Bible Commentaries
Hosea 11

Introduction

Hosea 11:0

PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

READING CYCLE THREE (see “Guide to Good Bible Reading”)

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the four modern translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

1. First paragraph

2. Second paragraph

3. Third paragraph

4. Etc.

Verses 1-4

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Hosea 11:1-4 1When Israel was a youth I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son. 2The more they called them, The more they went from them; They kept sacrificing to the Baals And burning incense to idols. 3Yet it is I who taught Ephraim to walk, I took them in My arms; But they did not know that I healed them. 4I led them with cords of a man, with bonds of love, And I became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws; And I bent down and fed them.

Hosea 11:1-4 Hosea is characterized by its fresh and varied metaphors to describe God and His actions. Two of the most powerful and personal metaphors are (1) God as faithful lover, chapters 1-3 and (2) God as loving parent (male and female), chapter 11. God has revealed himself to fallen humanity by choosing things that humans have experienceddeeply personal and powerfully moving things and has said, “I am like that to you.” This is why family metaphors and analogies are used so often in the Bible in relation to God. All humans have experienced the deep feelings of human love and many have experienced parenthood. Through these experiences God has clearly revealed himself and the depth of His love and loyalty (cf. Hosea 11:8-9).

Hosea 11:1 “When Israel was a youth I loved him” This is very similar in emphasis to Hosea 9:10 and Hosea 10:1. It focuses on YHWH's love and choice of the descendants of Abraham (cf. Deuteronomy 4:32-40) in Egypt to uniquely be His people (cf. Amos 3:2, which reflects Exodus 19:5-6), which was a prophetic fulfillment of Genesis 15:12-21.

God chose a man to choose a family to choose a nation to represent Him to the world (cf. Genesis 12:3; Exodus 19:5-6). Out of this family would come the Messiah (i.e., typological use of this text in Matthew 2:15 in the life of Jesus).

▣ “And out of Egypt I called My son” The term “son” in the singular in the OT can refer to (1) the nation of Israel (e.g., Hosea 1:10; Exodus 4:22); (2) the King of Israel (e.g., 2 Samuel 7:14; Psalms 2:7); or (3) the Messiah (e.g., Psalms 2:7, quoted in Acts 13:33; Hebrews 1:5; Hebrews 5:5). This reference is used of Jesus as a child being taken to Egypt to protect Him from Herod in Matthew 2:15, however, in this context it refers to the nation of Israel. Notice the emphasis on election, “I called” (BDB 894, KB 1128, Qal PERFECT). In the OT election is primarily for service (Israel's place in YHWH's redemptive plan), while in the NT it is primarily for salvation (cf. Ephesians 1:3-14).

Hosea 11:2 “they called them” This refers to the prophets (cf. LXX translation and 2 Kings 17:13-18; Isaiah 6:10; Jeremiah 7:25-26). However, Israel acted just like human teenagers. The more God called them (the Septuagint and the Syriac have “God” instead of “they”), the more they did just the opposite (cf. Hosea 11:7b).

David A. Hubbard, Hosea (Tyndale OT Commentaries), re-divides line 2 and thinks that “they” refers to tempters like the “Ba'al of Peor fertility-worshiping women of Numbers 25:0. The lines would become “the more they called them, The more they went from me” (p. 187). The Jerome Biblical Commentary asserts “they” refers to all the local Ba'al altars (p. 262). To a wayward son, bent on self and sin, the call of idolatry was louder and stronger than the call of a loving parent (i.e., Prodigal Son of Luke 15:0).

Whichever theory is true the settled wayward character is emphasized! Her past commitments are lost in her current desires.

▣ “Ba'al” This refers to the male Canaanite fertility god. For a full discussion of the Canaanite pantheon see Archaeology and the Religion of Israel, by William Foxwell Albright.

▣ “They kept sacrificing to the Baals, And burning incense to idols” These two lines of poetry are parallel. Nothing is known of animal sacrifices to Ba'al, therefore, the sacrifices (BDB 256, KB 261, Piel IMPERFECT) may refer to offering incense (BDB 882, KB 1094, Piel IMPERFECT).

There was some sacrificing of children to Molech, the fertility fire god. This may be referred to in Hosea in some of the passages about the slaughter of children.

Hosea 11:3 “it was I who taught Ephraim to walk” This is a rare VERB form (BDB 920, KB 1183, Tiphel) with an unusual meaning for the root (“foot”). Verses Hosea 11:3 and 4 show the love of God expressed in the metaphor or analogy of YHWH as a loving parent, both father and mother (emendation of Hosea 11:4b,c). The father either (1) went before His child to walk or (2) went before His child in example and/or protection.

