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Easy-to-Read Version

Hosea 4:16

The Lord has given many things to Israel. He is like a shepherd who takes his sheep to a large field with plenty of grass. But Israel is stubborn like a young cow that runs away again and again.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Backsliders;   Heifer;   Idolatry;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Backsliding;   Lamb, the;   Ox, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Heifer;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Animals;   Lamb, Lamb of God;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Cattle;   Heifer;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Broad Place;   Hosea;   Meadow;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Gilgal;   Heifer;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Backslider;   Heifer;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Backsliding;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Heifer;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Israel;   Slide;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Brier;   Flies;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Backslide;   Heifer;   Teach;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
For Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn cow.Can the Lord now shepherd themlike a lamb in an open meadow?
Hebrew Names Version
For Yisra'el has behaved extremely stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer. Then how will the LORD feed them like a lamb in a meadow.
King James Version
For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the Lord will feed them as a lamb in a large place.
English Standard Version
Like a stubborn heifer, Israel is stubborn; can the Lord now feed them like a lamb in a broad pasture?
New American Standard Bible
Since Israel is stubborn Like a stubborn cow, Will the LORD now pasture them Like a lamb in a large field?
New Century Version
The people of Israel are stubborn like a stubborn young cow. Now the Lord will feed them like lambs in the open country.
Amplified Bible
For Israel is stubborn, Like a stubborn heifer. Can the LORD now pasture them Like a lamb in a large field?
Geneva Bible (1587)
For Israel is rebellious as an vnruly heyfer. Nowe the Lord will feede them as a lambe in a large place.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Since Israel is stubborn Like a stubborn heifer, Can the LORD now pasture them Like a lamb in a large field?
Legacy Standard Bible
Since Israel is stubbornLike a stubborn heifer,Can Yahweh now feed themLike a lamb in a large field?
Berean Standard Bible
For Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn heifer. Can the LORD now shepherd them like lambs in an open meadow?
Contemporary English Version
You are nothing more than a stubborn cow— so stubborn that I, the Lord , cannot feed you like lambs in an open pasture.
Complete Jewish Bible
For Isra'el is stubborn as a stubborn cow; will Adonai now feed them like a lamb in a big pasture?
Darby Translation
For Israel is refractory as an untractable heifer; now will Jehovah feed them as a lamb in a wide [pasture].
George Lamsa Translation
For as a heifer that slides back from the yoke, so Israel balks; now the LORD will feed them like lambs in a wide pasture.
Good News Translation
The people of Israel are as stubborn as mules. How can I feed them like lambs in a meadow?
Lexham English Bible
Indeed, like a stubborn heifer, Israel is stubborn; Now Yahweh will feed them, like a lamb in broad pasture.
Literal Translation
For Israel rebels, like a rebellious heifer. Now Jehovah will feed them as a lamb in a roomy place.
American Standard Version
For Israel hath behaved himself stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer: now will Jehovah feed them as a lamb in a large place.
Bible in Basic English
For Israel is uncontrolled, like a cow which may not be controlled; now will the Lord give them food like a lamb in a wide place.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
For Israel is stubborn like a stubborn heifer; now shall the LORD feed them as a lamb in a large place?
King James Version (1611)
For Israel slideth backe, as a backe sliding heifer: now the Lord will feede them as a lambe in a large place.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For Israel is rebellious like an vnrulye heysfer: nowe the Lorde wyll feede them as a lambe in a large place.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
For Israel was maddened like a mad heifer: now the Lord will feed them as a lamb in a wide place.
English Revised Version
For Israel hath behaved himself stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer: now will the LORD feed them as a lamb in a large place.
World English Bible
For Israel has behaved extremely stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer. Then how will Yahweh feed them like a lamb in a meadow.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For as a wielde cow Israel bowide awei; now the Lord schal fede hem as a lomb in broodnesse.
Update Bible Version
For Israel has behaved himself stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer: now Yahweh will feed them as a lamb in a large place.
Webster's Bible Translation
For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place.
New English Translation
Israel has rebelled like a stubborn heifer! Soon the Lord will put them out to pasture like a lamb in a broad field!
New King James Version
"For Israel is stubborn Like a stubborn calf; Now the LORD will let them forage Like a lamb in open country.
New Living Translation
Israel is stubborn, like a stubborn heifer. So should the Lord feed her like a lamb in a lush pasture?
New Life Bible
The people of Israel are strong-willed like a young cow. How then can the Lord feed them like a lamb in a large field?
New Revised Standard
Like a stubborn heifer, Israel is stubborn; can the Lord now feed them like a lamb in a broad pasture?
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, as a heifer that is stubborn, hath Israel, been stubborn, - Now, can Yahweh, turn them out to pasture, like a young ram in a wide place?
Douay-Rheims Bible
For Israel hath gone astray like a wanton heifer now will the Lord feed them, as a lamb in a spacious place.
Revised Standard Version
Like a stubborn heifer, Israel is stubborn; can the LORD now feed them like a lamb in a broad pasture?
Young's Literal Translation
For as a refractory heifer hath Israel turned aside, Now doth Jehovah feed them as a lamb in a large place.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For Israel is gone backe, like a waton cowe. The LORDE therfore shal make hir fede, as ye labe yt goeth astraye.

