Hosea10
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1Israel is a luxuriant vine, that putteth forth his fruit: according to the abundance of his fruit he hath multiplied his altars; according to the goodness of their land they have made goodly pillars.
2Their heart is divided; now shall they be found guilty: he will smite their altars, he will destroy their pillars.
3Surely now shall they say, We have no king; for we fear not Jehovah; and the king, what can he do for us?
4They speak vain words, swearing falsely in making covenants: therefore judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.
5The inhabitants of Samaria shall be in terror for the calves of Beth-aven; for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced over it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it.
6It also shall be carried unto Assyria for a present to king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.
7As for Samaria, her king is cut off, as foam upon the water.
8The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us.
9O Israel, thou hast sinned from the days of Gibeah: there they stood; the battle against the children of iniquity doth not overtake them in Gibeah.
10When it is my desire, I will chastise them; and the peoples shall be gathered against them, when they are bound to their two transgressions.
11And Ephraim is a heifer that is taught, that loveth to tread out the grain; but I have passed over upon her fair neck: I will set a rider on Ephraim; Judah shall plow, Jacob shall break his clods.
12Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap according to kindness; break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek Jehovah, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
13Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies; for thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.
14Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people, and all thy fortresses shall be destroyed, as Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces with her children.
15So shall Beth-el do unto you because of your great wickedness: at daybreak shall the king of Israel be utterly cut off.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Hosea 10.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The idolatry of Israel. (1-8). They are exhorted to repentance. (9-15).
vv1-8
A vine is only valuable for its fruit; but Israel now brought no fruit to perfection. Their hearts were divided. God is the Sovereign of the heart; he will have all, or none. Were the stream of the heart wholly after God, it would run strongly, and bear down all before it. Their pretences to covenant with God were false. Even the proceeding of justice was as poisonous hemlock. Alas, how empty a vine is the visible church even at this day! But all earthly prosperity is but a collection of bubbles, soon destroyed like foam upon the water. Sinners will in vain seek shelter from that Judge, whom they now despise as a Saviour.
vv9-15
Because God does not desire the death and ruin of sinners, therefore in mercy he desires their chastisement. The children of iniquity still remained in Israel. The enemies would be gathered against them. It is just with God to make those know what hardships mean, who indulge themselves in ease and pleasure. Let them cleanse their hearts from all corrupt affections and lusts, and be a broken and contrite spirit. Let them abound in works of piety towards God, and of justice and charity towards one another: herein let them sow to the Spirit. Seeking the Lord is to be every day's work, but there are special occasions when to seek him. Christ shall come as the Lord our righteousness, and grant us of it abundantly. If we sow in righteousness, we shall reap according to mercy; a reward not of debt, but of grace. Even the gains of sin yield the sinner no satisfaction. As our comforts, so our confidences in the service of sin will certainly fail us. Come and seek the Lord, and thy hope in him shall not deceive thee. See what cruel work war makes. Whatever mischief is done, it is sin that does it. What miseries men's sins bring on them, even in this world!
Key Words
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
בָּקַק: to pour out, i.e. to empty, figuratively, to depopulate; by analogy, to spread out (as a fruitful vine)
גֶּפֶן: a vine (as twining), especially the grape
שָׁוָה: properly, to level, i.e. equalize; figuratively, to resemble; by implication, to adjust (i.e. counterbalance, be suitable, compose, place, yield, etc.)
פְּרִי: fruit (literally or figuratively)
רֹב: abundance (in any respect)
מִזְבֵּחַ: an altar
רָבָה: to increase (in whatever respect)
אֶרֶץ: the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
טוֹב: good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well)
Cross References
Hosea 10Direct verbal echo of 'say to the mountains, Fall on us' during final cosmic judgment.
Supported by JFB
Jesus directly cites this verse ('say to the mountains, Fall on us') regarding Jerusalem's doom.
Supported by JFB
Parallels the proverbial metaphor of judgment springing up like poisonous hemlock/wormwood in plowed furrows.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Textual background linking false swearing and covenant breaking to a root bearing gall and wormwood.
Supported by JFB
Direct verbal echo connecting Israel's deep corruption to the historical outrage at Gibeah.
Supported by JFB
Verbal match: 'Break up your fallow ground,' emphasizing repentance before sowing spiritual seed.
Supported by John Calvin
Parallels the metaphor of Israel as a vine failing to yield fruit to God.
Supported by JFB
Illustrates the 'divided heart' that wavers between Yahweh and Baalism.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
New Testament parallel explaining that a divided heart cannot serve two masters.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Exposes Bethel's degradation by contemptuously renaming it Beth-aven ('house of vanity/iniquity').
Supported by JFB
Identifies King Jareb of Assyria, to whom Ephraim sent tribute, as their false protector.
Supported by JFB
The concrete historical account of the gross crime at Gibeah referenced in verse 9.
Supported by JFB
Parallels the image of empty, plundered vines ruined by external invaders.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Matches God's active, judicial 'desire' to chastise His disobedient people.
Supported by JFB
Theological fulfillment of the harvest principle: sowing in righteousness versus reaping corruption.
Supported by Matthew Henry