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HOSEA • CHAPTER 11
Hosea 11
Marriage imagery, covenant betrayal, judgment, divine love, political instability, repentance, and restoration.
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Hosea 11
WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE
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1
“When Israel was a child, then I loved him,
and called my son out of Egypt.
and called my son out of Egypt.
2
They called to them, so they went from them.
They sacrificed to the Baals,
and burned incense to engraved images.
They sacrificed to the Baals,
and burned incense to engraved images.
3
Yet I taught Ephraim to walk.
I took them by his arms;
but they didn’t know that I healed them.
I took them by his arms;
but they didn’t know that I healed them.
4
I drew them with cords of a man, with ties of love;
and I was to them like those who lift up the yoke on their necks;
and I bent down to him and I fed him.
and I was to them like those who lift up the yoke on their necks;
and I bent down to him and I fed him.
5
“They won’t return into the land of Egypt;
but the Assyrian will be their king,
because they refused to repent.
but the Assyrian will be their king,
because they refused to repent.
6
The sword will fall on their cities,
and will destroy the bars of their gates,
and will put an end to their plans.
and will destroy the bars of their gates,
and will put an end to their plans.
7
My people are determined to turn from me.
Though they call to the Most High,
he certainly won’t exalt them.
Though they call to the Most High,
he certainly won’t exalt them.
8
“How can I give you up, Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
How can I make you like Zeboiim?
My heart is turned within me,
my compassion is aroused.
How can I hand you over, Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
How can I make you like Zeboiim?
My heart is turned within me,
my compassion is aroused.
9
I will not execute the fierceness of my anger.
I will not return to destroy Ephraim:
for I am God, and not man; the Holy One among you;
and I will not come in wrath.
I will not return to destroy Ephraim:
for I am God, and not man; the Holy One among you;
and I will not come in wrath.
10
They will walk after Yahweh,
who will roar like a lion;
for he will roar, and the children will come trembling from the west.
who will roar like a lion;
for he will roar, and the children will come trembling from the west.
11
They will come trembling like a bird out of Egypt,
and like a dove out of the land of Assyria;
and I will settle them in their houses,” says Yahweh.
and like a dove out of the land of Assyria;
and I will settle them in their houses,” says Yahweh.
12
Ephraim surrounds me with falsehood,
and the house of Israel with deceit.
Judah still strays from God,
and is unfaithful to the Holy One.
and the house of Israel with deceit.
Judah still strays from God,
and is unfaithful to the Holy One.
PROPHETIC
Where this chapter fits
Hosea uses prophetic or apocalyptic language shaped by political crisis, judgment, hope, symbolic imagery, and expectations about God's action in history.
Chapter numbers were added long after the biblical books were written.
Read this chapter together with what comes immediately before and after it.
ANCIENT TEXT, MODERN QUESTIONS
Historical claims should be compared with historical evidence.
Scientific claims should be compared with science.
Moral claims should be examined morally.
Theological claims require theological and philosophical argument.
QUESTIONS WORTH ASKING
Don't skip the hard parts.
What kind of literature is this?
Narrative, poetry, prophecy, law, letters, wisdom, and apocalypse communicate differently.
What historical evidence matters?
Ask whether names, places, institutions, events, customs, and chronology can be independently investigated.
What are the strongest competing interpretations?
Compare serious Jewish, Christian, academic, and skeptical readings rather than caricatures.
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