Hosea10
New King James Version
1Israel empties his vine; He brings forth fruit for himself. According to the multitude of his fruit He has increased the altars; According to the bounty of his land They have embellished his sacred pillars.
2Their heart is divided; Now they are held guilty. He will break down their altars; He will ruin their sacred pillars.
3For now they say, “We have no king, Because we did not fear the Lord. And as for a king, what would he do for us?”
4They have spoken words, Swearing falsely in making a covenant. Thus judgment springs up like hemlock in the furrows of the field.
5The inhabitants of Samaria fear Because of the calf of Beth Aven. For its people mourn for it, And its priests shriek for it— Because its glory has departed from it.
6The idol also shall be carried to Assyria As a present for King Jareb. Ephraim shall receive shame, And Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.
7As for Samaria, her king is cut off Like a twig on the water.
8Also the high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, Shall be destroyed. The thorn and thistle shall grow on their altars; They shall say to the mountains, “Cover us!” And to the hills, “Fall on us!”
9“O Israel, you have sinned from the days of Gibeah; There they stood. The battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity Did not overtake them.
10When it is My desire, I will chasten them. Peoples shall be gathered against them When I bind them for their two transgressions.
11Ephraim is a trained heifer That loves to thresh grain; But I harnessed her fair neck, I will make Ephraim pull a plow. Judah shall plow; Jacob shall break his clods.”
12Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the Lord, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you.
13You have plowed wickedness; You have reaped iniquity. You have eaten the fruit of lies, Because you trusted in your own way, In the multitude of your mighty men.
14Therefore tumult shall arise among your people, And all your fortresses shall be plundered As Shalman plundered Beth Arbel in the day of battle— A mother dashed in pieces upon her children.
15Thus it shall be done to you, O Bethel, Because of your great wickedness. At dawn the king of Israel Shall be cut off utterly.
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