Contextual Overview

12 My people are asking pieces of wood for advice. They think those sticks will answer them! They have chased after those false gods like prostitutes and have left their own God. 13 They make sacrifices on the tops of the mountains and burn incense on the hills under oak trees, poplar trees, and elm trees. The shade under those trees looks nice. So your daughters lie under those trees like prostitutes, and your daughters-in-law commit sexual sins. 14 "I cannot blame your daughters or your daughters-in-law for doing this, because your men go and have sex with the temple prostitutes and offer sacrifices with them. This is how foolish people destroy themselves. 15 "Israel, just because you act like a prostitute doesn't mean that Judah should feel guilty too. People, don't go to Gilgal or Beth Aven. Don't use the Lord's name to make promises. Don't say, ‘As the Lord lives …!' 16 The Lord has given many things to Israel. He is like a shepherd who takes his sheep to a large field with plenty of grass. But Israel is stubborn like a young cow that runs away again and again. 17 "Ephraim has joined his idols, so leave him alone. 18 Ephraim has joined their drunkenness. Let them continue to be prostitutes. Let them be with their lovers. 19 They went to those gods for safety, and they have lost their ability to think. Their altars will bring them shame.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

slideth: Hosea 11:7, 1 Samuel 15:11, Jeremiah 3:6, Jeremiah 3:8, Jeremiah 3:11, Jeremiah 5:6, Jeremiah 7:24, Jeremiah 8:5, Jeremiah 14:7, Zechariah 7:11, *marg.

as a lamb: Leviticus 26:33, Isaiah 7:21-25, Isaiah 22:18

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 22:20 - brought Proverbs 14:14 - backslider Isaiah 30:23 - thy cattle Jeremiah 2:19 - and thy Jeremiah 15:6 - thou art Jeremiah 31:22 - backsliding Jeremiah 49:4 - O backsliding Hosea 10:11 - an heifer Zephaniah 1:6 - turned

Cross-References

Genesis 3:8
During the cool part of the day, the Lord God was walking in the garden. The man and the woman heard him, and they hid among the trees in the garden.
Genesis 4:14
You are forcing me to leave the land, and I will not be able to be near you or have a home! Now I must wander from place to place, and anyone I meet could kill me."
Exodus 20:18
During all this time, the people in the valley heard the thundering and saw the lightning on the mountain. They saw smoke rising from the mountain and heard the sound of the trumpet. They were afraid and shook with fear. They stood away from the mountain and watched.
2 Kings 13:23
But the Lord was kind to the Israelites. He had mercy and showed his care for them because of his agreement with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He did not want them to be destroyed. He has never completely left them.
2 Kings 24:20
The Lord became so angry with Jerusalem and Judah that he threw them away. Zedekiah rebelled and refused to obey the king of Babylon.
Job 1:12
The Lord said to Satan, "All right, do whatever you want with anything that he has, but don't hurt Job himself." Then Satan left the meeting.
Job 2:7
So Satan left the meeting with the Lord and gave Job painful sores all over his body, from the bottom of his feet to the top of his head.
Job 20:17
He will never again enjoy so much wealth— rivers flowing with honey and cream.
Psalms 5:11
But let those who trust in you be happy forever. Protect and strengthen those who love your name.
Psalms 68:2
May your enemies be scattered like smoke blown away by the wind. May your enemies be destroyed like wax melting in a fire.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer,.... A heifer or young cow Israel is compared unto; the rather, because of the object of their idolatrous worship, the calves at Dan and Bethel: the Septuagint calls them "heifers": which they are hereby put in mind of, and upbraided with; as also to express their brutish stupidity in worshipping such idols, in which they obstinately persisted: and so were like a "refractory" and "untamed" heifer, as some w render it, which will not be kept within bounds, either within doors or without, but breaks through, and passes over, all fences and enclosures; as they did, who transgressed the laws of God, and would not be restrained by them: or like a heifer unaccustomed to the yoke, which will not submit to it, but wriggles its neck from under it: so the Israelites would not be subject to the yoke of the law of God, were sons of Belial, children without a yoke; or like one, though yoked, yet would not draw the plough, but slid back in the furrows, even though goaded; so they, though stimulated by the prophets, whose words were as goads and pricks to push them on, yet would not hearken to them, but pulled away the shoulder, and slid back from the ways and worship of God; hence called backsliding Israel, Jeremiah 3:6, and this is either a reason why Judah should not follow their example, because backsliders, or why they should be punished, as follows:

now, or "therefore" x,

the Lord will feed them as a lamb in a large place: not that they were like lambs for the good properties of them, innocence, harmlessness, meekness, and patience; nor fed as the Lord feeds his lambs, and gathers them in his arms; but either as a heifer in sheep pasture, in short commons, for that creature cannot live where sheep and lambs can; or rather as a lamb that is alone, separate from the flock, not under the care of any shepherd; but exposed to every beast of prey upon a large common, on a wild desert and uncultivated place; afraid of every thing it hears and sees; bleating after its dam, of whose sustenance and nourishment it is destitute; and so is expressive of the state and condition of Israel in captivity, in the large Assyrian empire; and dispersed among the nations, where they were weak and helpless, destitute of all good things, and exposed to all dangers, and to every enemy. Aben Ezra and Kimchi understand the words in a good sense, that the Lord would have fed them as lambs in a large place, in an affluent manner, but that they rebelled and backslided: and to this sense the Targum seems to incline, which paraphrases the whole verse thus,

"for as an ox which is fattened and kicks, so Israel rebels because of the multitude of good things; now the Lord will lead them as a choice lamb in a valley,''

or plain: and so Noldius, "though Israel is refractory", c.

notwithstanding the Lord will feed them, c. and indeed the phrase is used in a good sense in Isaiah 30:23, but there herds and flocks are spoken of, and not a single lamb, as here though Kimchi thinks the singular is put for the plural, lamb for lambs.

w סררה "refractaria", Junius Tremellius, Piscator, Tarnovius, Schmidt "indomita", Calvin, Drusius. x ועתה "quare, ideo, nunc itaque", Schmidt; "igitur nunc", Coeceius.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For Israel slideth back, as a backsliding heifer - The calves which Israel worshiped were pictures of itself. They represented natural, untamed, strength, which, when put to service, started back and shrank from the yoke. “Untractable, petulant, unruly, wanton, it withdrew from the yoke, when it could; if it could not, it drew aside or backward, instead of forward.” So is it rare, exceeding rare, for man to walk straight on in God’s ways; he jerks, writhes, twists, darts aside here and there, hating nothing so much as one straight, even, narrow tenor of his ways.

Now the Lord will feed them as a lamb in a large place - The punishment of Israel was close at hand, “now.” It would not have the straitness of God’s commandments; it should have the wideness of a desert. God would withdraw His protecting providence from them: He would rule them, although unfelt in His mercy. At “large,” they wished to be; at large they should be; but it should be the largeness of a “wilderness where is no way.” There, like a lamb, they should go astray, wandering up and down, unprotected, a prey to wild beasts. Woe is it to that man, whom, when he withdraws from Christ’s easy yoke, God permits to take unhindered the broad road which leadeth to destruction. To Israel, this “wide place” was the wide realms of the Medes, where they were withdrawn from God’s worship and deprived of His protection.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Hosea 4:16. Israel slideth back — They are untractable, like an unbroken heifer or steer, that pulls back, rather than draw in the yoke.

Will feed them as a lamb in a large place. — A species of irony. Ye shall go to Assyria, and be scattered among the nations; ye may sport yourselves in the extensive empire, wither ye shall be carried captives.


 
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