▣ “But they did not know that I healed them” Can you feel the pain of YHWH in this phrase? His own people, who He saved out of Egypt and uniquely revealed Himself to, were attributing His love gifts to them as coming from the Canaanite fertility gods! Wounded love!

The VERB “healed” (BDB 950, KB 1272, Qal PERFECT) is often used for God forgiving sin, as seen in Hosea 5:13, Hosea 5:6:1; Hosea 7:1; Exodus 15:26; the parallelism of Ps. 163:3; and Isaiah 1:5-6, examples of national sin described in terms of a physical disease (also note Isaiah 53:5 and 1 Peter 2:24-25).

Hosea 11:4 “with cords of a man, with bonds of love” This refers “to a child-training leash.” God's discipline is as much a sign of His love as any of His mercy actions (cf. Hebrews 12:5-13). Loving parental discipline is the key to understanding God's actions and guidelines to sinful mankind, who are in the process of destroying themselves in the freedom and knowledge of the tree of good and evil. He will not let us go unchallenged! He will not stand by and let us destroy ourselves.

▣ “yoke” The Hebrew term “yoke” (BDB 760) seems out of place in this context (however, it could refer to Hosea 10:11). Yet, by changing a vowel and doubling the last consonant, it is possible to insert the Hebrew term “infant” (BDB 760, cf. Hosea 14:1), which seems to fit the context of parental care much better (cf, NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 401). A possible translation would be like the New American Bible and The Jerusalem Bible “as one who lifts an infant to his cheek.” This is possibly a reference to YHWH as a nursing mother.

God is not a male or female. He is an eternal, personal, spirit present throughout time, space, and all dimensions of reality. He created male and female as a means of reproduction on this planet. He incorporates the best of both in Himself.

There are several places where this femininity is specific.

Hosea 11:1. Genesis 1:2, “brooded over the waters” - this is a female bird word

Hosea 11:2. Hosea 1:4; Isaiah 49:15; Isaiah 66:9-13 - God as a nursing mother

Verses 5-7

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Hosea 11:5-7 5They will not return to the land of Egypt; But Assyriahe will be their king Because they refused to return to Me. 6The sword will whirl against their cities, And will demolish their gate bars And consume them because of their counsels. 7So My people are bent on turning from Me. Though they call them to the One on high, None at all exalts Him.

Hosea 11:5 “They will not return to the land of Egypt” This is a seeming contradiction to Hosea 7:16; Hosea 8:13; Hosea 9:3. There are two possible theories of interpretation: (1) Egypt is a symbol for slavery or (2) Egypt is another example of political alliances. Theory 2 seems to fit the context of chapter Hosea 11:5 best, however, theory 1 seems to fit the context of the other references better.

It is possible to translate “not” as “surely,” this would solve the seeming contradiction.

▣ “But Assyriahe will be their king” This is a clear prophecy of the Assyrian exile (cf. Hosea 7:11; Hosea 8:9-10; Hosea 9:3; Hosea 10:6). It is possible that the verse refers to rejecting Israel's trust in political alliances with both Egypt and Assyria. Assyria as king may reflect Hosea 10:3. Israel wanted a king like the nations (cf. 1 Samuel 8:5); now they had one!

▣ “they refused to return to Me” The term “return” (BDB 996, KB 1427, Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT) is the OT term for repentance. See Special Topic: REPENTANCE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.

The pain of God's heart can be seen in the VERB “refused” (BDB 549, KB 540, Piel PERFECT). It was not ignorance on Israel's part for which they were culpable, but open-eyed rebellion against YHWH and His law (cf. Hosea 7:13-15; Hosea 8:1, Hosea 8:12).

Hosea 11:6 “The sword will whirl against their cities” The VERB (BDB 296, KB 297, Qal PERFECT) is used of dancing, the turbulence of storms, or writhing in the pain of childbirth. Here it is the flashing, whirling action of a personified sword as it devastates the cities of Israel.

▣ “gate bars” This term (BDB 94) refers to (1) the wooden beams used to secure city gates at night (Israel was trusting in her fortifications, cf. Hosea 8:14; Hosea 10:14) or (2) to divination (cf. Isaiah 44:25; Jeremiah 50:36) and as parallel to “counsel.”

▣ “because of their counsels” This could refer to (1) the policies of Jeroboam I, who set up the golden calves; (2) the ongoing policies of the different dynasties who succeeded him; or (3) the decision of political advisors. This is referred to several times in Hosea (e.g., Hosea 7:12).

