Hosea 11

When Israel was a child, I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt.

1When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

Note"Out of Egypt" points back to the exodus, when the Israelites left slavery in Egypt generations earlier. Calling Israel God's "son" and "child" is a family image for that beginning: the nation is spoken of as a single boy being raised.

2But the more they were called, the more they went away from the ones calling them. They offered sacrifices to the Baals and burned incense to carved images.

2As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images.

NoteThe Baals were the local gods of Canaan, worshiped for rain and good harvests. "Baal" means "lord" or "owner"; the plural is used because most towns had their own version. Burning incense and offering sacrifices were the ordinary acts of worship at their shrines.

3I was the one who taught Ephraim to walk, holding them up by their arms. But they never realized that I was the one who healed them.

3I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them.

NoteEphraim was the largest tribe of the northern kingdom, and Hosea uses the name for that whole kingdom, the ten northern tribes, whose capital was Samaria. Throughout this chapter "Ephraim" and "Israel" mean the same nation, addressed by two names.

4I led them with cords such as people use, with ropes of love. I was like someone who lifts the yoke off their jaws, and I bent down and fed them.

4I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.

NoteA yoke is the wooden bar fastened over the neck of an ox or donkey to harness it to a plow or cart. The picture is of an owner easing the harness up off the animal's jaws so it can reach its food, then bending down to feed it by hand. "Cords such as people use" contrasts with the ropes used on animals: he led them with human ties, not livestock tackle.

5He will not go back to the land of Egypt, but Assyria will be his king, because they refused to return to me.

5He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return.

NoteAssyria was the dominant empire of the region in Hosea's day, based in what is now northern Iraq; it destroyed the northern kingdom and deported its population in 722 BC. The Hebrew here is ambiguous: the same short word can mean "not" or can mark a question, so the line reads either "He will not go back to Egypt" or "Will he not go back to Egypt?" Translations split over which is meant.

6The sword will stay in his cities. It will destroy the bars of his gates and eat them up, because of the plans they made for themselves.

6And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them, because of their own counsels.

NoteCity gates were secured by heavy wooden or metal bars laid across them; breaking the bars meant the city had fallen. The Hebrew word also means "limbs" or "branches", which is why some translations speak of branches being cut off instead.

7My people are set on turning away from me. Though they are called to the Most High, not one of them will lift him high.

7And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him.

NoteThe second half of this verse is one of the most damaged and disputed sentences in the book; the Hebrew can be read as "though they call him upward, no one raises him at all" or as God refusing to lift them up. Translations differ widely, and none is certain.

8How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboim? My heart turns over inside me; all my pity is stirred up.

8How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together.

NoteAdmah and Zeboim were two small cities near Sodom and Gomorrah, destroyed with them in the account in Genesis. Naming them is a way of naming total, irreversible destruction. "My heart turns over inside me" translates a Hebrew phrase for being overturned or churned up; the same verb is used elsewhere of a city being overthrown.

9I will not carry out the full heat of my anger. I will not turn back to destroy Ephraim. For I am God and not a man, the Holy One among you, and I will not come against the city.

9I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.

NoteThe last line is uncertain. The Hebrew says literally "I will not come into a city", which may mean coming against a city as an attacker, or may be an unusual word meaning "in fury". Both readings are represented in modern translations.

10They will follow the LORD. He will roar like a lion. When he roars, his children will come trembling from the west.

10They shall walk after the LORD: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.

NoteA lion's roar here is a summons rather than a threat: the scattered people hear it and come. "From the west" is literally "from the sea", the Mediterranean lay west of Israel, so "the sea" simply meant that direction.

11They will come trembling like birds from Egypt, like doves from the land of Assyria. And I will settle them in their own homes, says the LORD.

11They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will place them in their houses, saith the LORD.

NoteEgypt and Assyria are named as the two places Israelites had fled or been carried off to. The trembling is the fluttering, startled movement of birds, not fear of God.

12Ephraim surrounds me with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit. But Judah still walks with God and is faithful to the Holy One.

12Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints.

NoteIn Hebrew Bibles this verse is numbered 12:1, so verse numbers in this part of Hosea run one behind English editions. Judah was the separate southern kingdom, with its capital at Jerusalem. The line about Judah is disputed: the verb can mean "walks with" or "rules with", but also "roams" or "is unruly toward", so the sentence reads either as praise of Judah or as a further accusation. The last word is plural in Hebrew, "holy ones", which may be a plural of majesty for God himself or may refer to heavenly beings.