Hosea7
New American Standard
1When I would heal Israel, The wrongdoing of Ephraim is uncovered, And the evil deeds of Samaria, For they practice deception; The thief enters, A band of robbers attack outside,
2And they do not consider in their hearts That I remember all their wickedness. Now their deeds surround them; They are before My face.
3With their wickedness they make the king happy, And the officials with their lies.
4They are all adulterers, Like an oven heated by the baker, Who stops stoking the fire From the time the dough is kneaded until it is leavened.
5On the day of our king, the officials became sick with the heat of wine; He stretched out his hand with scoffers,
6For their hearts are like an oven As they approach their plotting; Their anger smolders all night, In the morning it burns like flaming fire.
7All of them are hot like an oven, And they consume their rulers; All their kings have fallen. None of them calls on Me.
8Ephraim is himself thrown about with the nations; Ephraim has become a round loaf not turned over.
9Strangers devour his strength, Yet he does not know it; Gray hairs also are sprinkled on him, Yet he does not know it.
10Though the pride of Israel testifies against him, Yet they have not returned to the Lord their God, Nor have they sought Him, despite all this.
11So Ephraim has become like a gullible dove, without sense; They call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.
12When they go, I will spread My net over them; I will bring them down like the birds of the sky. I will discipline them in accordance with the proclamation to their assembly.
13Woe to them, for they have strayed from Me! Destruction is theirs, for they have rebelled against Me! I would redeem them, but they have spoken lies against Me.
14And they do not cry to Me from their heart When they wail on their beds; For the sake of grain and new wine they assemble themselves, They turn against Me.
15Although I trained and strengthened their arms, Yet they devise evil against Me.
16They turn, but not upward, They are like a loose bow; Their officials will fall by the sword Because of the insolence of their tongue. This will be their derision in the land of Egypt.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Hosea 7.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The manifold sins of Israel. (1-7). Their senselessness and hypocrisy. (8-16).
vv1-7
A practical disbelief of God's government was at the bottom of all israel's wickedness; as if God could not see it or did not heed it. Their sins appear on every side of them. Their hearts were inflamed by evil desires, like a heated oven. In the midst of their troubles as a nation, the people never thought of seeking help from God. The actual wickedness of men's lives bears a very small proportion to what is in their hearts. But when lust is inwardly cherished, it will break forth into outward sin. Those who tempt others to drunkenness never can be their real friends, and often design their ruin. Thus men execute the Divine vengeance on each other. Those are not only heated with sin, but hardened in sin, who continue to live without prayer, even when in trouble and distress.
vv8-16
Israel was as a cake not turned, half burnt and half dough, none of it fit for use; a mixture of idolatry and of the worship of Jehovah. There were tokens of approaching ruin, as grey hairs are of old age, but they noticed them not. The pride which leads to break the law of God leads to self-flattery. The mercy and grace of God are the only refuge to which obstinate sinners never think of fleeing. Though they may howl forth their terrors in the form of prayers, they seldom cry to God with their hearts. Even their prayers for earthly mercies only seek fuel for their lusts. Their turning from one sect, sentiment, form, or vice, to another, still leaves them far short of Christ and holiness. Such are we by nature. And such shall we prove if left to ourselves. Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us.
Key Words
רָפָא: properly, to mend (by stitching), i.e. (figuratively) to cure
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
עָוֺן: perversity, i.e. (moral) evil
אֶפְרַיִם: Ephrajim, a son of Joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
גָּלָה: to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication, to exile (captives being usually stripped); figuratively, to reveal
רַע: bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
שֹׁמְרוֹן: Shomeron, a place in Palestine
פָּעַל: to do or make (systematically and habitually), especially to practise
שֶׁקֶר: an untruth; by implication, a sham (often adverbial)
גַּנָּב: a stealer
Cross References
Hosea 7Direct parallel text: 'the pride of Israel testifieth to his face' repeated verbatim.
Supported by JFB
Parallels the core tragedy of people not returning to God despite severe national judgments.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Matches the specific judgment metaphor of God spreading His net to capture His rebellious people.
Supported by JFB
Illuminates secret sins being set 'before my face' in God's holy presence.
Supported by JFB
Parallels the devastating state where 'there is none that calleth upon thy name.'
Supported by JFB
Explains Ephraim's mixing with the nations and adopting their corrupt pagan practices.
Supported by JFB
Verbatim parallel to 'they are like a deceitful bow' in their spiritual unfaithfulness.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Sinner is ensnared and 'beset about' by the work of their own hands.
Supported by JFB
Thematic parallel of a sinner being taken and holden in the cords of his own sins.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Historical precedent for celebrating 'the day of our king' with royal feasting.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
New Testament example of royal birthday celebrations leading to sin and foolishness.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Historical fulfillment of Israel's foolish back-and-forth alliances with Egypt and Assyria.
Supported by JFB
Echoes the physician metaphor: God would have healed, but the incurable sickness was discovered.
Supported by Matthew Poole
New Testament parallel of rulers taking pleasure in and approving of wickedness.
Supported by JFB
Delineates the self-destructive consequences of wine and mockers stretching out hands.
Supported by Matthew Henry