Hosea 11:7 “So My people are bent on turning from Me” The VERB (BDB 1067, KB 1736, Qal PASSIVE PARTICIPLE), which is used literally in Deuteronomy 28:66, “to hang something before someone,” here is a metaphor for a tendency or natural leaning toward someone/something (but not YHWH).

The term “turning from” (BDB 1000) means to “turn back” or “apostatize” (cf. Hosea 14:5; in Jeremiah 3:6 of Israel; in Jeremiah 2:18; Jeremiah 3:22; Jeremiah 5:6; Jeremiah 8:5; Jeremiah 14:7 of Judah, often translated “faithless”). Instead of turning to God in repentance they turned away from Him in apostasy!

The opening “My people” is an allusion to Hosea 1:9 (i.e., “Lo-Ammi”), but with the future hope of the full hope of Hosea 2:23 (i.e., Ruhamah, cf. Hosea 1:6 and Ammi)!

▣ “None at all exalts Him” This is the problem of fallen mankind, especially the covenant people (e.g., Isaiah 53:6 a,b, quoted in the NT by Peter in 1 Peter 2:25).

Verses 8-11

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Hosea 11:8-11 8How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned over within Me, All My compassions are kindled. 9I will not execute My fierce anger; I will not destroy Ephraim again. For I am God and not man, the Holy One in your midst, And I will not come in wrath. 10They will walk after the LORD, He will roar like a lion; Indeed He will roar And His sons will come trembling from the west. 11They will come trembling like birds from Egypt And like doves from the land of Assyria; And I will settle them in their houses, declares the LORD.

Hosea 11:8 “How can I give you up” The heart of YHWH is breaking (cf. third set of parallel lines in this verse, cf. Hosea 6:4) as His rebellious child turns away from a loyal loving parent. In the OT a child like this could be stoned to death (cf. Deuteronomy 21:18-21). How or where do justice and love meet?

▣ “How can I surrender you” This VERB (BDB 171, KB 545, Piel IMPERFECT) means “to deliver up” or “give over.” This word is used only three times in the OT and only in Genesis 14:20 with a similar meaning.

▣ “Admah. . .Zeboiim” These are cities of the Plain were identified and destroyed for their wickedness along with Sodom and Gomorrah (cf. Genesis 10:19; Genesis 19:24-25; Deuteronomy 29:23). They no longer existed; God must judge Israel, but not to extinction.

▣ “My heart is turned over within Me” This VERB (BDB 245, KB 253, Niphal PERFECT) is the general word for “to turn” or “overturn.” It is used to describe God's overthrow of the cities of the Plain (alluded to in the previous two parallel lines of Hosea 11:8) in Genesis 19:21, Genesis 19:25, Genesis 19:29; Deuteronomy 29:22. It is not that God has changed His anger toward Israel's sin and rebellion, but that His love and mercy will provide a future salvation. This is the essence of the new covenant of Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:22-38, which is based on the character of God, the work of the Messiah, and the wooing of the Spirit, not human performance of an external code. God has changed His ways of dealing with fallen humanity (cf. a second possible meaning of the VERB, TEV, NIV, NET Bible).

▣ “All My compassions are kindled” This term for “compassions” (BDB 637) is used in only three places in the OT, Isaiah 57:18; Zechariah 1:13; and here. The VERB “kindled” (BDB 485, KB 481, Niphal PERFECT) means “to grow warm or tender,” and was originally used of heating fruit in the ground to ripen it (e.g., Genesis 43:30; 1 Kings 3:26; and here).

Hosea 11:9 “I will not execute My fierce anger” The CONSTRUCT “fierce anger” (BDB 354 and 60) is also found in Hosea 8:5 (e.g., Exodus 32:12 at the golden calf of Aaron; Numbers 25:4 at Israel's idolatry at Shittim; Numbers 32:13-15 at Israel's lack of faith about entering the Promised Land; Joshua 7:26 at Achan's sin at Ai; Deuteronomy 13:17 at idolatry of a city and many more).

▣ “I will not destroy Ephraim again” God chooses to have mercy (cf. Jeremiah 26:3). But this does not mean that they were not punished (cf. Hosea 11:10a; Jeremiah 30:11).

▣ “For I am God” This is the name El (BDB 42 II). See Special Topic: Names for Deity.

▣ “not man” This should go without saying (cf. Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29; Job 9:32), but in our day the physicalness of God is asserted as the model of “image and likeness” in Genesis 1:26-27. God is spirit! God is holy (this context is the only place in Hosea that this characteristic is attributed to YHWH, cf. Hosea 11:12).

