Hosea7
New Living Translation
1“I want to heal Israel, but its sins are too great. Samaria is filled with liars. Thieves are on the inside and bandits on the outside!
2Its people don’t realize that I am watching them. Their sinful deeds are all around them, and I see them all.
3“The people entertain the king with their wickedness, and the princes laugh at their lies.
4They are all adulterers, always aflame with lust. They are like an oven that is kept hot while the baker is kneading the dough.
5On royal holidays, the princes get drunk with wine, carousing with those who mock them.
6Their hearts are like an oven blazing with intrigue. Their plot smolders through the night, and in the morning it breaks out like a raging fire.
7Burning like an oven, they consume their leaders. They kill their kings one after another, and no one cries to me for help.
8“The people of Israel mingle with godless foreigners, making themselves as worthless as a half-baked cake!
9Worshiping foreign gods has sapped their strength, but they don’t even know it. Their hair is gray, but they don’t realize they’re old and weak.
10Their arrogance testifies against them, yet they don’t return to the Lord their God or even try to find him.
11“The people of Israel have become like silly, witless doves, first calling to Egypt, then flying to Assyria for help.
12But as they fly about, I will throw my net over them and bring them down like a bird from the sky. I will punish them for all the evil they do.
13“What sorrow awaits those who have deserted me! Let them die, for they have rebelled against me. I wanted to redeem them, but they have told lies about me.
14They do not cry out to me with sincere hearts. Instead, they sit on their couches and wail. They cut themselves, begging foreign gods for grain and new wine, and they turn away from me.
15I trained them and made them strong, yet now they plot evil against me.
16They look everywhere except to the Most High. They are as useless as a crooked bow. Their leaders will be killed by their enemies because of their insolence toward me. Then the people of Egypt will laugh at them.
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