; Isaiah 45:21-22
• 14. S Deuteronomy 1:19
• 15. S Ezekiel 28:5
• 16. S Deuteronomy 32:18; S Isaiah 17:10
• 17. Deuteronomy 32:12-15; S Proverbs 30:7-9; S Jeremiah 5:7; S Hosea 2:13; S Hosea 4:7
• 18. S Job 10:16; S Jeremiah 4:7
• 19. 2 Samuel 17:8
• 20. S 1 Samuel 17:34; Psalms 17:12
• 21. Psalms 50:22; S Lamentations 3:10; S Hosea 2:12
• 22. Jeremiah 2:17-19
• 23. S Deuteronomy 33:29
• 24. 2 Kings 17:4; Hosea 7:7
• 25. 1 Samuel 8:6; Hosea 8:4
• 26. S Numbers 11:20
• 27. S Joshua 24:20; S 1 Samuel 13:14; S 1 Kings 14:10; Hosea 3:4; S Hosea 10:7
• 28. S Deuteronomy 32:34

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "“Men who sacrifice" / "kiss"