▣ “the Holy One in your midst” This (BDB 899, 872) is similar in meaning to the term, “Immanuel” which means “God with us” (BDB 769, cf Isaiah 6:12; Isaiah 7:14). The Bible begins with God and humans in a garden (cf. Gen. 1-2) together and ends with God and humans in a garden together (cf. Rev. 21-22). The essence of biblical faith is God and His highest creation in fellowship, not only spiritually but physically. Humans were created for fellowship with God (cf. Genesis 1:26-27). There was never meant to be a transcendent and immanent distinction. Only human sin caused the need!

NASB“And I will not come in wrath” NKJV“And I will not come in terror” NRSV (footnote)“I will not enter the city” TEV, NJB“I will not come to you in anger”

This ambiguous Hebrew phrase can be understood in several ways depending on the Hebrew root:

1. “to burn” or “to consume” (BDB 128)

2. “to remove” or “to destroy” (BDB 128)

3. “with” plus “agitation” or “wrath” (BDB 786)

4. MT, “and I will not enter the city” (VERB BDB 97, OBJECT BDB 746 II), which would link it to Hosea 8:14; Hosea 10:14, YHWH's presence demanded judgment

Hosea 11:10 “He will roar like a lion” “Roar” here does not refer to an act of violence on the part of a wild animal, but a parent calling her little ones home.

▣ “And His sons will come trembling from the west” There may be a word sound play between YHWH's “fierce anger” (BDB 354) and “they will come trembling” (BDB 353, KB 350, Qal IMPERFECT, used twice, cf. Hosea 10:11). This term is used (1) in Genesis 42:28 at fear over an act of God; (2) in 1 Samuel 10:4 at fearful respect of God's prophet; and (3) in 1 Samuel 21:1 as fear in the presence of King David. The ADJECTIVE is used of awe and reverence at God's word in Isaiah 66:2; Ezra 9:4; Ezra 10:3.

The direction of the coming “west” (literally “the sea”) is surprising since Assyria is to the east. Some scholars see Hosea 11:10 and 11 as a return from three directions (i.e., from everywhere, cf. Isaiah 11:11-12).

1. the islands and coast land at Palestine, Hosea 11:10

2. Egypt, Hosea 11:11

3. Assyria, Hosea 11:11

Hosea 11:11 “They will come. . .from Egypt. . .from the land of Assyria” Many Jews fled Egypt during the Babylonian invasion and exile. God will bring His people home!

▣ “I will settle them in their houses” This is a reference to one of the promises of God mentioned in the cursing and blessing section of Deuteronomy 27:0 and 28.

Verse 12

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Hosea 11:12 12Ephraim surrounds Me with lies And the house of Israel with deceit; Judah is also unruly against God, Even against the Holy One who is faithful.

Hosea 11:12 The Massoretic Text lists verse Hosea 11:12 with chapter 12. Context confirms this! The last phrase of verse Hosea 11:12 is one of the central passages of the entire book (cf. Hosea 6:6; Hosea 8:7). It emphasizes God's faithfulness and Israel's faithlessness. This is the tension between an unconditional (God's character) and conditional covenant (human obedience).

▣ “Ephraim surrounds Me with lies” The VERB (BDB 685, KB 738, Qal PERFECT) was used earlier in Hosea 7:2, where Israel's evil deeds surround them.

Israel's lies could be (cf. Hosea 7:13)

1. covenant violations (broken promises)

2. political counsel (foreign alliances, Hosea 7:3)

3. religious divination (idol-priests)

4. false prophets (prosperity and security)

5. false information about YHWH

NASB“Judah is also unruly against God” NKJV, NRSV“Judah still walks with God” TEV“the people of Judah are still rebelling against me” NJB“(But Judah still is on God's side)”

The Hebrew is ambiguous. The question remains, “Are the last two poetic lines in parallel or in contrast?” Is Judah contrasted with a sinful Israel or are Judah and Israel contrasted with a faithful Holy God?

Some scholars see the VERB as “wander” or “roam” (BDB 923, e.g., Hiphil, Genesis 27:40; Qal, Jeremiah 2:31); others see it as (BDB 921, Qal, Isaiah 14:2; Ezekiel 34:4; Hiphil, Isaiah 41:2).

“faithful” See Special Topic: Believe, Trust, Faith, and Faithfulness in the OT.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought provoking, not definitive.

1. Define and explain OT election.

2. Why is God described as a husband and a parent?

3. Why are political alliances condemned in all the OT prophets?